27 comments

1. stephentardrewSeptember 30, 2014 at 10:44 pm

   Thank you it certainly pays to know the facts. That is more than Morrison could ever admit. One of the wealthiest nations on earth and we cannot be a safe haven for genuine refugees. Few consider the number of refugees that are killed even before they get to Indonesia because no one is keeping the stats and anyway were Australian so there. Thousands have died attempting to reach Europe. Damn pesky freeloaders who want everything for nothing. Life is so cheep for the down trodden masses. There are plenty more left to work in slave labour producing goods for the West.

   Where the hell did I put that moral compass? Oh bugger lost it again. Best plod on anyway who needs mortality and ethics when you have God on your side.

2. Anne ByamSeptember 30, 2014 at 11:27 pm

   This article – written by a Shi-ite Muslim, Haneef Hussein, is indeed moving. But I have to say it is a little subjective.

   While I don’t in any way declare any wisdom or knowledge ( other than extremely small ) of the Sunni / Shi-ite doctrines, I note that there are indeed many differences – all strangely, emanating from the same source.

   It would appear that the Sunni comprise 85 > 90% of Muslims in the world today. ….. In reading this transcript, and on research thereafter, it would seem that the Sunni are intent on a form of ‘ethnic cleansing ‘ … to rid the world of the Shi’ites. There are problems though ( of many ) and that lies in their fundamental differences.

   …………” The differences lie in the fields of doctrine, ritual, law, theology and religious organisation.

   ………… Their leaders also often seem to be in competition. ” ( from a BBC News – Middle East – internet on-line news )

   It reminds me of the ‘troubles’ in Northern Ireland, which when all is said and done, was fundamentally – between the Catholics and Protestants in that area, ( aside from the British factor ). Once again, religious differences made for war – not peace. Eventually that was hosed down – but the differences remain, and while an uneasy peace is installed, it simmers – beneath the surface. The twain shall never really meet.

   It is the same with Muslims.

   _________

   ……….. ” Islam has no codified laws per se. It has various schools of law. While Sunni doctrine is more rigidly aligned in accordance with those various schools, its hierarchical structure is looser and often falls under state, rather than clerical, control. The opposite is true in Shiitism: The doctrine is somewhat more open to interpretation but the clerical hierarchy is more defined and, as in Iran, the ultimate authority is the imam, not the state.

   Both Sunnis and Shiites break down into various sects that range from puritanical (as with Sunni Wahhabism, prevalent in Saudi Arabia) to somewhat mysterious (as with the Druze of Lebanon, Syria and Israel, who form an offshoot of Shiitism). ” ………. ( from About.com news )

   _________

   I do realise that this article is a plea to the Australian people ( any people for that matter ) to acknowledge and try to understand the unbearable difficulties – indeed tragedies – that beset Shi-ite Muslims, and their desire for a better life – away from terrorism, threat of death, deprivation and a whole host of other hostilities aimed at them. ……..

   In that we feel for them – deeply.

   It none-the-less comes down to an almost impossible task – to bring any form of peace between the two ideologies in Islam belief.

   Well they may intermarry, well they may at times live peaceably. But it is shaky, at best, and has been for a long long time.

   We all feel for these people …. but with the current Government, waving Cambodian flags about and quaffing champenoise while signing deals …. I doubt that any solution will be forthcoming too soon. In fact, they may find themselves in more dire straits than before. Although I sincerely hope that is not the case.

   Somewhat subjective though this article may be, I would hope that it hits home … as displaced persons of ANY religion, ethnicity or race, who are fearful of their own country of origin, seek a more peaceful, safe and durable life style in the future.

   It is a disgusting and tragic set of events – and is repeated the world over. There are however, many countries who manage to deal with genuine refugees of any kind, in a humane and generous way.

   Why – oh why, can’t we – Australia, find a similar solution.

3. kathysutherland2013September 30, 2014 at 11:28 pm

   Why on earth is Abbott charging off to war to stop the “terrorist threat” when he could be doing far more good by supporting the victims of terrorism as they flee persecution? These people are coming to our country for help and Abbott is far more interested in strutting the world stage and going to war!! Does he have a heart at all? And I could ask the same question of Labor!

4. aravis1October 1, 2014 at 8:33 am

   This is also a personal cry from a young man I’ve been in contact with for some time now, who is desperate to find somewhere he can live – just live. One of the first to be turned back by Morrison, now in limbo and in fear, in Indonesia. Fearful of going back to his own country. I simply don’t know what he can do to help himself, and that is heartbreaking. Of course the article is subjective; it is one person’s experience, not a treatise on Islamic politics. It should make us very thankful for our relatively peaceful conditions here, and determined to oppose the indifference and cruel attitudes of the major parties about immigration. All I have been able to do to help this young man, is to counsel patience, but that is a poor counsel, and shames us all. He has recently been robbed of his last money, by people smugglers AND the Indonesian police. Perhaps the only thing we can do, is to keep up the pressure on politicians, and never give up.

5. rikdaOctober 1, 2014 at 11:42 am

   Why is it that the United Nation is rarely mentioned in these issues?
   This is what it was formed to deal with. UNITED NATIONS, not divided nations

   Has bailing out a leaking boat acheived greater scientific status than closing up the hole?

   At what point do we consider that by offering refuge to one religious minority in an opposition strong hold, then offering the same to their opponents because of similar oppression from another sect, make sense?

   You see, you cannot stop people having babies & rearing them with ready made enemies.
   Relocating the enemies to the same place, is importing rebellion.
   We cannot fix this.
   It’s unfixable.
   The participants don’t want the problem fixed.
   They all want to win because their theory on God has to be enforced because that’s the only way it can be.

   In the logical sense. One would create a mile wide corridor of the country & separate the incompatibles & anyone that crossed that corridor would be introduced to their maker to find out the real truth, by a drone of a different kind.
   Get the bloody UN to earn it’s keep.

6. Anne ByamOctober 1, 2014 at 12:26 pm

   rikda …. certainly agree with your last sentence.

   Not sure about the comment on ‘minority’ religious groups causing problems here, in the way you have described it. Refugees flee their countries for many different reasons – – – – of race / nationality, brutal political regimes, members of social groups that are vilified in their own country, ….because of starvation, displacement, fear and threat. They are not all Shi-ite or Sunni Muslims – ( the only two religious factions mentioned in this article ) ….

   Just about ALL religions want to ‘win’ …. ( to coin the word ) …. because even various Christian factions, churches, sects etc., claim THEY and they alone have the truth – and while they don’t necessarily come to blows about it ( except for the Northern Ireland ‘troubles’ last century ) …. there is some tension and dissension between Christian church followers – who have different ideas and beliefs.

   But again … you are right about the United Nations and their lack of responses – to many issues.

7. aravis1October 1, 2014 at 2:07 pm

   I want to address a couple of things here: rikda said, “You see, you cannot stop people having babies & rearing them with ready made enemies.
   Relocating the enemies to the same place, is importing rebellion.
   We cannot fix this.
   It’s unfixable.
   The participants don’t want the problem fixed.
   They all want to win because their theory on God has to be enforced because that’s the only way it can be.”

   I don’t think you have read the entire article. Granted, it is long and there are multiple references at the end; (therefore verifiable), but this is not here about even-handedness in granting refuge. The Gilgit minority are a tiny number of people, and neglected or rather ignored by the Pakistani government, which means they can get no help from the proper sources. They are killed for sectarian reasons; why would that make them unfit for rescue? And as for your “having babies and rearing them..”etc, that is a poor attitude, to say the very least. Condemning a people for their religion does not sit well with me. You need to think before criticising like this. Would you like it if someone said that to you? You are exhibiting uninformed prejudice, and there is far too much of that going round at this time, thanks to the LNP.

   Secondly, this is not primarily about religion; it is about a refugee who needs succour and is getting nothing. He and his cousin are now in limbo with nowhere to go. They would both have been productive and useful members of our society. As it is, they are in a country that does not want them and will not help them.
   They are waiting for the UNHCR to consider their case. They have been waiting for nearly 18 months, and supporting themselves in a country where they are not allowed to work and are robbed by even the police. Haneef has an appointment for next March for his case. Until then he is on his own.
   So I suggest, rikda, that you inform yourself and lose some prejudice, or stay silent.

8. aravis1October 1, 2014 at 2:34 pm

   Here is an article from a NZ newspaper: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10081263/Desperate-bid-to-reach-New-Zealand

   ” Twice Haneef Hussain, 23, has tried to reach Australia: twice his boat has capsized. The second time, in February, the boat was just a couple of kilometres from Christmas Island – he could have swum ashore. Instead he spent 12 days on an Australian navy vessel being grilled by officials, before being sent back to Indonesia.

   Hussain and his cousins Farman Ali and Sajid Hussain are from the beautiful, mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan in north-east Pakistan, where shi’a muslims like them have been pulled off buses on the main highway and executed. Several of their friends have been killed.

   Haneef, a business student, had been considering taking a boat to New Zealand, but after his two near-disasters, his parents instructed him not to try. “

9. haneefhussain45October 1, 2014 at 3:02 pm

   Here os complete story,

   http://haneefhussain45.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/for-why-haneef-hussain-and-mir-abbas-had-to-leave-their-country-4/

10. haneefhussain45October 1, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    We are thankful the AIM network and Carolyn janson

11. haneefhussain45October 1, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    http://haneefhussain45.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/for-why-haneef-hussain-and-mir-abbas-had-to-leave-their-country-4/

    For why Haneef hussain and Mir abbas had to leave their country?
    September 29, 2014Gilgit-BalitstanGilgit-Balitstan shia massacre Edit

    We are from Gilgit-Balitstan

    Haneef Hussain and his cousion Mir abbas belong to the very remote village of Haramosh in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Tough the village of Haramosh is internationally known as ‘Haramosh Group of Mountains’. Due to its beautiful valley with nat ural lakes, forests and snow covered high mountains and large glaciers it is like a heaven on earth. Haneef was a keen lover of all that and had used to arrange treks with friends of which he is too missed in the village expecting him to be successful in seeking asylum.

    26 years old, young man,Mir abbas, in Indonesia
    26 years old, young man,Mir abbas, in Indonesia
    we are both cousins, Haneef Hussain and Mir Abbas solemnly declare that we belong to minority Shia community by faith and our place of origin is Pakistan administered disputed territory of Gilgit-Baltistan. The purpose of seeking asylum and refuge in Australia is well found fear of being persecuted for reasons of belonging to Shia minority. Since the rise of Taliban in Afghanistan and particularly after September 11, 2001, the Taliban and other religious extremist groups have made it hard to live in Pakistan for Shia minorities. Mostly in Gilgit-Baltistan

    Religious extremism is prevalent in Pakistan. Members of the Shia community have been targeted in a number of attacks against the Shias in the country. There have been several incidents of killing of Shia Muslims and bomb blasts in the Shia mosque in Pakistan. The Sunni extremist groups allied to or inspired by al-Qaeda and the Taliban routinely attack government and civilian targets in north-west Pakistan. They also attack the religious minorities and other Muslim sects that they consider to be infidels. The Shias in Pakistan frequently complain that the Pakistani state does little to stop the attacks and has even released from custody notorious militants accused of carrying them out. Gilgit-Baltistan is geographically sandwiched between Pakistan, China and India. It is linked with Pakistan through Karakoram Highway (KKH).In February 2012, sectarian gunmen ambushed a bus on KKH, killing 18 Shia minority Muslims after checking the ID Cards in the neighbours of the former Taliban stronghold of Swat. The rise of extremism and growth of unrest in Gilgit Baltistan shows that sectarianism is officially being promoted as a calibrated policy to keep people engaged in trivial issues. A systematic ethnic cleansing of Shia community is being carried out in the Pakistan administered Gilgit-Baltistan. In another accident, 6 buses were torched and more than ten shia passengers were killed in Chilas in April 2012. Similarly in August 2012, a passenger van of our village was attacked with an IED killing one of our relative. Similarly, in August 2012, At least 25 members of the Shia community were killed when armed men intercepted four buses en route to our hometown Gilgit, lined the people up and opened indiscriminate fire on the passengers in Kohistan district.

    Keeping in view, our fears of being persecuted, we restricted ourself traveling to Islamabad pakistan

    Therefore, I humbly requested Humanitarian agencies to provide asylum in their any peace full country. we do solemnly affirm that we will be abiding by all rules and regulations of that country country government. LOOKING FOR PEACE we are both in Indonesia Jakarta from last year September 2013.look forward to humanitarian response.For why Haneef hussain had to leave his country from gilgit baltistan, following story can help to imagine the

    22year old young man from Gilgit-Balitstan, in Indonesia, file photo
    22year old young man from Gilgit-Balitstan, in Indonesia, file photo
    situation at that time as immediate cause; THE killing of about 15 passengers of the Shia community, after they were taken off the buses in the Chilas area, Diamer district, is a gruesome act of violence. The trail of sectarian unrest dates back to the radical Islamisation policies of former military dictator Gen Zia. The sectarian monster is raising its ugly head in the country. In Gilgit Batistan this menace emerged after the 1980s when fanatics from tribal areas, Kohistan and Diamer attacked Gilgit. The planned and organised settlement of non-locals from tribal areas, Kohistan, Kashmir and some parts of Punjab further deteriorated the situation. It totally changed the demography of the locals. In the 1990s the ratio of locals to non-locals was 4:1 but now it has been raised to 4:3. The consecutive trail of untoward incidents and growth of unrest in GB shows that sectarianism is officially being promoted as a calibrated policy to keep people engaged in trivial issues. Keeping in mind the sensitivity and geographical importance of GB, the divide and rule policy must be shunned, as India already claims that GB is its integral part. GB might be the second Balochistan if the grievances of this region are not entertained.

    GILGIT: All the six districts of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) remained in the grip extreme tension and mourning on Wednesday on the occasion of funeral of 18 members of Shia community who were killed in Kohistan on Tuesday. Collective funeral prayers of 11 victims of the tragedy were held at Imamia Jamia Masjid Gilgit and the bodies were later sent to their native areas for burial. To maintain law and order curfew was imposed in Gilgit after 12pm. Local residents were restricted to their houses while roads presented a deserted look. All the government and private offices, educational institutions and business centres across Gilgit-Baltistan remained closed on Wednesday as three day mourning has been announced. Security in the six districts of Gilgit-Baltistan was put on red alert. All exit and entry points to Gilgit were completely sealed on the directives of the Deputy Commissioner and Section 144 has also been imposed banning assembly of four or more persons and the display of arms. Educational institutions have also been closed in Gilgit for three days as a precautionary measure in the wake of a possible violent reaction by the victim community members. Ahmad Marwat, claiming to be the commander of the militant group, Jundallah, claimed responsibility for the attack. Survivors said seven to eight killers were involved in the attack. Violence erupted in Gilgit as a result of the sectarian attack, claiming at least one life. The deceased has been identified as Ubaidullah, who was shot dead near the public school roundabout in the Joeyal area. —INP APP adds: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strongly condemned Tuesday’s attack in Kohistan in which gunmen killed 18 people after ordering them off a bus on the Islamabad-Gilgit route. The secretary-general extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the ‘abhorrent attack,’ as well as to the government of Pakistan, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson. “The United Nations stands by Pakistan in its efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism and extremism, which continues to claim the lives of so many Pakistanis,” the statement added.Given the disputed legacy of the area, it is still deprived of its basic constitutional rights and other rights even after more than 60 years…unemployment, disease, and unfair exploitation of resources had already worsened the socio-economic situation. Though the terrorist threat is a global phenomenon but in Pakistan minorities, specially Shia muslims are brutally being killed. Witnessing a series of atrocities on Karakorum Highway, the only land line to link Gilgit Baltistan to the rest of Pakistan, Shias in Gilgit-Baltistan were left helpless. PIA flight is rare in the area… in case of emergency poor people cannot afford the ticket as it is too costly compare to other cities in the country. Immediately this and many other issues led mostly Shia people of the area as well as from other parts of the country, to seek asylum in west so that they could earn for their families in Pakistan to make both ends meet.

    Attack on our Hostel in Gilgit city: we the students of backward village we With our younger brothers and family relatives we used to stay in bagrote hostel are studying in different schools and colleges.one day the terrorist group trgeted our hostle at midnight and they opened fired on our rooms from windows while we were sleeping inside.and our one frnd lost his life in that attack while the rest were safe coz of a miracle, the activist groups’s guns didn’t worked and they to run for their life in this way we survived at that time. GILGIT: Police have nabbed four persons in Gilgit on Saturday in hostel attack case that occurred the other night, while in Ghanche district the man behind the bomb blast has been arrested along with one of his accomplices and explosive-making material early Saturday, police said. One man died while three others sustained injuries after unidentified armed men attacked a men’s hostel in Konodas, Gilgit at about 12:15 a.m. on Saturday. The assailants lobbed a grenade into a room of the “Bagrot Hostel” before opening fire on the inmates. The secretary home said that four people had been arrested and investigations were on. The IGP Khurshid Alam said that police had recovered remnants of 7.MM gun bullets and scratches of an explosive used in the ambush from the spotSo any time we need to come gilgit, for study for medical care etc. At the time on they way from our village to gilgit many villages of sunni community they attack on our passenger vans and killing us. Attack on the Heramosh Shia passenger van he

    heramosh Shia passenger van occurred on Sunday near Minawar, Gilgit as an explosive device attached beneath a culvert was triggered when the passenger van, on its way to Haramosh, crossed over it. The attack had left one Shia passenger Shujat Abbas martyred and four severely injured. The rising incidents of attacks on Shia Muslims and passengers in Gilgit-Baltistan province reflects the poor law and order situation in Shia dominated province of Pakistan, where the Wahhabi militants involved in the target killing of Shia Muslim

    In our religen not allow to kill any one our islamic leaders have not allow to take revenge any one we want peace around the world and another sider the other extreem sunni muslim groups leader give free hand to kill shia people and if they kill shia they must go to heven.

    Sectarian violence again rocked the area with the assassination of Syed Agha Ziauddin Rizvi, a prominent Shia and prayer leader of Gilgit’s Imamia Mosque, in January 2005. On January 13, he succumbed to injuries sustained during an attack in Gilgit on January 8, 2005.22 One of the assailants killed by his bodyguards was later identified as a cadre of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. socially and economically, since the 1970s. Agha Ziauddin’s death in January 2005 caused widespread clashes leading to a six-month long curfew and emergency, and loss of more than two hundred lives. Allama Turabi, shot dead in Karachi on July 14, 2006, hailed from Baltistan and was the President of Tehrik Jafaria of Pakistan (TJP). His death has been termed as detrimental to Shia rights,

    Every incidents after curfew & emergency imposed in the city and troops called in to control the situation for long time schools, colleges everything closed that time. When we need high education medical, engineering etc. So we move from gilgit city to another cities of pakistan because of education and jobs too, so the way gilgit to capital of pakistan islamabad during way the terrorist attack on our passenger buses and they check our id cards after they shoot us because we are shia muslims, February 2012 The February 2012 Kohistan Massacre refers to the massacre of 18 Shia Muslim residents of Gilgit

    Baltistan travelling by bus from Rawalpindi, Punjab to Gilgit, Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan. The buses were stopped in Kohistan and the victims killed based on their religious affiliation by individuals dressed in Military uniforms. The dead included three children while 27 other passengers on the bus were spared Sectarian violence in Pakistan, mostly Gilgit-Baltistan. Tuesday, 3 April 2012, at least six passenger buses were stopped by Al Qaeda affiliated Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) militants in Bonar Das area in Chilas (Gilgit Baltistan),passengers were segregated by checking their identity documents, those found or believed to be Shia Muslims were shot dead and many other Shias were kidnapped – See more at: http://lubpak.com/archives/75456#sthash.ruFRzMm3.dpuf 16August 2012 As many as 25 Shia Muslims have been forced out of a bus and killed in a sectarianattack innorthern Pakistan, Gilgit Baltistan The killings took place in a remote and mou

    ntainous area about 160km (100 miles) north of the capital Islamabad as the bus was travelling from the city of Rawalpindi to the city of GilgitReligious extremism is prevalent in Gilgit. Members of the Shia community have been targeted in a number of attacks against the shias in the country. There have been several Incidents of killing of Shia Muslims and bomb blasts in the Shia mosque in Pakistan.

    Evan not safe our security high officers because these offers security our passenger buses on they way so the also killed by target killing by the same terrorist on this way,,

    GILGIT, Aug 6: Suspected militants killed an army colonel, a captain and a senior superintendent of police (SSP) in an ambush on the latter’s vehicle in the remote northern town of Chilas, headquarters of Diamer district, on Monday night.DSP Mohammad Navid says the attack had taken place at Ronai point near the residence of the deputy commissioner when the officials were returning after attending a meeting convened by him to discuss intelligence reports that high-profile personalities were likely to be targeted by militants., ISLAMABAD / GILGIT: Gunmen dressed as paramilitary forces killed nine foreign tourists in an unprecedented attack in the Himalayas of Gilgit-Baltistan, in a security failure bound to embarrass the new government just weeks after it took office.

    The gunmen stormed into a base camp, killing Chinese and Ukrainian climbers in an area of the far-flung north not previously associated with violence or militancy.

    The killings will jeopardise the only foreign tourism that remains in Pakistan – that of mountaineers – the few international tourists to still visit a country troubled by al Qaeda and Taliban violence.

    Officials said five Ukrainians and a number of Chinese were killed. One Pakistani also died and one Chinese survivor has been recovered, the government said.

    The climbers were staying at a first camp, around 4,200 feet from Nanga Parbat, one of the highest mountains in the world, in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan. Ban Ki-moon ‘appalled’ by Gilgit-Baltistan sectarian killing of shia Ban-Ki-moonUN leader Ban Ki-moon was “appalled” by the sectarian killing of 20 Shiite Muslims who were dragged off a bus in Pakistan on Thursday, The secretary general expresses his outrage over such deliberate attacks on people due to their religious beliefs in Pakistan,” said a statement released by UN spokesman Martin Nesirky which strongly condemned the attack.Gunmen dragged the Shiite travellers off a bus in the northwestern district of Mansehra and killed them at point blank range, officials said. It was the third attack of its kind in six months.

    K way is very dangerous for us mostly Shia minority Muslims.Gigit city is the capital of Pakistan’s far northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, and is seen as a gateway to the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges,

    The killings took place in a remote and mountainous area about 160km (100 miles) north of the capital Islamabad as the bus was travelling from the city of Rawalpindi to the city of Gilgit,Sectarian violence has killed hundreds of shia muslims on that way.Evan The banned lashkare jangavi theretend us every time. Every person is alive in peace. we want peace, ,,,peace, ,,,

    More details;:

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-19280339

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-19280339

    PAKISTAN: The killing of Shias –it is hard to refute the accusation that the military was involved

    http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/02/29/comment/editorials/kohistan-killings

    http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/08/18/national/ban-ki-moon-condemns-sectarian-attack-in-gilgit/

    http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/02/29/comment/editorials/kohistan-killings/

    http://www.presstv.com/detail/2012/08/17/256717/un-slams-shias-killings-in-pakistan

    http://videos.sify.com/Tehrik-E-Taliban-Pakistan-%5BTTP%5D-vows-to-kill-shias-in-Gilgit-Baltistan–authorities-indifferent-ANI-watch-nlfvkcdbicasi.html

    http://en.shafaqna.com/other-services/other-news/item/5537-pakistan-one-shia-muslim-martyred–three-injured-in-gilgit-van-blast.html

    http://dunyanews.tv/print_news_eng.php?nid=124723&catid=8&flag=d

    http://www.dawn.com/news/952269/attack-on-gilgit-hostel-condemned

    http://southasiarevealed.com/2012/08/07/bomb-explodes-culvert-dead/

    http://www.dawn.com/news/401085/11-killed-in-gilgit-violence

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-19280339

12. rikdaOctober 1, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    “So I suggest, rikda, that you inform yourself and lose some prejudice, or stay silent”

    Well my friend,I didn’t read it all it was a very long article & after 55 years of political involvement watching religious propaganda, facists, military Junta’s, & sundry puppet governments & coups, I’ve pretty much completed the cirle of blame. So I’m pretty much informed.

    There is no Prejudice, it’s either your lack of comprehension, or resentment that we recoil to being held in some demented way, responsible for the problem, & thus liable for it’s solution.
    I hope you clearly understand what an abuse that would be if it was thought.
    Australia’s record for humantarian aid it well documented, but it’s needs to be embraced nationally, otherwise we import more problems.

    You misinterpreted the “Babies” point also. There are many nationalities as well as religions that cannot get on & they are brought up to hate each other. People won’t integrate. That sort of thing.
    I did not single out religion. Another misunderstanding, I also used the term “sect” which can mean various factions.

    As a merchant seaman in the 50’s we took various cargos of forgeign aid to both Pakistan & India, so Australia has not just discovered the issues that exist there.

    My post was a generalisation on issues that if it can’t be solved on home turf will not be solved on foreign turf if the same principles are embraced.
    It’s got nothing to do with attitude. It’s got to do with history.
    When people go looking for some upper hand it’s generally because the foundation is too hard to correct.

    The solution to this remains the same as my orginal point. The UN.
    To remain silent about that, is to be a major part of the problem.

13. aravis1October 1, 2014 at 4:44 pm

    I’m glad you’ve posted here, Haneef. The personal factor here is the principal, and you are making it clear. I am sure most of us here wish you very well in your efforts to find a home somewhere in this sad old world.

14. haneefhussain45October 1, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Dear Rikda, I just show my problems in this article, it’s not concerned with political issu, yes Everyone can describe own problems, its humanitarian rights (perhaps you don’t know about our area there also UN silent or not?! I don’t know about that matter why the Gilgit-Balitstan and kashmir is dispute, u can read the UN resolution about it thats why pakistan amd india already in conflict both countries) leave it it’s political problem. yes our problem is religious more than political.Its Not only UN issu, you also, we all should comments on this matter, against sectarian violence as a humanity.,

15. aravis1October 1, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    i’m sorry, rikda, but your post was less than apposite. Generalisations are not much use to individuals. I do agree that solutions of the problems in asylum seeking are not going to be solved by simply taking in refugees; the UN must get involved and countries such as ours must begin to look intelligently at ways to help solve the problems in the countries of origin. That is undeniable. BUT, this article is about an individual seeking help, and as such, it points up the human distress we all too often try to ignore, because it is so hard to do anything about it. Individuals are important and we can not gloss over their needs. When one person makes the effort to make a cry for understanding and help, it isn’t much good telling them the the UN has to do something, because we’re not going to. As human beings living in one of the best places in the world, we need to regain our humanity. We need to relearn to share. If you can’t see this I am sorry, but I will not be backing off the issue.

16. Kaye LeeOctober 1, 2014 at 4:51 pm

    I agree haneef. It is by all talking together that we can overcome fear and hatred. We need tolerance and respect for each other regardless of our beliefs. I hope that soon our government will help you. Many people are speaking out to try to make them help more people.

    I too wish you well for your future. Stay safe.

17. rikdaOctober 1, 2014 at 6:18 pm

    “As human beings living in one of the best places in the world, we need to regain our humanity. We need to relearn to share. If you can’t see this I am sorry, but I will not be backing off the issue.”

    I applaud your tenacitry & wish you success.
    I also forgive your lack or understanding of my message, & your ill-mannered response.
    I am not opposed in any way to Haneef being granted asylum & I support his quest. I am sure he will need a friend when he arrives & that you will be there for him.

    Having said that, my Generalisations may not be much use to individuals, but that’s my point.
    Haneefs Story is told every minute a 100 times over & will continue, & asylum will contiinue until there is rebellion here.
    That doesn’t seem to register with many people on this subject.

    As for regaining out humanity? Do you understand what you are asserting?
    You think it became “One of the best places in the world”, by accident?
    Have you heard of the Eureka stockade. The Australian council of trade Unions? That’s where it came from.
    That mateship & the egalatarian society we built has gone somewhere in just one year because of a temporary elitist would be plutocracy?
    Is that how flimsy you think this culture is?

    You need to inform yourself about how insulting your way to gain support, is not the way to get it.
    This is not a country that warms to people using guilt to trick us into something..

    We have a war machine out of control & Millions of Syrian refugees, the whole world is in turmoil.
    Haneef has got you & that’s good.
    I want to plow on trying to wake people up that the UN costs the west $8 Billion a year, & a hundred billion in idle corruption.

18. Kaye LeeOctober 1, 2014 at 6:58 pm

    If we can back off from anger, there are worthwhile contributions in what everyone says.

    We DO need to help the source countries of refugees. People do not flee their families, friends and homes for no reason. Cutting foreign aid is counterproductive.

    Our wealthy society consumes a disproportionate amount of the world’s resources. That, coupled with the greed of corporations and the corruption rife amongst the ruling elite, also contributes to unrest around the world. It isn’t just about religion or ethnicity though they are often used as excuses. Atrocities in the name of greed rate right up there with sectarian violence, human rights abuses, and ethnic cleansing.

    I believe Australian society is strong enough and caring enough (or was) to be able to offer safe haven to people, to embrace our differences, and to work together towards peaceful co-existence. If sections of our community are suffering disadvantage or feeling alienated then we have the resources to address the problem. If individuals incite or commit violence, we have laws to deal with them. No-one comes to this country thinking they can incite widespread rebellion. Life is too good.

    Sadly, it seems there will always be a few troubled people who do bad things. In this country, we are far safer than most places. We CAN show how it is possible to live together peacefully. If we can’t do it here then we may as well give up.

19. aravis1October 1, 2014 at 9:14 pm

    Yes, Kaye, thank you. I agree. And despite the horror of the present regime, I have hope. I’d like others to realise though, that though I sent this piece in, it was Haneef who wrote it, and he is following the conversation. He has enough to deal with, without having to hear how his culture is making it hard for the rest of the world, blah blah… We were once, and will be again, a nation of good people who welcome those in need, and share with them. The turmoil the world is in will be managed, well or less well, but time will bring at least some sense and intelligence to the leaders. It will have to. In the meantime we must do what we can to help those who need help. And whether there are hundreds, thousands, or millions who seek our help, we should give it as we can.

20. Kaye LeeOctober 1, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    We have much to learn from each other. Buddhist philosophy suggests that one small act of kindness reverberates around the world. Holding out a hand to help someone is better than shaking a fist. I have never had to live in fear – no-one should.

21. Anne ByamOctober 1, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    @ rikda ….. perhaps I am addressing the intolerant here. …. perhaps not !! ?? However, some of your comments are off base, and designed ( perhaps) to try to instil a form of apostasy.

    There are as many ‘baddies’ in the Caucasion world, as there are in other worlds / regions – or ethnicity. I do not believe this one plea, from Haneef Hussein to be in the category of ‘baddies’.

    You have ( as I read it ) indeed wished him well.

    Several items you have addressed however, do not sit well – and literally make little or no sense.

    …………” I didn’t read it all it was a very long article ” ………… { Well – maybe you should have read it all !!! }

    You may well have 55 years of “political involvement, watching political propaganda . … etc. etc. etc.” ….. but that does not make you an expert on the subject. In fact, I doubt ANYONE could be an expert on the subject of differences between Islamic divisions – ( Sunni and Shi’ite ) …. as it is cloaked in long history, complicated dialogue, ideologies, and religious appeal.

    So – are you saying Rikda – that you are a world EXPERT on matters to do with Islam, and the plight of refugees ( past, present and in the future ) ??? ……. well – are you ?
    ___________

    ……… ” My post was a generalisation on issues that if it can’t be solved on home turf will not be solved on foreign turf if the same principles are embraced. ”

    ___________

    We all occasionally ‘generalise’ but generalisation is most often viewed with scepticism. It is something a debater tries hard to avoid.
    If you, Rikda, have facts to back up your statements, kindly show them – by quotes or links. Having said that, debaters / commenters, do sometimes fall into the trap of generalisations. But they don’t like it when they realise it has happened, and nobody else takes a lot of notice either. ( I willingly stand as testament to THAT ).

    The post by Haneef, is not a generalisation – and should not be responded to in any such way. His story is told with much passion, and a plea for understanding, and compassion from the readers.

    IF … we as AUSTRALIANS, have lost the ability to try to understand and be compassionate, then we have indeed lost the plot – to our own ultimate and indeed, devastating, undoing.

    ……..

    Rikda ….you seem to vacillate back and forth – pro and con. – – – in your post ( October 1, 2014 at 6:18 pm ) I am not at all sure who it is you think you are chastising.

    Is it Haneef, or the commenters here ?

    You mention “& asylum will contiinue until there is rebellion here”. Is that rebellion by Australian people against refugees, or rebellion against this Government ……. please explain.

    You refer to the ‘Eureka Stockade’ and the ‘ The Australian council of trade Unions? ‘. You seem to attribute our being “one of the best places in the word to live ” …. to those two past episodes in our history. Sure enough, history has something to do with building a society, but it is NOT everything. We live in today’s world Rikda, not that of yesteryear….. and we have to deal with the here and now – and its problems.

    And what we are dealing with is an elitist ( you said it ) plutocracy. With that I agree, but there are ways to handle that – we have before, and we will again.

    Too many people are giving way too much emphasis to the power this Government THINKS it has. It’s not altogether the MSM, it’s not the simpering woerful tales told by the PM, it is not the threats to our stability and sustainability ….. it’s down to US who have to stand up and be counted.

    _____________

    ……………. “You need to inform yourself about how insulting your way to gain support, is not the way to get it.
    ……………..” This is not a country that warms to people using guilt to trick us into something..

    _____________

    Just who are you speaking to with those statements ? The commenters ? The Government ? or Haneef himself ?

    Would appreciate a distinct reply – if you don’t mind.

22. Anne ByamOctober 1, 2014 at 11:09 pm

    To Kaye and Avaris 1 ….. totally agree with all your comments, this evening.

23. haneefhussain45October 2, 2014 at 3:52 am

    Well said dear kaye lee thanks alot.and rikda u too for your point of view, As far as you think its individual, so I think it’s not individual but only written me and my cousins name in this article because we are part of that tragedy. also already Collective mentions of all situation.
    Thanks for your great wishes too

24. stephentardrewOctober 2, 2014 at 6:25 am

    I too thoroughly concur with the sentiments expressed by Kaye Lee and Avaris 1 and wish you well haneefhussain.

25. haneefhussain45October 3, 2014 at 3:38 am

    Gilgit-Balitstan: today another attack on our passenger van:
    We are strongly condemns attack on our passenger van

    At least three people were killed and nine others injured when a roadside bomb hit a passenger van near Gilgit town in northern Pakistan Thursday, officials said.

    “The incident occurred near Haramosh village on Gilgit-Skardu road (around 30 miles south of Gilgit) when a passenger van was hit by a roadside bomb blast,” Zain Muhammad, a police official in Gilgit, told AFP.

    He said the injured included five women, two men and three children, adding that all the passengers were Shiites.

    “It’s a sectarian attack, the passenger van was going to Haramosh which is a completely Shia populated valley,” he said.

    Muhammad Ali Zia, another senior police official, confirmed the incident.

    “It was a roadside bomb blast, but we are yet trying to confirm whether it was blown up with a timer device or remote control device,” he told AFP.

    A senior official of the Gilgit-Baltistan home department said the federal interior ministry had issued an alert to the Gilgit-Baltistan government last week warning of a possible sectarian attack.

    “The interior ministry letter said Shia community might be targeted on the Karakorum Highway (KKH) in reaction to the killing of a Sunni cleric in the garrison city of Rawalpindi recently,” he told AFP, requesting not to be named.

    Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region is relatively peaceful and bomb blasts are rare, but gunmen killed nine foreign tourists including their Pakistani guide on the base camp of Nanga Parbat in June last year.

    Shia passengers travelling on the Karakorum Highway (KKH) have came under attack from Sunni extremist groups.

    In August 2012, armed men wearing military uniforms had stopped buses on the KKH killing 25 Shia passengers, after identifying them from their identity cards.

    Another 18 Shia passengers were killed in the same manner that year.

    Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/World/2014/Oct-02/272775-roadside-bomb-attack-kills-three-in-northern-pakistan.ashx#ixzz3F0gPAk6v
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26. mir abbasOctober 4, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    We are thankful to THE AIM NETWORK and corolyn janson to expose the target sectarian killing of shias in Pakistan Gilgit baltistan we strongly condemn the target killing of shias in Pakistan GB

27. Just SayingOctober 6, 2014 at 9:45 am

    Its a hard life no doubt, leaving your country with no possessions and the uncertainty of the future but people should go through the regular process of the UNHCR not jumping on boats just because they can or have the money to make it happen. I know is a very difficult situation but others have gone through the same and have waited patiently for 5, 10 and even 20 years to be resettled, we have first an obligation with those who had followed the process. Australia should speed up the processing times and help as they are doing now to share the burden of torn war countries, sadly we can’t take all the refugees nor is the responsibility of the country but at least we can give them a fair treatment.