Weekly refugee links
Feb. 15th, 2014 11:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dreamer_easyThese weekly reminders of Australian cruelty are exhausting to the spirit, so before I proceed with the usual list of outrages, here are a few more heartening stories.
Firstly: Customs officer gets bravery award for rescuing asylum seekers off Christmas Island. The context of this is hardly cheerful - the drowning of fifty refugees - but forty-two lives were saved by a Customs and Border Protection crew risking their own lives.
And secondly, from Daniel Streatfield's account of the "children overboard" scandal in A History of The World After 9/11 (thanks,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
hnpcc), what happened when the boat finally sank: "An awning was rigged over the forecastle, lavatories were set up, food, water, towels, and dry clothes were distributed. Sailors who might previously have displayed animosity toward the asylum seekers now showed their true colours, helping whenever possible. The crew all missed their own evening meals, most without even noticing: many stayed awake through the night running a babysitting rota for the exhausted Iraqi mothers." In an ugly twist, it was the proud captain's photos of his crew bravely leaping into the water to save refugees which - stripped of his captions - were used as "proof" they had thrown their children into the ocean.
Facing the horrible possibility that some naval personnel have not just mistreated but have actively tortured asylum seekers (and the impression of a cover-up), it's healing to be reminded that, when they're not being ordered to treat refugees as less than human, officials and sailors revert to a normal and natural human state: compassion. (ETA: Two-thirds of voters believe the claims should be investigated.)
Also on the hopeful side: Greens, Labor aim to kill off new "temporary humanitarian concern" visa (already vetoed once by the Senate last year).
Now down to business.
At Work Inside Our Detention Centres: A Guard's Story.
"Under the current Complementary Protection visas asylum seekers who are not deemed refugees are able to claim protection if they face death or serious human rights violations, including torture. Now, under proposed changes, Mr Morrison will have discretionary power to determine the fate of these asylum seekers." The 18-month old Complementary Protection system may have just saved a Hazara man from being deported to his death.
The Department of Immigration's new anti-asylum seeker slogan, "No Way", plus a comic strip released in November last year showing the misery of life in offshore detention centres, have attracted criticism. International law forbids deterring refugees from seeking asylum. Human rights advocate Jarrod McKenna "Instead of saying 'no way' we must provide 'safe ways' for people to seek asylum without risking their lives or being imprisoned for trying."
Australia's use of lifeboats to return refugees to Indonesia is proving both expensive, as they are only used once, and unpopular with Indonesia.
The Greens are holding an inquiry to last October's clash on Manus Island, during which shots were reportedly fired. (btw, Streatfield points out that Manus is so hot because it's two degrees south of the Equator. Holy cow.)
A 27-year old Indian student - not an asylum seeker - took his own life in a mainland detention centre, once again raising concerns about mental health and immigration detention.
Firstly: Customs officer gets bravery award for rescuing asylum seekers off Christmas Island. The context of this is hardly cheerful - the drowning of fifty refugees - but forty-two lives were saved by a Customs and Border Protection crew risking their own lives.
And secondly, from Daniel Streatfield's account of the "children overboard" scandal in A History of The World After 9/11 (thanks,
hnpcc), what happened when the boat finally sank: "An awning was rigged over the forecastle, lavatories were set up, food, water, towels, and dry clothes were distributed. Sailors who might previously have displayed animosity toward the asylum seekers now showed their true colours, helping whenever possible. The crew all missed their own evening meals, most without even noticing: many stayed awake through the night running a babysitting rota for the exhausted Iraqi mothers." In an ugly twist, it was the proud captain's photos of his crew bravely leaping into the water to save refugees which - stripped of his captions - were used as "proof" they had thrown their children into the ocean.Facing the horrible possibility that some naval personnel have not just mistreated but have actively tortured asylum seekers (and the impression of a cover-up), it's healing to be reminded that, when they're not being ordered to treat refugees as less than human, officials and sailors revert to a normal and natural human state: compassion. (ETA: Two-thirds of voters believe the claims should be investigated.)
Also on the hopeful side: Greens, Labor aim to kill off new "temporary humanitarian concern" visa (already vetoed once by the Senate last year).
Now down to business.
At Work Inside Our Detention Centres: A Guard's Story.
"Under the current Complementary Protection visas asylum seekers who are not deemed refugees are able to claim protection if they face death or serious human rights violations, including torture. Now, under proposed changes, Mr Morrison will have discretionary power to determine the fate of these asylum seekers." The 18-month old Complementary Protection system may have just saved a Hazara man from being deported to his death.
The Department of Immigration's new anti-asylum seeker slogan, "No Way", plus a comic strip released in November last year showing the misery of life in offshore detention centres, have attracted criticism. International law forbids deterring refugees from seeking asylum. Human rights advocate Jarrod McKenna "Instead of saying 'no way' we must provide 'safe ways' for people to seek asylum without risking their lives or being imprisoned for trying."
Australia's use of lifeboats to return refugees to Indonesia is proving both expensive, as they are only used once, and unpopular with Indonesia.
The Greens are holding an inquiry to last October's clash on Manus Island, during which shots were reportedly fired. (btw, Streatfield points out that Manus is so hot because it's two degrees south of the Equator. Holy cow.)
A 27-year old Indian student - not an asylum seeker - took his own life in a mainland detention centre, once again raising concerns about mental health and immigration detention.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-15 11:11 am (UTC)It's actually more depressing in retrospect - I never thought anyone could be more heartless than Ruddock, and now we have Morrison.
Mind you, there is a black level of humour in how this government is realising that pretty much none of their "solutions" are actually working - stop the boats, hide the boats, give them new boats...
I'm also bizarrely impressed that they seem to be able to damage the diplomatic relationship with Indonesia quite so quickly and without any apparent thoughts to consequences. *sigh*
This new "code of conduct" for TPV holders though is a new level of low. What, exactly, constitutes spreading rumours at work? Unbelievably vague and ridiculous. I'm beginning to wonder if they're just trying to block up the High Court with challenges so they can get the rest of their crap though.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-17 10:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-15 11:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-17 10:44 pm (UTC)