http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,3899594,00.html
© The Australian
Amnesty head to meet MP's
06mar02
THE new head of human rights watchdog Amnesty International will meet
with parliamentary members of the group during a five-day visit to
Australia.
Amnesty secretary-general Irene Khan said Australia's image had been
damaged by its treatment of the Tampa refugees, riots and protests at
detention centres and farming asylum seekers out to Pacific islands.
While the government continued with mandatory detention of asylum
seekers in neighbouring countries, it was straying dangerously close to
becoming one of the people smugglers it claimed to hinder, Ms Khan said.
"Diverting boatloads of people to detention centres in Nauru and Papua
New Guinea - in exchange for huge sums of money - perpetuates the very
trafficking of human misery that the Australian government claims it is
seeking to prevent," she said.
Ms Khan, a Bangladeshi-born Muslim who took over Amnesty's reins six
months ago, said in the wake of September 11 it was easy to vilify
foreigners on the grounds of border security.
But MPs had an obligation to resist the temptation and take a leadership
role against the wishes of the mob.
"It is all too easy to feed people's fears that the threat comes from
abroad, to create a climate of suspicion, mistrust, xenophobia and
racism," she said.
"It is all too easy to confuse those fleeing terror with those who are
suspected of causing terror and, in that process, of curtailing the
rights of refugees and asylum seekers.
"Who cares about a few foreigners being locked up if it will make us all
feel safer, more secure?"
Prime Minister John Howard has refused to meet with Ms Khan during her
visit.
But she will have talks with Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock and
Attorney-General Daryl Williams tomorrow.
.
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