Australian Broadcasting Corporation
TV PROGRAM TRANSCRIPT
If you can't laugh you just cry all the time....
Friday, October 28, 2005
Our shame: Refugee Action Coalition of NSW Media Release
Protests in three capital cities today will highlight the plight of asylum seekers stranded on the Indonesian island of Lombok for up to four years.
Over 90 asylum seekers (Afghan, Iraqi and Vietnamese) including many children are held in a refugee camp on Lombok run by the International Organisation for Migration, paid for by the Australian government.
October 28 is the 4th anniversary of the interception by the Australian navy of the refugee boat called SIEV 7. Although the boat of mostly Afghan asylum seekers made it to Ashmore Reef, the Australian navy towed the boat back to Indonesian waters where the boat was disabled by naval officers, leaving the asylum seekers to be rescued by fishermen.
"Lombok is an untold and shameful part of the government's so-called Pacific solution," said Ian Rintoul.
"The Lombok asylum seekers made it to Australian territory. But they were towed back as the government implemented One Nation policies and excised territory like Ashmore Reef from the effect of the Migration Act in the wake of the Tampa.
"Many of those asylum seekers were taken to Nauru and now that most of the asylum seekers on Nauru are being brought to Australia, it is time for the Australian government to face up to its responsibility to those it forcibly took to Lombok. It pays for the camp on Lombok but won't accept that it is responsible for those living there. Had they been processed in Australia, there is no doubt that most of them would be recognised as refugees and be living in the community."
"The government claims that its border protection save lives but in fact many lives have been lost and wasted by the Pacific solution. 353 asylum seekers drowned on SIEV X at the time the government was intercepting refugee boats and hundreds languished on Nauru and Lombok, for far too long.
"It is time this shameful episode in Australia's treatment of asylum seekers was bought to a close and those on Lombok resettled in Australia."
"A report by an Australian who visited Lombok, described their situation as: destitute absolutely hopeless...dependent on inadequate support provide by IOM..." They are unable to work, or travel and unable to return. Four years of their lives has been wasted by their disgraceful treatment – they have been treated worse than criminals but have committed no crime. This is another part of the mess of the immigration department that we are waiting for the minister to clean up," said Ian Rintoul.
In a letter from Lombok which will be read at the protest, one asylum seeker writes,: We had attempted to find a shelter to save our life and make a safe life and better future especially for our children, but here in Lombok we Afghan Refugees are suffering from an intolerable and unimaginable condition. We lost our hope, our family, friends, relatives and our own life.
We request Australian Immigration to be responsible for the Lombok refugees who were returned from Australian water, and to treat us in the same way as the Nauru refugees, that have been interviewed by Australian Immigration."
Hunger strike continues: Meanwhile the hunger strike by six Chinese asylum seekers continues at the Villawood detention centre. After a one-day solidarity hunger strike protest by most of the Villawood detainees, the men are determined to continue their action until they get some answer from the Department of Immigration. The Refugee Action Coalition has called a protest at Villawood for Saturday 10.30am, Miowera Rd entrance.
For more information contact: Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
Refugee Action Collective, Melbourne, Tom Petterson 0438 399 973
Over 90 asylum seekers (Afghan, Iraqi and Vietnamese) including many children are held in a refugee camp on Lombok run by the International Organisation for Migration, paid for by the Australian government.
October 28 is the 4th anniversary of the interception by the Australian navy of the refugee boat called SIEV 7. Although the boat of mostly Afghan asylum seekers made it to Ashmore Reef, the Australian navy towed the boat back to Indonesian waters where the boat was disabled by naval officers, leaving the asylum seekers to be rescued by fishermen.
"Lombok is an untold and shameful part of the government's so-called Pacific solution," said Ian Rintoul.
"The Lombok asylum seekers made it to Australian territory. But they were towed back as the government implemented One Nation policies and excised territory like Ashmore Reef from the effect of the Migration Act in the wake of the Tampa.
"Many of those asylum seekers were taken to Nauru and now that most of the asylum seekers on Nauru are being brought to Australia, it is time for the Australian government to face up to its responsibility to those it forcibly took to Lombok. It pays for the camp on Lombok but won't accept that it is responsible for those living there. Had they been processed in Australia, there is no doubt that most of them would be recognised as refugees and be living in the community."
"The government claims that its border protection save lives but in fact many lives have been lost and wasted by the Pacific solution. 353 asylum seekers drowned on SIEV X at the time the government was intercepting refugee boats and hundreds languished on Nauru and Lombok, for far too long.
"It is time this shameful episode in Australia's treatment of asylum seekers was bought to a close and those on Lombok resettled in Australia."
"A report by an Australian who visited Lombok, described their situation as: destitute absolutely hopeless...dependent on inadequate support provide by IOM..." They are unable to work, or travel and unable to return. Four years of their lives has been wasted by their disgraceful treatment – they have been treated worse than criminals but have committed no crime. This is another part of the mess of the immigration department that we are waiting for the minister to clean up," said Ian Rintoul.
In a letter from Lombok which will be read at the protest, one asylum seeker writes,: We had attempted to find a shelter to save our life and make a safe life and better future especially for our children, but here in Lombok we Afghan Refugees are suffering from an intolerable and unimaginable condition. We lost our hope, our family, friends, relatives and our own life.
We request Australian Immigration to be responsible for the Lombok refugees who were returned from Australian water, and to treat us in the same way as the Nauru refugees, that have been interviewed by Australian Immigration."
Hunger strike continues: Meanwhile the hunger strike by six Chinese asylum seekers continues at the Villawood detention centre. After a one-day solidarity hunger strike protest by most of the Villawood detainees, the men are determined to continue their action until they get some answer from the Department of Immigration. The Refugee Action Coalition has called a protest at Villawood for Saturday 10.30am, Miowera Rd entrance.
For more information contact: Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
Refugee Action Collective, Melbourne, Tom Petterson 0438 399 973
Monday, October 24, 2005
Appalling decision to execute Nguyen Tuong Van
I do not usually digress from the key theme of this blog, ie. the Australian Government's egregious approach to asylum seekers.
Today, however, I am posting part of an email I sent the Singapore High Commission this morning calling for the sentence to execute Nguyen Tuong Van to be commuted:
"I am writing to register my anger at the decision of your Government to execute Van Tuong Nguyen, an Australian citizen, despite the clearly articulated mitigating circumstances in his case.
I am a long-time opponent of the death penalty in any circumstances, because I believe members of a society demean themselves by tolerating acts of barbarism in the name of justice.
This cruel and inhumane punishment is applied regularly in Singapore, and I am hopeful that right minded people in Singapore and around the world will protest this barbarity."
Howard and Downer claim that nothing more can be done but that is not good enough in my book.
Mr Nguyen's lawyers have'nt given up and I call on like minded readers to protest this decision by the Singaporean authorities.
The email address of the High Commission of Singapore in Canberra is:
singapore_hc@bigpond.com.
The High Commission website is:
http://www.mfa.gov.sg/canberra/
Today, however, I am posting part of an email I sent the Singapore High Commission this morning calling for the sentence to execute Nguyen Tuong Van to be commuted:
"I am writing to register my anger at the decision of your Government to execute Van Tuong Nguyen, an Australian citizen, despite the clearly articulated mitigating circumstances in his case.
I am a long-time opponent of the death penalty in any circumstances, because I believe members of a society demean themselves by tolerating acts of barbarism in the name of justice.
This cruel and inhumane punishment is applied regularly in Singapore, and I am hopeful that right minded people in Singapore and around the world will protest this barbarity."
Howard and Downer claim that nothing more can be done but that is not good enough in my book.
Mr Nguyen's lawyers have'nt given up and I call on like minded readers to protest this decision by the Singaporean authorities.
The email address of the High Commission of Singapore in Canberra is:
singapore_hc@bigpond.com.
The High Commission website is:
http://www.mfa.gov.sg/canberra/
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Friday, October 21, 2005
...and in America Amnesty takes on the Patriot Act
Does this story from the US sound familiar? I wonder where Howard and Ruddock get their ideas for an effective 'wedge'!
Thursday, October 20, 2005
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