Last Update: Saturday, June 18, 2005. 7:06pm (AEST)
Some of the detainees receiving medical help at Villawood Detention Centre (ABC)
Detainees treated after self-harm
Twelve Chinese men are receiving medical treatment after a group self-mutilation protest at Villawood immigration detention centre, in Sydney's south-west this afternoon.
It is believed the incident was sparked by the attempted suicide of a Chinese woman earlier today, the same woman who allegedly tried to take her life last week.
Jamal Daoud from the Refugee Action Coalition, says the men cut themselves on razor wire surrounding the compound, in an act of solidarity against their imminent deportation.
"Now there's disappointment that the deal between Petro Georgio and John Howard will not see them see freedom," he said.
A convoy of emergency vehicles were seen coming and going from Villawood throughout the afternoon, but it is thought the men are being treated at the centre.
The woman, and another who found her, were taken to Auburn hospital.
The Immigration Department has confirmed 50 Chinese detainees, including 25 at Villawood, were separated from other detainees last month and interviewed by Chinese officials.
In other developments:
Greens Leader Bob Brown will introduce bills calling for amendments to the Government's new, softer detention policy. (Full Story)
The Federal Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou says he believes the partyroom will accept a deal to change the Government's immigration detention policy. (Full Story)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200506/s1395278.htm
goodfielder wrote:Wilso wrote:goodfielder wrote:Howard has absorbed Georgiou and the nascent rebels. Predictable. But perhaps, just perhaps, the average person in the street is uneasy.
Uneasy about what. Some innocent human beings being let out of their cages, or that there's at least one member of the liberal party who deserves to be called a member of the human race?
Good point. I need to clarify it. I think (hope) that people are beginning to understand what the Howard government has done and is continuing to do. I hope that people are seeing them for what they are. I hope people are beginning to understand that if Howard and his coterie have yet another term in office that we will become more like Bush's America. I hope that Australians reject the Aussie-Gulags.
I don't need any convincing. When I look at US society, it disgusts and terrifies me. I think a fantastic policy is to simply look at what America does, and then don't!
Today I just feel sick at heart for those desperate Chinese asylum seekers at Villawood. Shame on our government.
... how on earth can our government & the immigration authorities justify isolating these desperate people & allowing them to be addressed by Chinese officials? They were seeking asylum from the Chinese government! For heaven's sake!
No wonder they resorted to drastic measures.
Ok - what sort of damn lesson is all this for activists?
1. Get a white person imprisoned.
2. Get a high profile person with clout for no discernible reason to pressure the government into doing what no amount of reasoned debate, research, and simple human decency could make them do before.
(Ok, ok - I know - the previous campaignng softened them up - but, STILL!!!!)
well I cant be bothered reading all the the posts in here,
but as I sympathise with some genuine cases...such as kids who have grown up in Australia all of a sudden being told to go back to their country
of origin that they cant remember etc bla bla bla I blame that on his guardians for not doing something earlier on..I totaly agree with the Howard Gov..you just cant have all these asylum seekers going to countries without the proper credentials, and expecting to be welcomed with open arms, one person gets into the country legaly and the next you know 20 of his or her family members turn up afterward...nah its not on
and thats what happens here in NZ...just my opinion folks.
Last Update: Sunday, July 17, 2005. 10:28am (AEST)
Peter Qasim has been handed a visa. (File photo) (ABC)
After 7 years, Qasim can go free
Australia's longest-serving immigration detainee, Peter Qasim, has been granted a visa.
The Federal Government announced several weeks ago that Mr Qasim would be released pending health and character checks, after seven years in detention.
He has been at Adelaide's Glenside psychiatric hospital.
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says Mr Qasim received his visa last night after a series of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) checks.... <cont>
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1415896.htm
Yes, that's right: seven long years!
~
Last batch of detained children released
By Staff reporters
July 28, 2005 - 4:00PM/SMH
Authorities have today begun releasing 45 children and their families held in Australian immigration detention centres.
The families of the 21 children held at Villawood were today allowed to leave the detention centre. But are not free. They have been housed in serviced apartments under a community detention plan.
It is understood the rest of the children held in detention centres around Australia will be released tomorrow.... <cont>
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/last-batch-of-detained-children-released/2005/07/28/1122143944637.html
What can you possibly say in response to what's happened to this man? How low can the Department of Immigration go? This is just despicable!:
Stateless deportee pleads for return
AM - Thursday, 24 November , 2005 08:12:00
Reporter: Lynn Bell
The sister of a Melbourne man deported from Australia to Serbia last year has asked the Federal Government to allow her sick and destitute brother to return home.
Robert Jovicic was born in France to Serbian parents and arrived in Australia when he was just two. He lived in Melbourne for more than 30 years and was a permanent resident.
After spending time in jail for burglary, which he committed to support a heroin addiction, he was stripped of his residency and ordered out of Australia on character grounds.
..... 38-year-old Robert Jovicic has been sleeping in front of the Australian embassy, in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. It's cold, he's sick, he doesn't speak the language and he has no right to work, or seek welfare because the Serbian Government doesn't recognise him.
ROBERT JOVICIC: The reason I slept out front of the Australian Embassy as a last resort for myself. I have been sent to this country, which I have never been before. I had nowhere else to go. The money had run out, I have got no documents.
... He was deported in June last year after spending time in prison for a series of burglaries. He was addicted to heroin, and also spent four months in the Maribyrnong Detention Centre. ...
<complete transcript of AM segment>
http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1515600.htm
Deported man probably entitled to visa: lawyer:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1516207.htm
On today's (that's Australian 'today' :wink: ) frontpage of the Australian:
Related report online
And:
Howard's 'insult' on Barnaby's dinner menu
"Nauru detention an outstanding success: PM" Yeah, right, sure it was! 
