Vigil to commemorate 63rd anniversary of Palestinian Nakba: SJN supports the Palestinian refugees’ rights to return to their homeland
The Social Justice Network has called for a vigil to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the Israeli occupation of Palestine, 15 May 1948. The Israeli occupation resulted in destroying hundreds of villages, towns and neighborhoods and created more than 750,000 refugees. To date, the Israeli authorities are refusing to accept implementing UN resolutions to allow millions of Palestinian refugees returning to their homeland.
“The SJN called the vigil as response to the many calls from Palestinian organisations to organise mass walk of Palestinian refugees to the borders of Palestine with its neighbouring countries” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of SJN. “It is expected that millions of Palestinian refugees and thousands of international supporters will arrive to the borders of historical Palestine with neighboring countries on Sunday 15 May 2011”
The masses will demand that Israel should allow their return to their homeland immediately. UN resolution 194 calls on Israeli authorities to facilitate the immediate return of Palestinian refugees to their villages, towns and cities.
The Palestinian refugees are inspired by the successful revolutions by Arab nations against the dictatorships. They are hoping that the walk of millions of refugees to the borders and their protest of the millions for days there will enforce Israeli occupation authorities to allow them to return to their homeland. It will at least highlight the plight of the Palestinian refugees, which lasts for 63 years now.
The SJN hopes to send strong message of support for the Palestinian refugees’ demands to allow them back to their homeland, as per UN resolutions. The SJN also hopes to send strong message to the Australian politicians that their blind support of Israel is not acceptable anymore.
The vigil will be the first activity the network is intending to organise or participate in. In the next few weeks we will announce the further steps we will take to increase the Australian awareness of this highly humanitarian issue. We will announce about them in due time.
The vigil will be next Sunday 15 May 2011, from 2 – 4 pm outside the American Consulate in Sydney – Martin Place. The SJN decided to hold the vigil outside the American Consulate in protest of continued American blind support of Israeli aggressions and wars.
For media contact, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Labor-Greens government is responsible for riots in Villawood
The Social Justice Network has warned for long time of expected wide spread riots in detention centres if the current Labor-Greens coalition government continues with its regressive politics. The coalition government was sending conflicting signals in different directions. The Labor was selling itself as tough government on boat arrivals to stop “people smuggling activities”. While the smaller partner, the Greens, was selling empty rhetoric about the need for more humane approach. The Greens did not give one principled vision on how to deal with this highly humanitarian issue.
At last night’s ABC Lateline, the Greens joined both the Labor and the Liberals to condemn and blame the detainees for their “violent” actions that will “cost tax-payers a lot of money”. The Greens also retreated from their election promises to work on totally abolishing of the mandatory detention system to replace it with demands to cosmetically make the system looks like prettier and less inhumane.
“The Greens senator and spokesperson on the issue rightly pointed to the fact that the continued detention of thousands of asylum seekers for indefinite periods and the vague process of the rejected applications had caused desperate asylum seekers to riot inside detention centers” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson for the SJN. “But she did not give any practical steps taken by her Greens party to enforce the Labor to change these inhumane practices that causes huge losses of tax-payers money”
“Ms Hanson - Young failed to answer question about her party’s practical commitment to honour its policy on working towards abolishing mandatory detention system. From Ms Hanson - Young indications, we understood that the Greens supports convicting desperate asylum seekers for their desperate actions”
“We understand that abolishing mandatory detention system should include dismantling detention centres, including Villawood detention centre”
“It is alarming that the former Liberal PM, Malcolm Fraser, supports dismantling the “hell-holes”, when the Labor-Greens coalition government is moving to prosecute the people who work to dismantle them”.
“The citizens who voted to the Greens in the last elections on perception that they will work to dismantle this inhumane system need some explanations form the Greens officials. These voters need to hear from the Greens why they were very effective to enforce Labor to change its position on many important issues, like introducing Carbon Tax and considering changing the constitution on marriage definition to introduce same-sex marriage, but they are unable to change Labor’s position on mandatory detention issues”
“We deeply believe that the Greens is enjoying the crisis in detention system. Such crisis that depletes the Labor from progressive votes for the Greens benefits”.
The Social Justice Network supports any attempts to dismantle the mandatory detention system. This includes supporting any attempts to dismantle any of the “hell-holes”, including Viallwood DC. If the Labor-Greens coalition has deep concerns about tax-payers money, they should work quickly to dismantle this system that causes waste of millions of dollars every year.
For media contact, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
At last night’s ABC Lateline, the Greens joined both the Labor and the Liberals to condemn and blame the detainees for their “violent” actions that will “cost tax-payers a lot of money”. The Greens also retreated from their election promises to work on totally abolishing of the mandatory detention system to replace it with demands to cosmetically make the system looks like prettier and less inhumane.
“The Greens senator and spokesperson on the issue rightly pointed to the fact that the continued detention of thousands of asylum seekers for indefinite periods and the vague process of the rejected applications had caused desperate asylum seekers to riot inside detention centers” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson for the SJN. “But she did not give any practical steps taken by her Greens party to enforce the Labor to change these inhumane practices that causes huge losses of tax-payers money”
“Ms Hanson - Young failed to answer question about her party’s practical commitment to honour its policy on working towards abolishing mandatory detention system. From Ms Hanson - Young indications, we understood that the Greens supports convicting desperate asylum seekers for their desperate actions”
“We understand that abolishing mandatory detention system should include dismantling detention centres, including Villawood detention centre”
“It is alarming that the former Liberal PM, Malcolm Fraser, supports dismantling the “hell-holes”, when the Labor-Greens coalition government is moving to prosecute the people who work to dismantle them”.
“The citizens who voted to the Greens in the last elections on perception that they will work to dismantle this inhumane system need some explanations form the Greens officials. These voters need to hear from the Greens why they were very effective to enforce Labor to change its position on many important issues, like introducing Carbon Tax and considering changing the constitution on marriage definition to introduce same-sex marriage, but they are unable to change Labor’s position on mandatory detention issues”
“We deeply believe that the Greens is enjoying the crisis in detention system. Such crisis that depletes the Labor from progressive votes for the Greens benefits”.
The Social Justice Network supports any attempts to dismantle the mandatory detention system. This includes supporting any attempts to dismantle any of the “hell-holes”, including Viallwood DC. If the Labor-Greens coalition has deep concerns about tax-payers money, they should work quickly to dismantle this system that causes waste of millions of dollars every year.
For media contact, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Greens backdown on boycotting Israel: another Greens political whoring!
Marrickville council has decided last night to overturn its original decision to endorse campaign to boycott Israeli products, known internationally as BDS campaign. The motion was introduced to the council last December by Greens councilors. The decision to overturn the original one was not possible without the support of the introducing party, the Greens.
The Social Justice Network (SJN) condemns in the strongest words the Greens political whoring attitude tonight.
“The Greens had done it again. In the last few months, the Greens has sent too many conflicting messages in too many directions that the message was lost at the end” said Jamal Daoud, the spokesperson of SJN. “Three Greens councilors opposed withdrawing the original motion. While two have supported the withdrawal. The Greens deliberately misled the Australians by splitting the vote on the motion last night”
“From the first day, we knew and we expressed our pessimism of the real agenda behind the original motion. We have questioned many aspects of the motion, including its timing just few months before the NSW election”
“The draft of the motion was clear that it was designed for electoral use. The Greens had big hope to snatch Marrickville seat from Labor. They wanted to do so on a sea of Palestinian bloods”.
“The Greens political whoring has great negative impact. It divided the community, divided the movement for Palestine Freedom and demoralised the activists and community members”
“We have warned from day one of the original motion that the Greens enthusiasm for this campaign will be evaporated once the election dust settles. This is what exactly happened last night”.
“The Greens is not new for such political whoring attitude. The Greens party has backflipped on many issues in the last decade to the point that no politician or analysts know where they are really standing on issues”.
“The Greens has vowed to abolish private health rebate. This is the party’s official policy. But in fact, the Greens has voted against partially abolishing the rebate when it was introduced by Kevin Rudd’s government”.
“It also backflipped on political donations, refugees rights, selling public assets, Afghanistan war, Multiculturalism and issue of Israeli occupation of Palestine”.
The Greens mouthpiece on Palestine – Israel issue, the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine (CJPP) should come up with convincing argument if they want to keep fooling Australians on the Greens progressiveness on this issue. The CJPP should issue media release explaining what we can expect from them and their party.
We will continue exposing this highly opportunistic party on all levels. We are very concerned that continued Greens chameleonic attitude of constantly changing skin colours, will affect the communities’ faith in the political system. We have witnessed in the last decade growing decrease of marginalised communities participation in the political process. The total lack of any alternative party on issues important for large section of community will deepen this feeling of hopelessness among growing numbers of Australians.
For media contact, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
The Social Justice Network (SJN) condemns in the strongest words the Greens political whoring attitude tonight.
“The Greens had done it again. In the last few months, the Greens has sent too many conflicting messages in too many directions that the message was lost at the end” said Jamal Daoud, the spokesperson of SJN. “Three Greens councilors opposed withdrawing the original motion. While two have supported the withdrawal. The Greens deliberately misled the Australians by splitting the vote on the motion last night”
“From the first day, we knew and we expressed our pessimism of the real agenda behind the original motion. We have questioned many aspects of the motion, including its timing just few months before the NSW election”
“The draft of the motion was clear that it was designed for electoral use. The Greens had big hope to snatch Marrickville seat from Labor. They wanted to do so on a sea of Palestinian bloods”.
“The Greens political whoring has great negative impact. It divided the community, divided the movement for Palestine Freedom and demoralised the activists and community members”
“We have warned from day one of the original motion that the Greens enthusiasm for this campaign will be evaporated once the election dust settles. This is what exactly happened last night”.
“The Greens is not new for such political whoring attitude. The Greens party has backflipped on many issues in the last decade to the point that no politician or analysts know where they are really standing on issues”.
“The Greens has vowed to abolish private health rebate. This is the party’s official policy. But in fact, the Greens has voted against partially abolishing the rebate when it was introduced by Kevin Rudd’s government”.
“It also backflipped on political donations, refugees rights, selling public assets, Afghanistan war, Multiculturalism and issue of Israeli occupation of Palestine”.
The Greens mouthpiece on Palestine – Israel issue, the Coalition for Justice and Peace in Palestine (CJPP) should come up with convincing argument if they want to keep fooling Australians on the Greens progressiveness on this issue. The CJPP should issue media release explaining what we can expect from them and their party.
We will continue exposing this highly opportunistic party on all levels. We are very concerned that continued Greens chameleonic attitude of constantly changing skin colours, will affect the communities’ faith in the political system. We have witnessed in the last decade growing decrease of marginalised communities participation in the political process. The total lack of any alternative party on issues important for large section of community will deepen this feeling of hopelessness among growing numbers of Australians.
For media contact, Jamal Daoud can be contacted on 0404 447 272
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Brief analysis of NSW Election results: SJN proud of its campaign and achievements
The Social Justice Network ran 3 candidates for the NSW state election, 2011. The candidates scored the average of 2.2 across the seats of Auburn, Lakemba and Fairfield. Despite all circumstances (which we will mention later in the release), we could score this result in the first state campaign we ever participated in.
Recently, we have been receiving phone calls from people known to us and others not known to us. The tone of the callers has a mixture of joy and gloating. What is deeply depressing for us is that these callers were having Lebanese accent, and we are sure that they are Muslims.
In the election where the Liberal party started its campaign with vicious attack on Multiculturalism and Muslim community, where we saw many Liberal shadow ministers launched Islamophobic comments, to the point of demanding ban of Muslim migration for initial period of 10 years. We were deeply shocked and depressed when we saw that many “Muslim” organizations urged Muslim NSW residents to reward the Liberal party for its Islamophobic campaigns by urging them to vote for this extreme party.
In the aftermath of this campaign we should stress that we are proud of our achievements. We also very proud that we participated in aborting the agenda of some opportunistic Muslim “leaders” to get Liberals elected in the highly multicultural seats with high Muslim presence. We also very proud that we did not compromise our principles for any reason or in return for any deal.
Maybe we did not get a lot of votes. But we got our message through in this election in the targeted areas. Not only this. We left our fingerprints on this election, especially in high multicultural seats with high Muslim presence.
Despite the following facts, we did succeed in sending strong message about the lack of real multiculturalism in Australian politics:
1- Our campaign had no budget and we operated with self-funds..
2- Our campaign was subjected to vicious dirty tricks from many rival candidates, many of them has big budget to spread lies, deception and roumers about our campaigns and our candidates. We are well aware about the house-to-house and shop-to-shop campaign to spread lies about our campaign and candidates.
3- Our campaign challenged high-profile religious and community “leaders” who sold the interests and rights of their communities for individual benefits.
Maybe we did not get many votes, but we can claim comfortably and safely the highest moral ground among rival candidates and political opponents. During the many “Meet the candidate” forums and meetings, we demonstrated that we have both real commitments to social justice, and we have clear vision how to address the injustices in the society.
In this campaign we could accumulate more knowledge about how to conduct future campaigns in more efficient way. We should stress again that this was the first time we ran candidates for state parliament. And we have learnt a lot. And we have better exposure and better networks now. We should mention here that our candidates got more votes than political forces which were established long before our group and ran tens of candidates before.
When we decided to run candidates, our aim was not to win seats. We knew very well that we will not win any seat. We wanted to send a message to different sides. We wanted to send message to mainstream political groups that it is highly unacceptable to keep ignoring the lack of multiculturalism and the lack of equal representation of new migrants in decision making bodies. We also wanted to send a message of hope to marginalised groups and give them some hints about alternative way to deal with complacency of mainstream parties in racism and Islamopbohia.
With very limited financial resources, we have achieved a lot. We did not get a lot of votes. But we affected the way voters voted in this election. We are proud that we participated in:
1- Minimizing the swing to Liberals in high multicultural seats, especially with high Muslim presence.
2- Minimizing the Greens votes, including aborting the Greens dream of wining high multicultural seat of Marrickville and minimizing the increase of Greens votes in the Legislative Council.
3- Making the low representation of Non-English speaking people in parliament an election matter.
4- We were the only political group that campaigned on true progressive platform, where progressiveness meant siding with marginalized in their fight for equality. Unlike other “progressive” groups who were preaching progressiveness but practicing regressive ideas of excluding marginalized and promote Anti-family and Anti-moral values. Such campaigns that would result in deepening marginalization by increasing socio-economic problems as a result of deteriorating social bond of families and communities, increase individualism and increase depending on substances.
Our high moral ground includes our refusal to participate in Islamophobic campaigns through high restraint in dealing with sheikh Fayez fiasco. We were more restraint in dealing with this issue (despite the fact that we do not agree with any comment or teaching Mr Fayez launched or preached) than many Muslim religious figures and Muslim radio stations, who participated in fueling these campaigns by vending fiery comments.
In the next few weeks we will take further steps to capitalize on the already achieved goals and achievements. We will announce about them in due time.
Jamal Daoud
Spokesperson, Social Justice Network
Recently, we have been receiving phone calls from people known to us and others not known to us. The tone of the callers has a mixture of joy and gloating. What is deeply depressing for us is that these callers were having Lebanese accent, and we are sure that they are Muslims.
In the election where the Liberal party started its campaign with vicious attack on Multiculturalism and Muslim community, where we saw many Liberal shadow ministers launched Islamophobic comments, to the point of demanding ban of Muslim migration for initial period of 10 years. We were deeply shocked and depressed when we saw that many “Muslim” organizations urged Muslim NSW residents to reward the Liberal party for its Islamophobic campaigns by urging them to vote for this extreme party.
In the aftermath of this campaign we should stress that we are proud of our achievements. We also very proud that we participated in aborting the agenda of some opportunistic Muslim “leaders” to get Liberals elected in the highly multicultural seats with high Muslim presence. We also very proud that we did not compromise our principles for any reason or in return for any deal.
Maybe we did not get a lot of votes. But we got our message through in this election in the targeted areas. Not only this. We left our fingerprints on this election, especially in high multicultural seats with high Muslim presence.
Despite the following facts, we did succeed in sending strong message about the lack of real multiculturalism in Australian politics:
1- Our campaign had no budget and we operated with self-funds..
2- Our campaign was subjected to vicious dirty tricks from many rival candidates, many of them has big budget to spread lies, deception and roumers about our campaigns and our candidates. We are well aware about the house-to-house and shop-to-shop campaign to spread lies about our campaign and candidates.
3- Our campaign challenged high-profile religious and community “leaders” who sold the interests and rights of their communities for individual benefits.
Maybe we did not get many votes, but we can claim comfortably and safely the highest moral ground among rival candidates and political opponents. During the many “Meet the candidate” forums and meetings, we demonstrated that we have both real commitments to social justice, and we have clear vision how to address the injustices in the society.
In this campaign we could accumulate more knowledge about how to conduct future campaigns in more efficient way. We should stress again that this was the first time we ran candidates for state parliament. And we have learnt a lot. And we have better exposure and better networks now. We should mention here that our candidates got more votes than political forces which were established long before our group and ran tens of candidates before.
When we decided to run candidates, our aim was not to win seats. We knew very well that we will not win any seat. We wanted to send a message to different sides. We wanted to send message to mainstream political groups that it is highly unacceptable to keep ignoring the lack of multiculturalism and the lack of equal representation of new migrants in decision making bodies. We also wanted to send a message of hope to marginalised groups and give them some hints about alternative way to deal with complacency of mainstream parties in racism and Islamopbohia.
With very limited financial resources, we have achieved a lot. We did not get a lot of votes. But we affected the way voters voted in this election. We are proud that we participated in:
1- Minimizing the swing to Liberals in high multicultural seats, especially with high Muslim presence.
2- Minimizing the Greens votes, including aborting the Greens dream of wining high multicultural seat of Marrickville and minimizing the increase of Greens votes in the Legislative Council.
3- Making the low representation of Non-English speaking people in parliament an election matter.
4- We were the only political group that campaigned on true progressive platform, where progressiveness meant siding with marginalized in their fight for equality. Unlike other “progressive” groups who were preaching progressiveness but practicing regressive ideas of excluding marginalized and promote Anti-family and Anti-moral values. Such campaigns that would result in deepening marginalization by increasing socio-economic problems as a result of deteriorating social bond of families and communities, increase individualism and increase depending on substances.
Our high moral ground includes our refusal to participate in Islamophobic campaigns through high restraint in dealing with sheikh Fayez fiasco. We were more restraint in dealing with this issue (despite the fact that we do not agree with any comment or teaching Mr Fayez launched or preached) than many Muslim religious figures and Muslim radio stations, who participated in fueling these campaigns by vending fiery comments.
In the next few weeks we will take further steps to capitalize on the already achieved goals and achievements. We will announce about them in due time.
Jamal Daoud
Spokesperson, Social Justice Network
Thursday, February 17, 2011
In the face of attack on boat people: SJN runs refugees arrived by boat for coming state election.
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
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, 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
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