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10/12/98:NETIPR(REPOSTED)



WRITTEN 11 JUN 99, 6:00AM.

THE NETWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF REFUGEES
****************************************************
10 December 1998.

Grass-roots Human Rights Network for the Protection of Refugees 
within Asia-Pacific Region, including Australia

Name: The Network for International Protection of Refugees (NetIPR)

Structure: (#)
        Patrons: Sr Janet Mead 
        Chairperson: The Rev'd Martin Chittleborough 
        Secretary: Dr U Ne Oo
        Treasurer: Salai Nilian 
        Executive Members: Danny  Connell, David Mathieson, Scott
Litchfield, Juan Garrido
        Members: ( not listed)

Object: The Network will primarily campaign for displaced persons to
receive international protection in accordance with UN refugee
conventions. The Network  will study the root causes of the refugee
movements in Asia-Pacific region as well as the policy responses by the
governments of  the region and international agencies.  

        The Network will  function  purely as a refugee advocacy
network, in contrast to the refugee  support network/groups. It will
take interest in the matters of protecting human rights of the refugees
and displaced persons. The Network will not be involved in matters such
as  the individual casework of refugee. It will not  be engaged in
resettlement/sponsorship of  refugees to Australia. It will primarily be
devoted to responding to government policies, including that of
Australia, with regard to the refugees and displaced persons.

        Though the  Network is not intended to function as a refugee
support network, it will however be engaged in advocating governments
for humanitarian support to the refugees and displaced persons. For
example, the network may advocate the governments to provide
humanitarian support to a group of refugees or displaced persons within
the region.

        The Network  is intended to function at the grassroots level
with the longer-term aim of providing solutions  to the problems of
refugees and displaced people.  Since  refugee problems essentially 
are  human rights problems  with  political  roots,  the policy
coordination between the professional human rights organizations ( such
as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch) and  solidarity groups can
be beneficial to solving  refugee problems. The Network will be
autonomous and independent in its operation, and will not take any
political position on issues beyound the stated objectives.

Assessment for the need: Currently, organization  such as 'Coalition for
Asylum-Seekers' have been doing the advocacy for protection of refugees
in Australia .  The Network will have similar aim in advocating for
refugees and displaced persons within the Asia-Pacific  region. In
addition, the Network will explore and advocate, whenever possible,  for
a  solution  to refugee and displaced people problems. 

        There has been a vacuum for grassroots advocacy as regards
international protection of refugees and displaced people.  Although the
protection of the human rights of refugees will generally fall within
the mandate of  organizations such as Amnesty International, it is not
always the case that AI can act.  A  locally based grassroots group,
with more autonomy and wider political mandate is more appropriate in
advocating for the refugees.

        The ethnic solidarity groups and community organizations often
are not in the best position to act upon refugee protection cases. Most
ethnic solidarity groups often  work closely  with governments
concerning refugees.  They can become dependent upon governments.
Therefore, the solidarity groups are not a good platform to start with
as regards international protection of refugees.

        Therefore, an independent grassroots network focusing on
international protection of refugees can make a  valuable contribution
to this end. 

Membership:     Individuals, social justice and human rights groups, and
international solidarity organizations are invited to join the Network. 
There will be two types of membership: The executive and ordinary 
membership.

        The executive member can be either an individual or a group;
and  must be based in Adelaide, South Australia. The executive members
shall be responsible for setting  the agenda of the campaign.

        Ordinary members can also be individuals  or groups, and may 
reside interstate or overseas. The ordinary members will have the
benefit of having a South Australian based organization, readily linked 
with them and working on  issues in the interest of refugees. Ordinary
members may  also make input in setting agenda for the campaign.

        Both executive and ordinary members are to be involved in
writing letters to governments and international agencies. All members
will receive the newsletter.

Campaign resources: To carry out a campaign, the Network will require
information concerning refugees and displaced persons  within the
Asia-Pacific region. The executive members may do research on the issue
or may solicit materials from other human rights organizations and
solidarity groups.

Procedure for campaigning: Campaign  will mainly involve letter writing
to governments and international agencies, such as the United Nations.
Any of the executive members may initiate a campaign of their interest.
Firstly,  the member may collect the relevent and accurate information
regarding matters of concern. If the executive member decided to act
upon the information, say writing to a government, they must (1) inform
the Secretary and (2) write an embargoed draft letter which should be
sent out to all executive members for their opinion. The executive
members may respond to the initiative.  No response will be considered
as the approval. Any executive member may write on behalf of the
network. The executive members may act on anything that deems to fall
within the objectives of the Network.

Term  and operation of the Network: Tentitively assumed  the term to be 
(2 )  to (2 1/2) years. Campaign should be financed solely by public or
membership support.  Financial support  from  governments  will not be
accepted. All positions within the Network  will be voluntary. Support
is needed for photocopying and mailing. If the Network would like to
extend to an Internet based operation, one energetic  volunteer  will be
required.

Meeting and Publications: 
        regular meeting: Executive members should meet twice a year.
        other meeting: Anytime matters arise.
        publication: hope to produce 2 Newsletters in a year.
Mailing and Photocopying support: Scott Litchfield, Cross Cultural
Ministry Fieldworker, Uniting Church in         Australia. (Any other
groups 
offering  support of this task would be greatly appreciated).
(*) Temporary contact address.        (#) Executive membership are still
pending expansion.
**********
POSTED 13 AUG 99 6:00AM

FOLLOWING IS NET-IPR SUBMISSION TO AUSTRALIAN JOINT STANDING COMMITTE ON
MIGRATION, CONTENT OF WHICH INCLUDE MATTERS CONCERNS ABOUT EAST
TIMORESE REFUGEES AND BOATPEOPLES IN AUSTRALIA,INFO FOR ALL OUR FRIENDS. 
--- REGARDS, U NE OO.
*******************************
Dated: 5 February 1999.

Hon Chris  Gallus
c/o-- Secretary
Joint Standing Committee on Migration
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600.

Dear Hon Chris  Gallus
re: Review of migration regulation 4.31B

As the secretary of NetIPR, I  like to express my concerns about the
Australian Government's introduction of a $1,000 post-decision fee at
the Refugee Review Tribunal to unsuccessful asylum-seekers. I believe
the introduction of such fees  intimidate the asylum-seekers from
pursuing their claim to refugee status at the Refugee Review Tribunal. 
The government's statistics indicate that  the Refugee Review Tribunal
approves a significant percentage of  the applicants, i.e.  70% of the
detained boat people for example, who were not recognised as refugee by 
the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.  
        
I do not share your government's view that all refugee applicants should
have the ability to judge their own claim to refugee status to be 'bona
fide' in Australian legal contexts and, thus, these asylum-seekers
should be penalised when their application is found unsuccessful. Many
of the refugee applicants are  from varying background including those
who cannot speak English.  The refugees, therefore, are in no position
to be able to judge  the Australian legal contexts. At this point, I
express my grave concerns about  your government restricting the
Non-Governmental Organisations, Lawyers and the Human Rights Committee 
contacting  the asylum-seekers, especially   the boat people. 
        
I also like to express my concern about the Australian Government's
treatment of the East Timorese asylum -seekers. The previous Labour
government has  refused  to grant asylum to  approximately 1,400 East
Timorese on the ground that those asylum-seekers are of Portugese
citizenship. Current coalition government is also threatening to
legislate against the East Timorese seeking asylum in Australia. I like
to point out to your committee that those actions and words by the
successive Australian Governments are  violating the spirit of  the UN 
Refugee Convention in protecting refugees. Reports indicate the
Australian Government's introduction of such fee including other
measures to restrict legal assistance have already caused further
hardship and insecurity to the asylum-seekers in Australia, especially
those East Timorese.
        
The Amnesty International in June 1998 reported  the authorities'
continued detention of  three refugee that were granted  protection by 
the Australian government.  I appeal your government for the prompt
release of those recognized refugees who may have been in detention.
        
In closing, I thank you for your kind attention to these matters.

Yours sincerely,
(U Ne Oo)
Secretary
Network for International Protection of Refugees


-- 
HTTP://www.physics.adelaide.edu.au/~uneoo
EMAILS: drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx, uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
POSTMAIL: Dr U Ne Oo, 18 Shannon Place, Adelaide SA 5000, AUSTRALIA
[http://freeburma.org/[http://www.angelfire.com/al/homepageas/index.htm]
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