Dear Sir / Madam
The Social Justice Network in cooperation with many other community organizations is intending to participate in the Viva Palistina 5, a convoy of humanitarian aid to Gaza. This convoy also seeks to highlight the brutality of this inhumane siege.
To be able to participate in this convoy, Social Justice Group is seeking your kind support to fund this noble mission.
Social Justice Network has taken many practical steps in the past to promote human rights in the society and abroad. The most important human right is equality between people regardless of race, nationality, sex …etc.
You can check our previous campaigns on our facebook
www.facebook.com/pages/SOCIAL-JUSTICE-PARTY/103934736320714
Our ambition is to raise enough money to purchase trucks full of medical and food supplies. Each truck would cost around $17,000 (with its full load of medial and food supplies). The money will also insure our physical participation in the convoy by sending 2 Australian activists with each truck purchased, to accompany the convoy to Gaza. This would be the first Australian participation in such noble missions. This would be very important to insure that the issue of Israeli illegal occupation of Palestine and the inhumane blockade of 1.5 million Gazans become prominent item in our political and public debate.
You can donate by writing a cheque and send it to our address mentioned above. Or you can direct deposit into our account. You also can donate at our website at www.socialjustice.net.au by clicking donate button on the right. We will provide you with official receipt for your donations. We will also provide you with regular updates on the progress of the campaign.
Thanks for your support and hope that the time when there are injustices in the world become something from the past.
Our banking details:
Bank: Commonwealth
Name: Social Justice Network Incorporated
BSB: 06 2133
ACC: 10871919
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
6 July 2010
Labor government’s new asylum seekers policy: nice rhetoric with big disappointing conclusions!
After promising start of her policy delivery, PM Julia Gillard, greatly disappoint asylum seekers and the human rights supporters in the country. After Ms Gillard started her policy with outlines that dismiss Liberal opposition racist myths and slogans about unauthorized asylum seekers “problem”, she ended up with similar conclusions and slogans.
It was great to see Ms Gillard dismisses that Australia is facing “unauthorized arrivals problem”, by confirming that the numbers of these are greatly insignificant and constitute no trouble to security or economy. But then when she started to outline her party’s policy, she just did the opposite.
It was also great to see Ms Gillard emphasizing that the racist and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers is damaging the Australian chance to play significant role in international relations and politics, then she resorted to adopt much of Howard’s extreme racist and inhumane policies that undermined the Australian status and influence.
The Social Justice group believes that the policy outlined by Ms Gillard today not only won’t work to solve any issue. But we believe that this policy is just design to win Labor another term in office.
We deeply believe that Ms Gillard’s “East Timor solution” (which is a replica of Howard’s inhumane Nauru solution), will produce (if will go ahead) the same inhumane damages the Nauru’s did. In this instance, we would like to ask our PM how she would insure the humane administration of these “regional centres”? If the government does not control what is happening inside detention cetnres inside Australia, where we are witnessing increasing mental health problems and many self harm attempts, how it could control what is happening outside Australia?
While we believe that Ms Gillard’s policy announcement could win her back vital votes in marginal seats and could deliver her a win in the next election, but we think that Labor government had wasted golden opportunity in the last 3 years to fix this issue for good. We wrote to previous PM few letters advising him about more appropriate humane steps to end the racist debate about the asylum seekers issue. Few of these points were:
1- Talk more frequently about the facts in this regards. Such facts like: the real numbers of asylum seekers around the world, the numbers of asylum seekers arriving to other developed countries and the humane treatment they are given there.
2- Increase the quota of refugees accepted under migration program.
3- Participate in advocating for peaceful solution to armed conflicts that produce high numbers of refugees and asylum seekers.
Ms Gillard mentioned how Australian governments (before Howard’s government) dealt with unauthorized arrivals. We thought that Ms Gillard would propose adopting “Fraser’s solution” to ease the racist debate mounted during 70’s in the face of Vietnamese unauthorized arrivals. Unfortunately, she just mentioned the name of Former PM Fraser, but adopted Howard’s policies.
While we believe that policy announcement today will not fix any problems, but will somehow neutralize the issue of asylum seekers debate in the next election. This will leave us with huge job to continue fighting for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Such fight that would not be won only by empty rhetoric exercised by opportunist politicians and political parties. Such parties, especially the Greens, can spread all empty rhetoric they can before the next election. Their empty rhetoric of announcing big promises will not fix the problem. Such issue could be more easily tackled by increasing representation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in their membership, hierarchy and candidates for high-profile seats. Their continued refusal to give these communities a voice, is a stark evidence that the campaign they lead is not more than an election campaign of empty rhetoric that will vanish immediately on the next day election night concludes.
Ms Gillard’s today announcement is a clear indication of the total failure of the Australian current policy in dealing with global refugees’ crisis. Instead of taking proactive steps to face the crisis, the Australian government is still lagging behind its Western democracies counterpart.
The group will continue its campaign to lobby the government to change its approach to this issue fundamentally.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
After promising start of her policy delivery, PM Julia Gillard, greatly disappoint asylum seekers and the human rights supporters in the country. After Ms Gillard started her policy with outlines that dismiss Liberal opposition racist myths and slogans about unauthorized asylum seekers “problem”, she ended up with similar conclusions and slogans.
It was great to see Ms Gillard dismisses that Australia is facing “unauthorized arrivals problem”, by confirming that the numbers of these are greatly insignificant and constitute no trouble to security or economy. But then when she started to outline her party’s policy, she just did the opposite.
It was also great to see Ms Gillard emphasizing that the racist and inhumane treatment of asylum seekers is damaging the Australian chance to play significant role in international relations and politics, then she resorted to adopt much of Howard’s extreme racist and inhumane policies that undermined the Australian status and influence.
The Social Justice group believes that the policy outlined by Ms Gillard today not only won’t work to solve any issue. But we believe that this policy is just design to win Labor another term in office.
We deeply believe that Ms Gillard’s “East Timor solution” (which is a replica of Howard’s inhumane Nauru solution), will produce (if will go ahead) the same inhumane damages the Nauru’s did. In this instance, we would like to ask our PM how she would insure the humane administration of these “regional centres”? If the government does not control what is happening inside detention cetnres inside Australia, where we are witnessing increasing mental health problems and many self harm attempts, how it could control what is happening outside Australia?
While we believe that Ms Gillard’s policy announcement could win her back vital votes in marginal seats and could deliver her a win in the next election, but we think that Labor government had wasted golden opportunity in the last 3 years to fix this issue for good. We wrote to previous PM few letters advising him about more appropriate humane steps to end the racist debate about the asylum seekers issue. Few of these points were:
1- Talk more frequently about the facts in this regards. Such facts like: the real numbers of asylum seekers around the world, the numbers of asylum seekers arriving to other developed countries and the humane treatment they are given there.
2- Increase the quota of refugees accepted under migration program.
3- Participate in advocating for peaceful solution to armed conflicts that produce high numbers of refugees and asylum seekers.
Ms Gillard mentioned how Australian governments (before Howard’s government) dealt with unauthorized arrivals. We thought that Ms Gillard would propose adopting “Fraser’s solution” to ease the racist debate mounted during 70’s in the face of Vietnamese unauthorized arrivals. Unfortunately, she just mentioned the name of Former PM Fraser, but adopted Howard’s policies.
While we believe that policy announcement today will not fix any problems, but will somehow neutralize the issue of asylum seekers debate in the next election. This will leave us with huge job to continue fighting for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers. Such fight that would not be won only by empty rhetoric exercised by opportunist politicians and political parties. Such parties, especially the Greens, can spread all empty rhetoric they can before the next election. Their empty rhetoric of announcing big promises will not fix the problem. Such issue could be more easily tackled by increasing representation of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in their membership, hierarchy and candidates for high-profile seats. Their continued refusal to give these communities a voice, is a stark evidence that the campaign they lead is not more than an election campaign of empty rhetoric that will vanish immediately on the next day election night concludes.
Ms Gillard’s today announcement is a clear indication of the total failure of the Australian current policy in dealing with global refugees’ crisis. Instead of taking proactive steps to face the crisis, the Australian government is still lagging behind its Western democracies counterpart.
The group will continue its campaign to lobby the government to change its approach to this issue fundamentally.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Community support for the lunch with Villawood detainees: strong message of refusal to mandatory detention system.
21 June 2010
This year, Social Justice group has decided to celebrate its annual World refugee Day celebration inside the detention centre. The community lunch with detainees would send practical message to politicians not to turn the plight of highly vulnerable people into election bazaar.
“The group’s decision to take such practical step was highly welcomed by community leaders, active members and even business owners” said Jamal Daoud spokesperson of the group. “Many community leaders are participating in this lunch. The list of participants includes: Rev. David Smith, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, Dr Fida Al Majzoub, Sheikh Younis Al Muzafer, Emad Ashour and many others”.
“The businesses we approached showed high sympathy with the asylum seekers plight and donated generously for the community lunch”
“On recent previous occasions, community members donated generously when we approached them to donate electrical appliances”.
All this is as clear sign that our politicians in Canberra do not represent their constituents. Indeed, it sends strong message that community members are expecting a lot of their politicians to help these vulnerable people, not to detain them or return them to their death.
The group decided to celebrate the occasion in very practical way away from empty rhetoric and more electoral promises from different political parties. The group believes that actions are usually louder than talks.
This year’s celebration of WRD is a good opportunity for the group to assure its commitment to continue fighting until we see the mandatory detention system abolished altogether. The group is also advocating for Australia to increase significantly the quota of refugees it accept annually. This would reduce the numbers of boat people arriving to our shores.
“The inhumane treatment of asylum seekers proved to be not the solution. On the contrary. It created more troubles for Australia and Australians”.
The community leaders and active members will take multicultural food to participate it with the detainees. But in fact, they will participate with the detainees their hopes that their plight will finish soon.
The community leaders and active members will gather outside Villawood detention centre main gate at 15 Birmingham Ave – Villawood at 1 pm. Then they will take food and soft drinks to the inside of the detention where they will enjoy lunch with detainees from different backgrounds.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
This year, Social Justice group has decided to celebrate its annual World refugee Day celebration inside the detention centre. The community lunch with detainees would send practical message to politicians not to turn the plight of highly vulnerable people into election bazaar.
“The group’s decision to take such practical step was highly welcomed by community leaders, active members and even business owners” said Jamal Daoud spokesperson of the group. “Many community leaders are participating in this lunch. The list of participants includes: Rev. David Smith, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, Dr Fida Al Majzoub, Sheikh Younis Al Muzafer, Emad Ashour and many others”.
“The businesses we approached showed high sympathy with the asylum seekers plight and donated generously for the community lunch”
“On recent previous occasions, community members donated generously when we approached them to donate electrical appliances”.
All this is as clear sign that our politicians in Canberra do not represent their constituents. Indeed, it sends strong message that community members are expecting a lot of their politicians to help these vulnerable people, not to detain them or return them to their death.
The group decided to celebrate the occasion in very practical way away from empty rhetoric and more electoral promises from different political parties. The group believes that actions are usually louder than talks.
This year’s celebration of WRD is a good opportunity for the group to assure its commitment to continue fighting until we see the mandatory detention system abolished altogether. The group is also advocating for Australia to increase significantly the quota of refugees it accept annually. This would reduce the numbers of boat people arriving to our shores.
“The inhumane treatment of asylum seekers proved to be not the solution. On the contrary. It created more troubles for Australia and Australians”.
The community leaders and active members will take multicultural food to participate it with the detainees. But in fact, they will participate with the detainees their hopes that their plight will finish soon.
The community leaders and active members will gather outside Villawood detention centre main gate at 15 Birmingham Ave – Villawood at 1 pm. Then they will take food and soft drinks to the inside of the detention where they will enjoy lunch with detainees from different backgrounds.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Social justice group strongly condemns the Israeli state terrorism: Australians parliamentary politicians’ complete silence is highly condemned!
Social Justice group is condemning in the strongest words the Israeli barbaric inhumane massacre against the international activists part of the Free Gaza flotilla. This massacre that resulted so far in killing more than 10 innocent activists and injuring dozens more, according to Israeli sources. The Israeli army conducted this massacre in the international water, even before the activists entered the Gaza waters.
“The international activists part of the flotilla were not armed and the flotilla only carried humanitarian aids. There was no excuse for these barbaric actions which cost many lives” said Jamal Daoud, the group’s spokesperson and leading candidate for the next election. “While we are at the moment watching with deep sadness the loss of innocent lives, we are not surprised by this barbaric action as Israel has conducted regularly massacres against innocent people”.
While this massacre is added to the previous massacres that Israel conducted against anyone who challenges its illegal actions, it comes as clear evidence of the deep crises it goes through since its defeat in Lebanon 2006 and then in Gaza 2008 - 2009.
Few months ago, Israel forged foreign passports, including Australians, to conduct another illegal action. The international community, including Australia, did not take decisive measures to discipline Israel to enforce it from taking further barbaric actions.
This time, international community (including Australian government) should take urgent decisive actions against Israel. This should include cutting ties and expelling Israeli diplomats. Without such tough actions, Israel will continue its violations of human rights of anyone dares to criticise it or take actions against its illegal actions.
We now know that there are few Australians were on board when ships were attacked by Israeli navy. Consequently, we urge Australian government to act immediately by calling the Israeli diplomats and get some clarifications about the need for this barbaric action against unarmed international activists and about the fate of Australian journalists.
On this issue, we condemn the Australian government’s silence on this barbaric action. We also strongly condemn the so-called progressive small parliamentary parties, especially the Greens, for their complete silence over these crimes. In this instance we note that these parties (the Labor and the Greens) got the biggest slice of the Muslims, Arabs and progressive votes in the past decade. We urge these communities to take these into account when they go to the election later in the year.
The group will participate in organising and participating in other activities on this issue in the next few days. One of these actions would be the rally in Canberra on next Thursday. We will announce details of these actions later on.
For media contact, you can call Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
“The international activists part of the flotilla were not armed and the flotilla only carried humanitarian aids. There was no excuse for these barbaric actions which cost many lives” said Jamal Daoud, the group’s spokesperson and leading candidate for the next election. “While we are at the moment watching with deep sadness the loss of innocent lives, we are not surprised by this barbaric action as Israel has conducted regularly massacres against innocent people”.
While this massacre is added to the previous massacres that Israel conducted against anyone who challenges its illegal actions, it comes as clear evidence of the deep crises it goes through since its defeat in Lebanon 2006 and then in Gaza 2008 - 2009.
Few months ago, Israel forged foreign passports, including Australians, to conduct another illegal action. The international community, including Australia, did not take decisive measures to discipline Israel to enforce it from taking further barbaric actions.
This time, international community (including Australian government) should take urgent decisive actions against Israel. This should include cutting ties and expelling Israeli diplomats. Without such tough actions, Israel will continue its violations of human rights of anyone dares to criticise it or take actions against its illegal actions.
We now know that there are few Australians were on board when ships were attacked by Israeli navy. Consequently, we urge Australian government to act immediately by calling the Israeli diplomats and get some clarifications about the need for this barbaric action against unarmed international activists and about the fate of Australian journalists.
On this issue, we condemn the Australian government’s silence on this barbaric action. We also strongly condemn the so-called progressive small parliamentary parties, especially the Greens, for their complete silence over these crimes. In this instance we note that these parties (the Labor and the Greens) got the biggest slice of the Muslims, Arabs and progressive votes in the past decade. We urge these communities to take these into account when they go to the election later in the year.
The group will participate in organising and participating in other activities on this issue in the next few days. One of these actions would be the rally in Canberra on next Thursday. We will announce details of these actions later on.
For media contact, you can call Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Under slogan of “No Islamophobia …No Racism”: Social Justice group runs candidates to promote real Multiculturalism and equality
As announced earleir, Social Justice group has announced this week its canididate for the senate for the next Federal election, 2010. The lead canididate for the senate is long time human rights activist and freelance journalist, Mr Jamal Daoud. The group also decided to run canidates for few high multicultural seats.
“Real Multiculturalism means equal representation of all different ethnic and religious groups in the decison making bodies. This value is not supported or promoted by the traditional parties” said Jamal Daoud, the media spokesperon of the group and the senate leading canididate. “We understand that the flourishing racism in society is a reuslt of the monopoly by one ethinicty and followers of Jeodo-Chrisitan faiths on decison making bodies”.
With both the government and opposition parties are engaging in racist debate over the issue of boat people and the “homegrown terrorism”, there is high need to challenge these racist claims and accusations. With total lack of progressive force in the parliament to seriously challenge these setbacks to human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and Australian Muslims, the need is very high to run candidates of these targeted communities to lead the struggle.
The group’s decision came after the pro-multicultural coummunities and organisations did not see any party taken decisive steps to promote members of marginlaised groups to the parliament and other decision making bodies. Even the so-called progressive small parties (especially the Greens) have failed the marginalised groups. In this instance they note the total absence of any multicultural faces in Parliament and in traditional parties hierarchies.
“Without equal representation of marginalised groups in decision making bodies, the issues causing their marginalisation would never be in the centre of any debate by decsion making bodies. The group’s desicion to run canididates from marginalised groups is to give these marginalised communites a chance to voice their concerns and highlight their issues”
“The marginalised communites of indegenous people, newly arrived immigrants, refugees and people with disabilities are totally absent from any representation in the federal parliament”.
“Even though these marginalised communites are making up more than 40% of the Australian population, their representation in the Federal parliament is nearly nil”.
“Even the so-called left progressive parties have failed to field any candiate from these marginalised communities in any safe or semi safe seat in the coming election”
“Real multiculturalism and social justice in any society means that the marginalised people should be allowed to have a fair share in having a say in the future of the nation they belong to. It means too that they should have equal access to resources and common wealth”
“The traditional parties, including the so-called progressive ones, are infact part of the problem and definitely canot be part of the solution”
“The history of Australian political life is not so bright when it comes to involving the highly marginalised communites. This is why racism and discrimination was always high on the agenda for political campainging through the Australian history. This election is no diferent”
The group hopes from this campaign to give the marginalised communites hope of possibility to get some share in politico-economical life of this nation. It is not acceptable that marginalised communites and their suffering would be used continually as electoral slogans for some parties to gain more votes. If these parties are serious about its empty rehtoric, they should give some power and voice for these marginalised communities to lead the fight for their rights.
The NSW voters will have the chance to vote for the first Muslim candidate for the Federal senate in this year’s election. This would be the practical effective way to fight growing Islamophobia and racism in the society.
The group will announce later the names of other candidates and the seats they will run for.
For more info about the campaign, you can contact the group’s spokesperson Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
“Real Multiculturalism means equal representation of all different ethnic and religious groups in the decison making bodies. This value is not supported or promoted by the traditional parties” said Jamal Daoud, the media spokesperon of the group and the senate leading canididate. “We understand that the flourishing racism in society is a reuslt of the monopoly by one ethinicty and followers of Jeodo-Chrisitan faiths on decison making bodies”.
With both the government and opposition parties are engaging in racist debate over the issue of boat people and the “homegrown terrorism”, there is high need to challenge these racist claims and accusations. With total lack of progressive force in the parliament to seriously challenge these setbacks to human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and Australian Muslims, the need is very high to run candidates of these targeted communities to lead the struggle.
The group’s decision came after the pro-multicultural coummunities and organisations did not see any party taken decisive steps to promote members of marginlaised groups to the parliament and other decision making bodies. Even the so-called progressive small parties (especially the Greens) have failed the marginalised groups. In this instance they note the total absence of any multicultural faces in Parliament and in traditional parties hierarchies.
“Without equal representation of marginalised groups in decision making bodies, the issues causing their marginalisation would never be in the centre of any debate by decsion making bodies. The group’s desicion to run canididates from marginalised groups is to give these marginalised communites a chance to voice their concerns and highlight their issues”
“The marginalised communites of indegenous people, newly arrived immigrants, refugees and people with disabilities are totally absent from any representation in the federal parliament”.
“Even though these marginalised communites are making up more than 40% of the Australian population, their representation in the Federal parliament is nearly nil”.
“Even the so-called left progressive parties have failed to field any candiate from these marginalised communities in any safe or semi safe seat in the coming election”
“Real multiculturalism and social justice in any society means that the marginalised people should be allowed to have a fair share in having a say in the future of the nation they belong to. It means too that they should have equal access to resources and common wealth”
“The traditional parties, including the so-called progressive ones, are infact part of the problem and definitely canot be part of the solution”
“The history of Australian political life is not so bright when it comes to involving the highly marginalised communites. This is why racism and discrimination was always high on the agenda for political campainging through the Australian history. This election is no diferent”
The group hopes from this campaign to give the marginalised communites hope of possibility to get some share in politico-economical life of this nation. It is not acceptable that marginalised communites and their suffering would be used continually as electoral slogans for some parties to gain more votes. If these parties are serious about its empty rehtoric, they should give some power and voice for these marginalised communities to lead the fight for their rights.
The NSW voters will have the chance to vote for the first Muslim candidate for the Federal senate in this year’s election. This would be the practical effective way to fight growing Islamophobia and racism in the society.
The group will announce later the names of other candidates and the seats they will run for.
For more info about the campaign, you can contact the group’s spokesperson Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The government’s new policy on asylum seeker: inhumane policy made on run!
The Rudd government has announced yesterday a new policy allegedly to fight people smuggling activities. The policy includes suspension of applications’ process for Afghani and Sri Lankan asylum seekers. This would practically means keeping asylum seekers behind bars for longer times.
“The policy is very serious setback of Australian commitments and obligations under Geneva Convention about Refugees status, 1951” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of Social Justice party. “It was a move made on run in the face of calls from opposition parties to resort to racism and xenophobia as a major campaign platform for the coming federal election”
“The move is departure from another election commitments made by Rudd government before the last federal election, 2007. At that time, Labor party promised to keep the asylum seekers no more than 90 days in detention centres to process their claims”
“Consequent to yesterday’s move, asylum seekers could be kept in detention for years”
The new policy was not based on any credible reports or information from international and human rights organisations. On the contrary. Currently, we are witnessing surge in military activities and indiscriminate bombing from all sides in Afghanistan.
The government’s policy is no more than a coward move to cave in from opposition parties’ attacks on surge of unauthorized arrivals to Australia. Such move that aims to make racism and xenophobia a major election issue that blankets all other major challenges facing Australia. Such challenges that include: very fragile economy, accommodation crisis, health crisis, drug and alcohol addiction crisis, …etc
Both the government and opposition are claiming that they want to fight against people smuggling criminal activities. But both are directing their activities to punish the innocent vulnerable people. From previous experiences, these people are genuine refugees and would make good citizens. The government’s inhumane harsh policy would result only in causing these asylum seekers trauma and deep mental health problems. By the time they will be released to the community, they would need high support and expensive treatment for rehabilitation.
The Social Justice party opposes such move and believes that such policy would practically fail. Both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are still highly dangerous areas, as according to the government publicly released travel advices and reports. All what it will do is build up already high racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia. SJP will fight against such moves by all means available.
The SJP will participate in the rally planned this coming Sunday in support of refugees rights. Australia should honor its international obligations and commitments.
The rally will be on Sunday, 11 April 10, 2 pm outside Villawood detention centre – 15 Birmingham Ave – Villawood.
For media comments, Jamal Daoud, the SJN spokesperson, can be contacted on 0404 47 272
“The policy is very serious setback of Australian commitments and obligations under Geneva Convention about Refugees status, 1951” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of Social Justice party. “It was a move made on run in the face of calls from opposition parties to resort to racism and xenophobia as a major campaign platform for the coming federal election”
“The move is departure from another election commitments made by Rudd government before the last federal election, 2007. At that time, Labor party promised to keep the asylum seekers no more than 90 days in detention centres to process their claims”
“Consequent to yesterday’s move, asylum seekers could be kept in detention for years”
The new policy was not based on any credible reports or information from international and human rights organisations. On the contrary. Currently, we are witnessing surge in military activities and indiscriminate bombing from all sides in Afghanistan.
The government’s policy is no more than a coward move to cave in from opposition parties’ attacks on surge of unauthorized arrivals to Australia. Such move that aims to make racism and xenophobia a major election issue that blankets all other major challenges facing Australia. Such challenges that include: very fragile economy, accommodation crisis, health crisis, drug and alcohol addiction crisis, …etc
Both the government and opposition are claiming that they want to fight against people smuggling criminal activities. But both are directing their activities to punish the innocent vulnerable people. From previous experiences, these people are genuine refugees and would make good citizens. The government’s inhumane harsh policy would result only in causing these asylum seekers trauma and deep mental health problems. By the time they will be released to the community, they would need high support and expensive treatment for rehabilitation.
The Social Justice party opposes such move and believes that such policy would practically fail. Both Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are still highly dangerous areas, as according to the government publicly released travel advices and reports. All what it will do is build up already high racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia. SJP will fight against such moves by all means available.
The SJP will participate in the rally planned this coming Sunday in support of refugees rights. Australia should honor its international obligations and commitments.
The rally will be on Sunday, 11 April 10, 2 pm outside Villawood detention centre – 15 Birmingham Ave – Villawood.
For media comments, Jamal Daoud, the SJN spokesperson, can be contacted on 0404 47 272
Monday, March 29, 2010
Labor government should act to relieve crises, not produce new ones
Today’s transfer of asylum seekers from Christmas Island’s detention centre to Villawood DC is a clear indication of the total failure of the Australian current policy in dealing with global refugees’ crisis. Instead of taking proactive steps to face the crisis, the Australian government is still lagging behind its Western democracies counterpart.
“The Labor government should have acted immediately after was elected 2007 to end the previous government’s highly inhumane practices” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of Social Justice Network (SJN). “Such practices that include giving up sovereignty on some of Australian territories, wasting billions of tax-payers money on bribes to neighboring countries and stepping naval patrols and detaining people in remote islands where there is no basic services (including basic health services)”
The Labor government’s approach in this regard was similar to its approach to other crises and issues. The Labor government continued the same failed policies of previous government until things escalated to the point of crisis. The government then acted on run, with no deep changes to policy and approach.
By doing this, the Labor government is attracting criticism from all sides. We are witnessing the Liberal’s insensitive hysterical comments that aim to beat on racist drums, despite the fact that the Labor government is following the Liberals approach in this regard. The government also attracted criticism from progressive organisations defending human rights.
It is very clear that transferring hundreds of asylum seekers to mainland’s detention centres will not solve the problem. The issue of asylum seeking is directly related to the escalating global refugee’s crisis. Such crisis that Australian government participated in its escalation by participating in invading Iraq and Afghanistan. The Australian government cannot avoid its commitments and obligations to help relieving this escalating crisis.
“Australia, as a member of the coalition states who participated in destroying Afghanistan and Iraq, should stand up for their international responsibilities and accept all Iraqi and Afghani asylum seekers”
“Labor’s hesitation to end the suffering of around 2 thousand asylum seekers waiting in Indonesia for between 3 – 7 years for a third country to take them, is the real basis for today’s move”.
Many of these stranded people have family members in Australia, who can look after them and facilitate their smooth integration. Their Australian relatives had applied to the government to end their ordeal by granting them humanitarian visas that will cost Australia minimal financial commitments. The government had refused most of applications for humanitarian visa.
While the network supports the Labor government’s more lenient treatment of arriving asylum seekers, but urges it to take further steps.
The Labor government should reverse the regulations that exclude thousands of Australian islands from migration zones. Australia should resume its global leadership on humanitarian issues by restoring Australian humanitarian commitments. Australia should also increase its quota of refugees accepted. This will defuse calls from the Liberals to play on race card again.
Australia is a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention to protect refugees and the subsequent protocol. This convention guarantees the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to move from their country of origin to any country they think will give them safety and freedom.
The Network will continue its campaign to lobby the government to change its approach to this issue fundamentally. In a time when we are witnessing the true and full impact of devastating mandatory detention policy on thousands of refugees who were detained in Australia’s detention centre (and now became recipients of Disability Support Pension) and our bid to get massive compensation for those affected, we urge the government to end the source of such dreadful practices.
Labor government should spend the billions of tax-payers money on ways to relieve the crisis by smooth and humane way of status determination and then on settlement services to facilitate their integration. Instead of wasting these huge amounts of money on producing devastated people with many disabilities.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
“The Labor government should have acted immediately after was elected 2007 to end the previous government’s highly inhumane practices” said Jamal Daoud, spokesperson of Social Justice Network (SJN). “Such practices that include giving up sovereignty on some of Australian territories, wasting billions of tax-payers money on bribes to neighboring countries and stepping naval patrols and detaining people in remote islands where there is no basic services (including basic health services)”
The Labor government’s approach in this regard was similar to its approach to other crises and issues. The Labor government continued the same failed policies of previous government until things escalated to the point of crisis. The government then acted on run, with no deep changes to policy and approach.
By doing this, the Labor government is attracting criticism from all sides. We are witnessing the Liberal’s insensitive hysterical comments that aim to beat on racist drums, despite the fact that the Labor government is following the Liberals approach in this regard. The government also attracted criticism from progressive organisations defending human rights.
It is very clear that transferring hundreds of asylum seekers to mainland’s detention centres will not solve the problem. The issue of asylum seeking is directly related to the escalating global refugee’s crisis. Such crisis that Australian government participated in its escalation by participating in invading Iraq and Afghanistan. The Australian government cannot avoid its commitments and obligations to help relieving this escalating crisis.
“Australia, as a member of the coalition states who participated in destroying Afghanistan and Iraq, should stand up for their international responsibilities and accept all Iraqi and Afghani asylum seekers”
“Labor’s hesitation to end the suffering of around 2 thousand asylum seekers waiting in Indonesia for between 3 – 7 years for a third country to take them, is the real basis for today’s move”.
Many of these stranded people have family members in Australia, who can look after them and facilitate their smooth integration. Their Australian relatives had applied to the government to end their ordeal by granting them humanitarian visas that will cost Australia minimal financial commitments. The government had refused most of applications for humanitarian visa.
While the network supports the Labor government’s more lenient treatment of arriving asylum seekers, but urges it to take further steps.
The Labor government should reverse the regulations that exclude thousands of Australian islands from migration zones. Australia should resume its global leadership on humanitarian issues by restoring Australian humanitarian commitments. Australia should also increase its quota of refugees accepted. This will defuse calls from the Liberals to play on race card again.
Australia is a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention to protect refugees and the subsequent protocol. This convention guarantees the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to move from their country of origin to any country they think will give them safety and freedom.
The Network will continue its campaign to lobby the government to change its approach to this issue fundamentally. In a time when we are witnessing the true and full impact of devastating mandatory detention policy on thousands of refugees who were detained in Australia’s detention centre (and now became recipients of Disability Support Pension) and our bid to get massive compensation for those affected, we urge the government to end the source of such dreadful practices.
Labor government should spend the billions of tax-payers money on ways to relieve the crisis by smooth and humane way of status determination and then on settlement services to facilitate their integration. Instead of wasting these huge amounts of money on producing devastated people with many disabilities.
For more information, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0404 447 272
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