Human cost of government cruelty
By Roberto Jorquera
PERTH — Opponents of Australia's harsh anti-refugee policies told a public meeting here on March 1 that the federal government is avoiding its international and human rights responsibilities. The public forum, attended by 35 people and sponsored by Green Left Weekly, addressed the topic, "Refugees — the human cost of government cruelty".
Amnesty International's Amanda Bolleter compared the Australian government's refugee intake with that of other Western countries and said it was clear that Australia was failing dismally. In the 1998-1999 financial year, Bolleter noted, Australia took in 12,000 refugees while Canada accepted 24,000, the United Kingdom 51,000 and Germany 98,000.
The conditions asylum seekers had to endure while awaiting a decision on their case were a violation of their human rights, Bolleter said. She was especially critical of Australia's practice of mandatorily detaining asylum seekers.
Paul Kyaw, representing the Burmese community in Perth, summed up the situation that has forced on many Burmese people to seek refuge. The people of Burma are subject to continual intimidation and persecution by the 500,000-strong Burmese army, Kyaw said. One hundred thousand people have been forced to flee into Thailand and thousands more to other neighbouring countries, including Australia.
"This is the human side of the refugee crisis", Kyaw said.
Ana Kailis, the Democratic Socialist Party's Fremantle branch organiser, told the meeting that Australia is only taking in 0.04% of the world's 21 million refugees. She rejected any argument that refugees should simply join the queue and wait their turn. "According to the immigration minister, Philip Ruddock, it could take up to 40 years for their case to be heard", she said.
Bolleter urged those present to join the Refugee Emergency Action Network's contact list and to protest against any further deportations. For further information about anti-deportation actions in WA, contact Amnesty International on 9426 4216 or the Resistance Centre on 9227 7367.