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Catholic
Archbishop calls on Ruddock to let the East Timorese stay
Australian Catholic Bishops'
Conference President, Archbishop Francis Carroll has written to Immigration
Minister Philip Ruddock with an urgent plea to allow a group of East Timorese
asylum seekers to stay in Australia.
It is the second time
Archbishop Carroll has written to the minister on behalf of the group of
about 1800 asylum seekers.
The first letter, followed
by a brief meeting with Mr Ruddock, produced no concession from the government.
The government expects
the East Timorese, many of whom are children and have lived their whole lives
in Australia to return to their impoverished and unstable homeland.
Archbishop Carroll urged
Mr Ruddock to give "sympathetic attention" to their plight.
"The Catholic Church
has many agencies and individuals who are in constant communication with
East Timor," he wrote.
"Their reports indicate
that the country is very poor, unemployment is high and there is still inadequate
housing for the current population. Rioting late last year highlights
concern for the welfare of these people is sent back to East Timor.
"These people are
mainly Catholic and have become respected and valued members of our Church
community."
The level of support within
the Catholic community was demonstrated with 40,000 signatures on a national
petition, which Archbishop Carroll presented personally to the Minister during
their brief meeting in December.
In his letter Archbishop
Carroll restated his request that the government create a special visa category
to acknowledge the special circumstances of the East Timorese people in question.
Attached are both of
Archbishop Carroll's letters to the Minister.
For further information
contact Felicity Donnelly, Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office
on 02 6201 9848.
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