Mandatory sentencing and Refugee camps in Australia: I think that at present the Australian Federal government is making an absolute hash of things in regards to human rights. That's obvious on any number of fronts, including it's refusal to hold a conscience vote on the practice of mandatory sentencing in two of its states; the above-claimed operation of 'detention centres' in the outback; and last but not least its attempt to rewrite the actual authority and operation of our national Human Rights commission. However, not all of these issues are black and white, because they are complicated by various national and international laws. And like most governments - i guess - the Australian government will respond to criticism from the UN only when that criticism is made explicit. Right now they're just dodging the call.
Mandatory sentencing: Next month two UN rapporteurs will arrive, one to examine aspects of racism in this country, the other with a specific mandate to look at 'arbitrary detention'. Now, arbitrary detention could cover *both* the issue of mandatory sentencing and the issue of refugee detention. Both issues are also potentially racial issues given that most of the people actually suffering from the mandatory sentencing laws are Aborigine. It's rather more obvious why racism might be a factor in the operation of refugee camps. The issue of mandatory sentencing is completely uncomplicated, since these laws are a transparent case of racial discrimination and also an abuse of the rights of the child. They should be repealed immediately. However, the states in this country are organised as sovereign states, giving them particular legal jurisdictions. The Federal Government could override them if it chose, but it would require a vote. At present, there are (almost daily) Bills being put forward by opposition members of parliament in an attempt to bring this matter forward.
Refugee camps. Most of Australia's current influx of asylum seekers are - it is reported - Iranians, Iraqis, and Afghans. The Afghans are being treated on the whole as genuinely at risk. However, there is a perception - government, media, public - that perhaps many of these illegal immigrants are not 'refugees' of war, political persecution, etc. Reports from residents of islands where these people have landed say things like 'well i saw them getting of their boats with their Gucci sunglasses and their Luis Vuitton luggage'. This kind of thing makes people rather skeptical. The amount of money spent by 'refugees' flying from Iraq to Indonesia and then catching a boat to Australia has also been highlighted. However what is not discussed in the media, generally, is how the West may well be complicit in, specifically, the formation of Iranian and Iraqi refugee subjects. It would seem that the West does have a responsibility to these people. Aren't we the ones who impose sanctions and make life conditions appalling in these countries? I would like to hear more discussion of how Australia or any Western nation could evaluate its liability to refugees of Western capitalism and US war games. The conditions of refugee camps/detention centres are not hideous. They are very basic, but they are not tents and trench toilets. The detention centres are buildings, have beds, latrines, regular meals, and are staffed with doctors, counsellors, and case advisors. However, there are reports that even with the recent building of new detention centres conditions are becoming overcrowded. People have said that locating these people 'in the desert' is unfair. It's true, detention centres are usually located in isolated areas. This means that armed security is, in general, quite unnecessary. If people walked out of the detention center in the Woomera desert, they'd probably die before they got to the next town. This makes them dependent on the centre. (It should be remembered that Australia is around 85% desert. Water is a scarce commodity in Australia, becoming scarcer.)
If the Irish newspapers want to claim that Australia has taken the wrong approach to managing a sudden increase (from late last year to now) in the illegal immigrant population, it should be remembered that this is an island continent. It is not a portion of the European continent, where people pass through national borders with scarcely a wave of their EU passport. Illegal immigration to Australia is highly planned, organised at a numbers of co-ordinated arrival and departure points, and is actually quite expensive (therefore it might be argued that many of the Chines/Iraq refugees come from the more well-off classes in those nations respectively). Can it be compared to the conditions in Europe? If so, what methods do the newspaper reporters and outraged Irish citizens propose as alternative measures to the ones that are currently being deployed by Australia? By the way, Amnesty International has today condemned an attempt from our Immigration minister to have the UN Refugee laws 'reconsidered'. This is fine by me, as it would seem that racism and immigration laws always go hand in hand, and Amnesty has an important position. It leaves open however the way in which the West can articulate a position in response to 'illegal' immigration into nation-states that are globalised economies, and whose fetishisation of commodity culture seems to be at least one factor in the production of refugee subjects.
Deborah
At 12:37 AM 22/03/00 +1100, you wrote:
>[from the Editorial of the Examiner, Ireland:]
>
>The shambles of Ireland’s policy on immigrants
>
>The Examiner
>21 March 2000
>
>IRELAND’S policy on immigration is in a total state of disarray judging by
>conflicting statements emanating from Government circles. With some
>justification, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has drawn considerable flak for
>rashly endorsing Australia’s policy of detaining immigrants in compounds
>behind barbed wire. At the same time Justice Minister John O’Donoghue has
>confirmed that he is considering housing immigrants in “floating hotels”
>off the coast while applications for asylum are processed.
>
>Over the weekend, a Government spokesman moved to dispel reports that
>Ireland was about to incarcerate people in compounds. And yesterday,
>presumably in a move to distance herself from the Taoiseach’s line of
>thinking, Tánaiste Mary Harney has emphasised that neither she nor her
>party would favour setting up detention centres. To her credit, Ms Harney
>has made it clear the PDs would oppose any move to impound immigrants in
>this manner.
>
>Clearly, the Government is now trying to draw the sting of Opposition
>criticism in advance of what promises to be a heated Dáil debate on the
>controversy. However, we have yet to hear the Taoiseach spell out exactly
>what appeals to him about an Australian system which has been rejected by
>the UN High Commission for Refugees.
>
>It is generally accepted that something must be done about the growing
>numbers of people coming to this country illegally. According to official
>estimates, around 1,000 people arrive in Ireland by the back door every
>month. Many of them are economic rather than political asylum seekers,
>attracted by Ireland’s booming economy and lack of clearly defined
>policies on immigration, problems which are reflected throughout the EU.
>
>With intense pressure on public housing, there is no gainsaying that
>genuine problems arise when it comes to providing instant accommodation
>for large numbers of immigrants. Whatever policy the Government finally un
>veils must reflect caring and Christian attitudes towards our fellow human
>beings.
>
>The outdated, colonial approach to immigration embraced by Australia,
>where Aboriginals have also been treated so shamefully, must be eschewed.
>By the same coin, Irish people have not been noted for tolerance towards
>strangers who come to live here and we continue to treat travellers as
>second class citizens. It is imperative for Government to replace the
>present shambles with an effective system based on qualities of compassion
>and respect for immigrants, and also for the Taoiseach to end the utterly
>unacceptable practice of policy making on the hoof.
>
>(& from the Letters section of the Irish Times):
>
>A Chara, - As a Fianna Fáil supporter, I write to register my utter
>disgust at the recent remarks made by An Taoiseach in Australia. During a
>recent visit to that country, I was deeply disappointed to discover the
>sheer level of racist ignorance that is endemic in Australian society.
>Extremist anti-immigrant opportunistic politicians enjoy a disturbingly
>high level of support, whilst many of their followers yearn for a return
>of the notorious "white Australia" policy. The United Nations has quite
>rightly condemned the "detention camps". However, their existence
>continues to enjoy enormous public support. Australia deserves to be
>internationally condemned for its current policy on asylum seekers. The
>fact that our Taoiseach admires their immoral approach contrasts markedly
>with his response to the election of Mr Haidler in Austria. Mr Ahern's
>ill-chosen, idiotic comments in Australia are nothing short of a
>scandal. - Is mise, RUAIRI HANLEY, Stillorgan, Co Dublin.
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