By Peter Boyle
Asian Australians Against Further Intimidation (AAAFI) was launched on October 11, 1996 to counter the racist views promoted by right-wing organisations, such as Australians Against Further Immigration (AAFI) and Oxley MP Pauline Hanson, and to campaign against the racist policies of the current Liberal-National Party government.
AAAFI convenor Reihana Mohideen says that while right-wing bigots such as Graham Campbell and Pauline Hanson claim to speak for "mainstream Australia", this was "code" for white Australia, and even then only a section of white Australia.
"These bigots are intentionally picking on the worst-off sections of the population, such as Aborigines and recent migrants of non-English speaking background", said Mohideen. "Aboriginal people, who have Third World health and unemployment conditions, are perversely described by them as a 'privileged minority'. NESB migrants, who suffer the second highest unemployment levels after Aborigines, are accused of taking away jobs.
"The Howard government has refused to condemn these racist attacks. Instead it has encouraged Hanson under the guise of defending her right to free speech. One can only conclude that this racist scapegoating of migrants provides the government convenient cover for its policies of cutting back on migrant and Aboriginal welfare measures."
AAAFI has challenged Australians Against Further Immigration to a debate on the issue. "Let's see if they are prepared to confront us, face to face, with their racist views", Mohideen said.
AAAFI branches have been set up in most major cities. Contact details are: Sydney — Reihana Mohideen (02) 9690 1230 or Tuntuni Bhattacharyya (02) 9690 1977; Melbourne — Maurice Sibelle, Vanessa Hearman (03) 9329 1320; Perth — Arun Pradhan (09) 227 7367; Hobart — Iggy Kim (03) 634 6397; Canberra — Kamini Junankar (06) 247 2424.
Donations can be sent to AAAFI via Green Left Weekly, PO Box 394, Broadway, NSW 2007.