About 70 per cent of the asylum seekers came from various parts of Africa and the rest are from the Middle East and South East Asia. Displaced refugees in Europe arrived here in thousands of boats and nobody complained when they arrived, as long as they were Caucasian. As many refugees were Asians with different physical features, there was some resentment for such migrants settling here. The presence of people from various cultural backgrounds in Australia greatly enriches our society. The Australian society, culture and the economy had always been benefited from the immigration of people from all around the world. Immigration must be non-discriminatory and not based on nationality, origin, religion, language, gender, disability, sexuality, age or social backgrounds.
Asylum seekers risk their lives embarking on a journey not knowing how long before they will reach land and an even greater risk as to where they will end up. Most of the 42 million refugees (UNHCR) around the world are ordinary civilians fleeing wars that they did not cause, nor wanted. It is the danger to their lives which makes them decide to leave their country. The article demonstrated how inhumane Australia is in the way it deals with asylum seekers. Surely this country has the responsibility to protect the rights of people who are escaping from adversity. We are a rich country, we are wealthy enough to lend a hand, and help people fleeing danger and persecution. Asylum seekers and refugees are no more of a threat to our borders or to society than anyone else and deserve to be treated properly, and given a chance.
About two hundred years ago numerous convicted criminals arrived here in small leaky boats– and even though they weren’t allowed inland, they worked hard and managed to build a modern, prosperous, and generally peaceful, law abiding society. During Mr Rudd’s time, five refugees had died and we blame this on the government. More than 400 boat people perished near Australian waters and those few who did arrived were taken to remote Pacific islands under detention centres for many years. They shouldn’t have been treated like this; the government should have handled this situation in a more well-mannered way. The majority of people arriving here now, genuine refugees, should be given an opportunity to create and manage a peaceful society with anyone doubting them.
Clearly, Australia isn't keeping to their humanitarian and legal obligations to accept refugees and reunite families. The refugee problem is mainly the result of cumulative mistakes made by Australians who have isolated the refugees in poor and shabby camps lacking the most basic conditions for a dignified human existence. Instead of helping them to become fully integrated in their new society, they let them become victims of isolation and suffering. Due to the dangerous wars fighting out at their countries they were here, not because they wanted to. Regarding refugee security, the governments were primarily responsible for ensuring the safety of refugee-populated areas. The government should give refugees a chance to maintain a peaceful, prosperous environment. They can mature through this and learn to cope and earn for themselves.
Your Sincerely,
Martin
