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Geelong Deanery |
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Hordes or Human Beings?On 22 November 1999, in a statement entitled ‘Hordes or Human Beings? Treatment of Refugees Contrary to Australia’s International Human Rights Obligations’, the Melbourne Archdiocese’s Catholic Commission for Justice, Development and Peace (CCJDP) in a Statement criticised the Australian Government for its ‘bully-boy’ tactics towards refugees and critics such as the Uniting Church who have called for a more compassionate response in refugee policy. Ms Liz Curran, Executive Officer of the CCJDP stated: ‘The fact that the Government, so soon after the horrors and atrocities in East Timor, can forget the suffering and trauma that so many persons fleeing torture and persecution can experience and succumb to the propaganda and over-reaction against "illegals" or "non-genuine refugees" (they appear to know this without a determination as to the facts of each case) does Australia little credit.’ She adds, ‘Only several months ago, after the referendum in East Timor, Australians rightly demanded a humanitarian response from the Government. Now, with the passage of time and as their plight becomes forgotten, the Government has resiled from its so-called "favourable response" to the applications by East Timorese asylum-seekers after its defeat in the Federal Court, refused to assist the International Commission of Jurists in accessing East Timorese safe havens to take testimonials with very spurious grounds being provide by the Government and housed many new arrivals over the past six months in a cold gymnasium, 117 to one toilet.’ Ms Curran observes, ‘The fact that criminal elements have taken advantage of the desperation of these people and may well be involved in their transportation is no reason to ignore the genuine plight of many of these refugees.’ Ms Curran concludes, ‘The Australian Government’s conduct is not only a knee-jerk, hysterical response which appears to be motivated by ill-informed prejudice but is hardly likely to result in a reduction in illegal immigration. Proper and just process must be adhered to and not dispensed with under strain. We call on all political parties to resist being caught up in actions which ignore our international obligations and ensure that due process, compassion and well thought out public policy responses are put in place.’ |
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