Here's something positive you can do for one group of refugees in desperate fear of deportation. Only takes 2 minutes to sign on.
Apols for x-posting. Please circulate widely.... Chris Chaplin Preston, Vic -----Original Message----- From: Social Action Office [mailto:sao.clriq@;bigpond.com] Subject: East Timorese Petition URGENT ACTION on behalf of the East Timorese Asylum Seekers in Australia Dear Friends This is an urgent request to sign the following petition immediately and then to forward this to all your friends and networks both locally and globally. Below is a copy of the letter sent to Mr Howard from The Catholic Bishops' Conference which this petition supports and hopefully strengthens. The East Timorese in Australia will be eternally grateful. http://www.petitiononline.com/marymac/petition.html 24 October 2002 The Hon Philip Ruddock MP Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600 My Dear Minister I am writing on behalf of the group of East Timorese Asylum Seekers in Australia (about 1800) in number with a plea that they be given residency in Australia on humanitarian grounds. While acknowledging that the situation in East Timor has improved since these people first sought Australia's protection, I renew a proposal made to you on 6 April 2000 by Reverend Father John Murphy, Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office. Fr Murphy's proposal was that a special visa category be formed (non-humanitarian if necessary) so that these long-suffering people, who came to Australia eight to ten years ago, may be able to continue their lives here with right of Permanent Residence if they so desire. The reasons for this request are as follows: · These people came to Australia for protection and have resided here for many years, some since 1992. During this long period, they have lived in uncertainty, waiting for a decision. They now fear deportation. · There are many good reasons why they should be permitted to remain in Australia. They have integrated into the Australian community and most of them have worked very hard to support themselves and start a new life. Since they are mainly Catholic people, they have become respected and valued members of our Church community and we feel a particular responsibility for them - a responsibility which the Church has actively sought to fulfill during the years that they have been in Australia. We have come to know them as peaceful, faithful and law-abiding people who make their contribution to both Church and society in a friendly and productive way. · Many children in the group have been born in Australia, and/or have grown up and been educated here. They would be unable to continue their education satisfactorily in East Timor. These children have become very much part of our life and culture and could contribute in many ways to our future. It seems unjust to send them away from a country, which they now regard as their home. · Some of the children have married and started their own families here; some have acquired employment in fields or work, which do not exist in East Timor. · A return to East Timor would be very difficult for the asylum seekers and would bring great hardship. The country is extremely poor; there is practically no work. Most would have no homes, and could expect little support from impoverished relatives. The consequences are predictable - e.g. living on the streets and involvement in crime. At this time, they would add to the problems of this new nation rather than help to alleviate those problems. · A decision to allow the East Timorese asylum seekers to stay in Australia would be mutually beneficial and, I believe, would receive strong support from the Australian people. Since settling in Australia, these people have established strong bonds with many generous Australians. They have close historical and geographical links with Australia. Friendship between the two peoples has been greatly strengthened since your Government's decision to send troops to East Timor following the Independence vote of 30 August 1999. Now, unfortunately, uncertainty and anxiety at the prospect of deportation is being experienced by the East Timorese asylum seekers as well as by their Australian friends. I beg you to give this matter your urgent and sympathetic attention. Yours sincerely in Christ Francis P Carroll President Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference Aileen Crowe Justice and Peace Promoter Archdiocese of Sydney ph 0425 225 685 fax 02 9764 1743 .. -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:leftlink@;vicnet.net.au Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:majordomo@;vicnet.net.au?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:majordomo@;vicnet.net.au?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
