Although Gus has lampooned Amanda with ease on this site, he must acknowledge that she seems to be trying her hardest to sort out a bloody mess left by what appears to be an out of line department for too many years, under the influence of Johnnee's buddy by necessity, Ruddy...

Yes, it is late and there is so much to do to reverse the hurt with compassion and understanding that if she did what has to be done at full bore, the govenment of John Howard would wipe itself out. after so many years of denial. For too long It was easier for this government to lock up people and blame them for all the ills of the world rather than understand the frailties and desperation... Of course there are a few cheats but making draconian rules to eliminate cheats is always going to hurt far too many innocent or desperate people...

The Editor,
Sydney Morning Herald.                                                  March 23, 2006. 

Me thinkest Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, doth protestith too much (‘Ruddock: illegal detention is not my fault’, Herald, March 23). 

Given the endless parade of government ministers, minders, public servants & government mates, both state & federal, who’ve claimed they didn’t see, didn’t hear, didn’t know, weren’t told, can’t recall, weren’t there, can’t do anything & couldn’t care anyway, what difference does one more make. 

Now what’s all this stuff about diminished capacity?

From the ABC

Indonesia recalls ambassador over Papua visas
The Indonesian Government has recalled its ambassador to Australia in response to the decision to grant temporary protection visas to 42 Papuans.

The Indonesian Government is deeply displeased with the decision.

It has issued a strongly worded statement, deploring the Immigration Department's ruling and has recalled its ambassador, Hamzah Thayab, to Jakarta for consultations.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda says the spirit of bilateral cooperation over illegal migration has been negated.

"The decisions of the Australian Government, and this case the Immigration Departments, reflect in their inconsistencies and we [are] afraid this would weaken cooperation among parties in dealing with cases of illegal migrants," he said.
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Gus thinks the department of immigration should be congratulated on this and the government should stand firm and not be intimidated. The reality of West Papua being transmigrated and land being slowly taken away from the original inhabitants is creating huge tension in that part of the world...

From the BBC

Mine hits deep seam of Papua unrest
By Tim Johnston
BBC News, Jakarta

Papuans say they have been ignored by Jakarta
When protesters killed five members of the Indonesian security forces in the remote and restive province of Papua last week, it focused international attention on a region with long-standing grievances.

Analysts are warning that the Indonesian government has a limited window of opportunity to do something about the unrest.

Although the demonstrations were nominally spurred by objections to the world's largest copper and gold mine, operated by the US-based Freeport McMoRan, the roots of Papuan discontent are deeper and more intractable.

Papua has a distinct identity and political history. Dutch colonial forces granted Papua self-rule in 1961, but after the Dutch pulled out a year later, Jakarta annexed the province without honouring the agreement.

In 2001, the government recognised this by granting the province increased autonomy, but it has had little tangible benefit on the ground.

Losing faith in the political process, many activists believe direct action is the only way to bring their concerns to the attention of Jakarta.

"Many of the demonstrations had long been planned by student groups linked to the independence movement, but the Freeport protests also reflected broader frustration and anger over the role of the military in Papua, lack of justice for past abuses and the failure of special autonomy to improve the welfare of the people," the Brussels-based International Crisis Group said in a report released this week

read more at the BBC
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Gus feels his age...
We have known since the mid seventies about the Jakarta organised transmigration of Indonesians into West Papua... It has been a sore point like Timor Este — the international community having turned a blind eye.

Mining is these part of the world may bring some little cash to the people but it is possible that the social constructs are not helping most people since the pecking order may have been changed. Ownership and decisions may have been taken away from traditional owners... Traditional lifestyles may be bulldozed, slowly... etc.. etc...

From the ABC

Visa huff shows contempt for law: Brown
Greens Senator Bob Brown says the Indonesian Government's reaction to Australia's treatment of 42 asylum seekers from West Papua shows complete disdain for international law.

The asylum seekers, who arrived by boat in January, will be relocated to Melbourne from the Christmas Island detention centre after being granted temporary visas.

Indonesia has recalled its ambassador to Australia in protest at the decision, accusing Australia of taking sides in the push for the Indonesian province to become independent.

Senator Brown wants the Government to do just that.

He says there are currently about 1,000 students in hiding in Papua.

"[They are] terrorised by the Indonesian troops and the death toll from last week's crackdown on people who are protesting for their rights in West Papua," he said.

"It's time that this Government had the gumption to take the matter of the right of the West Papuans to an act of self determination to the United Nations."

Gus says spot on...

From the ABC

Athletes afraid to return to Sierra Leone

Six athletes from Sierra Leone granted bridging visas today have spoken publicly about their fears if they are forced to return to the troubled African nation.

Three teenage girls are among the group who went missing from the Commonwealth Games village last week in Melbourne.

They were found this morning in Sydney's north.

Isha Conteh, Sarah Turay and Marion Bangura all say they will be forced to undergo female circumcision if they go home.

Conteh says her sister bled to death three weeks ago after a botched circumcision operation.

She has told the ABC's 7.30 Report they will be forced to undergo the same procedure.

"It was terrible. They are chasing us everywhere, we are hiding because of this female circumcision and we don't want to get involved in that so we are just hiding," she said.

Hassan Fullah says he fears he will be killed because his uncle was a rebel.

He says he was beaten and his 12-year-old brother killed in an attack shortly before he left to compete in the Games.

"The last time before I came to these Commonwealth games I was captured by unknown men, I was beaten seriously and my little brother was killed," he said

Visas
The bridging visas will allow the athletes time to apply for long term visas.

The six athletes have been released back into the community.

Immigration Department spokesman Sandy Logan says any application for a long-term stay will be assessed on its merits.

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Gus suggests that there should be a lot of "merit"... any other way would be cruel.

From the NY Times

Afghan Convert to Christianity Is Released, Officials Say

By SULTAN M. MUNADI and CHRISTINE HAUSER
Published: March 28, 2006
KABUL, Afghanistan, Tuesday, March 28 — The Justice Ministry has released a jailed Afghan man who faced the death penalty for converting to Christianity, a spokesman said Tuesday.

Abdul Rahman, who had been accused of apostasy for abandoning Islam, had been in custody for weeks but had not been formally charged.

During his detention, prosecutors tried to build a case against him but ran up against the one-month limit that a person can be held without being charged under Afghan law.

The ministry spokesman said Mr. Rahman had been released to his family on Monday night. The spokesman added that he did not know where Mr. Rahman was.

The prosecutor in the case, Abdul Wasei, said Monday that the time limit for bringing charges was "the main reason that the attorney general decided to release him.

From the ABC

Jovicic granted six-month visa
The man deported to Serbia by the Immigration Department, Robert Jovicic, has been granted a six-month visa to stay in Australia.

Mr Jovicic was stripped of his residency and deported in 2004 because of his criminal record, despite never having lived in Serbia.

He was allowed to return to Australia last month.

A family spokesman says the Immigration Department informed Mr Jovicic of its decision to grant a visa a few hours ago.