RISE (Refugee Survivors and Ex-detainees) is highly critical of ABC's Four Corners report on people smuggling which aired on Monday 4 June, 2012 in its failure to address the most pressing aspects of the issue of refugees and asylum seekers. We condemn ABC's obvious descent into the fear-mongering and dog-whistling around this issue that has been indicative of Australian politics since mandatory detention was instated as official policy, and perhaps well before that when White Australia was the state's prerogative.
Criminalising smuggling, which is the narrative this report chooses to contribute to, cannot and does not prevent the free movement of people, particularly in the current climate of global financial instability, food scarcity and war. Millions of people are forcibly displaced from their homes due to factors such as persecution, war, state terror and natural disasters. In the search for a safe life for themselves and their loved ones, people will move to escape these circumstances. Opposing "smuggling" - a means through which people travel to ensure their safety and well-being - is to take a position against refugees and asylum seekers.
Rather than focusing on this non-issue, ABC could have taken a more productive and critical look at *why* people are fleeing their circumstances in the first place. The Four Corners report could have looked into political and economic arrangements between Australia and some of the countries from which people have been forced to leave - Australia's complicity in atrocities in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka has been documented. In short, it could have taken a more journalistically honest and thorough look at the environment that allows an industry like smuggling to work.
Statement issued 6th June
Comments
Economic asylum seeking have some manners "No gate crashers"
Australia is a Island at the bottom of the Globe all by it's self (take a look at a map if you don't believe me)People from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka pass through many countries that are safe for them, but they elect not to seek refuge in Many of these countries and elect to put their lives and the lives of their families at risk by taking voyages on boats that are dangerous and not fit to sail to Australia, do they do this for Political asylum and the safety of their families? No! of course not it is for economic Asylum and Greed for money that's not how it works.That is *why* people are passing through many countries that are safe haven's for them,the greed of money not safety!
How do you know?
How do you know any of this? It doesn't look like you've researched it.
My impression is that you are just parrotting what the disgusting, biased shockjocks and Murdoch media hacks are heaping on you.
You have to ask yourself what it really is that you don't like about people coming in.
Could it be racism? Could it be your fear of Australia changing?
For the record, Australia percentage-wise has one of the lowest refugee intakes. Also for the record, Australia flouts just about every United Nations treaty it has signed up to.
It signs up to look good, then doesn't care a rat's arse what it's supposed to fulfil.
I don't want to live next door to such people
How do you know any of this?Like I said look at the map and count the safe countries these people pass through.
Thats it pull the racist card (Editor removed personal slagging).Everyone is created equal Black ,white ,Green,Orange where the difference lies is in culture.Cultures and People that treat women like shit I have no time for,Men that want their women covered up because they can not control their sexual urges I have no time for,Cultures that stone women and Homosexuals to death are out of control do I want to live next door to these people Fuck no.People who arrange Marriages for their children are animals many young Girls kill themselves because they can not stand the thought of spending the rest of their lives with a man they do not love this is sick,Imaging doing that to your child your own flesh and blood.And that is what goes on in countries like Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.These people flee these countries and come to Australia then hang on to the very culture that wrecked their countries then push there shit on us if you disagree try buying a Bacon burger at a take away in a Muslin or Jewish area I don't need the press to tell me what I see.
You do the research and tell me why the crime rate amongst young African males is so Disproportionate to the population and don't be racist and blame the white man.
I think you need to stop listening to people like the refugee collective of Victoria where we had the President Sue Bolton Argue with Derrin Hinch and say we should let convicted paedopliles into Australia you Do Gooders have lost your marbles and if you think I am going to keep my mouth shut and watch this great country that my fore fathers built and died for get over run by people who do not respect, or want to live like Australians because people of your ilk don't want to see the truth
(Editor removed personal slagging)