Bruce

You're clearly more compassionate than most of us OLO typers. You also lived in a genuine Police State and did something about it.

There is info about the al Jenabi case here http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/people-smuggler-takes-bid-to-court/2007/09/14/1189276987656.html but I still don't really know what he and his family were seeking refuge from. I can imagine though that Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Gaza and Lebanon may all be seen as places for refugees to flee from because they all suffer mass violence, tribal, religious and ethnic clashes - as they have throughout history.

I reckon there should be no blanket exemptions for people smugglers. They should be judged on their motivations, treatment of the refugees they smuggled and according to other transparent legal criteria.

Its interesting that the al Jenabi case may not be resolved until after the Election. It seems that formal Kev's notoriety doesn't need any more exposure.

Pete

Fascinating - coincidentally, I'm listening to Bruce on ABC Local Radio right now, on the 'Conversation Hour'.

You're a legend, Bruce :) A pity that our current government apparently isn't being advised by people of your calibre and decency any more. Or if they are, the advice is falling on deaf ears.

This is the problem with societies all over the world which do not have to deal with an imminent danger affecting our families. Let's face it what would we do nor not do if confronted with the same problems. A family in peril and an offer to take them to safety. Would we just do nothing because we would not do anything to rock the boat? or would we try to get our family out of danger? I think it is not so simple as politicians would have us believe, namely to just wait in line like so many others because it is the 'right','correct' way to do things....Well this is why so many Jews and a lot of their helpers perished during WWII. Who are we to stand judgment over our fellow human beings when the only thing they want is a better life for their families and themselves? No it is not easy at all. And all of those who can foresee without any doubt how they would react if confronted with the same problems, I say they will not know until they are confronted with the situation. Who knows maybe a great number of Australians will be in a similar situation soon if the drought does not break.

Bruce

What you did in South Africa was highly commendable.
Hopwever there is at least two major differences between what you did and what Ali Al Jenebi did.

You didn't transverse other countries in getting your refugees to safety. That complied with international laws and agreements. How many safe haven countries did the the smugglers transverse in getting their refugees from Iraq to Australia?

Ali Al Jenabi took money for his people smuggling activities.

Apparently our independant courts found he did in fact do far more than you.

Torpe

There is more a peril of people arriving from China than an exodus of Australians for the chances are China will in this decade suffer a massive shortage of water and consquently grain. Chances are it will rain again in Australia soon but even rain is unlikely to restore China's dwindling and overused underground water supply.

Thanks for the positive comments.
The intention is to get the brave and enterprising Ali out of Villawood.
Some of the people who left South Africa at that time stayed in neighbouring countries to be closer to family, political activity, etc.,but it was dangerous because the SAP could get at them such as the murder of Ruth First and Jenny Curtis and her baby. Raids across the border into Maseru the capital of Lesotho by the SAP in 1982 killed 42 members of the ANC.

Many people who left SA only stayed a short while in neighbouring countries before moving to third and fouth countries. Most often this was in order to gain a good education or to better uitilise the skills they had.

If refugees are to be convinced to stay at home address the cause of the problem, such as the TNI, Mugabe, the war lords in Sudan and Afghanistan. Australians are pretty lucky if they don't like John Howard and they save some money they can get a passport and job and leave. That option is not available to most of the victims of terror and famine which have the same cause, military and/or financial oppression.
Bruce Haigh

While the author's motives are good, his actions are those of the vigilante.

Taking the law into your own hands while it has popular support, will eventually run foul of the authorities, who are commissioned to apply the law and not interpret it.

While author might have committed his actions on a pro bono basis I doubt al Jenabi did so.

Most laws are unfair to someone somewhere (as I can attest after a similar discussion with a policeman over the definition of stopping at a stop sign). Leaving the interpretation of the law up to all is the slippery slope to anarchy.

Al Jenabi has only himself to blame for his predicament. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.