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Before the mission was established here, the local Aboriginal community of 200 persons was forced to host 1000 convicts from the mainland for eight years. I daresay not all the convicts were easy-going beachcombers.
The Sri Lankan Government has been accused of endangering and killing civilians. The Tamil Tigers have been accused of using civilians as human shields. While the fog of war may be dissipating, media on the ground continue to be stifled.
If we regard asylum seekers as illegals who burn boats to force themselves on us, we might choose to close our doors to them. Rather than criminals, we should regard them as human beings in great need, deserving our respect and compassion.
The military misadventures of nations including Australia contribute greatly to the motivation of asylum seekers. Australian immigration policy must de-emphasise border protection in favour of being a 'good international citizen'.
Hundreds of Australian Tamil people gathered outside Kirribilli to protest the attacks on Tamil civilians in northern Sri Lanka. Not wanting to wake the neighbours, they kept their voices down. But the message was clear: 'Please listen.'
The tragic death of several asylum seekers on a boat while being towed to Christmas Island again shows the dangers for people coming to Australia by boat. But it does not justify a return to the harsh policies of the past.
When it comes to international aid, Australians pride themselves on their generosity. There is a similar dimension to events such as World Youth Day, which play a formative role in the lives of young people from developing countries.
On 28 April 1990, a letter bomb mailed to Michael Lapsley's Harare home destroyed both of his hands and one of his eyes. His life, and 'Healing of Memories' program, proves that it is possible to overcome the trauma of political persecution.
While the reputation of cricket has survived match fixing, doping, secret commissions and money laundering in the past, its status as the gentleman's game appears to be relegated to history. An editorial in Sri Lanka's Daily News asked whether cricket will come to be regulated on the stock market.
Last week, a local Jesuit Refugee Service coordinator in Sri Lanka was killed when his van was blown up by a mine in rebel-held territory, as he was delivering aid to displaced people and orphans. Typically the army and Tamil Tigers blamed each other for the blast, and we are unlikely to discover the truth.
The fate of those who are found not to be refugees, and of those refugees who are not accepted by the United States, will remain one of torment.
Former chief editor of Sri Lanka's Catholic weeklies, Messenger and Gnanartha Pradeepaya. He was Executive Editor of the Hong Kong-based regional Asian Catholic publications UCA News and Asia Focus, before retiring to Brisbane.
85-96 out of 116 results.