Cutting the Queue

"We don't want to develop a reputation of having a two-tier immigration system - one tier for legal, law-abiding immigrants who patiently wait to come to the country, and a second tier who seek to come through the back door, typically through the asylum system. We need to do a much better job of shutting the back door of immigration for those who seek to abuse that asylum system."

- Canada's Immigration Minister Jason Kenney read from the same script as the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. -


Australia (and the rest of the world) stood by and watched (ignored) the genocide of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka for about twenty years. A colleague of mine, Tamil born, began to actively protest the war. The genocide of his people. At first, I thought it a bit strange, a war in Sri Lanka? What's he talking about... The war had gone on so long that the media stopped reporting it. Not only because of the length of time (and loss of public interest) but also becuase of the media black out the Sri Lanka government held over the country. The media had nothing to report, and so didn't. The war was ended in the middle of this year... the Sri Lanka government won, apparently killing the Tamil Tigers leader, and keeping the Tamil people in refugee (prison) camps. All those 'stray' bombs that landed on these camps had nothing to do with the governmetn (apparently). With the war ended, so did the media coverage. Until now, when suddenly the great wash decends on our hallowed shores. People seeking a place to live, so that they dont become a number on the list of victims of the Sir Lankan armies tally. And we, the 'chosen' are saying 'NO!'.

Why? What gives us the right - invaders and land takers from the beginning - to say No to these people who are starving, who are living in squalor and filth, with no medical care, no homes, no humanity!

I understand there is a process, you have to apply for citizenship, you have to go on a waiting list. But, a person coming from Britain, with skills, money and experience, is more likely to call Australia home before a person from Sri Lanka, who has no 'skills' or money. Who only has the clothes on their back, and their family, or what is left of it.

Australia and the rest of the world stood by and watched. Now they are seeing the results of the catastrophe affecting their way of life. I think some sort of pennance is due.