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Image by: Copyright News Limited, 2012 

Australian Boat People

From: War News Radio
Length: 08:34

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Australia and asylum seekers. Read the full description.

494234-christmas-island-detainees_small Conflict zones and brutal regimes the world over are producing thousands of refugees. Left stateless by war, subjugation, and abuse, many of these individuals make their way to Australia, hoping to find asylum, protection, and a safe place to rebuild their lives. But those that arrive by boat do not find the welcome they might hope for. Australia's policy of mandatory detention promises months, or even years, of imprisonment and psychological pain to these battered individuals who have broken no laws.

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Piece Description

Conflict zones and brutal regimes the world over are producing thousands of refugees. Left stateless by war, subjugation, and abuse, many of these individuals make their way to Australia, hoping to find asylum, protection, and a safe place to rebuild their lives. But those that arrive by boat do not find the welcome they might hope for. Australia's policy of mandatory detention promises months, or even years, of imprisonment and psychological pain to these battered individuals who have broken no laws.

Transcript

REYES: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that in 2010 850,200 applications for asylum or refugee status were filed worldwide by individuals seeking international protection from conflict zones and brutal regimes. Australian lawyer and refugee advocate Julian Burnside notes that, left state-less by war, subjugation, and abuse, many of these individuals make their way to Australia, hoping to find asylum, protection, and a safe place to rebuild their lives. But, he insists, those that arrive by boat do not find the welcome they might hope for. Australia's policy of mandatory detention promises months, or even years, of imprisonment to these battered men, women, and children.

BURNSIDE: The so called boat people, people who arrive in Australia by boat from Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and so on. Those people are the so called illegal immigrants but...
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