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Australia and Cambodia sign agreement to help combat people smugglers

Australia and Cambodia have signed an agreement to help combat people-smuggling.

Southeast Asia correspondent, Geoff Thompson reports:

"Last July, the southward journey of 253 asylum seekers from Pakistan and Afghanistan was interrupted when Cambodian authorities foiled their attempt to travel in a boat from the southern Cambodian port of Sihanoukville towards Australia. The asylum seekers had arrived in Cambodia by air from Central Asia after allegedly paying up to 16-thousand dollars each to people smugglers. Cambodian police seized the vessel and arrested everyone on board and charged them with overstaying their visas. That action impressed Australian authorities and sparked the momentum which has now led to the signing of an agreement to improve bilateral cooperation and boost immigration expertise within Cambodia."

05/03/2002 16:44:06 | ABC Radio Australia News

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