Results tagged “Asylum seekers”

Nearly a month after their boat was first intercepted in Indonesian waters, finally there is some progress with the Sri Lankan asylum seekers holed up on the Oceanic Viking. This week the Australian government offered them resettlement within 12 weeks, as well as English language classes and financial support, if they disembarked in Indonesia and were found to be genuine refugees. As a result, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been attacked from all angles - the Opposition says he has crumpled and is sending a message that Australia is a pushover in the area of border protection; Yet refugee advocates say his approach still lacks compassion
Meanwhile, this weekend two more boats have been intercepted on their way to Australia, with two Afghanis from one boat being shot and wounded while trying to escape.

Let's hear your thoughts on the topic.

• Do you think it's good that the Sri Lankans, after more than a month of stalling and negotiating with governments, are finally starting to see some progress in their bid to find asylum?

• The Government can't seem to win whatever stance it takes on asylum seekers- Opposition says he has failed to protect our borders by taking a more compassionate approach than the previous government; Yet refugee advocates say his approach still lacks compassion and plays on Australian's fears. What do you think of the government's approach?

• Compared to the rest of the world Australia sees a very small number of refugees arriving on our shores, most by plane. Do you think this fear of being swamped by boats of asylum seekers is unfounded? Is the government over-playing on this fear?

• Or do you think tough rules to protect our borders are justified?

Asylum seekers are creating headlines worldwide, as thousands flee troubled nations hoping for a better life. The Tamil refugees intercepted in Indonesian this week ended their hunger strike yesterday - but are refusing to leave their boat. And the Australian navy is on standby to help rescue two more boats in distress in Indonesian waters, possibly loaded with 270 asylum seekers.  Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has responded to the situation by condemning the act of people smuggling. He's also said to be in talks with Jakarta seeking a new strategy to stop refugee boats from travelling through Indonesian waters to Australia. But is his response too simplistic? Bruce Haigh is a former diplomat who has dealt with refugee issues for nearly 40 years, and has served on the Refugee Review Tribunal. He spoke to us this week about the issue of refugees.

Let's hear your thoughts on the topic.

• What are your thoughts on Australia's current policy and the Federal Government's moves to try and stop boats coming through Indonesian waters to Australia?
 
• Do you share Kevin Rudd's view that the people smugglers operating these boats are the problem?

• Or do agree with Bruce Haigh, who has just said that they're not to blame - they're only an indication of how desperate people have become, and punishing them isn't really a solution.
 
• Are you worried like the Opposition is, that we're sending the wrong message to other nations by being more accepting of asylum seekers under our new government?

• Reports are showing that refugees are seeking asylum in nations all around the world, (eg in todays news we read that Iraq has barred entry to a group of Iraqi asylum seekers that were sent back to Baghdad by the British government. Britain is now holding them in an immigration detention centre. ... and More than 40,000 Iraqis lodged applications for asylum in the West last year.). Many are saying that this proves the increasing numbers of arrivals in Australia is nothing to do with how relaxed Australia's policy is or isn't - rather just a symptom of increasing global unrest. What do you think?

• If you've worked in some capacity with refugees - perhaps as a volunteer with a support group, visiting people in detention centres - I'd love to hear from you. From what you've learnt from their stories, what do you think Australia's policy should be?

* If you were a refugee, I'd love to hear your story too.