Monday, March 27, 2006

Are we surprised? Sudden Compassion from DIMIA


From ABC News online:

African athletes granted bridging visas

You silly, silly boat people - instead of fleeing persecution and famine with the clothes you stood up in, you should have donned your Nikes, grabbed a cricket bat (or soccer ball, or anything vaguely sporty) and come to Australia as athletes. Would have saved you years in Woomera.
What can I say? That I'm disgusted? (nothing DIMIA does can disgust me anymore).
That I'm angry? (not really - these people may actually have a case).
That I'm not surprised?(got it in one).
I just hope somebody - anybody - sees the total irony in this litte episode.
Australia deported an Iranian and a Columbian back to their death. Australia drove one detaineee to suicide in detention. Australia, with smirking Ruddock righteousness, has ground the lives of young children into the dust. But oh - if you're an athlete...
Photo op for Honest John.
But what about our relationship with Sierra Leone? Oops - not a big trading partner. Don't worry about it.

"The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs has granted bridging visas to six Sierra Leonean athletes found this morning in Sydney's north.
The bridging visas will allow the athletes time to apply for long term visas.
Another eight Sierra Leoneans are still listed as missing and are in breach of their special purposes visas after their athlete accreditations, provided for the Commonwealth Games, were withdrawn yesterday.
Team officials asked yesterday for their accreditation to be withdrawn.
Police are also searching for nine Cameroon athletes, a Tanzanian boxer and a Bangladeshi runner."

Damn, they're all heart.

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