Like it or not, Bruce, the Tamil Tigers are listed as a terrorist organization by 32 countries.

The Sri Lankan government did, in fact, negotiate with the Tigers, although I would question how much anyone would want to negotiate with the violent radicals who, among other stirling achievements, pioneered the tactic of suicide bombing, recruited child soldiers and carried out civilian massacres and a series of assassinations.

I would likewise question the wisdom of our nation offering asylum to such fine folk when there are plenty of genuine refugees waiting patiently in line.

You know, normally when someone suggests 'leadership' in an issue like this, they really only mean "They should let them in" or occasionally "they should kick them out"- in otherwords, when someone demands "leadership" they usually only mean that the government should do what -I- want.

But suggestions to try to make Tamil land arable again was at least a nice surprise.

I don't get what the briefly mentioned point of "education" about "what it means to be a refugee" is supposed to imply though.
Educating who? Kids in schools? TV Viewers during ad breaks?

Bruce,

I couldn't agree more. Clear, concise and both eyes on the problem.

On this site you maybe labeled as an extreme Left Wing loony for actually suggesting the absolute heresy of not believing in 'fortress Australia' and simplistic answers.
One should note your background as it clearly shows you are in a better position to understand the causal factors to refugees and international politics involved.

Clownfish.

The value of your response hinges on your definition of negotiation.
In reality it was akin to Irsael's 'negotiation' with the Palestinians.
The IRA, Gandhi's organization, Fretin etc all declared terrorist organization and Zionist's weren't yet their tactics were.

Do I mention we gave sanctuary to OPM (West Papuan Independence) people.

One man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. The west doesn't have a good record choosing sides. Ho Chi Mihn, Saddam Husein, the shah of Iran, the Saudis.

*The Australian Government needs to begin an education program within Australia on what it means to be an asylum seeker and refugee.*

Bruce, I think the Australian people are well aware of those
downtrodden refugees in refugees camps, commonly women and children.

Yet 90% of boatpeople seem to be healthy and fit 20 something year
old males. Hardly the destitute.

We all know about the treatment of women in Afghanistan. How
many females from Afghanistan arrive on boats?

Get real dude, you are being conned by aspirational economic
migrants, who are grabbing their chance when they see it.

Push and pull factors are involved in all this.

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/migration-the-true-story-20091101-hrjq.html

.

examinator, arguing that "hey, those guys do it too!" is not a satisfactory response.

Even leaving aside the fairly broad agreement that the Tamil Tigers are a terrorist organization, the fact remains that they were responsible for those dreadful deeds. Or does suicide bombing not fit your definition of terrorism?

Even Bruce Haigh seems to concede in this article, that the LTTE are terrorists; he just seems to think that we need to "understand" them better.

The fact also remains that, in good faith or not, the Sri Lankan government did indeed negotiate with the LTTE.

If only Rudd could have overcome his arrogance and left the Howard Government's policy on illegals in place.

As it turns out, we have had more illegals arrive here in the time the Rudd government has been in the hot seat than we had in the previous 7 years. Rudd is incapable of "leadership" on this matter because he put out an open invitation to all and sundry to rock up and be accepted.

He thought he was being "tough" when he sent the customs ship to Indonesia, and for several weeks - and continuing - the illegal Tamils have made a fool of him. The right decision would have been to take them back to Sri Lanka, but no, Mr. Smarty Pants thought of the "Indonesian solution", and the Indonesians told him where to put it.

Rudd has fallen flat on his grinning face, and most of the Tamil separists will probably end up living in Australia, as they wanted.

"Rudd" and "leader" is an oxymoron.