Baptists oppose offshore and mandatory detention

MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
29 November 2011
Baptists oppose offshore and mandatory detention

The National Council of Australian Baptist Ministries has urged the federal government to process claims for refugee status within 90 days, and called on churches to oppose mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees.

The National Chair of Australian Baptist Ministries, Rev Dr John Beasy, announced the policy which was adopted at a National Council meeting held in Melbourne on November 23.

In the wide-ranging statement, ABM urged the Gillard government to place all child asylum seekers in appropriate community care while their claims for refugee status were assessed, and to cease the practice of sending unaccompanied minors to third countries.

The statement called on all Australians to oppose xenophobia and discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, culture and religion, and challenged Australian politicians to demonstrate their moral convictions and to exercise non-partisan leadership in debates on immigration and refugee policy.

The new policy also called on the federal government to increase Australia's refugee intake over the next five years.

The ABM National Council encouraged its more than 900 member churches to oppose both offshore and mandatory detention of asylum seekers and refugees, to extend hospitality to asylum seekers and refugees, and to freely share with those in need.

Media contact Rod Benson 0412 421 678



Rev Rod Benson

Ethicist & Public Theologian

Tinsley Institute (Morling College)

M 120 Herring Rd, Macquarie Park NSW 2113 P 02 9878 0201 F 02 9878 2175 M 0412 421 678 E rodb@morling.edu.au W http://www.morling.nsw.edu.au/tinsley_institute/public_theology/

Siev-X Art Exhibition

Siev-X was a boat that went down with many women and child refugees drowned some 10 years ago. An exhibition in the State Library, Brisbane commemorates this tragedy. Click on the photo to see my Picasa Web Album of this exhibition.

The toll rises: Christians need to find their voice.

The toll rises: Christians need to find their voice.

As Christians, we need to stand up for the widow, the orphan, the displaced, the refugee. We have embraced those affected by floods in our own land, but there are people in Pakistan and Solomon Islands (just two places from personal knowledge) living in tents after floods or tsunami. We also have refugees on our doorstep who need our care, and they are suffering mental anguish and breakdown in sub-human mandatory detention centres. The following from Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition in Australia highlights the severity of the situation. I believe Christ would have us do something to at least advocate for these people by lobbying our local members.


Steve B.
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DARWIN TURNS TOXIC AS SELF-HARM/ATTEMPTED SUICIDE TOLL KEEPS RISING.
TIME TO END MANDATORY DETENTION

Two serious self harm/suicide attempts in one day have rocked the
Darwin detention centre.

On Monday, 17 October, two Kurdish asylum seekers both in their early
20s attempted suicide in the space of five hours, between 12.30 and
5.00pm. Both are believed to be have been in detention around 20
months. Both are believed to have been rejected and are now waiting
for a Federal Magistrates Court hearing.

The two incidents follow another hanging attempt only three days ago.
The welfare of the two men is not known. But asylum seekers inside the
detention had grave fears for both the men, one of whom was rushed to
hospital with severe bleeding.

“It is only a matter of time before there is a catastrophe in the
Darwin detention centre,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the
Refugee Action Coalition, “Only a week ago there were another three
incidents and that is only what we know about.

“The despair in the Darwin detention centre has turned toxic. There is
no duty of care – only damage control. Serco and the immigration
department are incapable of providing a safe environment for anyone.
Asylum seekers are finding it impossible to cope with an environment
in which self-harm and attempted suicide is a daily occurrence.

“The Minister has admitted that he has the power to use bridging visas
to get asylum seekers out of detention. There is no excuse for waiting
any longer. Darwin is desperate for a solution.

“Mandatory detention is not a deterrent. It is a form of systematic
abuse. Refugee advocates have been calling for human rights observers
to be placed in the detention centres for months. The need for some
independent oversight is obvious and even more obvious, is the need to
close the hell-holes.”

For more information contact Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

Opportunity to learn more about refugees and make friends in these circles...