Indonesia

Four Corners’ Smuggling Circus Freak Show fails investigative framework

“Four Corners has now well and truly established its own “me too” Canberra-derived national discourse of Evil Smugglers’ stories, a media freak show that started with commercial television serials, cheapskate sensationalist so-called “investigations” with overblown claims, a must-see freak show that has now also become established at the ABC – all of them failing to address how Canberra’s manipulative avoidance of people in transit in Indonesia is building, sponsoring and sustaining people smuggling as an industry,” WA Human Rights group…

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It’s the Government, not the People Smugglers that has Blood on its Hands

The Four Corners’ people smuggling program has only added to the demonisation that surrounds the media and politicians’ portrayal of people smugglers. Rather than exposing a trans-national criminal network, Four Corners has revealed, what is so often the case, that people arranging boats for asylum seekers to come to Australia have often been refugees themselves, motivated by concerns for the safety of their families or asylum seekers from the same country. Ten of 16 people convicted for people smuggling between 2001 and 2006 were indeed refugees themselves.…

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Abbott speech shows Coalition can’t accept reality on asylum seekers: Greens

Tony Abbott has today shown he can’t accept reality and is stuck in the past by maintaining his dogma which breaches international law and punishes people rather than protects them, the Australian Greens said. “Mr Abbott keeps bleating his mantra about turning back boats and reinstating temporary protection visas, despite knowing full well their ramifications,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “The navy says it will not turn boats around because it is well aware of Australia’s responsibilities under…

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Australia should inform Chinese in Darwin of their right to seek asylum: Greens

Australian immigration authorities should inform Chinese nationals in Darwin harbour of their right to seek asylum here, the Australian Greens said today. “Officials should use the time remaining on the Chinese’s temporary visas to give them every opportunity to seek protection in Australia,” Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Sen. Sarah Hanson-Young, said. “Australia also has a role to play in helping the Afghan and Iranian asylum seekers who were rescued off Indonesia at the weekend. At least one asylum seeker has said…

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