Hi plantagenet, I agree with you.

However I was not referring to the boats but rather the attitudes previously expressed that we are under no obligation to help these people, whether they be on a boat or in their own country. It was expressed that "after all the money and other aid that has been thrown at them for decades without result". I suggest that we at least keep trying to help, otherwise the result will be that these countries will produce ever more refugees.

Their countries' failures today will put pressure on our country tomorrow. If we are to keep them wanting to stay at home, then we should at least try and help make their homes more comfortable to live in

The Philippines is a developing nation with a multitude of problems and very few practical solutions. But the govt here has said that in principle it is willing to accept a certain number of Rohynga boat people refugees - even if they are 'undocumented' - out of its obligations under international law and because it is morally right to do so.

Under previous President Manuel Quezon, they accepted about 1,300 Jewish refugees in the 1930s out of a well-founded fear of persecution.

Pray tell me, how many did Australia accept?

Hi Bugsy

Re: "I suggest that we at least keep trying to help, otherwise the result will be that these countries will produce ever more refugees."

Of course there are different ways to help.

1. We could take in boat refugees with open arms. Thus encouraging more boats and more drowning, while effectively boosting people smuggling business who in turn pay-off government officials who kickout more minorities making for more refugees.

2. Australia could (as it is doing) join Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand in politically pressuring supposedly Buddhist Burma-Myanmar not to be so heartless as to force Muslim Rohingyas out of Burma at gunpoint

3. All those countries could (and are) reminding Bangladesh not to profit from bribes from people smugglers who fleece Bangladeshi labourers who want a "Better Life", ie economic refugees, mainly wanting to move to Malaysia. Malaysia is crowded but luxury compared with the 170 million in Bangladesh. Malaysia's ruling religion is Islam hence less cultural clashes with Muslim Bangladeshis.

So its rather complicated.

2 and 3 are better than 1. Australia opening its doors or throwing money at people smugglers is more heartless. Those in Africa are more needy - refugees in (high famine, overgrazed) Africa who are usually starving to death inside and outside refugee camps.

Regards

Pete

Bugsy,

Are you addressing me? If so I have to say that I do not get your point that their failure now will be our failure in the future. Perhaps you could expand on it a little. We have been going ahead while they have been going backwards, even with our help and that of other countries. I am intrested in others peoples' points of view, but I like to know what they actually mean.

Yuyutsu,

These people are NOT immigrants, and they are NOT refugees. They are people who don't like where they live; are mainly illiterate in their own language - can't speak the language of the country the are attempting to invade and, in my opinion should be fired on before the get anywhere near the shores of a country which has not invited them.

Unless tough action is taken, we stand to be overrun by useless people who expect to be provided with money, given housing, medical care and all the other benefits our taxes provide. This bleeding heart nonsense must stop or we will eventually in the poor house through no fault of our own.

Dear Ttbn,

<<useless people who expect to be provided with money, given housing, medical care and all the other benefits our taxes provide.>>

Yet, what I repeat over and over on these pages is that although they may expect, THEY WON'T GET IT!

Yes, they should not be stopped, but if their boats somehow manage to make the journey across the oceans without drowning, they would face starvation in the Australian outback - unless of course there are Australians (but not the tax-payer) who are happy to feed them, on their own terms.

We have no moral right to block their entry, BUT we have no obligation to care for them in any way or include them in our society if they do arrive.

Once they know what they can expect if they even manage to survive the journey, much fewer would attempt it.

Somehow my uniquely principled views here seem to be ignored through lack of discrimination and thrown into the same basket of "bleeding heart nonsense".