UNITY
The national publication of the United Nations Association of Australia
October 17 , 2003 -- The United Nations - 1945-2003 UN58
Compiled from Federal parliamentary and other sources relevant to Australia's obligations to the United Nations
No 356 ISSN 1035-218X
Editor: Ian Mathews Ph: (02) 6281 4025 Fax (02) 6285 2529
Post: 4 Stone Place, Garran ACT
2605
E-mail: imathews@ozemail.com.au Earlier editions on website www.unaa.org.au/f-unity.html
[1] Secretary-General calls for peoples' help
In his United Nations Day [October 24] message United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan calls on the peoples of the world to tell their governments what sort of United Nations they want. "In the end," he says, "governments will decide. But they will make the effort to reach agreement only if you, the peoples, tell them clearly what you expect -– what kind of world you want to live in. I rely on you to do that." His UN Day message is:
These are difficult times, for the world and for the United Nations.
In Iraq and in many other regions, violence and terror continue to bring death and suffering to innocent people. In August, the United Nations itself suffered a brutal assault on its Baghdad headquarters. We lost some of our dearest friends and colleagues. You, the peoples of the world, lost some of your best and most dedicated servants.
But on this United Nations Day, let us not mourn or be downcast. Let us rather remember what our colleagues were in Iraq to do: to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country, after years of war, oppression and isolation -– just as other United Nations workers are in other war-torn countries, helping to relieve suffering, restore peace and build new institutions.
We must continue that work of serving humanity wherever its needs are greatest. We must continue helping you, the peoples of the world, to find common solutions to common problems. And we will.
We will continue our efforts to tackle poverty, disease, climate change, and the spread of small arms. And we will also work together to fight terrorism and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We do not have to choose. The United Nations must confront all these threats at once.
To do so successfully, it may be necessary to make changes in our international system, including the United Nations itself. By and large, I believe our Organisation has served humanity well for 58 years. But it has never been perfect, and the time may well have come to improve it. I have urged all governments to think about that, and I am appointing a panel of wise men and women, to make suggestions.
In the end, governments will decide. But they will make the effort to reach agreement only if you, the peoples, tell them clearly what you expect -– what kind of world you want to live in. I rely on you to do that. And I believe that if you do make your voices heard, loudly and firmly enough, we can indeed win through this crisis and build a better world, based on the rule of law. Let us all persevere, in the knowledge that we are all contributing to a better future, for ourselves and for our children.
www.un.org/sg and www.un.org/apps/news/
Governor General to attend UN service
The Governor General, Major General Michael Jeffrey, who is patron of the United Nations Association of Australia, will lay a wreath and give a short address at a United Nations Day service and ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, on Friday, 24 October
The Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police is inviting all serving and former police, military and civilian personnel who have served with the United Nations or other Peacekeeping or Humanitarian Operations (including MFO, INTERFET, Bougainville, Haiti and Solomon Islands) to the 2003 United Nations Day service and wreath laying ceremony
Members of the public are also welcome to attend the service and ceremony which begins at 10.45am.
The UN Day Service will be preceded by a march on Anzac Parade, led by Australia’s Federation Guard and the Band of the Royal Military College, Duntroon.
For more information call Federal Agent Vince Pannell ph: (02) 62757992 E-mail: vince.pannell@afp.gov.au
or Rebecca Kotz ph: (02) 62757926 E-mail: rebecca.kotz@afp.gov.au
[2] Compromise resolution seeks UN help in Iraq
The Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution expanding the role of the United Nations in the political transition in Iraq and creating a multinational peacekeeping force.
After weeks of negotiation and resistance, France, Germany and Russia agreed on October 16 to a compromise United States sponsored resolution for the international mandate being sought..
Resolution 1511 represents a compromise with the United States and its co-sponsors — the United Kingdom, Spain and Cameroon — on one side and France, Germany and Russia on the other. The United States did not want to establish any timetable for the transfer of authority from the occupying powers to a new elected Iraqi government and wanted a mandate for a US-led multinational force. The Europeans wanted a greater role for the United Nations in administering the country and assisting the transition to self-rule, as well as a firm timetable for the transfer of that authority.
Whether it leads to the practical aim of obtaining more commitments of troops and money to help rebuild Iraq is doubtful. France, Germany and Russia have all showed reluctance to commit resources to the US-led occupation of Iraq.
In Canberra, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer welcomed the unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 1511 claiming, "This result is a clear reaffirmation that after decades of misrule by Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraq’s successful stabilisation and rehabilitation is in the best interests of the international community as a whole.
"The resolution calls on countries to contribute to a multinational stabilisation force authorised by the Security Council. It also requests broad international support for Iraq’s reconstruction, including through substantial pledges at the Madrid donors’ conference on October 24.
"Approximately 30 countries have already contributed military resources to assist in stabilising security in Iraq and many – including Australia – have made substantial funding and other commitments to help the Iraqi people. But the scale of the rehabilitation task will demand a concerted international effort for some time to come. Resolution 1511 is an important step in mobilising the level of support required.
"Resolution 1511 also underlines the importance of the Iraqi people taking control of their own affairs as quickly as practicable. It sets out a clear role for the United Nations in assisting the transition to Iraqi self-government – particularly in core UN areas of expertise, such as constitutional development and electoral processes. Australia has long supported the UN playing such a role.
"Importantly, the resolution recognises that the Iraqi people – through the interim Iraqi Governing Council – must ultimately forge their own political future. The Security Council will monitor progress in this regard. The resolution calls on the Governing Council to report to it by December 15, 2003 on its plans to establish a new, representative Iraqi government.
"The adoption of Resolution 1511 also confirms the UN Security Council’s vital role in developing common international approaches to key issues of peace and security, such as the future of Iraq."
For more information, call the office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs (02) 6277 7500 e-mail: A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au
UN Security Council: www.un.org/
Iraq reconstruction costs soar: Sources: Steven R. Weisman, "Assessments Say Iraq Needs $55 Billion for Rebuilding", New York Times, 2 October 2003 www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/international/middleeast/02DIPL.html
UN News Service, "Iraq needs $36 billion for reconstruction for 2004-2007 - UN assessment", 3 October 2003 www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=8445&Cr=iraq&Cr1=
For more information, call the
United Nations Information Centre, Sydney (02) 9262 5111
e-mail: unic@un.org.au
[3] Compassion sought for two children
The Federal Government has, under considerable pressure, agreed to revisit the issue of two small children being allowed to visit their Iranian father in Baxter Detention Centre. Their mother, an Indonesian, was killed in the Bali bombing a year ago. The children, effectively "orphaned" were rescued from a red light district by a Balinese social worker, who cannot care for them indefinitely.
Currently the situation is:
- The father is awaiting deportation to Iran from Baxter Detention Centre
- The Federal Court has ruled that he cannot be deported until the future of the children is assured;
- Iran has so far refused to accept the children;
- Australia has refused the children visitors' visas to visit their father.
The case has been highlighted by the efforts of several Australians pledging responsibility for the children to be returned to Indonesia after any visit. Their plight has been emphasised by a television program on efforts to get them to see their father. Additionally, it received publicity as a result of the children being photographed with the Prime Minister, John Howard, during the Bali remembrance events.
In Parliament this week, both the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Senator Vanstone, said they would give the matter further consideration.
In a joint statement, the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Crean, and the Opposition spokesperson on immigration, Nicola Roxon, said, " ...The Prime Minister must act on his promise of compassion to the victims of the Bali bombing by allowing two children who lost their mother in the bombing to visit their father in an Australian detention centre."
Reminding Mr Howard of his statement in the Parliament the week before, saying that the 2002 bombings in Bali would be remembered as a day when 'Australians displayed remarkable courage, remarkable strength, remarkable compassion and remarkable affection to those who had been so badly injured and so badly hurt.'
The Opposition statement said, "A sign of this compassion would be for the Prime Minister to allow these children to visit their Dad. Failing to do this is downright mean and heartless. Minister Vanstone also ruled out using her powers to grant these children access to their father, despite the extraordinary circumstances of this case."
For more information,
Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Simon Crean, (02) 6277 4022 e-mail: S.Crean.MP@aph.gov.au website: www.apl.org.au
Opposition spokesperson on immigration, Nicola Roxon MP (02) 6277 2039 or (03) 9687 7355 e-mail: Nicola.Roxon.MP@aph.gov.au
Minister for Immigration's office (02) 6277 7860 website: www.immi.gov.au
[4] 'Intertwined' regulations disallowed
In addressing his Motion for Disallowance of Migration Amendment Regulations 2003 (No.6) Australian Democrats leader, Senator Andrew Bartlett, said in part, "... We will seek to reintroduce the positive measure in this through amendments to other legislation when it comes up
"I put the government on notice about that. I make no apology for it, because it is an example of where this government quite openly and deliberately has intertwined three distinctly different issues in regulations and made them impossible to be separated.
"An official from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Mr Walker, made that absolutely clear at a Senate committee hearing into legislation. The departmental official also said, it is fair to say, that it is an approach that has not been used before. As was said by Senator Ludwig at the time, it is an approach that is effectively designed to prevent the Senate from disallowing part of it. I suppose you could say that is clever politics, that is the government being cute, but if they want to abuse the process in that way then we will have to explore other avenues to get outcomes that reflect what the Senate desires to do, and that will have to be through amendments to primary legislation. That is not the best way of doing it but is the only option we have if the government continues to pursue approaches of intertwining separate measures in regulations as a deliberate mechanism to prevent them being separately disallowed. ..."
For more information, call the Leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Andrew Bartlett (02) 6277 3645 or (07) 3252 7101e-mail: senator.bartlett@aph.gov.au website: www.democrats.org.au
***
For a copy of the Refugee Council's TPV position paper call Acting Director (until 24.12.03) Melissa Phillips (02) 9660 5300 or e-mail: info@refugeecouncil.org.au
The Refugee Council of Australia Executive Director's Interim Report on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Executive Committee Meeting for 2003 is available from RCOA which represents more than 100 organisations working with and for refugees in Australia and around the world.
For more information and a copy of the Interim Report, call RCOA (02) 9660 5300 e-mail: info@refugeecouncil.org.au website: www.refugeecouncil.org.au
A full report will be available on request from the Council in November.
[5] Phone tapping and aliases in new Bill
Phone tapping and legislation to allow officials to use assumed identities was passed by the House of Representatives on October 15 aimed at combating slavery, sexual servitude, deceptive recruiting and people smuggling involving exploitation, the Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, said.
"The Telecommunications Interception and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2003 will permit law enforcement agencies to obtain telecommunications interception warrants to investigate these serious offences," Mr Ruddock said.
He said, also, the proposed Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission and the Parliamentary Inspector to the Corruption and Crime Commission will also be given appropriate powers to receive and use intercepted information obtained by other law enforcement agencies where it relates to a matter they may investigate, including corruption and organised crime.
The amendments will also allow the Commission to acquire and use assumed identities and to access financial transaction reports information in the course of their investigations.
On the agreement of the Australian Attorney-General, the Commission will become an intercepting agency in its own right, however the Parliamentary Inspector will only be able to receive intercepted information.
For more information, call the office of the Attorney-General (02) 6277 7300 website: www.law.gov.au/ag
[6] Anti-sex trade protocol to be ratified
Among the measures being introduced by Australia to combat people trafficking, especially in the sex industry, the Government intends to ratify, once all domestic requirements are in place, the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.
In a background paper on people trafficking, the Department of the Attorney-General says, "... The Asia-Pacific region has become a hub for trafficking in persons, particularly for the purposes of sexual servitude. ... In international terms, relatively small numbers of persons are trafficked into Australia (although the exact number is not known). However, trafficking in persons is a repugnant crime and the Government takes its responsibility to combat this trade seriously."
The measures announced include:
- The Australian Federal Police Transnational Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team, a 23-member mobile strike force to target and investigate trafficking syndicates and make a substantial impact on combating sexual servitude in Australia.
- A new Senior Migration Officer (Compliance) in Thailand, focused on trafficking in persons responsible for implementing Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) initiatives to combat trafficking in persons across the Asian region.
- Closer links between AFP and DIMIA officers in the detection and investigation of trafficking and enhanced training;
- New visa arrangements for potentially trafficked persons;
- Comprehensive victim support measures including appropriate accommodation and living expenses and access for victims to a wide range of social support, legal, medical and counselling services.
- Enhancement of arrangements, including access to additional support, for the small number of potential victims who may be required to remain in immigration detention;
- Development of a reintegration assistance project for trafficking victims who are returned to key source countries in South East Asia;
- Improvements to legislation to comprehensively criminalise trafficking activity;
- Legislative amendments to make telecommunications interception available for Criminal Code offences of slavery, sexual servitude, deceptive recruiting and people smuggling with exploitation, and
- Ratification, once all domestic requirements are in place, of the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.
For more information, call the office of the Attorney-General (02) 6277 7300 website: www.law.gov.au
UNICEF Australia welcomes crackdown on child trafficking
UNICEF Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s new package of measures to crack down on people trafficking, describing it as an example of courageous leadership to protect children and women from a fast growing form of exploitation.
But UNICEF Australia President Diana Hill has urged the government to take one step further by moving to quickly ratify the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (CTOC) and its three optional protocols.
"This Convention entered into force just two weeks ago – so there is no better time than now to ratify it," said Mrs Hill. "We shouldn’t underestimate the use of international conventions in our work to end the illegal trade in human beings for sexual purposes and exploitative labour. No country is free from this illegal trade, and efforts to stop it must also be regional and global in nature. ...".
UNICEF Australia says that although no definitive data exists on child trafficking, some estimate that 1.2 million children are trafficked each year. Girls as young as 13, mainly from Asia and Eastern Europe, are trafficked as "mail-order brides". Girls used as domestic servants are denied access to education and often sexually abused within the homes of their so-called employers.
Mrs Hill said, "With the Millennium Development Goals, UNICEF is committed to creating a world fit for children."
Australians wishing to play their part can become a UNICEF Global Parent by calling 1300 134 071 or visit website: www.unicef.org.au
For more information, call 02 9261 2811 or e-mail: pgarcia@unicef.org.au
Trafficking violence must be addressed: HREOC
Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Pru Goward, has congratulated the Government for its commitment to combat people trafficking with the announcement of a new package of initiatives to address this growing crime.
Commissioner Goward says that Australia needs to take account of the causes of trafficking in source
countries, ensuring legal and immigration processes in Australia are appropriate and taking steps to address the attitudes to women that drive demand in Australia and allow trafficking to prosper.
Commenting on Australia’s obligations and commitment to trafficked persons, especially women and children, she said the generally extreme violence and disadvantage suffered by trafficked women should be understood as one of the central dynamics of trafficking.
Emphasising the need for sensitivity to the trafficked women's plight, she said, ""I am also very encouraged that the government consulted with the [Human Rights and Equal Opportunity] Commission and a range of relevant non-government organisations such as Project Respect. It is to be commended for this approach and I hope that a dialogue with these organisations continues as it will help to identify, assess and provide appropriate medical, community and translator services to women who might be victims of trafficking," the Commissioner said.
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, in conjunction with Project Respect and RMIT University, will present a two-day conference in Melbourne on 2324 October titled ‘Stop the Traffic 2, which focuses on the trafficking of women for prostitution. For more information about the Stop the Traffic 2 Conference visit: www.rmit.edu.au/tce/ssp/stopthetraffic
For more information, call the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (02) 9284 9775 website: www.humanrights.gov.au
[7] Impediments to court cases
Australian Democrats' Senator Andrew Murray asked Senator Kay Patterson, the Minister representing the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to clarify the Government's position on the issue of child sex abuse.
Senator Murray said that after the Australian Institute of Criminology highlighted in May 2003 that the criminal justice system was working against the reporting of child sexual abuse, he had asked of the Attorney-General, ‘Does the Attorney-General intend to coordinate through the Council of Australian Governments far more sensitive and appropriate methods of enabling reported child sexual assault to be effectively pursued in state and Commonwealth courts and jurisdictions?’
Senator Murray said, "The answer was a blank ‘no’. ... Such an attitude means that children will continue to be discouraged from pursuing child sex abuse in court. It is time for Ministers with responsibility for children to stand up for them in Cabinet and to override the views of the wrong-headed and hard-hearted."
Senator Murray initiated the Child Migrant Inquiry and the current inquiry into Children in Institutional Care. The Government has refused the Democrats’ calls to establish a Royal Commission into the sexual assault of children.
For more information and text of Question 1812 to the Attorney-General 21 August 2003, call Senator Murray's office 02 6277 5747 e-mail: senator.murray@aph.gov.au
Australian Institute of Criminology Issue Paper Number 250, of May 2003, call (02) 6260 9200 e-mail: front.desk@aic.gov.au website: www.aic.gov.au
[8] Change Electoral Act on tobacco, say MPs
Following the Government's commitment to sign the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, there has been a parliamentary push to have bans placed on political parties accepting donations from tobacco companies.
The treaty, which Australia help draft during negotiations, sets an international floor for tobacco control with provisions on advertising and sponsorship, tax and price increases, labelling, illicit trade and second-hand smoke. Treaty signatories are under an obligation to refrain from acts that would defeat the object and purpose of the treaty.
Opposition politicians Carmen Lawrence and Duncan Kerr say all of Australia's political parties should stop accepting donations from tobacco companies. Acknowledging it is difficult to ascertain exactly how much money political parties receive from the tobacco industry, they say there is no doubt the sums are large.
"While the government, opposition and minor parties are committed to reducing smoking-related diseases, the current arrangements put Ministers, Members and Senators in a position of hypocrisy," they say.
"Reform of the Electoral Act is needed to prevent parties accepting these donations and would ensure a level playing field. No doubt it would also attract more ethical corporate donors. Other relevant areas of Australian law and health policy recognise tobacco as a lethal drug and most would agree that the human and financial cost of the tobacco industry outweighs any small gain for the parties."
For more information and text of House of Representatives Notice Paper No. 123, 8 October 2003, p. 4936, call Duncan Kerr's office 02 6277 2178 e-mail: Duncan.Kerr.MP@aph.gov.au
or Dr Carmen Lawrence's office 02 6277 4181 e-mail: Carmen.Lawrence@aph.gov.au
Office of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Trish Worth (02) 6277 4337 or (08) 8223 1130 e-mail: T.Worth.MP@aph.gov.au
Melinda Henry, Information Officer, Director-General's Office, WHO, Geneva; Tel.: +41 22 791 2535: Fax: +41 22 791 4881; E-mail: henrym@who.int
Text of treaty www.who.int/gb/EB_WHA/PDF/WHA56/ea56r1.pdf
Earlier references in UNity 354, October 2, 203; UNity 330, March 7, 2003; UNity 341, June 20, 2003 www.unaa.org.au/f-unity.html
[9] Senate on US, Chinese N-weapons
With the Presidents of the United States and of China about to address the Australian Parliament, the Senate passed, on October 15, a motion on the nuclear weapons capabilities of the US and China
Introduced by Democrat Leader Senator Andrew Bartlett, and with ALP support, the Senate noted:
(i) that the United States Government has 10,600 nuclear warheads, of which nearly 8,000 are considered operational.
(ii) that the Chinese Government has approximately 400 nuclear warheads.
(iii) that the US and Chinese Governments both signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty on September 24, 1996, but neither nation has ratified the Treaty .
(b) Calls on the Government to urge the leaders of the US and China to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty as soon as possible.
For more information, call the
Leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Andrew Bartlett
(02) 6277 3645 or (07) 3252 7101 e-mail: senator.bartlett@aph.gov.au website: www.democrats.org.au
Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs (02) 6277 7500 e-mail: A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au
Peace groups - John Hallam 02-9567-7533w or 02 98190-2598h
Giji Gya MAPW 0413-594-717 Irene Gale AM 08-8464-2291
[10] Australian jurisdiction overseas
Amendments to the Crimes (Overseas) Act 1964 have been passed which protect Australian civilian personnel sent overseas.
The Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, and the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, said that with Australian deployments working in so many parts of the world, the amendments ensure that Australians who are sent to potentially unstable countries are protected by the fairness and due process of the Australian court system.
"Where the Government has been able to negotiate immunity for Australian civilian personnel in the country in which they are working, the amendments allow Australia to exercise criminal jurisdiction to the extent of that immunity.
"The amendments also allow Australian jurisdiction to be extended over Australians working with the Commonwealth overseas under prescribed agreements, or in prescribed countries. In these cases, Australian civilian personnel may not have immunity in the foreign country, but the Government may have arranged for Australian jurisdiction to take priority over the local jurisdiction where Australia is able to exercise its jurisdiction.
"In certain circumstances, the amendments also extend Australian criminal jurisdiction over Australians working overseas with diplomatic or consular immunities, or immunities due to their relationship with an international organisation.
"Regulations will soon be made applying the Act to Australian civilian personnel deployed to the Solomon Islands and Iraq from July 1, 2003. The Government announced its intention to introduce these amendments on June 26, 2003. Australian jurisdiction over Australian Defence Force personnel is already addressed by the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982."
For more information,
Office of the Attorney-General (02) 6277 7300 website: www.law.gov.au/ag
Office of the Minister for Foreign Affairs (02) 6277 7500 e-mail: A.Downer.MP@aph.gov.au
Office of the Minister for Justice and Customs (02) 6277 7260
[11] Human rights workers backed
The Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to the work of human rights organisations and rejected allegations that human rights workers were connected with terrorism.
The resolution follows recent statements by the Columbian President who accused human rights workers of being "terrorist agents and cowards who hide their political ideas behind human rights".
In a resolution moved by the Australian Democrats, the Senate referred specifically to the important role performed by human rights organisations in Columbia. The resolution specifically commended the work of a number of human rights organisations, including the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Peace Brigades International.
The Senate said it viewed with regret any implication that human rights is connected with terrorism and expressed concern for the safety of human rights workers in Columbia following the President’s recent outburst.
For more information, call Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (02) 6277 3200 or (08) 8232 7595 e-mail: senator.stottdespoja@aph.gov.au
[12] Red Cross concerns for Australian prisoners
International Red Cross concerns about the treatment of prisoners in the US military Guantanamo Bay facility in Cuba had been evaded by Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, according to the Member for Burke and caucus committee chair Brendan O'Connor, who questioned him in Parliament this week.
Mr O'Connor said Mr Ruddock was also unable to confirm or deny claims by lawyer Richard Bourke that the Australians had been tortured at Camp X-Ray by US military authorities, or to give concrete undertakings that the matter would be thoroughly investigated.
In his answer to Mr O'Connor during a Question Time this week, the Attorney-General admitted that the Red Cross report went further than usual since it strongly disagreed with the practice of the ongoing detention of prisoners.
Mr O'Connor said, "Former military officers, federal judges and US diplomats, including two former World War II prisoners of war, have expressed concern about the treatment of prisoners. They have said in their brief that ignoring the Geneva conventions in Guantanamo Bay will give other nations an excuse to do the same and will endanger American soldiers captured in the future."
For more information, call Brendan
O'Connor MP (02) 6277 4147 or (03) 5221 3033
e-mail: Gavin.Oconnor.MP@aph.gov.au
Office of the Attorney-General (02) 6277 7300 website: www.law.gov.au/ag
[13] Senate expresses 'sympathy and regret' for SIEV X
The Senate passed, on October 16, an Australian Democrats’ motion expressing regret and sympathy at the tragic loss of so many innocent lives two years after 353 people seeking asylum in Australia died at sea aboard the boat known as the SIEV X.
Democrats’ Leader, Senator Andrew Bartlett, said the Senate agreed to finally acknowledge and express "regret and sympathy" over the tragedy, which occurred during the 2001 Federal Election campaign. He said the acknowledgment of the tragedy also meant the Government must extend compassion to those most affected.
The motion called on the Immigration Minister to grant those refugees in Australia on temporary protection visas and who suffered a personal loss through the sinking of SIEV X, a permanent visa on humanitarian grounds. It also called on the Government to establish an independent judicial inquiry into all aspects of the People Smuggling Disruption Program operated by the Commonwealth Government and agencies from 2000.
Senator Bartlett said, "A young mother who lost three children when the boat sank is just one case. Sondas Ismail was finally been able to join her husband in Australia after being caught up in Indonesia, and now is faced with the ridiculous situation whereby they, and their new baby, all have visas which expire at different times. ... How can people recover from such a tragedy when faced with such a lack of compassion?"
The Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, said on October 10 that the Swedish Government had agreed to extradite to Australia an alleged people smuggler possibly involved in the SIEV X tragedy. Senator Ellison said Khaleed Shnayf Daoed would face 13 charges under the Migration Act for alleged people-smuggling activities.
For more information, call the Leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Andrew Bartlett (02) 6277 3645 or (07) 3252 7101e-mail: senator.bartlett@aph.gov.au website: www.democrats.org.au
Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison 02 6277 7260 or (08) 8328 3688
SIEV X Memorial Project launched
Rural Australians for Refugees supporter, psychologist and author Steve Biddulph proposes o build a permanent memorial to the lives lost on the Siev X. The two year project is intended to involve students in many of Australia's 4,000 secondary schools in learning about the SievX tragedy and designing a fitting memorial to be sited on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, after approval from ACT Authorities and the Nation Capital Commission..
Called "A Young People's Art Collaboration", the project is non-competitive and will exhibit designs submitted from schools around the nation in regional and state capitals. The best elements of the works will then be combined into a design, which will be an appropriate, evocatively beautiful and educational site in the national capital.
The project is a joint one between members of Rural Australians for Refugees and the Uniting Church in Australia. Steve Biddulph, the Rev. Rod Horsfield, and Senator Bob Brown, launched the project in Parliament House, Canberra, on October 16. The project will also be discussed at the SievX Forum at the ANU on October 18.
For more information e-mail "Steve Biddulph" dpforest@bigpond.com
Non-government organisations in Australia and their contacts overseas, concerned individuals, governments and public servants are seeking survivors of the Siev X tragedy who would be prepared to testify at the Cairo trial of voyage organiser, Mootaz Muhamad Hasan, usually known as Abu Quassey, for the alleged manslaughter.
Survivors of the SIEV X tragedy, in which 350 people drowned off Indonesia on their way to seeking asylum in Australia, have been resettled in several countries including Canada, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and New Zealand. Australia gave seven of them Temporary Protection Visas.
The trial is scheduled to resume on October 25.
Tony Kevin, a former Australian Ambassador who has pursued Australia's possible involvement in the tragedy, says, "We do have some survivor data, gleaned from public media reporting – it is listed on www.sievx.com/ Unless a large number of survivors testify, including many of those who found permanent protection and refuge in humanitarian countries, justice will not be done and will not be seen to be done."
He is seeking up to 78 potentially available witnesses, who experienced all or part of this doomed voyage and has asked the governments of countries that have received SIEV X refugees to:
- Promptly advise all SIEV X survivors in their country about the upcoming trial;
- Advise them of their rights to testify, in person or by legally sworn declaration, if they so wish;
- Consider how governments or interested NGOs in the country (eg UN support or human rights organisations) might offer to assist them administratively and financially to testify in this trial, if they so wish.
For more information, contact Tony
Kevin, 02 6295 6588 or 0414 822 171,
e-mail: tonykevin@webone.com.au
Minister for Immigration's office (02) 6277 7860 website: www.immi.gov.au
Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Ellison 02 6277 7260 or (08) 8328 3688
Opposition spokesperson on
immigration, Nicola Roxon MP (02) 6277 2039 or (03)
9687 7355
e-mail: Nicola.Roxon.MP@aph.gov.au
UNHCR, Canberra 02 6290 1355 e-mail: AULCA@unhcr.ch
High Commission of Canada, Canberra (02) 6270 4000 website: www.canada.org.au
Embassy of Finland, Canberra (02) 6273 3800 e-mail: finland@dynamite.com.au
High Commission of New Zealand, Canberra (02) 6270 4211
Embassy of Norway, Canberra
(02) 6273 3444 e-mail: noramb@ibm.net
website: http://members.tripod.com/~norembassy
Embassy of Sweden, Canberra (02) 6270 2700 e-mail: sweden@netinfo.com.au
See also item [19] Refugee contacts in the Supplement to UNity 356
For information related to the trial plus detailed research, informed analysis, passenger database, survivor accounts, CMI and Hansard transcripts, visit Marg Hutton's comprehensive archive on the SIEV X tragedy. www.sievx.com/
Jannah the SIEV X Memorial: www.refugeeaction.org/jannah/memorial.html
[14] Uranium mines 'a concern' says Senate report
The regulation and management of Australia’s uranium mines is deeply flawed and is putting the environment at risk of serious and irreversible damage, according to a Senate report published on October 14.
The Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Reference Committee majority report, "Regulating the Ranger, Jabiluka, Beverley and Honeymoon uranium mines" "highlights multiple areas of serious concern and reveals a pattern of under-performance and non-compliance and a monitoring system lacking in rigour and independence," according to Democrats' Senator Lyn Allison, former Chair of the Committee.
The inquiry was established following numerous incidences of spills, leaks and fires at the Ranger, Jabiluka, Beverley and Honeymoon uranium mines, some of which impacted on the World Heritage listed Kakadu National Park.
The current Chair of the Committee, Senator John Cherry said, "Having studied the evidence, it is the Committee’s view that uranium mining presents unique hazards and risks to both human health and the environment. ..."
Senator Allison said the majority of Committee members:
- found a lack of transparency in the regulatory process;
- expressed grave reservations about the environmental safety of the ISL mining method;
- recommended that full-scale mining at Honeymoon should not proceed until more conclusive evidence can be presented on the safety and environmental impact of the ISL method;
- found regulatory responsibility is spread across too many bodies and it is often unclear who is ultimately responsible;
- suggested conflict of interest in both the responsible Northern Territory and South Australia departments
- found traditional owners excluded and recommend a culturally appropriate forum be set up to establish dialogue.
Greens Senator Kerry Nettle said the Senate's uranium mining report, provided more compelling evidence of the need to end all uranium mining in Australia.
"The recent announcement of the backfilling of the Jabiluka mine site in the Northern Territory shows the future direction of the industry in Australia," she said. "The sooner the Commonwealth moves to clean up and close down this industry the better."
The Australian Greens Additional Comments in the report deal with the broader issues of the rights of Traditional Owners to control their land and in particular proposals to mine uranium on their land.
Senator Nettle said, "The Greens look forward to the ratification of an agreement between the traditional owners of the Jabiluka site, the Mirrar people, and the mine owners, which will give the Mirrar a veto over any future proposals to mine the site. ..."
For more information, call:
Senator John Cherry, Committee
Chair, (02) 6277 3728 or (07) 3252 9129
e-mail: senator.cherry@aph.gov.au
Senator Lyn Allison, former Chair of Committee (02) 6277 3076 or (03) 9416 1880
e-mail: senator.allison@aph.gov.au
Copies of The Australian Greens additional comments are available on request to Jon Edwards in Senator Nettle's office - 0428 213 146 senator.nettle@aph.gov.au
[15] Kofi Annan says Islamic societies 'falling behind'
The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Afghanistan, Lakhdar Brahimi, delivering on October 16 Kofi Annan's message to the 10th Summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, said, in part
"The Islamic world is indeed a mosaic, not a monolith. It stretches from Indonesia to Morocco, and from central Europe to southern Africa. It reaches into western Europe, the Americas and Australasia. It comprises men and women often divided by race, culture or language, yet united by the powerful bond of Islam.
"Over a thousand years, Islam spread from the land of the Prophet Muhammad into large parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Islamic scholars produced a dazzling array of achievements – in theology, philosophy, history, literature, architecture, art, astronomy, mathematics, medicine and other sciences.
"This rich history proves that there is nothing natural or inevitable about the sad state in which so much of the Islamic world finds itself today. The Muslim peoples are capable of much greater things – and they know it. ... as leaders it is our duty to face reality. And the reality is – I say it with the deepest humility and sadness – that in this rapidly changing world, most Islamic societies have fallen far behind.
"Most of my Muslim friends – indeed, most of you – complain to me that the state systems of the Islamic world are weak, as is its influence in shaping world events for the better. ...
"Extremist dogmas are gaining ground, impeding the progress of the entire Umma and threatening the security of people all over the world. These contemporary maladies, along with many other factors – including the legacy of colonialism and the unfair world trading system – are holding Islamic societies back. ..."
Saying that violence on all sides was exacerbating the situations in Palestine, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo, Mr Annan, said, "And I hope we shall soon see new instances of Christians and Muslims reconciling – in Sudan, for instance, and perhaps in Cyprus, where a solution would also help ease Turkey’s move towards the European Union. ...
"We know that only when Muslims enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms – only when the Holy Quran is understood as enjoining education for all, and when the creative talent of so many Muslims, including women, is harnessed to develop the Muslim communities – only then will the Islamic world be able to assert it influence in shaping world events for the better."
Text: www.un.org/sg and www.un.org/apps/news/
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