FED: Kosovo refugees to depart from Sydney

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2000
FED: Kosovo refugees to depart from Sydney

SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - About 170 Kosovo Albanian refugees were expected to fly out to
their war-torn homeland tonight, after their charter flight was delayed yesterday.

The refugees would leave on a scheduled Air Sri Lanka flight from Sydney about 9pm
bound for Colombo, Immigration Department officials said.

Once there, they were expected to board a charter flight to Bulgaria.

More than 100 refugees from Bandiana Army Base in north-east Victoria were to travel
by bus to Sydney early today.

Those in South Australia and Tasmania would board planes this afternoon bound for Sydney,
where they would join those who have been at the East Hills Safe Haven.

The flight out of Melbourne was delayed yesterday because of aircraft technical difficulties,
prompting today's change of departure venue.

"The International Organisation for Migration will help with embarkation in Sydney
and a couple of members will accompany the refugees on the flight," an Immigration Department
spokesman said.

"The department will have escorts on the flight as well."

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said yesterday the refugees were returning home
because the United Nations had declared their homeland safe.

He expressed disappointment that other refugees had taken legal action to stay in Australia,
but said no-one would be forced on board the plane.

Anyone who did not depart willingly, however, would take on unlawful status and be
detained and deported.

He said he had considered postponing the return of the refugees until after a High
Court decision involving 65 refugees who wanted to stay in Australia.

Chief Justice Murray Gleeson was expected to announce his decision tomorrow afternoon.

But Mr Ruddock said any extra delay would be unfair to those who already knew they
were going home and were packed and waiting.

"It disappoints me that others who could have joined the flight home have launched
legal proceedings but that is an entitlement that anyone here is entitled to make," Mr
Ruddock said.

He stressed it was in the interests of the refugees to return home and rebuild their lives.

Meanwhile, 13 of those originally due to fly home this weekend had been allowed last-minute
extensions based on new information given to the minister late last week.

Seven of those had been given medical extensions until the end of the month, while
two families-of-three had been allowed to apply for special protection visas.

MORE jo/mh/sk/lw/bwl

KEYWORD: KOSOVO AUST DAYLEAD

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.