#refugees #australia -> Fremantle’s warm welcome will defy the winter at the Refugee Welcome Fiesta June 23

Fremantle’s warm welcome will defy the winter at the Refugee Welcome Fiesta

Media release: Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam. June 20th, 2012

The Fremantle Greens, City of Fremantle, Amnesty International, the Anglican Church and many others have joined together to host the Refugee Welcome Fiesta this weekend.

The all-inclusive community event to celebrate the diversity of our cultures and the new lives of refugees in Australia begins at 11am on Saturday, June 23rd, at the Fremantle Esplanade.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam and MLC for South Metropolitan Lynn MacLaren will attend the event, which is hosted by The Greens, the City of Fremantle, Amnesty International, Anglican Social Responsibilities Commission, ASeTTs (Assisting Torture and Trauma Survivors), CASE for Refugees, Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD), Fremantle Multicultural Centre, Kulcha, Oxfam, Project SafeCom, the Refugee Rights Action Network and the Uniting Church Social Justice Board.

Senator Ludlam said the fiesta was an important event for reminding us of the best things about Australia.

“People fleeing war and persecution who come to Australia to seek a better life for themselves and their kids are welcome regardless of how they come. The false and bizarre fusion of the unrelated issues of asylum seekers and border protection has warped the national debate, and made us forget what kind of country we really are – welcoming, tolerant, prosperous, spacious and above all – extreme lucky,” he said.

From 11am until 1pm the Fremantle Esplanade will host music, dance, food stalls, and soccer. At 1pm ‘Walk Together’ begins – a walk for harmony through Fremantle. The Fiesta ends at 4pm.

All welcome, of course.

Media contacts: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302

Leonie Lundy – 0439 475 174

#Australia Government’s failure drives #Assange to Ecuador asylum bid – @SenatorLudlum

Australian Government’s failure drives Assange to Ecuador asylum bid

Media release: Australian Greens communications spokesperson Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam. June 20th, 2012

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s dramatic bid for political asylum in Ecuador is a clear declaration of no confidence in the Australian Government’s willingness to protect him from US prosecution, the Australian Greens said today.

A statement from the Ecuadorian foreign ministry notes Mr Assange has argued: “a regrettable factual statement of abandonment received by the authorities of my country, Australia”.

The statement notes that the matters subject to grand jury investigation in the United States carry long jail terms and potentially the death penalty.

“Against this, we have the Australian Government’s feeble assurances that it has done all it can. Apart from recklessly and incorrectly declaring the work of WikiLeaks illegal, the Government’s contribution has amounted to malign indifference,” Australian Greens communications spokesperson, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam said.

“I hope to raise the issue later today in Senate question time.

“It is highly significant that the Ecuadorian authorities said they have contacted the British, Swedish and US governments on this matter but not Canberra.

“For the time being, this matter is in the hands of Ecuadorian authorities. I urge them to consider carefully the targeted campaign of political harassment, character assassination and financial sanctions that has been levelled at the WikiLeaks publishing organisation.

“While we wait, the Australian Government might want to reconsider on which side of history it is choosing to stand.”

Media contact: Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302