[Jane R]

I thought everyone might be interested in this story. It's from Nine Msn.
Jane.

Amnesty slams Australia on refugees


Australia destroyed its reputation as a fighter for ordinary people with its 
stance on asylum seekers, human rights group Amnesty International said.

In its 2001 annual report, Amnesty commented that while Australia celebrated 
100 years of constitutional democracy last year, there was a lack of human 
rights guarantees in the country's constitution.

The group said the Australian government had breached a raft of human rights 
standards by detaining asylum seekers for long periods in detention centres 
such as Woomera and preventing others from arriving on boats from Indonesia.

"In 2001 the overriding human rights concern Amnesty International had with 
Australia is the pretty much wholesale demolition of Australia's refugee 
protection program," said Amnesty's Asia and Pacific researcher Demelza 
Stubbings.

"What we saw in Australia last year was pretty shocking. We have always seen 
Australia in the past as a country which has been at the forefront of 
promoting and protecting human rights and that includes the rights of 
refugees.





"What we saw in 2001 was an erection of walls and fences, it completely 
eroded the rights of people to seek and enjoy asylum in Australia. That 
trend has continued through this year.

"Australia's a country which has stood up for the rights of ordinary people, 
for the rights of refugees and human rights for everybody. To see that 
protection eroded, to see the United Nations critical of its human rights 
record is very sad.

"Australia has had a proud record in the past on accepting people. We expect 
more of Australia."

A UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention visited the Woomera Detention 
Centre in South Australia on Tuesday and Amnesty secretary general Irene 
Khan hoped for regular access and independent inspections of all centres in 
Australia.

"What we need is a regular system of inspections, in Australia you have 
regular prison inspections, so why not have proper inspections of the 
detention centres," she said.

She visited Australia in March and spoke with Immigration Minister Philip 
Ruddock who refused her permission to go to Woomera because of a fear of 
inflaming security incidents.

Mr Ruddock, a badge-wearing Amnesty member, agreed to allow Amnesty access 
to the detention centres later this year but Irene Khan said she was 
awaiting confirmation of a date.

She said the minister's hardline stance on asylum seekers contradicted his 
membership of the organisation.

"I would assume as a member, he either believes in Amnesty's values and 
upholds them or he should not be wearing a badge, at least when he carries 
out his official duties," she said.

"I would say Mr Ruddock has to examine his own conscience to see whether he 
carried the badge to symbolise certain values and whether he carries out 
those values in his own work."

The annual report also commented that Aboriginal deaths in custody were 
still a major human rights issue confronting Australia.






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