Meanwhile, flying high above those perilous boat journeys of the world’s
refugees the Australian Business section reports that: “QATAR
Airways has revealed it is talking to Qantas about a strategic partnership it
says would allow it to increase its presence in Australia and give Qantas
better access to Europe.” (July 5, 2012).
Since the start of modernity the
differences in fate of the worlds citizens has been symbolized in their modes
of transport, and this is never more obvious than now in the era of
globalization when the flights of the fortunate, in the free world, literally
soar above those whose lives are at the mercy of the tides and laws of foreign
countries they cannot control, the refugees of wars and conflicts and
environmental disasters around the world.
Is it really too much to ask of
our government that we let in these poor unfortunate people who arrive on our
shores through desperate life endangering and terrifying voyages across savage
oceans, to let them land and be ‘processed’ here subject to the laws of our
land, to become citizens if they pass the tests, and join the workforces,
surely this is not beyond the capacity of our fortunate country?
Now that the problem is again
under regional discussion, if Australia shows sound guidance and leadership, generosity
and wisdom in offering workable solutions, this may well be rewarded in better
relations with our neighbors in Asia, who are also grappling with these
problems of how to help the world’s most desperate peoples, refugees of war and
disaster? Humanity leads to humanity.
Constructing solutions to the refugee problem
IT’s an uncomfortable truth that
we in the fortunate free countries of western democracies find it much easier
not to think about. Who are these people
who are trying to come here in pathetically leaking primitive boats. They are
poor, they have no manners, dirty, uneducated etc. etc. these are the fears of
the other. We do not know who are they are. They could be dangerous, could harm
us, it’s a way that terrorists could arrive in our country or a potential route
for invasion, etc. etc. These are the underlying unconscious fears. Those are
not usually articulated directly, yet which underlie the desire to close the
door, and shut down the debate, to forget about the problem, block it out.
But years of this ‘strategy’
have failed. The boats keep on coming. And now we are not rescuing them they
are sinking and hundred of people are drowning and it is getting worse. The
moral obligation, or moral pressure is increasing for Australia to take more
positive action in the region.
It seems (from the distance that I am viewing from)
that this may be what the Asian countries in our region are pushing for. If
Indonesia says it cannot go to the rescue and Australia must. This implies a
bigger scale of response is required. There is much talk of a regional
solution. And by Indonesia declaring itself hopelessly ill equipped to deal
with the emergencies of sinking boatful’s of people and calling on Australia,
they are pushing to increase our presence in the region more broadly. Pointing
out that Australia has resources that we can use; and must use to deal with the
escalating problem of refugees in the region.
The Age
reported yesterday: “The head of Basarnas [the Indonesian search and rescue
authority], Vice-Marshal Daryatmo, recently said the agency was hopelessly
under-equipped for ocean rescue and needed help from Australia.” (The Age, 8 July 2012).
No, from a wider
ethical perspective the boatloads of wretched people should not be leaving the
shores of Indonesia to attempt the perilous crossing to Australia. But we can’t
blame the people smugglers because they do not cause the wider problem; they
are part of the wretched cycle of disadvantage that flings the poor filled with
hope towards Australia’s shores.
Australia is a
powerful country, rich with resources and strong with knowledge and information.
We should step in and use this power and knowledge wisely to set up workable
solutions in the region, to provide leadership and guidance, set up refugee
camps, run them, process the refugees, send them to safe new homes in the
region including Australia, can we can do this from Indonesia with cooperation
with Indonesia? Maybe there can be several regional centers that Australia
manages.
If there are
viable alternatives, viable safe ways of resettlement (not waiting for years in
camps but actual swift resettlement of refugees in new homes) then they will
not attempt to make those desperate voyages by boat.
Surely now is the
time for Australia to be working out viable humane solutions in good faith for
the future of humanity not only in Australia and the region but globally. This
is a global problem and needs humane global social solutions.
Creedy, Steve
(2012), ‘Qantas looking to extend its reach with Qatar tie-in.’ The Australian,
Sydney, Australia. July 5, 2012.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-looking-to-extend-its-reach-with-qatar-tie-in/story-e6frg95x-1226417241817.
Viewed July 9, 2012.
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/australia-spurned-boat-distress-call-20120707-21o6e.html. Viewed
July 8, 2012.
