A 15-year-old asylum seeker girl believed to have attempted self-harm has been evacuated to Australia from the Nauru detention centre, the government confirmed on Saturday, as it drew strong criticism for its freshly signed Cambodian refugee deal, designed to offer sanctuary to asylum seekers currently on Nauru.
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Amnesty International said the Cambodian agreement was "a new low" in Australia's already "deplorable and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers", adding its voice to the criticisms of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, who said the deal was a "worrying departure from international norms".
The condemnation came as Immigration Minister Scott Morrison weathered criticism for sipping champagne with Cambodian government officials to formalise the four-year Memorandum of Understanding, a gesture Mr Morrison said was simply in keeping with local protocol and simple courtesy.
"I'm not going to disrespect my host," Mr Morrison said of accepting the champagne.
The four-year deal, signed in Phnom Penh on Friday night, has also been criticised as ineffectual and expensive, as Cambodia will only accept refugees who elect to move to the poor, developing-world country, and will only accept them at a pace its government deems acceptable.
The re-settlement deal, which is timed to coincide with a commitment of $40 million in Australian aid to the impoverished south-east Asian country, will be available to up to 1000 asylum-seekers currently on Nauru who are deemed to be genuine refugees.
But Cambodia has only agreed to take a maximum of five refugees so far.
Cambodia's Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, told reporters in Cambodia on Friday: "We will try to take four or five people, maybe two or three [initially]".
In its statement, Amnesty questioned Cambodia's suitability as a host country for refugees from Australia.
"In January the Australian government condemned Cambodia's human rights record at a UN human rights hearing, but will now relocate vulnerable refugees, possibly including children, to the country," said Rupert Abbott, the Deputy Asia-Pacific Director at Amnesty International.
Australia will fund re-settlement packages, including housing and health insurance, for refugees who elect to go to Cambodia under the deal.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection said the 15-year-old asylum seeker girl was receiving medical treatment in Australia. She was accompanied to Australia by a relative.
"It is longstanding government practice not to confirm or comment on reports of individual acts of self-harm," the spokesperson said.
Refugee advocacy group Refugee Action Coalition said there had been protests over the weekend at the Nauru detention camps. The group claimed two people had sewed their lips together and a man had cut his own throat.
"The minister has been advised that the department is aware that some transferees are engaging in peaceful protest activity in Nauru, and is working with its service providers to ensure the continued safety and good order of the facility," Mr Morrison's spokesperson said.
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