Challenging the racist lies and building Challenging the racist lies and building solidarity with refugees solidarity with refugees Alex, Tamil refugee Alex, Tamil refugee “When people are fleeing war and “When people are fleeing war and genocide, how can a country think genocide, how can a country think protecting themselves is more protecting themselves is more important than helping these people? important than helping these people? The world is for all of humankind, we The world is for all of humankind, we are just like you except we do not have are just like you except we do not have a country.” a country.” “We are not animals, we are people, “We are not animals, we are people, but we are being treated inhumanely.” but we are being treated inhumanely.” Brindah, 9yrs Brindah, 9yrs old old “ “ Please help Please help us and save us and save our lives. We our lives. We are your are your children. children. Please think Please think of us” of us” “This government makes no apology for a hard-line approach to people smuggling and border security.”
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Countering the racist lies & building solidarity with refugees
Talk presented by Peter Benedek, Focus of this is on countering the dangerous, racist lies – from politicians, from media – that create climate of fear, of scapegoating. Just what is behind this “fortress Australia” policy?
As Alex – Tamil spokesperson for the boat currently in Indonesia, where a recent hunger strike was held – told GLW: “When people are fleeing war and genocide, how can a country think protecting themselves is more important than helping these people? The world is for all of humankind, we are just like you except we do not have a country.” “We are refugees and we want to get away from genocide”, Alex said. “There are women and children on board here. And we are not animals, we are people, but we are being treated inhumanely.”
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Challenging the racist lies and building solidarity with Challenging the racist lies and building solidarity with refugeesrefugees
Alex, Tamil refugeeAlex, Tamil refugee“When people are fleeing war “When people are fleeing war and genocide, how can a and genocide, how can a country think protecting country think protecting themselves is more important themselves is more important than helping these people? than helping these people? The world is for all of The world is for all of humankind, we are just like you humankind, we are just like you except we do not have a except we do not have a country.” country.” “We are not animals, we are “We are not animals, we are people, but we are being treated people, but we are being treated inhumanely.” inhumanely.”
Brindah, 9yrs Brindah, 9yrs oldold
““Please Please help us help us
and save and save our lives. our lives. We are We are
your your children. children. Please Please think of think of
us”us”
“This government
makes no apology for a
hard-line approach to
people smuggling and
border security.”
The Indonesia solutionThe Indonesia solution
MYTH: Indonesia or another country MYTH: Indonesia or another country should take the refugees instead of should take the refugees instead of
AustraliaAustralia
Indonesia is Indonesia is notnot a signatory to the a signatory to the Refugee Convention - no guarantee Refugee Convention - no guarantee of rights;of rights;
Indonesia poorly equipped to Indonesia poorly equipped to resettle peopleresettle people
Reports of beatings at detention Reports of beatings at detention centres in Indonesiacentres in Indonesia
Reports on Indonesian & Malaysian detention Reports on Indonesian & Malaysian detention centrescentres
"babies and children reside in maximum security third-world jails“
asylum seekers "treated like animals” Beatings fairly frequently at the hands of Indonesian military
and Immigration officials. rats running around extremely cramped conditions
…no room to sleep at same timeAlso Malaysia: Hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum
seekers at two detention centres Sri Lankan embassy forced
group of refugees to sign agreements for repatriation. Beaten when refused
While UNHCR Malaysian HRCdenied access to the refugees, the Sri Lankan govt officials gain access.
The global refugee The global refugee situationsituation
42 million refugees and internally 42 million refugees and internally displaced people officiallydisplaced people officially
Amount of refugees globally is on the rise - Amount of refugees globally is on the rise - wars, conflict, povertywars, conflict, poverty
1 person in 115 on the planet is a refugee1 person in 115 on the planet is a refugee
Global statistics on asylum seekersGlobal statistics on asylum seekersMajor refugee hosting countries (end 2008)Major refugee hosting countries (end 2008)
1,780,9001,780,900PakistanPakistan
1,105,7001,105,700 Syrian Arab Rep.Syrian Arab Rep.
980,100980,100 Islamic Rep. of IranIslamic Rep. of Iran
582,700582,700 GermanyGermany
500,400500,400 JordanJordan
330,500330,500 ChadChad
321,900321,900 United Rep. of TanzaniaUnited Rep. of Tanzania
320,600320,600 KenyaKenya
301,000301,000 ChinaChina
292,100292,100 United KingdomUnited KingdomSource: UNHCR (2009). 2008 Global Trends: Refugees, Asylum-seekers, Returnees, Internally Displaced and Stateless Persons. 16 June 2009.
MYTH: MYTH: Australia is Australia is
a a generous generous taker of taker of refugeesrefugees
020000400006000080000
100000
120000140000
Boat Arrivals Total Refugeeintake
Total Immigration
Australian immigration 2009
Population for every one refugee settled
0200400600800
10001200140016001800
Globally Switzerland Tanzania Australia
Series1
MYTH: Asylum seekers are “illegals” or “queue MYTH: Asylum seekers are “illegals” or “queue jumpers”jumpers”
UN refugee UN refugee convention, convention, andand Australian law, Australian law, make clear that it is make clear that it is legallegal for people for people seeking asylum to seeking asylum to do so in another do so in another countrycountry
Over 85% of boat Over 85% of boat arrivals fulfil arrivals fulfil refugee criteria refugee criteria (more on appeal)(more on appeal)
NO queue: No NO queue: No UNHCR in Iraq or UNHCR in Iraq or AfghanistanAfghanistan
In Sri Lanka – In Sri Lanka – UNHCR inaccessible UNHCR inaccessible and dangerousand dangerous
Even Even withwith UNHCR UNHCR status, can languish status, can languish indefinitelyindefinitely
Asylum seekers arriving to Australia by boat or plane are Asylum seekers arriving to Australia by boat or plane are vastly outnumbered by the number of people who illegal vastly outnumbered by the number of people who illegal
overstay their visa.overstay their visa.Statistics of Visa Overstayers and Unauthorised Arrivals – 1991 to Statistics of Visa Overstayers and Unauthorised Arrivals – 1991 to
2008.2008.YearYear
No. ofNo. ofoverstayersoverstayers
Total no.Total no.unauthorisedunauthorisedarrivalsarrivals
No. unauthorisedNo. unauthorisedarrivals by seaarrivals by sea
No. unauthorisedNo. unauthorisedarrivals by airarrivals by air
““Border control” highly expensive systemBorder control” highly expensive system Millions more now to Indonesia to run Millions more now to Indonesia to run
torture camps, “outsource” refugees torture camps, “outsource” refugees Mandatory detention costs $104 per dayMandatory detention costs $104 per day A humane policy that A humane policy that
welcomed & helped welcomed & helped settle refugees would settle refugees would be be far less costlyfar less costly. .
Daily cost of refugee processing methods
$0.00
$20.00
$40.00
$60.00
$80.00
$100.00
$120.00
Parole Mandatory Detention
MYTH: Cracking down on ‘people MYTH: Cracking down on ‘people smugglers’ will stop asylum seekers smugglers’ will stop asylum seekers
reaching Australiareaching Australia ““People smugglers” fulfill a service that is People smugglers” fulfill a service that is
absolutely necessary for those that use them. absolutely necessary for those that use them. The greater the barriers to refugees (low intake by The greater the barriers to refugees (low intake by
rich countries, no UNHCR access), the more asylum rich countries, no UNHCR access), the more asylum seekers are forced to turn to people smugglersseekers are forced to turn to people smugglers
What if your family faced torture, persecution or What if your family faced torture, persecution or even death? even death?
Oskar Schindler was a “people smuggler”Oskar Schindler was a “people smuggler” The only way to end people smuggling is to get rid The only way to end people smuggling is to get rid
of the need for them – by providing passage to of the need for them – by providing passage to safety. safety.
Use the Navy that polices refugee boats to bring Use the Navy that polices refugee boats to bring people safely to Australia. people safely to Australia.
MYTH: Won’t a humane policy ‘open the MYTH: Won’t a humane policy ‘open the floodgates’ and we will be ‘swamped’ by floodgates’ and we will be ‘swamped’ by
refugees?refugees? Pre 1992 – no mandatory detention, refugee Pre 1992 – no mandatory detention, refugee
applicants lived in hostels…yet NO floodapplicants lived in hostels…yet NO flood Refugees only come when FORCED. Refugees only come when FORCED. East Timor example – people would rather be East Timor example – people would rather be
in their own country, even when poor, than in in their own country, even when poor, than in a rich foreign land.a rich foreign land.
Why WOULD you want to come here!Why WOULD you want to come here!
Want to get rid of Want to get rid of refugees? Stop refugees? Stop creatingcreating
them!them! Afghanistan war and Afghanistan war and occupationoccupation
Iraq war and Iraq war and occupationoccupation
Support for Sri Support for Sri Lankan government Lankan government during genocide of during genocide of the Tamilsthe Tamils
Role of racism under Role of racism under capitalismcapitalism Refugees – a scapegoat for the system. Refugees – a scapegoat for the system.
Tampa overshadowed workers rights, GST & Tampa overshadowed workers rights, GST & moremore
Racism used to draw support for those in Racism used to draw support for those in power, and to distract from unpopular power, and to distract from unpopular actions. actions.
Media’s role in racism Media’s role in racism Corporate media driving racist racist fear Corporate media driving racist racist fear
mongering mongering Use of racist language to fan hysteria: Use of racist language to fan hysteria:
“boatpeople”; “illegals”; “flood”; “swamped” “boatpeople”; “illegals”; “flood”; “swamped” Media failed to bring reality of Tamils to the Media failed to bring reality of Tamils to the
people of Australiapeople of Australia Racism Racism used used by the system by the system Break solidarity between the poor and Break solidarity between the poor and
oppressed. oppressed.
Conclusion – turn racism on its head!Conclusion – turn racism on its head!