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AFRICAN MIGRANTS

Thoughts and Reflections on African Migration and Settlement in Australia.

Monday, June 27, 2005

The Other Side of the Brain Drain

The decision by the Australian government to grant permanent resident status to successful overseas students has brought enormous benefits to the country; increasing the nation’s human resource base.

This is one of the best decisions this government has ever made!

In fact, the policy is so successful that the number of applicants for permanent residency in Australia has doubled since the program came into being in 2001.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Angelic Voices

The Watoto Children’s Choir from Uganda is now touring Australia to raise awareness of the AIDS crisis in Africa. All members of the group have lost both their parents to HIV/AIDS pandemic.

While in Australia, the children will perform free concerts in numerous venues. And their angelic voices will be heard at the Grange Baptist church in South Australia on June 24.

The choir will entertain the Australian audience with traditional African tribal rhythms and dance, before moving on to New Zealand and Singapore.

Monday, June 20, 2005

Australian Citizenship Ceremony

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) is conducting a special Australian citizenship ceremony to mark the World Refugee Day. And I am extremely delighted to report that refugees from a diverse group of countries will be conferred with the Australian citizenship.

The event will be held at the Migrant Resource Centre in Adelaide, South Australia. And light refreshments will be provided, to celebrate this unique occasion.

Saturday, June 18, 2005

A Victory for the Reformers

A significant shift in electoral sentiments in Australia has led to some changes in the country’s policy of mandatory detention of asylum-seekers and refugees.

Indeed, this is a big win for the freedom lovers and the advocates of policy change from within the ruling Liberal Party in Australia.

And, if the editorial writers in this country are to be believed, the Labor opposition has had a big win too; forcing the Prime Minister, John Howard, into a spectacular surrender on important aspects of mandatory detention policy.

Thus, under the new policy measures just announced, families with children will be allowed to live in the Australian community while their claims are considered by the bureaucrats.


For more on this story, read: http://africanrefugees.blogspot.com

Friday, June 10, 2005

Freedom for the Stateless

Australia’s longest serving detainee, Peter Qasim has experienced the sweet taste of freedom, of sorts, after almost seven years behind the razor wire.

Peter, a stateless asylum seeker, has been transferred from the Baxter detention centre to the Glenside psychiatric hospital in South Australia.

His Australian supporters tend to believe that this is a clear indication that Peter’s mental state had deteriorated sharply after being locked up for almost a quarter of his life.

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Detainees Revisited

Refugees and asylum-seekers are still languishing in Australian prisons. But change is in the offing.

There are signs that the Prime Minister, John Howard, might yield a little bit to the opposition forces from within his own party and initiate a change of policy direction.

He might even consider a plan by the rebel MPs to release long-term detainees; including women and children from Australia’s immigration detention centres.


www.theaustralian.com.au


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