Hmm. Some links.

Post #7,426 by static 9/1/01 2:47:56 AM Reply	Hmm. Some links. We've seen excerpts from international news on our local stuff about how they are presenting the situation. It hasn't been favourable, unsurprisingly, but it appears few facts are wrong. I've also seen an interview with a Norwegian journalist who showed strong signs of an open mind. Channel Seven's news site is hard to search, but I found [link\|http://i7news.com.au/News/FrameSet/0,,PDI7140_DPD7153,00.html\|Refugees denied access] from last Monday (27 Aug) and [link\|http://i7news.com.au/News/FrameSet/0,,PDI7140_DPD7153,00.html\|Record boatload hits Aussie shores] from the a day or so before. Ah, the Sydney Morning Herald has [link\|http://www.smh.com.au/news/specials/natl/tampa/index.html\|a good summary] of the situation. And The Australian has [link\|http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/sectionindex2/0,5746,ausfeedback%5E%5ETEXT,00.html\|a feedback page] with some wide-ranging comments, though it pains me to see so many people confusing the legal and humane issues. More recently, the ABC posted [link\|http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/s355372.htm\|Indonesia's position] which mentions the fact that Indonesia has some responsibilty for the water in which they were picked up and that the Tampa was closest to an Indonesian port when it did pick them up; plus a story about [link\|http://www.abc.net.au/am/s354940.htm\|Smuggling rings in Indonesia]. I also found [link\|http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/cib/2000-01/01cib08.htm\|Detention of boat-people], a paper from the Parlimentary library that outlines the overall situation WRT rising numbers of illegal immigrants, the whys and wherefors of detention and comparisons to other countries. This is quite a good paper, actually. It even suggests the UN treaty may need revising. The ABC currently has [link\|http://www2b.abc.net.au/news/forum/forum30/\|a rather fiery forum] going on it. Wade. "All around me are nothing but fakes Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"
Post #7,437 by Ashton 9/1/01 4:12:14 AM Reply	Coincidentally, the first quote - Who can forget the rejection by the US government of the ship carrying hundreds of refugees from Hitler's Germany in 1939. Those people were eventually returned to Germany and sent to Auschwitz [spell corrected] to a certain death. Does Australia want these refugees to meet the same fate [sp] by sending them back to the hell holes of Afganistan?? seems to match my initial take (sans much known detail, of course) - just.. deja vu. Anyway, thanks for the assorted local takes. It's a problem which all the rich countries face increasingly, as population continues upwards and wealth distribution remains generally, in the world - medieval. And while the various religions (via caste - still rampant in India) and other peculiarities, induce aberrant behavior towards all the other millions with their variants on the theme. Medieval too? or a permanent species derangement? It's clear that in the end, no matter how assiduously the 'enlightened' groups preach of human rights and reverence for life - that 'reverence' extends to the local clan only somewhat, and much less - to all the others. We'll all watch the rhetoric play out; see what effect world opinion and image - affect the outcome. (Can't set any precedents for compassion of course; it might attract more tests of its limits.) Besides, neither Oz nor US could erase the root causes for there being always: refugees from oppressive homo-sap regimes. (And we each have our own local Billys n'Ballys seeking to maintain the local wealth distribution status quo) End Act 1 Scene 2 A.
Post #7,535 by static 9/3/01 12:05:45 AM Reply	Like I said at the outset... ... it's a complex problem that will not yield to a simple solution. Regarding the oppressive regimes in coutries like Afghanistan... I think the UN is going about it's role the wrong way. Currently, AFAIK, membership is conditional, and countries can and do leave the UN for whatever reason. The problem with that is that it then becomes a type of club. Why is this a problem? Because it wants to enforce good behaviour in all countries the world over. A solution would be to deny no-one membership of the UN, or, to put it another way, abolish membership rules. All nations in - no exceptions. This would make UN membership a responsibility, not a privilege. It would make it easier, then, for the UN to criticise countries that ignore the global ramifications of their decisions and actions. Like Afghanistan. Wade. "All around me are nothing but fakes Come with me on the biggest fake of all!"

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