 www.araustralia.org |
Alternative Radio (Aust.) PO Box 780 Morwell Victoria 3848 Australia tel. 61-3-5134-8556 mob. 61-413-597-828 inquiries@araustralia.org |
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www.araustralia.org |
Alternative Radio (Aust.) PO Box 780 Morwell Victoria 3848 Australia tel. 61-3-5134-8556 mob. 61-413-597-828 inquiries@araustralia.org |
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Many will argue that September 11th 2001 saw the most destructive act in living memory. However, for those with an historical understanding, the events of that day, were just another outcome of the unfolding human tragedy that war, unequal distribution of resources and Western imperialist attitudes bring. For many here in Australia, the changes we are seeing to national security laws and threats to individual freedom, began not in the sky's of a nation 1/2 a world away, but in the waters just to our north some three weeks earlier. On August 26th 2001 the Norwegian registered cargo Vessel, the Tampa, answered a distress signal as is required under international maritime law. The Captain, Arne Rinner, and his crew made their way to a sinking Indonesian ferry overloaded with 438 refugee women, children and men who were attempting to reach the Australian coast. Once the Tampa had picked up his cargo of human misery Captain Rinner set sail for the Australian territory of Christmas Island. On August 27th he was officially refused entry into Christmas Island port. From that point on, the event that we now call the "Tampa Incident" became and remains a focus on the plight of innocent people trying to flee the ravages of brutality in their home countries.
Marcus Einfeld, AO, QC, PhD, has long been an advocate for human rights, justice and law reform. He has served as a Justice of the Supreme Court in three Australian jurisdictions and has been a Federal Court Judge. He was Australia's UN Ambassador for Children and was the Foundation President of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Marcus Einfeld delivered the 9th Eleanor Shaw Lecture on the first anniversary of the so-called 'Tampa Incident'. ** CD or Cassette only |