Sanctuary Network, with the free timor campaign,
call you to A RALLY
to share some (good/bad?) news
Now that East Timor has secured its independence, the 1650 East Timorese
asylum seekers in Australia should be able to choose whether to remain in
Australia or return (temporarily or permanently) to East Timor. Some may
feel able or willing to participate in the onerous task of rebuilding the
East Timorese nation, but others may not. Individuals and families must be
able to make their own decisions about whether to return, and if so, when
and in what circumstances.
At the moment, this choice is not in the hands of the East Timorese Asylum
Seekers. The Australian Government has repeatedly denied them permanent
residence, instead preferring to involve them in protracted court battles.
In the Full Federal Court on 12 October 1999, the Minister's Counsel sought
an adjournment of a test case on the basis that the Minister was
reconsidering his position on the asylum seekers. He indicated that this may
remove the need for the case to be finally heard by the Court. The
Minister's Counsel undertook to contact the East Timorese Asylum Seeker Mr
Lay's solicitor by 19 November 1999 to advise of the developments.=20
We were delighted to hear that the Minister was reconsidering his position
on the asylum seekers and that resolution was possible in the near future.
However we have since heard that the anticipated breakthrough is on very
shaky ground.
SO AT 1PM ON SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER, WE RALLY
perhaps in celebration, perhaps in outrage
at the DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION & MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS
(Casselden Place, cnr Spring & Lonsdale Streets, City)
Be there in solidarity with East Timorese Asylum Seekers ...
bring champagne if the news is good, placards and your anger if it's not!
THE CASE FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR EAST TIMORESE ASYLUM SEEKERS
There are 1650 East Timorese Asylum Seekers in Australia. These people:
* Fled East Timor in fear of their lives
* Sought refuge in Australia believing that our Government would fulfil its
international responsibilities and deal with their applications quickly and
fairly
* Have been waiting for between five and ten years whilst the Australian
Government has refused to process their refugee cases leaving the community
in limbo
* Are still suffering significant effects from the torture and trauma they
experienced in East Timor
* Have had their suffering compounded by the uncertainty of their position
in Australia.
* Have in some cases been denied Medicare and access to other Government
welfare services, including viable income support
* Have in some cases married Australians and given birth to children who
are Australian citizens
* Have friends and strong community links in Australia
* Have in many cases lost loved ones, their homes and their belongings
during the Indonesian occupation
* Have worked hard to make Australia their home, despite the efforts of the
Australian Government
* Are supported by the CNRT, which has stated that it believes this group
of East Timorese Asylum Seekers should be able to choose whether or not to
return to East Timor, and if so, when.
East Timorese asylum seekers need a good chance to recover from the
devastation brought about by their experiences in East Timor and Australia.
Permanent residence would enable them to begin the process of healing, to
plan for their futures and to build links with other communities. It would
offer hope and meaning to a community which is at present overcome by grief
and loss.
Add your voice to the calls for permanent residence for East Timorese Asylum
Seekers!
Full briefing paper is available from the freetimor website (www.freetimor.com)
Contact Sanctuary Network on 9481 6414 or PO Box 547, Northcote, 3070
LL.VK
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