Solomons says no to asylum seeker solution

Pacific Correspndent Campbell Cooney, ABCUpdated August 6, 2013, 2:16 pm

Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has confirmed to the ABC that he is not interested in being part of the Australian government's new Pacific Solution for processing and resettling asylum seekers.

Mr Lilo says the country's complicated land ownership status and strong sense of community following years of ethnic tension means he wasn't interested in being part of Australia's plans.

He added that the asylum seekers don't want to come to his country.

"The choices that these people have made is that they want to come to Australia. It is a very risky situation for us to just consider the proposal as it is," Mr Lilo said.
Mr Lilo says he was approached by diplomats on behalf of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and asked informally if he was prepared to consider processing and resettling asylum seekers.

Smart people. Not frightened out of their wits like Nauru. Not corrupt like PNG.
Bring on the naval blockade!

When I read Solomons say no to Rudd I thought to myself "why would a carpet retailer say no to Rudd".

I am obviously way off on that one.

As a non-European nation, the Solomon Is is fully within their right to determine their own future. European nations, however, are not.

they have had more than their share of trouble so I dont blame them..

look at Fiji and the Indians have been there for many years yet still they are resented..PNG have no idea what they letting themselves in for..

watching a doco on Indonesia even the police in charge of arresting people smugglers say the boats wont stop....and the average cost of a place on a boat is $5000...I was glad to see some are getting charged with sending people to their death..but of course they have to catch them first

Quote:

Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo has confirmed to the ABC that he is not interested in being part of the Australian government's new Pacific Solution for processing and resettling asylum seekers.

Say "NO" ?

They weren't actually ASKED




Solomon Islands are an option for asylum role
July 24, 2013



HE Solomon Islands has opened the door to a possible asylum seeker processing deal with Australia, claiming it was ready to talk about the issue if a proposal was put to the small developing nation. 
 
In the wake of the multi-billion agreement to resettle Australia-bound refugees in PNG, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo said his country was prepared to consider a proposal.

Responding to questions from The Daily Telegraph yesterday, Mr Lilo said he expected the Solomon Islands to be asked to contribute to dealing with the record numbers of asylum seekers.

"We stand ready to talk about it because a regional solution is very important," Mr Lilo said after a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr in Honiara. "There is space for us to be engaged to make sure we have a strong, secure region.

"These are issues that have been proposed. We will give ourselves some time to think.

"But what I have said is that we are part of the region and I'm sure ... in the future we may be pressed to consider issues like this."

Mr Carr said the issue was likely to be discussed with the pacific neighbour in the future but backed down on raising the issue directly with Mr Lilo in a private meeting yesterday.

The Daily Telegraph understands Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is dubious of being able to extend the PNG asylum seeker re-settlement program to the Solomon Islands.

While law and order has been restored to the country since the 1998-2003 civil war, it is believed the troubled nation was not yet ready to cope with a regional processing facility.

"I didn't come here to raise the issue," Mr Carr said


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/solomon-islands-are-an-option-for-asylum-role/story-fni0cx12-1226684004756

Well, poor KRudd has to try something.

With the try hards PNG non solution only good for 3000 country shoppers according to the PNG PM, with that quota already over half filled with the 1600 arrivals since KRudds grand announcement two weeks ago, he's really going to need a plan B.
The wheels are well and truly wobbling off the Labor wagon train, all before the election.

"Oh Magoo, you've done it again".
Perhaps KRudd can put them up in Antartica.

Quote:

.... and strong sense of community following years of ethnic tension means he wasn't interested in being part of Australia's plans.

Isn't it a thing of great wonder how all the loveys of our Leftwing media have absolutely nothing to say about the people of PNG and the Solomons expressing EXACTLY the same 'racist' and anti-multicultural attitudes and sentiments as did Pauline Hanson and One Nation?

Their silence exposes them for the hypocrites they've always been.



 

Quote:

Solomons PM rejects joining Australia's refugee plan SUVA, Fiji (AFP) - The Solomon Islands on Tuesday said it had rejected a request from Australia to accept asylum-seekers as part of Canberra's so-called "Pacific solution" to deal with refugee boatpeople. Solomons Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo said Canberra had approached him about sending asylum-seekers for processing but he had dismissed the idea. "No, we will never consider that. It was informally put to us and I rejected it," he told reporters in Fiji. "I basically said to them, (asylum-seekers) have made a choice to go to Australia, they don't make a choice to come to the Solomons." http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/solomons-pm-rejects-joining-australias-refugee-plan-20130806

Kev's gotten himself into a fine old mess over asylum shoppers and alleged refugees.

salad in wrote on Aug 6^th, 2013 at 5:16pm:

Kev's gotten himself into a fine old mess over asylum shoppers and alleged refugees.

Indeed he has, but his real claim to fame is that he has announced to the world that Australia's Labor Party is no longer in the business of being fools and foils for those Out There who think it's an easy touch for a rort and a blind eye to deceitful shenanigans.

All over the Middle East and Sri Lanka the air is buzzing with the news that Australia's Labor Party has at last found its balls.

The Australian Labor Party has put One Nation well into the shade.

Lord Herbert wrote on Aug 6^th, 2013 at 5:52pm:

salad in wrote on Aug 6th, 2013 at 5:16pm: Kev's gotten himself into a fine old mess over asylum shoppers and alleged refugees. Indeed he has, but his real claim to fame is that he has announced to the world that Australia's Labor Party is no longer in the business of being fools and foils for those Out There who think it's an easy touch for a rort and a blind eye to deceitful shenanigans. All over the Middle East and Sri Lanka the air is buzzing with the news that Australia's Labor Party has at last found its balls. The Australian Labor Party has put One Nation well into the shade.

A bit like his Timor solution way back when that he announced to the world before the Timorese had signed off on it or discussed it in there Parliament which they backed away from.
Oops.
"McFly, Oh McFly, are we learning yet".

For a minute there I thought you were referring to my electorate. The Solomon Islands say no to Rudd, and so do we, the residents of the Solomon electorate!