Asylum seekers - not a flood - analysis

Why Australia is failing on asylum seek seekers

4:56pm, Jul 13
GUY GOODWIN GILL Senior Research Fellow, Oxford. Professor of International Refugee Law.

  

The secrecy and denial surrounding the government’s asylum-seeker practices are anti-democratic, writes Guy Goodwin Gill.

Asylum seeker supporters at Parliament House. Photo: Getty

In the present controversy over Australia’s interception and forcible return policy, many facts are forgotten among the facile assertions of lawfulness and legitimacy.

We know, for example, that a significant majority of those reaching Australian waters by boat in the past had good reason to seek international protection – they were found to be at risk of persecution. We know, too, that all is not well in many a country of origin, and we can reasonably infer that refugees with a well-founded fear were among those just handed back by the Australian navy.

RACS T shirts

RACS (Refugee Advice and Case Work Service) T Shirts

Also caps


http://shop.racs.org.au/index.php?route=product/product&path=60&product_id=52

Refugee Advice and Case Work Service web site

http://www.racs.org.au

Free the Children Installation - prototype

Chilout created an installation in Sydney to allow a particpant to enter, collect a doll and take it out of detention.

They are encouraging communities to make their own installations and we have started expanding our ideas.

New variation on Chilout installation - Free the Children, with old teddy standing in for a baby.

A couple of dolls would be looking out and the rest huddled together at the back. 

The teddy (doll) can be taken out of the cot, and placed in a colourful area with flowers and cushions etc and the rescuing child would play with it and the parent would take the card attached and send the letter to the Minister (see the letter below cot photos).

Th installation uses a portable  cot which folds up into a small suitcase size container. The cot will sit inside a gazebo with the area to one side of the cot showing posters and the other side of the gazebo space would be decorated with colour and joy.

The name of the folding cot is particularly relevant

First prototype attempt

We would like the installation to be easily transportable, so we have started with a gazebo as a frame, the restricting fence is dog wire and it has an entrance and an exit.

The following are photographs of our first attempt with comments.

The gazebo is probably too large and high. The cover for this gazebo does not come off, so if the level is lower you cannot see anything inside. For this installation the fence is supported by star pickets - not a good idea if it is indoors.

Dog wire is used to make the fence.

We did not have any dolls, so a 50 year old teddy bear had to stand in. He is looking out waiting for someone to rescue him. The number reminds you that the teddy is being referred to by number and dehumanised.

Teddy looking out but with poster above reminding visitors that 1023 children are being held in detention

We went to the  Bellingen FREE MARKET  last Sunday in the hope of finding some dolls - no luck.

However in explaining our project to the organiser there (a mother with young children), it became apparent that there might be concern at upsetting the children if they understood the full implications. Of course the intention is to make the parent disturbed at the thought of what is happening to children in detention.

Perhaps the installation should be decorated to make it less frightening as well as having posters showing that detention is frightening.

Please email bellingen.rar@gmail.com if you have any ideas or structures that would help and dolls.

Silent Protest in Coffs Harbour Friday 4 July 2014

NBN television coverage of our Silent Protest on Friday 4th of July. Well done to everyone.

click on photo to start video


More than thirty people took part in the silent protest in Coffs Harbour, parading through the streets to take up a 15 minute silent protest outside the office of Luke Hartsuyker.

NBN television and local ABC radio attended and interviewed John Pollock.

The parade received applause and being silent attention was drawn to the banners and posters

scroll down to see "still" photographs

The Power of Silent Protest - photos of the Coffs Harbour protest against persecution of Asylum Seekers 4 July 2014

More than thirty people took part in the silent protest in Coffs Harbour, parading through the streets to take up a 15 minute silent protest outside the office of Luke Hartsuyker.

NBN television and local ABC radio attended and interviewed John Pollock.

The parade received applause and being silent attention was drawn to the banners and posters

Letter to Luke Hartsuyker and Scott Morrison - return of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers - 8 July 2014

Dear Luke Hartsuyker,

The return of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to Sri Lanka and the secrecy surrounding this action is both morally indefensible and in contravention of international law. Returning these people to Sri Lanka exposes them to risks of serious harm, including physical and mental torture.  

It appears that the refugee status of the people on board has been assessed by cursory questioning and with no concern for due legal process.

Sri Lanka is a refugee-producing country. Historically, 90% of Sri Lankan asylum seekers arriving by boat in Australia have been found to be refugees. Even in 2012/13, when the number of Sri Lankan boat arrivals reached its peak, a majority of arrivals were found to be refugees.

The same Sri Lankan security forces to which the Australian government has just delivered the asylum seekers stand accused of gross human rights abuses.

Detention is inherently dangerous in Sri Lanka. Torture and other serious human rights abuses are widespread in the custody of Sri Lankan security forces, including the police. Abusers are rarely, if ever, brought to account.

Any critics of the Sri Lankan government – be they journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers or opposition politicians – face serious threats to their life and personal security, including abduction, torture and enforced disappearance and death.

The simple but critically important promise at the heart of the refugee convention is that we will not return people to harm. The only way to ensure that we keep this promise is to give asylum seekers access to Australia’s normal refugee status determination process.The extraordinary secrecy that shrouded the fate of this boat, and that of another boat with 153 or so asylum seekers, shows the lengths to which the Coalition Government is determined to go to prevent people from accessing that process and their rights under International law.

The government’s policy diminishes Australia as a nation in the eyes of the world. The denial of information also treats the Australian public in a disdainful and dismissive way.

I wish to express my profound opposition to these actions and policies and would be most interested to have your own view on these issues.

Yours sincerely,

Marlene 

8. 7. 2014

letter from Marlene sri lankan boat 8 July 2014

Dear Luke Hartsuyker,

The return of 41 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to Sri Lanka and the secrecy surrounding this action is both morally indefensible and in contravention of international law. Returning these people to Sri Lanka exposes them to risks of serious harm, including physical and mental torture.  

It appears that the refugee status of the people on board has been assessed by cursory questioning and with no concern for due legal process.

Sri Lanka is a refugee-producing country. Historically, 90% of Sri Lankan asylum seekers arriving by boat in Australia have been found to be refugees. Even in 2012/13, when the number of Sri Lankan boat arrivals reached its peak, a majority of arrivals were found to be refugees.

The same Sri Lankan security forces to which the Australian government has just delivered the asylum seekers stand accused of gross human rights abuses.

Detention is inherently dangerous in Sri Lanka. Torture and other serious human rights abuses are widespread in the custody of Sri Lankan security forces, including the police. Abusers are rarely, if ever, brought to account.

Any critics of the Sri Lankan government – be they journalists, human rights defenders, lawyers or opposition politicians – face serious threats to their life and personal security, including abduction, torture and enforced disappearance and death.

The simple but critically important promise at the heart of the refugee convention is that we will not return people to harm. The only way to ensure that we keep this promise is to give asylum seekers access to Australia’s normal refugee status determination process.The extraordinary secrecy that shrouded the fate of this boat, and that of another boat with 153 or so asylum seekers, shows the lengths to which the Coalition Government is determined to go to prevent people from accessing that process and their rights under International law.

The government’s policy diminishes Australia as a nation in the eyes of the world. The denial of information also treats the Australian public in a disdainful and dismissive way.

I wish to express my profound opposition to these actions and policies and would be most interested to have your own view on these issues.

Yours sincerely,

Marlene Griffin

8. 7. 2014

Adrian Lipscomb's version of the poem now called "Morrison's Lament"

I wrote the following in November 2013 and posted it to FB when Morrison first decided to refuse to comment on "on water" matters. Since then its relevance seems to grow daily ...

First asylum seeker boat returned to country of origin, with Australian navy frigate guiding vessel back to Sri Lanka

July 6, 2014 11:24pm

simon benson national political editorThe Daily Telegraph

THE mystery of at least one of two asylum seeker boats at the centre of a week-long controversy has been solved — all 41 passengers have already arrived safely on their home soil.

In what is the first operation undertaken to return asylum seekers back to their country of origin by boat, an Australian navy frigate acting under border protection command sailed the Sri Lankan group back across the Indian Ocean after immigration officials deemed them to be economic refugees.

The operation also marked the first attempt by Sri Lankan asylum seekers to reach Australia since last October.

The Daily Telegraph can now confirm one boat that set sail from Sri Lanka in late June was intercepted by an Australian customs vessel last week.

The government has been under siege from refugee advocacy groups, human rights lawyers and some sections of the media since last month, for refusing to comment on or confirm that two boats suspected of carrying up to 200 asylum seekers had made it to Australians waters off Christmas Island. But border protection sources have confirmed ­neither of the boats reached Australia’s maritime zone.

The first vessel, containing the 41 asylum seekers, was intercepted well outside Australia’s maritime borders — in the contiguous zone west of Cocos Islands, more than 1000km west of Christmas Island and halfway between Sri Lanka and the Australian mainland.

Change.org Petition

Petition from change.org Change.org: "UN Secretary General: Remove Australia from the Security Council unless IMMEDIATE action is taken to comply with international law".

http://www.change.org/p/un-secretary-general-remove-australia-from-the-security-council-unless-immediate-action-is-taken-to-comply-with-international-law/u/53b6514d176dce120702615e?recruiter=62964796&utm_source=share_update&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mailto_link_mobile

"The majority of the Australian population do not support their governments actions in treating refugees as "illegal" referring to them as "illegal" and refusing them the rights that are guaranteed under the Refugee Convention to which Australia is a signatory. Especially the specific action of handing refugees back into the arms of the Government from whom they are trying to escape.

The Humanitarian response to people fleeing persecution and threat to their lives is to offer support and safety until such time as the threat is removed and it is safe for them to return to their homeland.

There must be a clear and transparent process for the evaluation of their refugee status, the steps taken to record the process by which the decison to accept their status as Refugees has been accepted or rejected. 

UNHCR must explain why they have allowed the Australian Government to flaunt their constant breaches of the Refugee Convention, they must also explain their silence on the illegal actions of handing refugees back to their tormentors without conducting a full evaluation of their status."

Letter to Minister Morrison - Christian viewpoint on 50/50 chance of persecution 26 June 2014

From: Barbera 

To: minister@immi.gov.au

Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 10:28 PM

Subject: Refugees 50/50 chance.

Dear Minister Morrison,

I never write to Ministers, but upon watching your speech to refugees in detention centres I believe that as a Christian I must speak up.

I hasten to say that I have no objection to you sending back people who hail from countries at peace and have legal avenues of entry, but I strongly oppose  the return of people to their countries of origin, if these countries are known to be dangerous and are actively persecuting their people because of religion or ethnicity.

I am especially appalled at your proposed legislation that if people face a 50/50 chance of being executed they may be send back

Who will be the judge of this risk............... not you personally ......................but some twenty something year old government employee who has spent his or her whole life in the comfort of middle class Australia.

A 50/50 chance of persecution ...............................is a life hanging by a thread.  

I should know as I survived the Nazi Regime.

Your proposal is not a service to Australia, we are not in a war situation when lives sometimes must be sacrified, but this is purely  a breach of morality.

As a fellow Christian I implore you to exercise your Christian conscience and show mercy to these troubled souls. 

Yours in Christian Fellowship,

Silent Protest Coffs Harbour Friday 4 July 2014 at 11.30am

Join us in Coffs Harbour to show your compassion for Refugees and 

protest agains the brutality of the Federal Government.

11.30am Friday 4 July meeting opposite 

Coffs Central Shopping Complex Harbour Drive

"utterly dismayed..." letter to Scott Morrison

27 June 2014

Dear Scott Morrison,

I was utterly dismayed to learn yesterday that you now plan to make life even more difficult for asylum seekers looking for a safe haven in Australia. To suggest that asylum seekers will in future have to demonstrate that they face at least a  50% chance of persecution if they return to their country of origin before their claims for asylum will be considered is both impractical and morally reprehensible.   It seems that your government is more interested in political posturing than in meeting its obligations under the international  Conventions to which Australia is a signatory. At a time when there  are more refugees in the world than ever, you are insisting that these people are not welcome here and instead are to be pilloried and demonised by our political leaders. We may be “open for business”, but we are clearly not willing to share the international burden of taking care of some of the most vulnerable and desperate  people on the planet.

The damage that your populist political posturing is inflicting on Australia’s international reputation is immense.

Be assured that you do not act in my name.

Yours sincerely,

Mike 

Valla Beach,

Bellingen Community Markets Saturday 21 June 2014

Our stall at the Bellingen Community Markets on Saturday 21 June 2014.

The market experience on Saturday was heartening in that a number of people visiting the stall were sympathetic to our views and very willing to sign the petitions . We had several visitors who work directly with refugees or who are teachers or social workers . During the morning we collected a  substantial sum in donations .

There were a few bystanders passing who may have taken messages away via the publicity materials on view and it is possible that some visitors to the stall had their support for asylum seekers reinforced by the message that there are others who feel the same way as them.

check out the new banner

Sydney Morning Herald Poll- 75% support closing of shore detention centres 17 June 2014

Poll: Would you support the closure of the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres?

Yes

75%

No

25%

Total votes: 9995.

Poll closed 17 Jun, 2014

Disclaimer:

These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-mps-fail-to-reverse-partys-asylum-processing-stance-20140617-3aalr.html#ixzz34wBRlQZx

Another worthwhile petition from Amnesty International

Another worthwhile petition from Amnesty International.

http://secretsandlives.com.au/?utm_medium=Facebook&utm_source=prompost&utm_campaign=secretsandlives

Demand the answers you deserve

The Australian Government’s offshore asylum seeker detention policy is kept secret from the people who pay for it: YOU.

SECRETS AND LIVES

Question - how to engage a wider audience to change attitudes on Asylum Seekers?

Lowy Institute survey on asylum seeker policy

Doug has made the following comment.

We heard the results of a survey recently of Australian's attitude to refugees and it was suggested that way more than half of us had no sympathy for these people and agreed with the governments policy. It appears we have a lot of work to do in the community to turn that attitude around. To my mind market stalls mostly only appeal to the converted minority and we need to find a way to engage with a wider audience.

John comments

If the questions had asked whether one supported the illegal detetion of people including children in substandard accommodation, after surviving torture and trauma in their own countries, fleeing with few possessions and legally appealing for Asylum one would hope the response might have been more sympathetic.

David Comments

This chart shows a bell curve which shows that attention to the middle ground could move attitudes from disagree to agree.

Steve Biddulph has said   "Don't fight your enemies ( there are no enemies) - grow your friends

..."Concentrate on the middle, the larger number of people who are merely less involved...When the middle moves everything changes. Aim for that"

Does anyone have any ideas to change opinions?  Please email bellingen.rar@gmail.com with your ideas

Send a poem to your politicians

Judy sent poems to 150 Members of Parliament.

One of these follows

Some Politicians                          by Judith Rodriguez

To have preached even for a moment

that money matters

more than the good it buys

to have proclaimed the end of caring;

to have unmothered the State

                     and left orphans to the wind;

to have waged phony battle

on the homeless and fugitive,

the needy come to our door;

to have danced on a tally of the drowned

to have pursued the desperate

for electoral triumph;

these are your names

on the sea-bed at our shore gate

behind razor wire

among the fatherless

the trapped and the destitute

and among the separated families.

Please use this poem to bring pressure on your politician 
to be more compassionate and stop the cruelty to asylum seekers.

However it was reported at the meeting held on 1 June 2014 that six handwritten letters are more powerful than templates and emails,and will be read by the recipient.   

Phone calls are also more likely to get the message to the intended recipient.

Click on the button above "Ideas for letters and emails sent  to"