Dear Shadow,

I find The Australian's article extremely disturbing
(though not surprising). However, I can't help
but wonder who is supplying these so called -
"European plaudits," concerning
the Coalition's asylum boat turnback policy. And what
kind of information is being supplied to them.
Europeans are concerned with human rights, and with
keeping international laws, and Refugee Conventions
to which they are signatories. I find it hard to
believe that they would approve of Australia's "model,"
without being given the full picture.

I daresay that the Human Rights Commissioner's Report
(Dr Gillian Triggs) into children in detention
has not be made available to them.
Neither has the statistics and information
supplied by Dr Peter Young - who when he supplied the
Immigration Department with his information the Immigration
Department reacted with alarm and asked him to withdraw the
figures.

As you know Dr Peter Young is the doctor responsible fcr the health of
people in detention. He's the most senior figure to condemn
the system from within.

He's made it quite clear that the Immigration Department
deliberately harms vulnerable detainees in a procee akin to
torture.

Dr Young is the chief psychiatrist responsible for the
care of asylum seekers in detention for the past 3 years and he
has accused the Immigration Department of deliberately
inflicting harm on vulnerable people, harm that cannot be
remedied by medical care.

"We have here an environment that is inherently toxic..."
He said.

Dr Peter Young was the Director of mental health for
International Health and Medical Services, the private
contractor that provides medical care to detention centres on
the Australian mainland, Christmas Island, Nauru and Manus
Island. He is the most senior figure ever to condemn the
detention system from within.

He knows what he is talking about.

Before the "European plaudits," applaud Australia's "model,"
for asylum seekers - they really should speak to people
that have experienced that model from within.

cont'd ...

Dear Shadow,

Dr Peter Young has extensively briefed about a system
he says is deliberately harsh, breaking people's health,
costs a fortune, compromises the ethics of doctors and
is intended to place asylum seekers under "strong
coercive pressure," to abandon plans to live in Australia.

"Suffering is the way that is achieved."

Dr Young believes this process is akin to torture.

And The Australian claims that Europeans are applauding
this "model?"

Something's not right!

Dear Shadow,

I've just read that doctors, nurses, teachers, and
social workers have written an open letter to the
government about the "Border Force Act."

It appears that the "Border Force Act," includes
provision for a two year jail sentence for "entrusted
persons," (such as doctors, nurses, teachers, and social
workers) if they speak out about the deplorable state of
human rights in immigrant detention without the express
permission of the Minister for Immigration and Border
Protection.

This as the letter makes clear strengthens the wall of secrecy
which prevents public scrutiny.

Do you still believe that the Immigration authorities are
being honest not only with us but the Europeans as well?

Foxy,

SM would have you believe Australia is lauded world-wide for its cruelties.

But what's this?

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jul/03/australian-detention-centre-secrecy-laws-condemned-by-world-medical-body?CMP=share_btn_tw

"The World Medical Association has condemned new secrecy laws in Australian detention centres, and called on the prime minister, Tony Abbott, to amend the new laws to allow medical staff to speak out about the healthcare of asylum seekers."

"World Medical Association president Dr Xavier Deau and chair Dr Ardis Hoven have now written to Abbott, saying the new act silences physicians who raise concerns about health conditions for asylum seekers.

The letter says: “This we must assume extends to doctors working in refugee centres who report on their observations arising from their work.

“This is in striking conflict with basic principles of medical ethics. Physicians have to raise their voice, if necessary publicly, when health conditions of their patients, be those free or in detention, are unacceptable. From the incoming reports we must assume that this is the case in the detention centres under the responsibility of the Australian government. We applaud and support those colleagues who advocate for their patients and speak out.”

"Deau added: “This is effectively an attempt by the Australian government to gag physicians by making their advocacy for the healthcare of asylum seekers in Australian detention camps a criminal offence. Such a procedure is not acceptable”."

Bloody activists!

Dearest Foxy,

Yes, and if we could get back to topic, one way to avoid those tragedies that you describe is to stop the boats by paying crews to take ships straight back to Indonesia. No more passengers. No more boats. End of process.

No more deaths at sea.

No more people locked away in remote detention camps.

No more children suffering in those remote island locations.

No more suicides.

No more abuse.

Thank you, Mr. Abbott :)

Now we can get back to pushing for an increased refugee quota, and and orderly processing of applications.

I was talking on the bus yesterday to a lovely woman from Ethiopia, a TAFE student: we had been talking about Kiswahili, which she knew quite well. From seventeen years in a refugee camp in Kenya.

Seventeen years. All her years of youth, this lovely woman with a beautiful laugh, I had to stop myself from hugging her. But she had done all the right things, and waited. Could she have afforded to pay a smuggler ? I don't think so.

That's the refugee reality, Foxy. People parked out of the way for seventeen years. Beautiful people, out of sight. People with as much rights to a good and happy life as you and me.

Love always,

Joe

Dear Poirot,

Thanks for that.

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

WFYB!