BY SARAH STEPHEN
A new 28-page booklet has been produced by the Western Australian Refugee Alliance which provides a good introduction to the issue of SIEV-X, the boat which sank in international waters on October 19, 2001, killing 353 of its mostly Iraqi passengers.
There are deep suspicions that the Australian government knew more than it has told about the tragedy, and could have taken action to stop the sinking.
The booklet contains a number of speeches by former diplomat Tony Kevin, who continues to pursue the issue with dogged determination, insisting that the federal government be held accountable for the deadly consequences of its policy of deterring asylum seekers. The preface is written by federal Labor MP Carmen Lawrence. There is also a very interesting, previously unpublished, piece on the broader political implications of the SIEV-X affair.
The booklet can be ordered in bulk at $2 per copy (minimum order 10 copies). Send orders to PO Box 441, Morley WA, 6943; make cheques payable to WA Refugee Alliance. For further information, phone Sue Hoffman on (08) 9279 5003 or email <admin@wara.org.au>.
From Green Left Weekly, June 18, 2003.
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