ADELAIDE — One of the key policies for the Socialist Alliance in campaign for the February 9 South Australian election is refugee rights. 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly's JO ELLIS spoke to TOM BERTULEIT, Socialist Alliance candidate for the seat of Adelaide.
The Socialist Alliance opposes mandatory detention of refugees. Bertuleit says this is because of the "extremely detrimental effects" it has on people who, after escaping from repressive regimes, "should be looking forward to a new life instead of being incarcerated". Bertuleit is disgusted that $500 million of taxpayers' money has been used for racist persecution. "Imagine what that money might have done to improve the lives of the worst off."
Bertuleit said the recent hunger strikes, in which some refugees have sewn their lips together, and suicide attempts in Woomera detention centre are a response "to the increasing racism of the Australian government". Refugees are being forced to show their desperation with extreme methods.
Bertuleit condemned the government's refugee policies and urged immigration minister Philip Ruddock to put himself in the asylum seekers' shoes. "Ruddock isn't being interned and contact with his family is not restricted. He isn't being kept behind barbed wire and being subjected to water cannons, tear gas, beatings by guards and continual random searches in the middle of the night."
Calling for South Australians to act in solidarity with the hunger strikers in Woomera, Bertuleit told GLW, "If we have a government that is prepared to take these draconian measures against one set of people, why wouldn't they use it against another set?"
"If they are treated as well as Ruddock claims, why have the media, lawyers representing asylum seekers and refugee support groups been refused access to Woomera?", Bertuleit asked. "Why does Woomera have a one kilometre exclusion zone around it? Why have refugees been threatened with reprisals if they speak out against their treatment?"
The ALP, however, does not offer an alternative. Bertuleit told GLW that Labor is "attempting to outdo the Liberals with a tough stance towards refugees" and use refugees as scapegoats for their pro-corporate and anti-people policies.
He also blames the mainstream media for "deliberate bias and parroting government propaganda without checking the facts. They are not performing the role that they should be playing — as an unbiased independent media. Very seldom is the refugee side of the story told."
In response to government claims that it is safe for refugees to return to Afghanistan, Bertuleit points out that Afghanistan is still being bombed and there is massive damage to infrastructure. There is "not much to go home to". There is no guarantee that refugees from Afghanistan will not face persecution, as the new government contains elements who are as guilty of human rights abuses against ethnic and religious minorities as was the Taliban regime.
Socialist Alliance is campaigning for the immediate closure of the Woomera detention centre and for the refugees to be released into the community while their claims are being assessed, Bertuleit explained.
The Socialist Alliance also thinks there should be a royal commission into the conduct of the federal and state governments towards refugees. The many subsidies and handouts that Australian governments provide big business should be confiscated and used for socially beneficial ends such as helping refugees settle into society. For example, the Adelaide City Council has a $500,000 fund that is used to help businesses move into the city centre.This could be used to settle Woomera refugees.
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, January 30, 2002.
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