Why East Timor refugees should be allowed to stay

Sydney
2 March 2003

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Why East Timor refugees should be allowed to stay

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Why East Timor refugees should be allowed to stay

In his letter to Mr Ruddock on October 24, 2002, Archbishop Carroll gave the following reasons why the East

Timorese refugees should be allowed to remain in Australia:

They came to Australia for protection and have resided here for many years, some since 1992.

They have integrated into the Australian community and most of them have worked very hard to support themselves and start a new life.

They are a peaceful, faithful and law-abiding people who make their contribution to both Church and society in a friendly and productive way.

Many children in the group have been born in Australia, and/or have grown up and been educated here. They would be unable to continue their education satisfactorily in East Timor.

Some of the children have married and started their own families here; some have acquired employment in fields of work which do not exist in East Timor.

A return to East Timor would be very difficult for the asylum seekers and would bring great hardship. At thistime, they would add to the problems of this new nation rather than help to alleviate those problems.