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This newsletter starts with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's long awaited and widely acclaimed sorry speech.
It covers the end of the Pacific Solution and the changes for asylum seekers promised in last
year's election campaign and delivered in the May budget. It ends with the apology of the Canadian Prime Minister to its Indigenous peoples.
13 February 2008 was marked in the history of Australia, a day that we honour the indigenous people of our land.
An apology for the pain, suffering and broken lives of the past. Not just a word but an act to start a new beginning
in restoring the lost relationship with our stolen generations.
"The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so
moving forward with confidence to the future" - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Read the full story from Sydney Morning Herald website
“While the government is to be congratulated for moving so quickly to acknowledge the gross violations of
fundamental human rights caused to Indigenous Australians by the separation of their children from their families
and culture, the apology is only one step in the journey to reconciliation which still has a long way to go.”
“All governments in Australia must now work to eliminate the gap between the life advantages of non-Indigenous
and Indigenous Australians, with particular priority given to addressing the pressing issues of health, housing,
education and employment."
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said by acknowledging and paying respect to the Stolen Generations,
those who have suffered can move forward to heal, and ultimately, to belong.
“This national apology will directly benefit members of the Stolen Generations by validating
their experiences and the rest of society as a whole by building a bridge between all Australians,” he said.
“It is not about black armbands and guilt. It is about inclusion and learning from the past.
And ultimately, it is about providing space in the telling of our national story for the Stolen Generations.
Human Rights Commisioner, Graeme Innes, said the apology allowed a national grief to be validated and healing to begin.
“The apology recognises and respects the inherent value and dignity of Indigenous people who for so long have
struggled to have their grief and suffering acknowledged,” Commissioner Innes said.
“It is the start of a new era for us all to move forward together.”
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On 17 February 2008 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans has unveiled a package of migration
measures designed to address Australia’s skills and labour shortages.
As an immediate measure the Skilled Migration program will be increased by 6000 places in the 2008 – 09 programme year.
The increase will be made up of permanent employer sponsored visas and General Skilled Migration Visas.
Read more from the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship website
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Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans set a deadline to resolve the cases of 61 people
who have been held in immigration detention for more than two years.
Senator Evans quoted:"I am deeply concerned that so many detention cases have taken so long to resolve"
Senator Evans personally examined and determined how to resolve the cases of the 61 long term detainees
Read the full media release at the Minister for Immigration website
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As a consequence of court decisions the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has reversed the automatic visa cancellation of some student visas between 17/08/05 to 03/02/2007 under s.137J of the Migration Act 1958.
The department has determined that the notice sent to affected students which resulted in the automatic cancellation of their student visas, was invalid.
International students who had their visa cancelled under s.137J of the Migration Act 1958 between 17/08/05 to 03/02/2007 should make contact with the department or seek professional advise to see if they benefit from this determination.
Contact DIAC
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From 1 July 2007, student visa holders who wish to change their education provider will no longer be required to submit an application with the Department.
Students who wish to change education provider should contact their current education provider for information. New provisions relating to change of education provider requests are covered by the 2007 National Code
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NATIONAL Australia Bank has alleged that a Melbourne finance broker, Rajesh Narad, and his associates received
about $4 million in cash commissions for organising the purchase of $22.8 million of Treasury bonds in a year-long
scam involving immigration visas.
NAB's lawyers have told the Federal Court that investigations by the bank's fraud division indicate 228 potential
immigrants from India and South Asia each paid Mr Narad or his assistant, Vishal Jadhav, cash sums ranging from $20,000
to $30,000 for acquiring the bonds.
In documents before the court, the bank describes the fees paid to Mr Narad's company, Easy Home Loans,
as "significant and disproportionate".
On March 2008 Justice Mark Weinberg allowed lawyers acting on behalf of the Immigration Minister and, separately,
Victoria Police to inspect and copy documents NAB's lawyers seized during raids on Mr Narad's offices and home late
last year. The judge suggested the authorities might be considering laying criminal charges in relation to fraud and
possible breaches of immigration laws.
The court also heard that a NAB employee at the centre of the alleged scam, Akshay Batra, a manager at NAB's
business banking centre in Moorabbin, Melbourne, who organised bank loans for the visa, had not returned from holidays in India.
Mr Narad was the sole director of Easy Home Loans, a finance broker based in West Footscray.
The bonds, each with a face value of $100,000, were used to enable 228 visa
applicants from India and other South Asian countries to claim 5 bonus points under the points test.
NAB is suing Mr Batra and Mr Narad over their roles in acquiring the Treasury bonds using what the bank claims were
fraudulent loan facilities. NAB's lawyers have alleged Mr Batra breached his duty to the bank and that it now has a right
to recover any profit arising from that breach.
Any person affected by this scam should obtain legal advise. For further information please contact David Bitel
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From 21 April 2008, the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship is
implementing changes to the ETA system. The department will continue to process most ETA applications
instantly; however in a small number of cases, some additional processing will be required.
If your ETA cannot be issued applicants should check back in 12 hours to confirm whether
the application has been successful. Please apply for your ETA as early as possible to allow
sufficient time for your application to be processed.
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Graduates work on issues as diverse as international intelligence, people smuggling,
electronic visas, refugees and asylum seekers, multicultural affairs, migration and migration
communities, overseas student programs or tourism, finance, human resources and information
technology/business systems.
How the program works in National Office Canberra
The National Office graduate program is a 10-month development program which aims to provide a well-rounded
experience of the department’s work and an introduction to the Australian Public Service. The graduate program
includes rotations in different areas of the department, plus on-the-job learning and blocks of formal training.
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In one of his first acts as a Prime Minister in December 2007, Kevin Rudd announced the closure of the Nauru Detention
Centre and ended six years of the Pacific Solution
The Pacific Solution policy gave Australia the dubious distinction of being the only country to impose mandatory detention,
in offshore processing centres outside Australia's migration zones on all unauthorised arrivals. It was a policy that breached
our international human rights obligations.
During the system's operation, 1,637 asylum seekers were processed on Nauru or on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea,
which closed in 2004. Most came from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Of these, 1,153 were
eventualy determined to be genuine refugees. Despite this, the Government tried to settle many of these people in a third
country, to deter other would be arrivals from seeking asylum in Australia.
The challenges ahead in the excised territories
Amnesty International is calling on the Australian Government to complete the task of shutting down the Pacific Solution policy
and scrap legislation allowing thousands of islands to remain excised territories from Australias migration zone.
While it remains, asylum seekers can still be detained on Christmas Island without access to the full refugee status
determination system and legal advise
A 2007 report by Oxfam found that the Pacific Solution cost more than $500, 000 to process each refugee offshore -
seven times more costly than to process people on the mainland. In total, the Australian Government spent more than
$1 billion over a five-year period to process fewer than 1,700 asylum seekers offshore.
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Australin Government to end temporary protection system
The best news from the Federal Budget was that the Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) system will be abolished.
Since TPVs and Temporary Humanitarian Visas were introduced in 1999, more than 11,000 recognised refugees have
been subjected to the mental anguish of living for years without an assurance of security and, in many cases,
separated from family members. The system will cease on October 1.
Other Budget measures
- Increasing the refugee and humanitarian intake in 2008-09 from 13,000 to 13,500, to include 500-600
Iraqis whose safety has been put at risk by assisting Australian defence forces.
- Increasing the intake in 2009-10 to 13,575, with 575 extra Special Humanitarian Program places.
- $49.2 million over four years for improved vocational English and traineeships for Adult
Migrant English Program participants.
- $1.1 million for redevelopment of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.
DIAC has established a website to provide updated information on how the conversion of temporary visas to permanent visas will occur.
The Minister’s office points out that the 1000 or so former TPV and THV holders have been counted in the refugee
and humanitarian intake of previous years and will not take places in the 2008-09 program.
For more information on this announcement, see the Minister’s statement
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Minister rejects Australian skilled migrant study
Immigration Minister, Chris Evans has said that a study conducted by Monash University examining census
data claiming that many skilled migrants cannot find work in their relevant professions is out of date and
does not take into consideration that changes have already been made to the skilled migration program.
(ABC Radio, April 29)
Citizenship test scary
Immigration Minister has said that the test will continue to be conducted in English,
but that applicants may have the opportunity to see the test before they sit.
Figures from the Senator’s office show that applications for the test fell from 35,929 in July-September 2006
and after the test was introduced only 9043 people applied in October to December last year.
(Courier Mail, April 29)
Some plain talking needed on migration
A new report released by Monash University’s Centre for Population and Urban
Research says that rather than increasing migration, the Rudd Government should invest in
ensuring that skilled people from non-English speaking countries who are already in
Australia are able to obtain professional positions. The research by Bob Birrell and
Ernest Healy shows that of the 200,000 migrants with degree qualifications to arrive
between 2001 and 2006, only 36% held professional or managerial positions. (Australian Financial Review, April 29)
Citizenship test snapshot results
Results from a second report on the citizenship test have shown that the pass rate for skilled migrants
has been 99%, a pass rate of 91% for those entering through the family migration stream and for
humanitarian program entrants the pass rate has been 82%. (Media release, Immigration Minister, April 28)
Research finds immigration makes Australia stronger
Monash University research shows that 69 per cent of those surveyed believe that
immigration makes Australia stronger and “maintaining a strong immigration program with
integrity is critical to Australia's future,” Senator Evans said.
(Media Release, Immigration Minister Chris Evans, April 23)
Concerns on immigration continue to linger
Despite overall anti-immigration sentiment declining, findings released by
Monash University's Institute for the Study of Global Movements show that more
than one third of Australians think that immigration levels are too high. (The Age, April 22)
Safe haven promise for Iraqis who helped troops
The Rudd Government has said that up to 600 visas could be issued to locally engaged Iraqi
staff who have assisted Australian troops. The commitment to the visas, which will also include
the families of local staff has come amid concerns for the security and safety of Iraqi citizens
who may be targetted because they have assisted Australian troops. Many Iraqi locals have been
employed by Australian forces to act as translators and interpreters. (Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April)
Commonwealth Bank ‘exploited refugees’
The Consumer Action Law Centre in Melbourne has accused the Commonwealth Bank of issuing
loans to vulnerable Sudanese refugees who were often unemployed and had limited financial
understanding. In one case, the loan applicant spoke no English and already had 8 people in his
family to care for. The majority of the loans have now been waived following a series of complaints.
(ABC Online, 31 March)
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Theme: 'A Place to Call Home'
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) promoted the theme of “refugee protection”,
whether that’s shelter or fair treatment or the right to seek asylum - particularly as the world this
year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Australia’s Refugee Week theme of “A Place to Call Home” encourages people to think
about the global themes of protection and human rights by focusing on the fundamental right
to a secure place to call home. It encourages Australians to think about our common obligations
to people who have no secure home, as well as to acknowledge the 700,000 refugees and humanitarian
migrants over the past 60 years who have made Australia their home.
SBS football broadcaster Les Murray AM, who came to Australia as an 11-year-old refugee from Hungary,
was guest speaker at the NSW launch of Refugee Week. He spoke of his personal experiences and of the
contribution of refugees to national life. To read his speech,
click here.
Refugee Week Highlights
CANBERRA World Refugee Day
- A special event to mark World Refugee Day on the global theme of ‘Refugee Protection’
with an address by Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.
- An award ceremony to recognise meritorious performance and encourage and support
outstanding refugee students in the pursuit of their personal development goals.
ST MARYS Launch of The Report 'Wishes to Wisdom'
- A report on the Southern Sudanese Women’s Project which has been running in the Penrith area on the outer western fringe of Sydney. The project is a partnership project involving local community organisations and government agencies.
SYDNEY Dario Palermo Refugee Art Exhibition
- STARTTS’ National Refugee Art Exhibition is a chance to present refugee artists and issues that affect refugees in Australian and around the world. The 2008 NSW Refugee Humanitarian Awards will be presented as part of the event.
Venue: Uniting Church, 264 Pitt Street, Sydney
- NSW Registry Open Afternoon Hosted by the Refugee Review Tribunal
An open afternoon where visitors will get an insight into Tribunal operations such as
hearings and the handing down of decisions. There will also be short presentations on the
legal and country research aspects of the Tribunal’s work.
CABRAMATTA a place to call Home
- Celebrates refugee week and the launch of the publication "Empowering Refugees:
A Good Practice Guide to Humanitarian Resettlement" by the Hon. Laurie Ferguson, MP.
PADDINGTON Amnesty Screening of Unfinished Sky
- The highly acclaimed new film by Australian
writer/director Peter Duncan. Unfinished Sky explores some of the complex dimensions of the experience
of asylum seekers in Australia.
BRISBANE "Hope" film preview
- "HOPE" is an inspiration to all Australians who hope for better treatment of refugees in the future” – Julian Burnside.
“Some stories shake a nation, others slip away....the lives of 353 people on board the SIEV X – mostly women and children – were lost. It was the biggest maritime disaster since world war 11 and yet the fate of these people barely disturbed the life of the country they were aspiring to join.”
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Who belongs to the United Nations
Discounting current disputes the only independent 'countries' not now in the UN membership are the
Vatican City and Taiwan. Decolonization in the 1960s and the collapse of the Soviet union after 1989 led to a rapid
growth in the UN membership. The newest members, Switzerland and Timor-Leste (East Timor), joined in 2002.
'Alarmed' at erosion of terror suspects' rights
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concern about the treatment of
people suspected of committing terrorist acts, and called for reform of legal procedures used in such cases.
There are concerns regarding the transfer of suspects without due process, and the use of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, which are unacceptable practices.
We are alarmed by the continuing erosion of the right to fair trial which occurs when suspects of terrorist acts are denied the right to obtain a judicial review of their case.
We know that such definitions have led to inappropriate restrictions on the legitimate exercise of
rights, such as the rights of association, expression and assembly, we believe calling for
intelligence-gathering on terrorism should be regulated by law and monitored as much as possible
by independent agencies.
Haneef speaks at anti-terror meeting with Dalai Lama
Less than a year after being locked up in Brisbane as a suspected terrorist, Mohamed Haneef has
shared a speakers' podium with the Dalai Lama at a high-profile anti-terrorism conference in India.
The Indian doctor, who was arrested last July and later had terror charges against him dropped,
told young Muslims across the world to beware because they had been typecast as terrorists.
"I am a living example of how the menace of terrorism has affected innocent lives and the
phenomenon of how Muslims are stereotyped as being terrorists or sympathisers of terrorists
whether they are guilty or not," he said.
Dr Haneef was an invited guest at a New Delhi conference organised by the Jama Masjid United Forum,
an Indian-based Islamic organisation that aims to "eradicate the root cause" of terrorism.
The Dalai Lama used his speech at the conference to strongly condemn terrorism but called for
"unbiased initiatives" to combat it. He said it was wrong to malign any one religious community
because of terrorist acts.
Cluster bomb ban praised in name of millions of children
Stressing the unspeakable suffering inflicted on millions of children by the use of
cluster munitions, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has lauded the recent
adoption of a new global treaty banning the production, use and transfer of these deadly weapons.(3 June)
“This is an important treaty and UNICEF calls on all governments to sign and ratify it as quickly as possible,” said the agency’s Deputy Executive Director, Hilde F. Johnson.
Delegations from 111 States agreed on the text of the new international convention at the Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions held in Dublin last month.
The treaty – which will be signed in Oslo in December – has been widely hailed by UN officials,
including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said it will “enhance the protection of civilians,
strengthen human rights and improve prospects for development.”
According to UNICEF, the deadly weapons have been in use for over six decades and continue to contaminate
wide areas of countries like Laos, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Roughly 40 per cent of victims of cluster bombs are children who are injured or killed long after
direct hostilities end. Children are particularly at risk from cluster munitions as they are
small and shiny and attract children’s natural curiosity.
“By their very nature, cluster munitions spread out littering wide areas and rendering
them uninhabitable. Bomblets are frequently found in school yards, fields and other areas
where children play and explore,” Ms. Johnson said.
“With billions of cluster munitions stockpiled around the world, this treaty could help
secure the world for generations to come,” she added.
Occupation has cost Israel dear
Israel's occupied territories and conflict with the Palestinians has undermined the country's economic
growth and has cost at least an extra 36.6bn shekels (£5.7bn) in defence spending over the past two decades,
according to an Israeli thinktank.
Calculations by the Adva Centre, an independent policy centre in Tel Aviv, suggest Israel's economy has
been held back, inequality within the country has grown and there have been significant government budget
cuts to pay for mounting defence spending. Read the full article
Australia can lead nuclear disarment
Co-chairman of the new nuclear disarment commision says the spread of nuclear weapons remains one of the world's biggest problems.
Asia Pacific Community mooted
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's proposal for an Asia-Pacific community includes India, China and
the US to provide a framework for the discussion of economic, political and security matters facing the region.
It would not diminish the role of existing regional bodies, he said.
Launch of the UN year of sanitation - UN & Agencies
Poor sanitation in our region, in the Asia-Pacific region, affects about 190 million people. In South-East Asia and the pacific, approximately 75,000 children will die this year from diarrhoea.
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"Today's human rights violations are the cause of tomorrows conflicts"
Mary Robinson, former United Nations High Commisioner for Human Rights.
HREOC endorses moves by government to address alienation of Muslim people in Australia
Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner, Tom Calma, welcomed proposed federal government
initiatives which aim to take a more socially-inclusive approach to help address the complex issues
faced by many Muslim Australians.
Commissioner Calma said a revival of the Council for Multicultural Australia, as well as a new-look
Muslim advisory body that would feature leaders and role models from a cross-section of ethnic backgrounds
and focus on everyday Muslim Australians, would be a positive step.
“The level of social alienation faced by many Australian Muslim people, particularly young
Muslims, has to be turned around,” said Commissioner Calma. “Racist, religious or cultural
hatred directed towards any member of the community is a breach of human rights and is absolutely
unacceptable”
“Ongoing fear and misinformation in the wider community remains a major threat to social harmony,”
said Mr Calma. “Social inclusion measures are likely to be much more successful at protecting the
community from violence than many of the tough security initiatives advocated under the ‘war on terror’.
“Failure to take action to improve social inclusion and combat racism will only fuel frustration
within Muslim communities and continue to reinforce discriminatory perceptions of threats to national
security among non-Muslim communities.”
“We require whole-of-government and whole-of-community approaches to building community capacity,
cross-community and cross-cultural respect and social inclusion,”
Member states elect 15 countries to serve on UN human rights council
Fifteen countries from around the world have been elected to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for
three-year terms starting this month. Zambia, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Gabon were chosen in that order to fill the four vacant African seats on the 47-member panel,
according to a formula that allots seats among regions. Six countries contested the four positions distributed to Asian States, with Japan,
Bahrain, the Republic of Korea and Pakistan winning the most votes to join the panel.
EC concerned over rights abuse in Sri Lanka
The European Commission says it will withhold development aid funding to Sri Lanka, until the Government addresses
concerns about its poor human rights record. The announcement was made after a three day meeting between the European Commission
and the Sri Lankan Government. The EC says future funding will depend on resolving issues of access and security
for humanitarian aid workers from the Red Cross and United Nations.
Right groups attack US over Iraq child detentions
Hundreds of children held by U.S. forces in Iraq should be given immediate access to lawyers and have their cases
reviewed promptly by an indipendent judicial body.
Human rights watch said U.S. military authorities were holding 513 Iraqi children as of May 12 as imperative threats to security.
Child detainees were sometimes interogated over days or weeks by military units in the field before being sent to main detention centres and had no real opportunity
to challenge their detention.
The U.S. should provide these children with immediate access to lawyers and an independent judicial review of their detention.
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Canada apologises to its stolen generations
OTTAWA: The Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has delivered a long-anticipated apology to tens of thousands of indigenous people who were
removed from their families as children and sent to boarding schools where many were abused as part of official government policy to "kill the Indian in the child".
Mr Harper rose before a packed House of Commons on Wednesday and condemned the decades-long effort to wipe out aboriginal culture.
"The Government of Canada sincerely apologises and asks the forgiveness of the aboriginal peoples of this country for failing them so profoundly," the Prime Minister said. "We are sorry."
Read the full report
China
The UN Childrens Fund (UNICEF) is taking part in a mission organized by the Government to provide immediate psycho-social assistance for
children suffering from emotional trauma following the tremors.
Efforts to collect information on children separated from their parents have been impeded by damaged insfrastructure, the agency noted.
If children are suddenly separated from their families, their vulnerability to abuse and exploitation increases.
Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Rebels attack displaced persons
On 4 June, rebels killed and wounded an unconfirmed number of internally displaced persons, among them children, in a camp in Kinyandoni.
Following the camp attack, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and other humanitarian aid agencies evacuated staff and temporarily have suspended
operations in the area. Consequently, the 5,000 displaced in the camp in Kinyandoni were temporarily deprived of humanitarian assistance for a number
of days.
Timor - Leste (East Timor)
East Timorese citizens celebrated the sixth anniversary of independence, but with an edge of uncertainty about their political and economic future.
Kenya
The two main parties in Kenya's coalition government retained their parliamentary balance after the 11 June by-elections. The elections were
characterised by the absence of violence which marked the December presidential poll
The elections, the first since the outbreak of violence last December which displaced more than 300,000 people were closely monitored by
international observers. As a preventative measure, polling stations were patrolled by armed police.
Despite progress in stabilising the political lsituation, the situation remains difficult for many of the country's population displaced last
December
Their specific needs have not been adequately addressed; consequently, many IDPs have been reluctant to return home until they receive concrete
guarantees from the government regarding adequate security and protection.
Malta
On 7 June, fifty-six irregular migrants were rescued by the Maltese armed forces.
Half of them were found clinging to a tuna-pen after their boat capsized in rough seas. It was a busy afternoon for the army which was called out to assist two groups of migrants in distress.
The Rome rescue centre informed the Maltese authorities that an Italian fishing boat had spotted a boat with around 28 migrants on board, some 50 nautical miles south of small island.
Shortly afterwards, an Italian tug-boat informed the Maltese authorities that another boat also with 28 irregular migrants onboard had capsized. In total, 56 migrants were rescued, 13 of whom were women and one was also pregnant. One of the women was airlifted to a local hospital after suffering convulsions. According to the NGO United, at least 112 people were reported to have died in May on the way to Europe.
Myanmar
Myanmar:Burmese cyclone survivors forced to work for aid - Amnesty International has accused Burma's military regime or forcing cyclone survivors
to work in exchange for vital aid supplies. The human rights group says the Burmese Government has also stepped up a campaign to evict survivors
from aid shelters and make them return to their destroyed villages. The military junta has come in for widespread international critism over its
inadequate response to last month's cyclone and its attitude towards foreign aid.
Senegal
Fatah and Hamas invited to talks - Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade is contacting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas' politburo
chief Khaled Mashaal to arrange a meeting between them in Senegal.
Somalia
Violations against children are on the increase. In a report to the UN Security Council on 11 June, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said:
"The level of grave violation against children in Somalia has been increasing over the past year, particularly with regard to the recruitment
and use of children in armed conflict; killing maiming and rape of children; and the denial of humanitarian access to children.
The widespread use of children in almost all fighting forces in the country was noted, particularly in Mogadishu, Ban reported, adding that
the recruitment of child soldiers was also increasing, although exact numbers could not be verified.
South Africa
In early June, the National and Provincial governments decided to erect Centres of Safe Shelter (CoSS) to provide for the needs of the displaced persons.
The official count as of 10 June was 23,635 displaced people housed in the CoSS in three provinces
The majority are in 70 CoSS in the Western Cape. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has provided 2,000 white plastic tents which have been erected at the sites there. While these structures provide very little warmth during this winter season as temperatures regularly go down to near zero degrees Celsius during the night, they are preferable to sleeping outdoors at police stations, as many of the displaced had been forced to do prior to the opening of the centres. For further information see www.jrs.net/reports
Sudan
On 10 June, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that its ability to transport 14,000 aid workers to Darfur and other parts of the country will be reduced due to lack of funding.
WFP-HAS, the air service run by WFP on behalf of the entire humanitarian community in Sudan, must cut one helicopter immediately and two fixed-wing aircraft on 19 June from its fleet because it is unable to cover the costs of carrying aid workers to remote parts of Darfur and southern Sudan. Also, fees for helicopter flights in Darfur will increase from 1 July.
The agency stated that the impact of this reduction will undoubtedly be felt by people in the most vulnerable circumstances, adding that the cuts will also reduce the ability to respond to urgent medical evacuation requests and staff relocations because of insecurity. Last year, WFP-HAS carried out 267 security and medical evacuations.
Turkey
Turkey's highest court has overturned a politically controversial law allowing female students to wear the Muslim headscarf at university,
dealing a blow to the country's Islamist-leaning Government and its chance of survival.
The headscarf issue has become one of the most highly charged in Turkish politics, with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
seeing it as a question of religious freedom, while opponents portray it as a gateway to a more Islamic society. Hijab-wearers have complained
of being expelled from classes. Others have worn wigs to get around the ban.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan Human rights defender Mutabar Tadzhibaeva, who was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2006, was unexpectedly
released on Monday, 2 June. The prisoner of conscience, who won the 2008 Martin Award for Human Rights Defenders last month,
was driven to her home in Margilan and reunited with her family.
Zimbabwe
Top UN officials urges lifting of restrictions on aid groups. The United Nations humanitarian chief has called on the Government
of Zimbabwe to rescind its decision to suspend all field operations by non-governmental aid groups. "This is a deplorable decision that comes at a critical
humanitarian juncture for the people of Zimbabwe," Under-Secretary_General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes said. Pointing out much of the UN's
Humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe is channelled through non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Mr Holmes said that aid for two million of the most
poor and vulnerable among Zimbabwe's people would be severely restricted. "To deprive people of food would be an extraordinary perversion of democracy,
and a serious breach of international human rights law.
- UN: Zimbabwe vote not legitimate. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has criticised Zimbabwe's election which President Robert Mugabe won
another term as "deeply flawed" and the result not legitimate.
- AU calls for Zimbabwe unity government. The African Union has called for a national unity government in Zimbabwe after the widely
condemned re-election of President Robert Mugabe in a poll scarred by violence.
- Summit pushes Mugabe to negotiate. African leaders have pushed President Robert Mugabe to open talks with the Zimbabwean opposition after he was re-elected unopposed in an election
condemned as violent and unfair by the continent's monitors.
- President's henchmen snatch farm activists. Scarcely an hour before Robert Mugabe was sworn in as President of Zimbabwe, his henchmen abducted Ben Freeth, a white farmer who documented the pre-election terror in an article for Britain's The Times.
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Our professionals make regular trips overseas. We are able to advise applicants for all categories of migration to Australia
as well as student visas. Applicants for most skilled migration categories must have English language fluency, recognised
qualifications, recent employment experience and need to be under 45 years of age.
On 23 July, Mr David Bitel, accredited as specialist in Immigration Law will be going to Philippines. He will be able to accomodate consultations while there.
A further visit will occur in October
If you wish to see Mr Bitel in the Philippines, please contact our office to arrange an appointment.
On 25 July, Mr Thong Nguyen will visit and see clients in Vietnam.
Interstate
Our staff regularly travel to Melbourne, Canberra and other capitals for consultations with prospective visa
applicants. Prospective applicants should contact Immigration Inquiries for an appointment, or ring telephone +61 2 9286 8700 or 1300 850 695 from within Australia.
UNity
www.unityunaa.info
This is to introduce the 2008 website for UNity. The new format will allow readers to find
items of specific interest easily and quickly. Please note the previous UNity address at http://unityunna.blogspot.com automatically
links to this website at www.unityunna.info
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We regret that due to internal office staff changes there has been a delay in publication of this newsletter. We have covered in it significant developments since our last newsletter. Although a little out of date, we nevertheless publish it for the interest of our readers.
We now expect to resume regular publication as in the past. Please feel free to share the contents of this newsletter with your friends and associates.
David Bitel, Managing Partner
There is no true social revolution
withouth the liberation of women
May my eyes never see and my feet
never take me to a society where
half the people are held in silence.
Thomas Sankara (1949-87), African revolutionary leader, assasinated after four inspiratonal years as President of Burkina Faso
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Level 1, State Street Centre
338 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
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