BY ALEX BAINBRIDGE
HOBART — "One last chance" was the headline of the July 11 Hobart Mercury. The newspaper reported that 17-year-old Ruth Cruz had asked federal immigration minister Philip Ruddock to personally intervene before a July 29 deadline for her to leave the country or be deported.
Cruz fled El Salvador after escaping from kidnappers. She has been in Australia for three years and lives with her older sister, who is married to a permanent resident. Her mother was killed when she was four and her father has not been involved in her upbringing. Cruz's school has hired an immigration lawyer and is supporting her attempt to stay in Australia.
On July 15, the Mercury reported that the Hobart City Council had passed a motion calling on Ruddock to allow Cruz to stay in Australia. Conservative council member Ron Christie called for mass protests if the government tried to deport her.
Labor Premier Jim Bacon and arch-conservative Liberal senator Eric Abetz also support Cruz's attempts to stay. Cruz has been granted a bridging visa to allow her appeal to be heard.
Tasmanians For Refugees are circulating a petition calling on Ruddock to "respond with compassion" and allow Cruz to stay.
From Green Left Weekly, July 23, 2003.
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