May/June 2002
Inside Woomera
by Tirana Hassan
Tirina is an Adelaide based lawyer and a member of the Woomera Pro Bono
Lawyers Group. She visited the NSW Parliament recently and briefed MPs on conditions
faced by Woomera detainees.
Asylum seekers spend up to four weeks at sea in cramped and threatening
conditions prior to arrival in Australia. The Commonwealth Immigration Act
provides that persons seeking refuge in Australia should utter words to the
effect, "I seek refuge in your nation," to Australian officials
meeting them as they come onto shore. It places a high onus on people who don't
speak English as a first language, and who probably have other things on their
mind at their time of arrival, like food, water or medical needs, to respond to
these bureaucratic obligations. But it is a taste of things to come.
The impact of detention
Tirina observed first hand the following hopelessness and daily self-harm,
self-mutilation, catatonia, swaying, hanging, drinking industrial quality
shampoo, suicide pacts amongst children, lip-sewing and self immolation. "I
don't understand what it takes to make a 34 year old mother of two children set
herself on fire as happened in March of this year. I don't understand why human
beings try to hang themselves from the perimeter fence nor why a 12 year old boy
would write "freedom" on his arm with a razor." Tirina told the
MPs. Tirina stated that the asylum seekers feel that they have no other way to
voice their concerns. They feel removed from the processes and taking such
action constitutes their only effective form of lobbying.
The Woomera detention centre's method of operation succeeds in dehumanising
its occupants. Woomera occupants are identified by Alpha Numeric code such as
WMA42. Some Woomera detainees are allowed to work for the ACM, and can earn
wages of up to $8.00 a day. No newspapers are allowed into the Detention Centre.
The facility
The Woomera Detention centre is near the township of Woomera, approximately
500kms. North Adelaide. Woomera has a population of about 600. The Woomera
Detention Centre is 2kms from Woomera on Commonwealth land, out of sight of the
township.. There are five compounds at Woomera named variously as Oscar, India,
November, Main and Mike. These are military terms which are another indication
of the way in which the facility is run. "I will say to someone - hi, I'm
Tirana Hassan - and they will reply - hello I'm WMA 42. " The facility is
surrounded by razor wire fences, inside there more fences and razor wire.
The people live in dungas, pre-fab buildings, typically a corridor with six
rooms off each side. Rooms are 2m x 2.5m with two bunks. Each room is home to a
family.
They hang up towels or sheets to get some privacy. Their every need is dependent
on permission from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural affairs [DIMA]
or ACM, whether they want shampoo or extra tampons they have to apply to the
authorities.
Air conditioning at Woomera is by an evaporative method system, which is
useless over 40 degrees. There is no right of access for Lawyers or Media.
The effects of the process
Tirina told MPs "This government is evading its human rights obligations
and demonising these people for its own agenda. There are nurses, small business
operators and people with PhDs. All of them are human beings and should be
treated as such. We have to raise awareness and insist on accountability."
The process
. First stage [first day-week]
Arrive in Australia usually WA or Northern territory, you indicate that you seek
refuge in Australia to Australian Defence or Immigration official. The interview
is usually conducted in Darwin. No legal representation is permitted. Go to
Woomera.
. Second stage [up to 7 months]
First of 3 interviews with your Primary DIMA delegate. Security checks with
country of origin once rejected then
. Third stage [ up to one year]
Refugee Review Tribunal [RRT]- one hearing only, one delegate [approved by the
Minister for Immigration, Phillip Ruddock]. High discretion in judgement , not
judicial, no rules of evidence, not reviewable, no clear reporting process.
There is no grievance process for these asylum seekers unhappy with the
representation they receive from their immigration lawyer.
RRT interviews are conducted by teleconference at Woomera Courthouse.
Processing times vary usually between 6 and 12 months. Once rejected.
. Final stage [up to 6 weeks]
there is one final avenue of appeal, s417 of the Immigration Act, allowing
ministerial discretion, much evidence is required, currently 3% chance of
approval.
The spin on delays of processing
The Federal Government has attempted to insinuate that there are 2 factors in
delayed processing of asylum seekers;
Security checks - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade [DFAT] conducts
criminal and other background checks on individuals by contacting the government
or regime in the asylum seekers place of origin. The process routinely takes 6
months and most often ends with a response like, "everything is fine here,
the person is OK to return". Usually the person who has been fleeing
persecution, war, or poverty faces a bleak future upon returning to their native
country. In other cases, there is often no paperwork to establish the person's
bona fides. It is highly bureaucratic and inflexible.
Lawyers - Lawyers such as those working for Woomera Pro Bono Lawyers Group
have been identified by the Federal Government as adding to delays in
processing. These lawyers are not allowed to provide immigration advice, rather
they are taking up human rights and personnel needs matters. The Pro Bono
Lawyers Group is comprised of lawyers who donate their time. They are not
certified Immigration Lawyers, they cannot give immigration advice, they are
legal agents.
Pro Bono Lawyers work
Tirina regularly makes a round trip from Adelaide to Woomera of 1000kms. The
Woomera Pro Bono Lawyers Group has funds of less than $50.000 for which to make
legal representations. Funding has come mostly from church groups, through the
Woomera Outpost Centre. The sort of work which the which the Woomera Pro Bono
Lawyers group performs include.
. Federal Court matters
. Basic health care/medical applications [3 nurses to 600 people]
. Making representations in relation to cost-cutting measures implemented by the
ACM which affect basic human rights.
. Advocating for refugees who engage in self-harm.
The Woomera Pro Bono Lawyers Group has represented some 400 asylum seekers
since it commenced work in November 2000. It commenced its Advocacy work in
November 2001. The work of lawyers like Tirina demonstrates the commitment and
passion needed to bring about a better way of approaching asylum seekers issues.
Their Group needs assistance to help defray the many costs faced by these
dedicated hard working lawyers who are offering free services to the detainees.
To contact Pro Bono Lawyers , their postal address is : Mr Dale West,
Director, Centacare, 33 Wakefield Street, Adelaide South Australia. 5000
To make a donation ,which is tax deductible, cheques should be made payable to
"Centacare Woomera Legal Outpost Fund".
Further contact details
Tirina Hassan
M 0416 231 620 email: tirinah@hotmail.com
National day of action
June 23rd is the National day of action during World Refugee Week. Contact
your local group for details of rallies, in support of the refugees, to be held
in your town or city.
The rallies held around Australia on Palm Sunday showed that thousands of
people welcome the refugees to our shores.
The Federal Government in signing the Refugee Convention in 1954 promised that
we would accept asylum seekers and humanely process their claims.
January1788 : Boatloads of illegals arrive off Australia's eastern seaboard.
Many are criminals, expelled from their own country. Many are sick and have
chronic diseases unknown here. None possess valid travel documents. Locals
oppose them coming
ashore. The rest is history. Back to Top
Beneath the veil
by Jim Marr
A member of RAWA [ Revolutionary Association of Women from Afghanistan]
travelled to Australia recently to put a human face on the suffering of her
people -and her gender.
Tahmeena has a dream, she wants women to be treated as human beings.
Now in some places, that might not seem like a big deal but in her corner of the
world it's a matter of life or death, literally.
That's why we don't know her real name, where she lives, or her age. The
Taliban might have gone but there are still enough fundamentalists in
Afghanistan and Pakistan, getting money and support from the United States ,
Russia., Iran, Saudi Arabia or France to put her life in jeopardy.
That is why all RAWA [Revolutionary Association of Women from Afghanistan]
spokeswomen travel incognito.
Faryal, who admits to being in her mid-20s has pitched her dream to the
powerbrokers of the US Congress and the United Nations.
The vast majority of Afghan women are still imprisoned by their burqas , and
up to 90% of those in the cities, where oppression is most virulent are said, by
one US medical researcher, to be mentally ill.
Faryal and her organisation is urging ordinary people to press governments
into ensuring there is a meaningful change in the land she fled as a child. She
wants Australians to write to MPs in the Federal government insisting that a
democratic, secular society be allowed to flourish in Afghanistan.
But first she needs to break down some misconceptions. The most important
being that all is well now that the Taliban has shot through. Then there is the
American-promoted view that the Northern Alliance-dominated interim Government
will be better.
Afghans had four years of Northern Alliance rule, between 1992 and 1996
during which the group raped and murdered with impunity. "They destroyed
our country ", Faryal says, "they committed terrible crimes and they
are hated by our people".
"They are fundamentalists, just like the Taliban. We will never have
peace and human rights while fundamentalists are in charge."
RAWA was founded in 1977 to improve the lot of Afghan women. Its first task
was to operate underground schools, then medical centres where women and
children could access services denied to them by the state.
Faryal is a product of that system, having been educated in Quetta, in
Pakistan.
As the name suggests, RAWA also has overtly political goals, dangerous
business in Afghanistan or Pakistan where the government has denied them
recognition.
Their demonstrations are routinely attacked by fundamentalists and their
supporters from the Pakistani security services.
Although, by 1997 when RAWA had more than 1000 active members it still hasn't
registered on the western radar.
That all changed with one simple move, establishing its own website [www.
rawa.net.]. From three or four hits a day, described by Faryal as "exciting
at the time", it now has seven mirror sites to accommodate traffic from
around the globe.
That development rocketed RAWA into the consciousness of people and
politicians around the globe.
It is now generally regarded as the country's only coherent political
alternative.
And Faryal, feminist to her core, says the agenda has broadened to embrace human
rights in general.
"Women were our first priority but, at this point in Afghanistan, we
can't just struggle for the rights of women. Democracy doesn't recognise
gender."
Faryal knows what she is against, most immediately the fundamentalism that has
tormented her sisters.
Fundamentalism
So what is her definition of a fundamentalist?
"They are people who oppose democracy, women, culture and education and
are dependent on foreign states for their power and influence," she argues.
Both the Taliban and the Northern Alliance share all those characteristics.
"We are not anti-Muslin in any way, fundamentalism is a complete distortion
of Islam. We know Christian, Jewish and Hindu fundamentalists and they are
equally dangerous, especially for women because, first and foremost they are all
misogynists."
RAWA's wish list
RAWA wants international acceptance that the Northern Alliance is no
alternative to the Taliban.
Fully fledged democracy is the only way forward for Afghanistan.
Foreign countries must cease financial and military support for the Northern
Alliance and any other fundamentalist groups.
A full-scale United Nations peace-keeping force, which is the only to prepare
ground for a democratic future.
Faryal high lights the last point, arguing the US is already tainted , not
least for bankrolling the Taliban and any number of other factions who have
terrorised the population.
While Faryal was in Australia she spoke at the Sydney Institute, with Jana
Wendt on SBS, met with trade unionists and the Greens.
Prior to coming to Australia Faryal visited New York where she addressed the US
Congress Human Rights Committee. She also met with equal opportunity and peace
workers within the United Nations. Back to Top
Star Wars The armed wing of globalisation
by Dr. Hannah Middleton
September 11 gave a huge boost to the United States plans for National
Missile Defence [NMD] or 'Star Wars'. Despite the fact that space weapons would
be no defence against low-tech terrorists "suitcase" bombs or the kind
of attack that destroyed the twin towers, Star Wars supporters are riding high
and the arms industry expects super profits from defence contracts.
Australia is a front line state for US NMD plans, through the base at Pine
Gap and the Australian Government is almost alone in giving strong support to
Star Wars.
The National Missile Defence program involves developing a system to
intercept a limited number of ballistic missiles targeted on the US. However,
NMD is not a benign, defensive umbrella. It is a controversial space battle
system to control space for the US alone.
Bruce Gagnon, co-ordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear
Power in Space, says the program has "never been about defence. It's always
been about controlling space, denying other countries access to space and the US
being the master of space."
He also points out: "spending hundreds of billions of dollars on Star
Wars will take money away from education, programs for women and children, and
health care. There is a direct link between promoting weapons for space and the
destabilisation of our communities."
To deploy NMD, the US has withdrawn from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty.
As a result, other arms control and nuclear disarmament treaties may collapse.
The fragile foundation for nuclear disarmament will come crashing down.
We are on the brink of a new, more dangerous nuclear arms race.
Masters of space
The US is planning to militarise, commercially exploit and to control space,
taking corporate globalisation to a new and new terrifying level.
Vision for 2020, a 1996 report of the US Space Command, proclaims that its
mission is "dominating the space dimension of military operations to
protect US interests and investment."
A century ago, "Nations built navies to protect and enhance their
commercial interest" by ruling the seas, the report says . Now it is time
to rule space.
The Space Command's 1998 Long Range Plan underlines the globalisation aspect
of US space war plans, saying, "The gap between 'have' and 'have-not'
nations will widen, creating regional unrest." By controlling space and
earth below, the US intends to keeps "have-nots" in line.
Military Industrial Complex
The development and production process for the NMD involves many
corporations. The big four, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and TRW, and will
get rich from it.
These corporations donate huge sums to the Republican party and aggressively
lobby Capitol Hill on defence spending, with no regard for the safety and
well-being of the world. This is corporate greed on a global scale.
They have close ties to the Bush administration. US Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld is an "informal adviser and faithful supporter" of the Centre
for Security Policy, the heart of the Star Wars lobby.
Bush's Vice President Cheney is a former member of the board of TRW. His wife
Lynn was a member of the Lockheed Martin board. Albert Smith, a Lockheed vice
president is undersecretary of the Air Force and Gordon England, vice president
of General Dynamics is Navy secretary.
United Nations
In November 2000 the United Nations General Assembly voted to reaffirm the
fundamental international law on space, the Outer Space Treaty.
Some 163 nations supported the resolution which reiterates the use of space
"shall be for peaceful purpose…carried out for the benefit and in the
interest of countries." It states that the "prevention of an arms race
in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and
security."
The United States, Israel and Micronesia abstained.
Canada and China have been leaders at the United Nations in challenging the
US space military plans and seeking to strengthen the Outer Space Treaty by
banning all weapons in space [the treaty currently prohibits nuclear weapons and
weapons of mass destruction].
Marc Vidricaire, counsellor with the Canadian delegation to the United
Nations, said "it is clear that technology can be developed to place
weapons in outer space, and no state can expect to maintain a monopoly on such
knowledge - or such capabilities - for all time. If one state actively pursues
the weaponisation of space, we can be sure others will follow."
Australian involvement
Pine Gap is one of the largest and most import US satellite ground controls
stations in the world. Established in 1968 as a CIA intelligence base and
situated in Central Australia , 19 kms south-west of Alice Springs, Pine Gap has
been used to collect data on ballistic missile launches for over 30 years.
Pine Gap is in the Star Wars front line. It will be Ground Based Relay
Station for a new space based missile tracking system, called SBIRS [Space-Based
Infra-Red System], planned to be operational by 2004.
Pine Gap will receive from satellites and forward to the US early warning of
missile launches. It will also provide information on the launch site, missile
type, velocity and what kind of warhead the missile mar carry. This information
is essential if the missiles are to be destroyed before they reach their
targets.
The SBIRS satellites monitored by Pine Gap cover the most important area of
US strategic interest - China . Pine Gap is also an essential element in
providing early warning and for tracking any missile launches from Iran or Iraq.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer claims that Pine Gap is not
involved in NMD. However, he has also said that "if the US were to have the
capacity to shoot down or destroy a hostile missile, they would have to know
that the missile had been launched, and where it was. Pine Gap can transmit that
sort of information to the US. The government has said we would not cut off the
transmission of that information to the US."
American Government representatives are franker. In an interview with Channel
9 in July 2000, then US Secretary of Defence said Pine Gap had been "very
much" involved in NMD
The Australian Government is backing NMD despite warnings that the system is
not in Australia's interests. Classified documents from the Office of National
Assessments [ONA -Australia's peak intelligence assessment body] say "Pine
Gap will be a key component of the early warning system for any US missile
defence system."
"Any weakening of international arms control regimes would have a
negative impact on Australia's security," the ONA report says.
Star Wars development involves massive secrecy and denial of national
sovereignty.
The Australian parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on treaties has
complained that MPs are kept in the dark about Pine Gap. Although members of the
US Congress have visited Pine Gap and received classified briefings about its
functions, the Treaties Committee is "entrusted with less information than
can be found in a public library."
Action needed
There is world wide opposition to US space wars plans. The Global Network
Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space is co-ordinating actions around the
world in early October.
As part of this, there will be a demonstration at Pine Gap from October 5 to 7
and solidarity actions in centres around Australia.
We need to act now. There is only a narrow window to stop NMD going forward
and preventing what would inevitably would follow: other nations will meet the
US in kind and there will be an arms race and ultimately war in space.
* Dr Hannah Middleton , Stop Star Wars Campaigner, Australian Anti-Bases
Coalition
For free leaflets and further details, contact Australian Anti-Bases Campaign
Coalition,
PO Box A899, Sydney South, NSW 1235
Phone: [02] 9212 0800
Email: aabcc@zipworld.com.au
www.anti-bases.org
Protest
If you go to one demonstration and then go home, that's something, but the
people in power can live with that. What they can't live with is sustained
pressure that keeps building organisations that keep doing things, people that
keep learning lessons from the last time and doing it better next time. Noam
Chomsky. Back to Top
The Proof is in the Numbers -The Power is in the Women
By Doris Mpoumou
Women are glaringly absent from the elite group running the financial and
trade institutions that call the shots in today's global economy. Thus it should
come as no surprise that women comprise a staggering 70 % of the world's poor.
As globalisation radically alters the landscape of women's lives, activists
have, in recent years , focused their attention on the international financial
institutions that promote trade liberalisation, the opening up of markets and
the deregulation of industry - policies that have a largely negative impact on
women's livelihoods, health and well being, particularly poor women.
As part of its ongoing campaign to promote gender balance in decision making,
based on a belief that women make a difference in the policy outcomes, the
Women's Environment and Development Organisation, WEDO, undertook a review of
women's representation in major global financial institutions - the World Bank,
the World trade Organisation [WTO] and the International Monetary fund [IMF].
We knew that women were severely under-represented at the top levels of these
institutions, but even we were shocked by the magnitude of this
under-representation.
At the IMF only 2.2% of the governors are women and women occupy only 2 of
the 24 Board of Director seats. The World bank hardly fares any better at the
top levels with women comprising 5.5% of the governors but occupying none of the
24 Board of Director seats.
Despite repeated enquiries, the WTO could not provide any comparable data.
What we do know is that the 159 trade policy experts selected in 1998 for the
WTO roster of dispute - the body that settles trade related agreements - 147
were men and only 12 were women.
In political decision- making -where worldwide, women currently hold a 13%
combined average of seats in national legislatures - women have been slowly
gaining ground in national parliaments and increasing their numbers in local
government. This is the result of very systematic and targeted structural
reforms such as political party and government quotas, and NGO training programs
and work shop policies. All of these developments have been effective in
bringing more women into government.
But despite these gains women continue to be largely absent from the economic
decision-making positions of their governments. Worldwide there are only 28
female ministers holding economy-related portfolios - Finance, Economics, Trade,
Development Industry and Agriculture. Women are more likely to be concentrated
in the so-called soft domains such as Education and Health, Social Affairs and
Human resources.
What are the consequences of male domination in the economic arena?
Women's interests, concerns and experiences are often rendered invisible or
inadequately voiced in decision making , effectively excluding them from key
decisions that effect the lives of their families and communities. It also means
that the majority of the monetary, financial and trade policies being
implemented world-wide including Structural adjustment programs - are gender
blind, resulting in serious economic costs to a society as a whole.
Marginalised
But even though women are marginalised from economic decision making
processes they still have found ways.
Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women [CEDAW], a legally binding instrument adopted in
1979 and currently ratified by over 168 countries, stipulates that State Parties
shall take all appropriate measures to ensure that women are on an equal terms
with men. This includes the right to representation and participation at all
levels and in all spheres of public and political life.
Article 13 of the same document calls for measures to eliminate
discrimination against women in economic and social arenas, including equal
rights to family benefits, bank loans and other forms of financial credit.
Article 14 focuses on the particular problems of rural women and the
significant roles they play in the economics of their families.
The Beijing Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 by 189 countries, calls for
the involvement of women in both economic and social development, and the full
and equal participation of women and men as agents and beneficiaries of
people-centred sustainable development.
UN Review
At the UN review of the Beijing platform five years later, governments agreed
that all economic policies and institutions should adopt a gender perspective [para
53] and pledged to mainstream a gender perspective into key macro economic and
social policies and national development programs [para 73a].
They are also committed "to take effective measures to address the
challenges of globalisation, including through the enhanced and effective
participation of developing countries in the international economic policy
decision making process in order to guarantee the equal participation of
women" [para 101a].
More recently, in the process leading up to the Financing for Development
conference that was held last March 2002, women have been working together to
ensure women's concerns were made visible in the negotiations.
Women's groups are also applying pressure to the international financial
institutions from the outside. For example, Women's Eyes on the World Bank, a
global network of gender advocates created at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing,
has pushed the World Bank to incorporate gender equity goals and strategies its
lending program.
One positive result has been the establishment of an External Gender
Consultative Group to assist in the design and implementation of gender
policies. And recently the World Bank has elevated gender to the level of Sector
Board, placing it on par with issues such as finance, energy, health, poverty
and environment.
But much more needs to be done. In the same way feminist activists have
promoted quotas to increase the number of women in political decision-making,
many are now advocating for a similar approach to ensure that women occupy
enough economic decision-making positions to be able to make a difference.
Where quotas have brought more women into government the results have been
positive for the entire community. In India, for example, in the seven years
since a 33 % quota was applied at local level the human side of development has
been emphasised more strongly.
"Women are asking for drinking water, health centres and primary schools
…not municipality buildings or big roads".
Doris Mpoumou is WEDO's Gender and Governance Program Associate.
Source: News and Views Back to Top
Basilan: the next Afghanistan
Report of the International Peace Mission to Basilan, Philippines
By Lee Rhiannon, Greens MP
At the end of March I joined an international Peace Mission, organised by a
number of Philippine groups to investigate the plans of the US administration to
open up a second front against the so-called war on terror. Below are excerpts
from this report prepared by the International Peace Mission. If you would like
to receive a copy of the full report ph. - 02 9230 3551 or email - Lee.rhiannon@parliament.nsw.gov.au
In February this year, US military troops began arriving in the southern
Philippines island province of Basilan ostensibly for routine training exercises
with the Philippine military. Basilan is the site of intensified military
operations against Abu Sayyaf, a kidnap for ransom bandit group, according to
some, or an extremist Islamic movement linked to Osama bin Laden, according to
the US.
Us officials have been quoted as saying that the special forces are in
Basilan to wipe out a terrorist cell connected to the Al Qaeda network. The
exercises are unlike any other previously conducted: they will be held in actual
combat sites and they will last for longer than six months, with an option to
extend to a year. It has been the largest deployment of US troops yet since
Afghanistan.
Because of these circumstances, Basilan has been called in a mainstream media
as the "second front" in the US' war against terrorism. US Senator Sam
Brownback called the Philippines "the next target after Afghanistan."
Fearing that what befell Afghanistan will now happen to Basilan, a group of
scholars, parliamentarians, civil society leaders, and human rights activists
coming from 10 countries were constituted to form a 16 member international
peace mission.
From March 23 to 28, the mission went around Basilan, Zamboanga City and
Cotabato City to look into allegations of human rights violations committed by
the Philippine military and to asses the impact of the US' involvement on the
unresolved separatist struggle in the area. After talking to scores of local
residents, government officials, and military officers, the mission reached
three main conclusions:
Human rights abuses
First, there is strong evidence that the Philippine military is committing
serious human rights violations against civilians. Second, there are consistent
credible reports that the military and the provincial government are coddling
the Abu Sayyaf. Hence, merely intensifying military action will not work to
solve the problem. Finally. There is no valid justification for the US presence.
It is provocative and may only ignite a bigger war. Because of the Philippine
government's adamant refusal to acknowledge the human rights violations
committed by the military and its obstinate endorsement of the military
solution, a more concerted and more focused international mediation is urgent
and necessary.
The members of the International Peace Mission went to Basilan alarmed by
reports that its citizens were being subjected to military abuses and afraid
that the presence of American troops would further heighten the tension and
escalate the conflict in the region. The members of the mission disembarked on
the island concerned that it would become in the words of a US senator,
"the next Afghanistan,"
They were even more worried when they out. First, the evidence of human
rights violations perpetrated by the military cannot be conveniently and
convincingly be brushed aside. Despite the vehement denial of the government,
the mission actually met and talked with people who claimed to have been
arrested without warrants or tortured while in detention. The mission
interviewed widows who said their husbands were extra judicially executed. The
mission talked with families who will be evicted from their lands.
The last thing that the mission can say after having returned from Basilan is
that reports of human rights violations there proved to be unfounded. The peace
mission is worried that with its blanket denial policy, the government will not
only turn a blind eye to the victims, it will also do nothing to alleviate their
condition and do nothing to prevent more violations. With this, the mission is
worried that the Abu Sayyaf will grow even larger in numbers as human rights
abuse victims eventually sign up for membership.
Fresh recruits
For every civilian that the military arbitrarily arrests or tortures are
several more fresh recruits for the Abu Sayyaf. Second, allegations of close
cooperation between the hunter and hunted were backed up by the testimonies of
dozens of witnesses with nothing to gain by coming out except serious threats to
their lives.
They narrated a clear tale of connivance between the military, the local
government and the Abu Sayyaf. Military officers and local politicians are said
to be supplying guns to the Abu Sayyaf, informing them of attack details,
ignoring them when they pass through checkpoints, and ensuring that they escape
whenever they are cornered.
Since the start of the training exercises, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
[MILF] has been monitoring the movement of US military personnel in the
mainland. They are convinced that the US military plans to construct a port in
General Santos City. With the US' deeply felt presence in Mindanao, there are
apprehensions that the domestic armed conflicts in the region will acquire
international dimension and eventually blow up to a bigger war. In this
scenario, the Philippines will become a base for a long- term war waged by the
US against its enemies, whoever it may deem to be.
In this scenario, Basilan, long a stranger to peace, will meet a kind of war
it has never known before. In the end, the civilian government's passive
endorsement of the military's active complicity is more atrocious than the
gruesome acts, which they indirectly allow the Abu Sayyaf to perpetrate.
Back to Top
It is a War of Genocide
Excerpts from a statement issued by the Head of the General Palestinian
Delegation to Australia on Israel's aggression towards Palestine and the
Palestinian people.
"Sharon imposed a total curfew, cut water and electricity supplies to
most Palestinian cities and villages, prohibited ambulances and fire brigades to
assist with the evacuation of the wounded who were left to bleed and rounded up
and arrested thousands of people. Israel expelled all media personnel from the
Palestinian territories in order to commit its crimes in darkness. Reports came
through of people digging mass graves to bury their dead because of the large
number of victims.
"Israel's war crimes against the entire Palestinian nation have turned
their cities, and refugee camps into concentration camps. They even opened fire
on ambulances belonging to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, The
international Red Crescent and the United Nations as well as the Geneva
Convention, which must be unreservedly condemned by the international community
and the Australian government.
"Israel's Prime Minister General Sharon bloody incursions into
Palestinian cities has proved, once again, without a doubt that his real
intention is to force a military solution to the Palestinian question.
" The suicidal bombings which were strongly condemned by the Palestinian
National Authority [PNA] had nothing to do the pre-planned Israeli offensive. It
is not only Israelis that are being killed, Palestinians are also being killed
on a daily basis - five Palestinians have been killed to every one Israeli in
the last 19 months including 235 Palestinian children.
This offensive is part of Sharon's military plans which he named Operation
Rolling Down and Operation Uranide [which is Hebrew for hell] aiming to achieve
his real objective of destroying the peace process, as well as the
democratically - elected PNA.
"Crews of the F-16s, Apache helicopters and tanks have been shooting
missiles and "fireballs of hell" in cold blood on Palestinian
civilians in their homes , who were going about their daily lives in their
cities and villages, are pushing Palestinians to blow themselves up together
with their enemy as a form of retaliation because Israel's atrocities have made
their lives an unbearable hell and they do not have F-16s or any other means to
defend themselves or their children.
"The main difference between these cowardly air crews of death and
terror and the human bombs is that the former take their orders from the Israeli
Prime Minister General Sharon and the later take their orders from the
Palestinian underground and opposition groups.
"Sharon's response to the Arab peace proposal and goodwill gesture of an
outstretched hand for a just peace, has exposed the true face of Israel; Israel
is not interested nor serious in making peace, based on justice, with its
neighbours.
'President Arafat's repeated announcement of the PNA,s cease-fire and his
calls for the implementation of the Tenet plan and Mitchell recommendations has
also been met with rejection from Sharon's government.
"The recent statement by Sharon that "the Palestinians have to be
hit hard, they have to be beaten" as well as expressing "regret"
that he promised the US administration not "to harm [President Yasser]
Arafat" as was reported in an interview with the Israeli newspaper Yediot
Aharanot, exposes Sharon's criminal intention for the whole world to see'
"The US must shoulder its responsibility for the aggression and war
crimes Sharon has conducted with American weapons and approval.
"President Bush's claim that Israel has the right to defend itself is
overlooking the fact Israel is a brutal occupier and has no right to be in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip. Nor does it have the right to dispossess, oppress and
deny Palestinians their right to self-determination and statehood. No country is
allowed to invade and occupy another country, oppress its resistance and claim
that it is there to defend itself.
"The US has inflicted severe harm and undermined its credibility and
confidence as an arbitrator by its blatant biased stand towards Israel. More so
it has severely damaged stability in the Middle East and the world over.
"Israel's leaders have learnt nothing from their history with the
Palestinian people.
"They will not be able to bring the Palestinians to their knees no matter
how fascist and criminal their policies are.
"Security is achieved through peace and peace through justice and
justice through the Palestinian people's full achievement of their human and
national rights.
"Immediate action must be taken to halt Israel's assaults and war of
genocide in the occupied territories and force Israel to end its 34 years of
brutal occupation.
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