14 February 2011
In the face of growing attacks on the rights of refugees arriving by boats and the campaigns to demonise them by political parties, the Social Justice Network has decided to run refugee arrived by boat as candidate for highly multicultural seat of Lakemba. The main reason for this move is to give true picture about the successful integration of these people.
“Omar Quiader’s candidacy for the seat of Lakemba is a clear message to all conservative forces in the society that boat people is no threat to our society” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson for the SJN and coordinator of the election campaign. “On the contrary. Despite the big obstacles put in front of their acceptance and successful integration in the society, they proved to be no different than any other Australian”
“Our campaign aims to put some human face on the issue of boat arrivals to this country. We want to demonstrate that Omar is normal person who does all in his capacity to advance the prosperity of this nation”
The candidacy will also send strong message to political parties claim to be progressive and supporting refugees rights. The simple message we aim to deliver to these politicians is that actions are always louder than talks.
“Fighting against racism and xenophobia and for real multiculturalism by media releases only is neither effective nor genuine. The so called “progressive” parties, especially the Greens, should understand that presenting to parliament a boat people would be enough to quell racist campaigns against boat arrivals”.
“On the other hand, failing to take practical step on this issue is a clear message that these political parties are using the plight of boat people (and general refugees and new migrants’) for electoral gains only. The fiery media releases during Federal campaigns with no practical steps to counteract racist campaigns are clear indication of Greens lack of any commitments to any social justice issue, including rights of refugees and asylum seekers”
“Such clear indications would be guiding us when discussing how to allocate our preferences in this election”.
Omar Quiader, who returned recently from trip to Gaza participating in Viva Palestina 5, is committed political campaigner for equal rights of marginalised groups. Omar will attend this Tuesday the funeral of victims of boat crashed off Christmas Island to pay his respect for the victims died en route to Australia seeking protection and better life.
For more information, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272. Omar can be contacted on 0403 624 564.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Social-Justice-Networks-candidates-for-NSW-election-March-2011/129158060486055?sk=wall
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
SJN runs candidates in NSW election on Real Multiculturalism and public services platforms
After deep disappointment of mainstream parties’ failures to field candidates from marginalised communities, the Social Justice Network decided to run candidates from these communities in the coming NSW election, March 2011.
“The SJN finds it very alarming that the mainstream parties represented in the state parliament failed to field new migrants as candidates for the next state election. Even the so-called progressive parties will run mainly English speaking candidates, despite the fact that NSW is the most multicultural state in Australia” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson for the SJN and candidate for Auburn in the next election. “We find it difficult to believe that these parties could not find suitable candidates who speaks English as second language to run them in the election to represent the needs of new migrant voters”
“We run candidates to give practical example that the non-English speaking NSW residents have comprehensive understanding of political process and can be good politicians if given chance. Not only this. We want to demonstrate that new migrants who speaks English as second language are good citizens who will do everything they can to participate in advancing the prosperity of this nation”
In the wake of constant attacks on Multiculturalism in the society, we expected that “progressive” and “semi-progressive” political forces will take courageous steps to counteract these attacks. We believe that the best steps to achieve this would be by presenting non-English speaking politicians to lead the fight against racism and Islamophobia.
“Attacks on multiculturalism do not result in growing racism and Islamophobia only. It affects the successful integration of these groups and consequently affects their life style. We note the many researches about the growing discrimination in employment, for example, that prevents access of new migrants to jobs equal to their qualifications and expertise”
“Our repeated campaigns in the last few years during elections proved that NSW residents have great concerns over attacks on Multiculturalism and the lack of real multiculturalism in the society. It also demonstrates very clearly that voters are very disappointed from the mainstream parties (especially the Labor, Liberals and the Greens) on these issues”
The network will run its spokesperson and co-founder, the human rights campaigner, Jamal Daoud, for the seat of Auburn. There are discussions to run other candidates from marginalised communities in other high multicultural seats of Lakemba, Bankstown and Fairfield. The group will announce the names of candidates later on in the campaign.
The three mainstream parties should expect hard campaign and should come with some convincing arguments why their tickets lack new migrants names.
For more information or to arrange media talks, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
“The SJN finds it very alarming that the mainstream parties represented in the state parliament failed to field new migrants as candidates for the next state election. Even the so-called progressive parties will run mainly English speaking candidates, despite the fact that NSW is the most multicultural state in Australia” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson for the SJN and candidate for Auburn in the next election. “We find it difficult to believe that these parties could not find suitable candidates who speaks English as second language to run them in the election to represent the needs of new migrant voters”
“We run candidates to give practical example that the non-English speaking NSW residents have comprehensive understanding of political process and can be good politicians if given chance. Not only this. We want to demonstrate that new migrants who speaks English as second language are good citizens who will do everything they can to participate in advancing the prosperity of this nation”
In the wake of constant attacks on Multiculturalism in the society, we expected that “progressive” and “semi-progressive” political forces will take courageous steps to counteract these attacks. We believe that the best steps to achieve this would be by presenting non-English speaking politicians to lead the fight against racism and Islamophobia.
“Attacks on multiculturalism do not result in growing racism and Islamophobia only. It affects the successful integration of these groups and consequently affects their life style. We note the many researches about the growing discrimination in employment, for example, that prevents access of new migrants to jobs equal to their qualifications and expertise”
“Our repeated campaigns in the last few years during elections proved that NSW residents have great concerns over attacks on Multiculturalism and the lack of real multiculturalism in the society. It also demonstrates very clearly that voters are very disappointed from the mainstream parties (especially the Labor, Liberals and the Greens) on these issues”
The network will run its spokesperson and co-founder, the human rights campaigner, Jamal Daoud, for the seat of Auburn. There are discussions to run other candidates from marginalised communities in other high multicultural seats of Lakemba, Bankstown and Fairfield. The group will announce the names of candidates later on in the campaign.
The three mainstream parties should expect hard campaign and should come with some convincing arguments why their tickets lack new migrants names.
For more information or to arrange media talks, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Chris Bowen announcement: Off-shore processing should be scraped
While the Social Justice Network is welcoming the minister for immigration’s reply to High Court ruling but consider the reply to be “so little so late” and lack any political courage. The SJN understands that the High Court ruling actually dismantled the validity of off-shore processing system, including the excision of thousands of Australian islands from migration zone.
“The minister reply was lacking any political context. He affirmed that the government will comply to the ruling, as it constitutionally and legally should” said Jamal Daoud, the spokesperson of SJN. “The minister should have gone further and declared the death of off-shore processing regimes”
“Now, regardless of the way you arrive to Australia, all asylum seekers will have access to legal system. In practical terms, the off-shore processing system is buried and cremated”
“But the minister did not tell us also how his department will deal with the lengthy delays in processing of cases. Some of these asylum seekers are in detention centers for more than 1.5 years and suffering from deep mental health issues”
We expect that ALL detainees will apply for judicial review. This will flood the judicial system with cases. But it also means that the detention centers overcrowding and flourishing of mental health troubles.
“The department should expect that it will deal with some unrest, protests and even desperate action by unstable detainees. The minister should have announced some progressive steps to avoid this”
“The minister should have considered taking some steps in this regard. Steps like releasing long time detainees and detainees with mental health problems into community on temporary visas until their cases finalized”.
“The government will have blood on their hands if more detainees will lose their lives inside detention centers waiting for judicial review and release”.
“The department’s own statistics show very clearly that the overwheliming majority of boat people arrived to Australia in the last decades are genuine refugees. The government has responsibility to insure quick status determination, as per Labor own policy to not keep any detainee more than 3 months in detention”.
Later on, and after the majority of these detainees will be found to be refugees, we will have enough time to ask the Labor immigration ministers why panic during election campaign resulted in the high rejection of genuine refugees and the consequent overcrowding and deep troubles inside detention centers, including suicide of many asylum seekers.
The government should have the courage to announce progressive steps to release the largest bulk of detainees on temporary visas until judicial system finalized. The government should have also some courage to announce the end of off-shore processing system. The smaller partners of the government (mainly the Greens, who flourished on asylum seekers’ issues) should demand change of policy now.
The SJN still believe and still fight to see the mandatory detention system scrapped altogether. Australia should end playing political football with this highly humanitarian issue. Such game costs lives and social cohesion.
Any resort from the Liberal opposition to play the game of claiming that these changes will encourage people smugglers activities should be condemned by strongest words. The people smugglers work never stopped in the history. If opposition are serious to stop people smuggling activities, they should help in ending conflicts and social injustices around the globe. Such conflicts and injusticies that are playing major role as pushing factors.
For more information or to arrange media talks, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
“The minister reply was lacking any political context. He affirmed that the government will comply to the ruling, as it constitutionally and legally should” said Jamal Daoud, the spokesperson of SJN. “The minister should have gone further and declared the death of off-shore processing regimes”
“Now, regardless of the way you arrive to Australia, all asylum seekers will have access to legal system. In practical terms, the off-shore processing system is buried and cremated”
“But the minister did not tell us also how his department will deal with the lengthy delays in processing of cases. Some of these asylum seekers are in detention centers for more than 1.5 years and suffering from deep mental health issues”
We expect that ALL detainees will apply for judicial review. This will flood the judicial system with cases. But it also means that the detention centers overcrowding and flourishing of mental health troubles.
“The department should expect that it will deal with some unrest, protests and even desperate action by unstable detainees. The minister should have announced some progressive steps to avoid this”
“The minister should have considered taking some steps in this regard. Steps like releasing long time detainees and detainees with mental health problems into community on temporary visas until their cases finalized”.
“The government will have blood on their hands if more detainees will lose their lives inside detention centers waiting for judicial review and release”.
“The department’s own statistics show very clearly that the overwheliming majority of boat people arrived to Australia in the last decades are genuine refugees. The government has responsibility to insure quick status determination, as per Labor own policy to not keep any detainee more than 3 months in detention”.
Later on, and after the majority of these detainees will be found to be refugees, we will have enough time to ask the Labor immigration ministers why panic during election campaign resulted in the high rejection of genuine refugees and the consequent overcrowding and deep troubles inside detention centers, including suicide of many asylum seekers.
The government should have the courage to announce progressive steps to release the largest bulk of detainees on temporary visas until judicial system finalized. The government should have also some courage to announce the end of off-shore processing system. The smaller partners of the government (mainly the Greens, who flourished on asylum seekers’ issues) should demand change of policy now.
The SJN still believe and still fight to see the mandatory detention system scrapped altogether. Australia should end playing political football with this highly humanitarian issue. Such game costs lives and social cohesion.
Any resort from the Liberal opposition to play the game of claiming that these changes will encourage people smugglers activities should be condemned by strongest words. The people smugglers work never stopped in the history. If opposition are serious to stop people smuggling activities, they should help in ending conflicts and social injustices around the globe. Such conflicts and injusticies that are playing major role as pushing factors.
For more information or to arrange media talks, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Loss of innocent lives off Christmas Island: another opportunity to fundamentally change policies!
The Social Justice Network is expressing its deep sadness and sorrow for the tragedy off Christmas Island today which resulted so far of death of 27 asylum seekers. Such number that is not final and could be increased further in the next few hours.
But this sad tragedy should be used by the government to reflect on the current policies and seek fundamental changes to them.
“We wrote to this minister and to the previous one warning them about consequencies of current tough policies. We detailed to them proposed full plan to relieve the issues of unauthorized arrivals” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of SJN. “Such plan that would work to stop the flood of boat people in very humane way”
The plan points include:
1- Significant increase to the quota of refugees and humanitarian intake.
2- Set up processing centre in Indonesia to process protection applications and transfer applicants found to be refugees to Australia.
3- Fundamentally reform the highly discriminatory and inhumane immigration system.
The network deeply believes that such plan would result in smooth humane solution for this issue. A solution that is similar to Malcolm Fraser’s solution to Vietnamese boat people crisis in mid 70s of last century.
“We note that the issue of unauthorized arrivals is complex issue that needs holistic approach and not cosmetic steps by caving in to racist rhetoric of needs to toughen measures proposed by Liberal opposition”
“We also note that any empty rhetoric vended by so-called progressive parliamentary politicians would not solve any problem if fundamental changes to address racism and discrimination in the system are not taken. We note that such fundamental reforms could see many boat people arriving on other categories, including skilled migration and family reunion”.
“The new government’s legislations in this regard, which saw no opposition by the Greens party and the independents, made the migration system more discriminatory and racist. The new skilled migration system, for example, will benefit only English speaking people to migrate to the country. The new regulations tightened the language requirements to the extent that only English speaking people can be qualified”
We note also that the Greens party had participated in racist Anti-population debate and supports less migration. Such move that will leave no other options for many non-English speaking people in war-torn countries but to come by unauthorized route.
The tragedy today constitutes golden opportunity for the minority Labor government to seek fundamental changes to address the racist inhumane system. While we hope that the minority government will take this opportunity, but we understand that the reality is different story.
At least we hope that the government would not give up to the opposition’s racist calls and use the tragedy to fundamentally change policies in the opposite way. Accepting any changes to re-introduce Temporary Protection visa system or re-opening of Nauru detention centre would be fatal for Labor-Greens government.
The Liberal opposition would dance form joy to prove that “Howard was right”.
For media interviews, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
But this sad tragedy should be used by the government to reflect on the current policies and seek fundamental changes to them.
“We wrote to this minister and to the previous one warning them about consequencies of current tough policies. We detailed to them proposed full plan to relieve the issues of unauthorized arrivals” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of SJN. “Such plan that would work to stop the flood of boat people in very humane way”
The plan points include:
1- Significant increase to the quota of refugees and humanitarian intake.
2- Set up processing centre in Indonesia to process protection applications and transfer applicants found to be refugees to Australia.
3- Fundamentally reform the highly discriminatory and inhumane immigration system.
The network deeply believes that such plan would result in smooth humane solution for this issue. A solution that is similar to Malcolm Fraser’s solution to Vietnamese boat people crisis in mid 70s of last century.
“We note that the issue of unauthorized arrivals is complex issue that needs holistic approach and not cosmetic steps by caving in to racist rhetoric of needs to toughen measures proposed by Liberal opposition”
“We also note that any empty rhetoric vended by so-called progressive parliamentary politicians would not solve any problem if fundamental changes to address racism and discrimination in the system are not taken. We note that such fundamental reforms could see many boat people arriving on other categories, including skilled migration and family reunion”.
“The new government’s legislations in this regard, which saw no opposition by the Greens party and the independents, made the migration system more discriminatory and racist. The new skilled migration system, for example, will benefit only English speaking people to migrate to the country. The new regulations tightened the language requirements to the extent that only English speaking people can be qualified”
We note also that the Greens party had participated in racist Anti-population debate and supports less migration. Such move that will leave no other options for many non-English speaking people in war-torn countries but to come by unauthorized route.
The tragedy today constitutes golden opportunity for the minority Labor government to seek fundamental changes to address the racist inhumane system. While we hope that the minority government will take this opportunity, but we understand that the reality is different story.
At least we hope that the government would not give up to the opposition’s racist calls and use the tragedy to fundamentally change policies in the opposite way. Accepting any changes to re-introduce Temporary Protection visa system or re-opening of Nauru detention centre would be fatal for Labor-Greens government.
The Liberal opposition would dance form joy to prove that “Howard was right”.
For media interviews, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Open Letter to the minister: Please act to stop other deaths inside detention centres
Dear Hon Chris Bowen, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
We wrote to you on earlier occasions several times asking you to act to stop the flood of blood inside Australian detention centres. Today, we are writing to you to ask you to take urgent action to stop yet another loss of innocent life inside these “hell holes”.
We understand that Mr Samisoni Bolatagici has written to you recently asking you to use your discretionary power to stop his deportation to his death, or at least to uncertainty and possible persecution. We understand that you did not yet take any decision to accept or refuse this request. Nevertheless, your department has acted in a pre-emptive way and detained Mr Samisoni. And even before handing him your decision, they informed him that he will be deported tomorrow. And yet, your department refused media reports (we are aware of its validity for some time now) that they delay handing decisions to detainees, because they know the devastation effect they will have on mental health of already depressed detainees.
Usually your ministerial intervention team does not bring to your attention cases that they decide not worth bringing to your attention. And usually they are wrong on doing this, with usual disastrous consequences. We understand that the case of Samisoni is one of these cases that could have disastrous effect if you do not intervene.
Mr Samisoni is the cousin of Josefa Rauluni, the Fijian guy who lost his life inside Villawood detention centre late September. He is also a comrade of Mr Rauluni in their struggle to expose the dictatorship of Fijian rulers.
Not only this. Mr Samisoni had witnessed the suicide of his cousin and was the first to inspect his dead body. He was the last to speak to Mr Rauluni. You can imagine the deep traumatic scars this left him with.
We expected that your department will take all these into account when they deal with Mr Samisoni’s case. But we are proved to be wrong again. We misjudged the lack of humanity in your department’s managers and case officers. And that is big worry for us.
We are afraid that if your department officials will go ahead with deporting Mr Samisoni tomorrow, you will have more blood on your hands. Mr Samisoni is traumatised enough to commit desperate act if he will be enforced to return to his imminent death or persecution.
We are afraid that you will be known as the bloodiest immigration minister in the history of this nation. So far, there were 3 deaths in detention centres since you became minister. There were also a lot of blood spelt, but lives not lost, fortunately. We hope that you will take urgent action to stop the flood of blood started with you resuming your responsibility as minister for immigration.
We know that you and your party want to be seen as tough decision maker, but in the wrong issues we are afraid. We want you to be tough on taking decisions to relieve the life hardship millions of Australians are facing now. We want you to take tough decisions to build tens of thousands of homes to relieve rental crisis. We want you to show some toughness when you deal with tax-evasions of millionaires. And we do not mind you to be very tough trying to restore humanity to this nation. But we expect you to be very soft when you are dealing with very vulnerable people running from homelands for freedom and to save their lives and the lives of their beloved ones.
So far, you and your government disappointed us deeply. But we expect that disappointing actions will not result in more blood spelt inside the detention centres.
We frankly do not know how you really feel after this blood that flooded your detention centres. And we do not want to put ourselves in your shoes.
We want to ask you here to show some compassion.
Enough blood spelt.
In our previous letters we asked for specific requests. But in this letter, in addition to specific request of stopping the deportation of Mr Samisoni, we can offer you our advice. We do not mind to meet with you and give you some practical advice how to deal with the crisis inside the detention centre. And we can do this with a lot of love and compassion, not with more blood.
Thanks for your time and if you need any more information concerning this case or to discuss any aspect of this letter, I can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Yours sincerely
Jamal Daoud
We wrote to you on earlier occasions several times asking you to act to stop the flood of blood inside Australian detention centres. Today, we are writing to you to ask you to take urgent action to stop yet another loss of innocent life inside these “hell holes”.
We understand that Mr Samisoni Bolatagici has written to you recently asking you to use your discretionary power to stop his deportation to his death, or at least to uncertainty and possible persecution. We understand that you did not yet take any decision to accept or refuse this request. Nevertheless, your department has acted in a pre-emptive way and detained Mr Samisoni. And even before handing him your decision, they informed him that he will be deported tomorrow. And yet, your department refused media reports (we are aware of its validity for some time now) that they delay handing decisions to detainees, because they know the devastation effect they will have on mental health of already depressed detainees.
Usually your ministerial intervention team does not bring to your attention cases that they decide not worth bringing to your attention. And usually they are wrong on doing this, with usual disastrous consequences. We understand that the case of Samisoni is one of these cases that could have disastrous effect if you do not intervene.
Mr Samisoni is the cousin of Josefa Rauluni, the Fijian guy who lost his life inside Villawood detention centre late September. He is also a comrade of Mr Rauluni in their struggle to expose the dictatorship of Fijian rulers.
Not only this. Mr Samisoni had witnessed the suicide of his cousin and was the first to inspect his dead body. He was the last to speak to Mr Rauluni. You can imagine the deep traumatic scars this left him with.
We expected that your department will take all these into account when they deal with Mr Samisoni’s case. But we are proved to be wrong again. We misjudged the lack of humanity in your department’s managers and case officers. And that is big worry for us.
We are afraid that if your department officials will go ahead with deporting Mr Samisoni tomorrow, you will have more blood on your hands. Mr Samisoni is traumatised enough to commit desperate act if he will be enforced to return to his imminent death or persecution.
We are afraid that you will be known as the bloodiest immigration minister in the history of this nation. So far, there were 3 deaths in detention centres since you became minister. There were also a lot of blood spelt, but lives not lost, fortunately. We hope that you will take urgent action to stop the flood of blood started with you resuming your responsibility as minister for immigration.
We know that you and your party want to be seen as tough decision maker, but in the wrong issues we are afraid. We want you to be tough on taking decisions to relieve the life hardship millions of Australians are facing now. We want you to take tough decisions to build tens of thousands of homes to relieve rental crisis. We want you to show some toughness when you deal with tax-evasions of millionaires. And we do not mind you to be very tough trying to restore humanity to this nation. But we expect you to be very soft when you are dealing with very vulnerable people running from homelands for freedom and to save their lives and the lives of their beloved ones.
So far, you and your government disappointed us deeply. But we expect that disappointing actions will not result in more blood spelt inside the detention centres.
We frankly do not know how you really feel after this blood that flooded your detention centres. And we do not want to put ourselves in your shoes.
We want to ask you here to show some compassion.
Enough blood spelt.
In our previous letters we asked for specific requests. But in this letter, in addition to specific request of stopping the deportation of Mr Samisoni, we can offer you our advice. We do not mind to meet with you and give you some practical advice how to deal with the crisis inside the detention centre. And we can do this with a lot of love and compassion, not with more blood.
Thanks for your time and if you need any more information concerning this case or to discuss any aspect of this letter, I can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Yours sincerely
Jamal Daoud
Monday, November 15, 2010
Another loss of life inside detention centre: coalition government has blood on its hands, again!
The Social Justice Network holds the Labor-Greens government full responsibility of the new loss of innocent life tonight inside Villawood Detention Centre. The Labor harsh treatment of refugees, including detention with no time limits, and the Greens treating of these highly humanitarian crises as political football, has resulted in the death of Iraqi asylum seeker, Ahmad El Eqabi. We understand that the Iraqi asylum seeker hanged himself just after midnight after losing any hope of humanitarian treatment by this coalition government.
“The situation inside all detention centres is very volatile and could explode at any minute. Yet all parliamentary political parties (Labor, Liberals and Greens) are enjoying making it a political football for cheap electoral gains” said Jamal Daoud, SJN spokesperson. “Despite our repeated warnings of the seriousness of the situation there, no one of these political parties were treating this issue as humanitarian priority”
The weak Labor government which desperately needed the Greens and independents support to form government, was and still a soft target if the Greens had the commitments to act on this issue. The Greens is clearly enjoying media stunts trying to bite more of the Labor votes, on the expense of innocent lives.
“We demanded just after the last election that the Greens take serious steps to enforce change of current inhumane treatment of refugees. Instead, the Greens were putting ridiculous bills on cosmetically changeing the current regime”
“If the reports are true and the Iraqi asylum seeker has lost his life, his blood would taint the Greens and Labor forever. This time it is not the extreme Liberal party, but the Greens - Labor “progressive government “which caused this tragic loss of human life. Both should bury their heads in shame and disgust”
The Iraqi asylum seeker leaves three daughters behind him in Iraq. We wonder who will explain to them how their father lost his life fighting for basic human right.
The detainee, a Muslim by faith, leave this life on the first day of Eid Al Adha (the celebration of sacrifice). Instead of celebrating with family and friends, these people will be left to grieve his life loss.
The network hopes that this will be the last human life to be lost in the Australian hell holes. We hope that it is time for fundamental changes to our immigration system to stop such atrocities from happening again as first step to regain Australian reputation as democracy with respect for basic human rights.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272.
“The situation inside all detention centres is very volatile and could explode at any minute. Yet all parliamentary political parties (Labor, Liberals and Greens) are enjoying making it a political football for cheap electoral gains” said Jamal Daoud, SJN spokesperson. “Despite our repeated warnings of the seriousness of the situation there, no one of these political parties were treating this issue as humanitarian priority”
The weak Labor government which desperately needed the Greens and independents support to form government, was and still a soft target if the Greens had the commitments to act on this issue. The Greens is clearly enjoying media stunts trying to bite more of the Labor votes, on the expense of innocent lives.
“We demanded just after the last election that the Greens take serious steps to enforce change of current inhumane treatment of refugees. Instead, the Greens were putting ridiculous bills on cosmetically changeing the current regime”
“If the reports are true and the Iraqi asylum seeker has lost his life, his blood would taint the Greens and Labor forever. This time it is not the extreme Liberal party, but the Greens - Labor “progressive government “which caused this tragic loss of human life. Both should bury their heads in shame and disgust”
The Iraqi asylum seeker leaves three daughters behind him in Iraq. We wonder who will explain to them how their father lost his life fighting for basic human right.
The detainee, a Muslim by faith, leave this life on the first day of Eid Al Adha (the celebration of sacrifice). Instead of celebrating with family and friends, these people will be left to grieve his life loss.
The network hopes that this will be the last human life to be lost in the Australian hell holes. We hope that it is time for fundamental changes to our immigration system to stop such atrocities from happening again as first step to regain Australian reputation as democracy with respect for basic human rights.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
After today’s historical High Court decision: Labor needs to overhaul mandatory detention system!
The Social Justice Network welcomes the historical decision by High Court today that affirmed the Australian obligation to insure natural justice for all on its land. The decision is widely expected to have big implication on treatment of boat people by this government. The decision will be landmark in breaking the deadlock this government cornered itself inside for the last year.
“While the decision itself will not directly change the government’s inhumane and harsh treatment of asylum seekers coming by boats, but the implications of the decision will enforce the government to change its policy on this issue” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of SJN. “The government will find itself in very difficult situation if will not abandon its harsh treatment of boat people”
“From our regular consultations with detainees, we expect that there will be flood of court cases to review the decisions to mass refuse the majority of detainees. This will have direct impact on stopping deportations of “failed” refugees”.
“Immediate result of such move will be that thousands and thousands of asylum seekers will continue to be detained in already overcrowded detention centres. This will add to the high tension in the detention system to the point of total collapse”
“Today’s decision also made the differences between detaining people inside migration zone and outside migration zone to be nil. Such result that will practically dismantle the offshore processing arrangement”
All these factors combined will need prompt action by Labor to defuse volatile situation inside detention centres and to relieve the overstretched resources in overcrowded centres.
If Labor decides to ignore the situation, issues could get out of government hands. We do not believe that Labor can survive in opinion polls if situation continues as status quo. The Labor government is under fire at the moment from all sides. This include from own party members and supporters, union officials and some Labor backbenchers.
Today’s decision and its expected implication will add more evidence of the need to overhaul mandatory detention system. Such system that proved to be expensive, both morally and financially.
The SJN vows to continue fighting against the inhumane mandatory dentition system until the release of all asylum seekers to community until their claims finalised.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272.
“While the decision itself will not directly change the government’s inhumane and harsh treatment of asylum seekers coming by boats, but the implications of the decision will enforce the government to change its policy on this issue” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of SJN. “The government will find itself in very difficult situation if will not abandon its harsh treatment of boat people”
“From our regular consultations with detainees, we expect that there will be flood of court cases to review the decisions to mass refuse the majority of detainees. This will have direct impact on stopping deportations of “failed” refugees”.
“Immediate result of such move will be that thousands and thousands of asylum seekers will continue to be detained in already overcrowded detention centres. This will add to the high tension in the detention system to the point of total collapse”
“Today’s decision also made the differences between detaining people inside migration zone and outside migration zone to be nil. Such result that will practically dismantle the offshore processing arrangement”
All these factors combined will need prompt action by Labor to defuse volatile situation inside detention centres and to relieve the overstretched resources in overcrowded centres.
If Labor decides to ignore the situation, issues could get out of government hands. We do not believe that Labor can survive in opinion polls if situation continues as status quo. The Labor government is under fire at the moment from all sides. This include from own party members and supporters, union officials and some Labor backbenchers.
Today’s decision and its expected implication will add more evidence of the need to overhaul mandatory detention system. Such system that proved to be expensive, both morally and financially.
The SJN vows to continue fighting against the inhumane mandatory dentition system until the release of all asylum seekers to community until their claims finalised.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
