Bridging Visas Create Unjust Situations

The following article was published at the Australian Christian online

By : Kristen Hobby (SJN)

Etienne, Adolph, Matinse and Papy (affectionately known as the Congo Boys) arrived in Australia five years ago from the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Congo they were musicians, playing for the president. Unfortunately, President Laurent-Desire Kabila was assassinated in 2001, and the four suddenly found themselves a target of the newly installed leaders. They fled, first to Kenya, then to Malaysia, and then to Australia. Upon arrival in Australia they applied for asylum on the ground that they would be persecuted if they ever returned to Congo. Only one of the four spoke English and through the use of interpreters, the Department of Immigration (DIMIA) found “inconsistencies” in their stories. They were then denied asylum. For the first two years they were supported by Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH) and then by the Knoxfield (Vic) Church of Christ. Over the past five years the four have gone through every possible avenue, appealed at every level including the Refugee Review Tribunal and even the High Court. Together with support of UNOH and Knoxfield COC they applied directly to the Immigration Minister, Amanda Vanstone. Just before Christmas 2004, they were advised that their request had been denied and they faced imminent deportation. In the meantime, their Congolese passports had expired and Congo had a policy of not renewing passport for citizens living outside the country. They were effectively stuck. Australia would not allow them to stay but Congo wouldn’t issue them a passport which would allow them to travel to another country. Their only option was to be issued a Bridging Visa Type E. What is a Bridging Visa (Type E)? A Bridging Visa Type E (B.VE) is a type of bridging visa granted to some people seeking asylum by the Department of Immigration (DIMIA). The visa allows them to reside lawfully within the community until there is final determination of their application for a protection visa; however, this type of visa denies holders the right to work, education and Medicare. The BVE is granted to a range of people in different circumstances There are four ways that someone can find themselves on this type of visa: 1) For some people who have been released from detention with their claims still pending; 2) The 45 day rule: All people seeking asylum who have not applied for a Protection Visa within 45 days of arrival in Australia are denied the right to work and therefore access to Medicare. This is probably the meanest rule of all. People come to Australia in all sorts of circumstances and conditions, often not speaking English and through no fault of their own, find themselves denied work and Medicare support. 3) For people appealing decisions from the Refugee Review Tribunal are automatically denied work rights and thus access to Medicare. Appeals to the Federal and High Court may take a considerable period of time, from six months to a number of years. 4) Appealing to the Minister for Immigration: As of 1 July 1998 individuals seeking ministerial discretion on humanitarian grounds are automatically denied work. Appeals to the minister may also take a number of years There are currently between 8,000-10,000 people seeking asylum living in the Australian community awaiting decisions at different stages of their applications for protection visas and appeals procedures. Some 750-900 such people seeking asylum are estimated to be living in Victoria. This group includes children, elderly persons and single parents without any form of independent income. Many of these people are living in conditions of severe poverty. Some have been released from detention on the basis of special needs relating to mental and physical health and many have special needs as a result of the experience of torture and trauma. Why does this matter? As a result of their visa conditions, BVE holders like the Congo Boys (Vox Congo is the name of their band) are dependent upon charity and church organisations and face ongoing and spiraling difficulties with homelessness, cumulative debt, family breakdown and the exacerbation of existing health problems. Not only is this unjust, it is also against Australia’s international obligations. This situation persists despite Australia’s obligations under international law. For example, the UN Commission for Human Rights requires that Australia provides adequate care for all people including children seeking asylum. I can provide all the economic and academic reasons why this situation is unjust but I want you to imagine for a moment what it must be like for these four men. All of them want to establish a life and contribute to Australian society. They were granted working rights when Mark Riessen (Knoxfield Church of Christ) and Keith Bryant (Surrey Hills Church of Christ) advocated of their behalf so they continue to play their music (most recently at the UNOH conference 2006). The B.VE stipulates that the four men all have to visit the DIMIA office every one to two months which can be difficult when your only means of support is to tour and play music. Their lives are far from stable, they rely almost entirely on the support of Churches of Christ and in particular the Knoxfield Church of Christ and they simply do not know what the future holds. As Christians, we are called to look after the poorest among us, the marginalised and the sick. Personally, I think it would be difficult to find a group of people that are poorer or more marginalized than those holding B.VEs. Things you can do to help • Speak to your Federal Member of Parliament to let them know you think this situation is unjust. • Contribute funds for their support via Knoxfield Church of Christ. • Buy one of their CDs available at Knoxfield Church of Christ, UNOH or CCTC, or visit www.tigermusic.com.au • Check them out next time they play. Their tour dates are available on www.voxcongo.com • Pray that this unjust situation changes.

Asylum Seekers Touch the Peninsula (Vic)

The following article was published at the Australian Christian online

By : Kristen Hobby (SJN)

Further to my article on bridging visa type E, an example of an ecumenical approach was provided by churches on the Mornington Peninsula. Refugee Sunday (27th August) provided an ideal opportunity to highlight this issue. Red Hills Church of Christ (Vic), led by Minister Bill Sharrock, invited people from the surrounding churches, including Uniting, Catholic, Anglican, and Dromana Church of Christ, to hear Mark Riessen (Knoxfield) and two members of the Congolese music group Vox Congo speak. Their stories focused on how the bridging visas policy impacts on people’s lives. People attending heard a moving story of the struggle to achieve temporary or permanent status, and establish a life in Australia. Mark was the keynote speaker, and he shared his experiences within UNOH and also the contacts Knoxfield Church of Christ engages in with refugees and migrants. Mark made the group aware of the sheer numbers of refugees around the world, and how difficult it was for refugees to get into our country and have any status here. He invited his two friends to come up and give personal accounts on how hard a road it has been to get here, but how harder it is to get visas to stay. Those attending heard something of their dreams and ambitions to reach out with the love of Christ to their own peoples and to give them hope for the future. They sang songs of hope with feeling and warmth which touched many who were there. Also, the sheer poverty of refugees and migrants impacted many. All who attended were challenged by what they heard and felt a deep sadness about their plight. The response was shown by the value of the offering taken, which was very generous. Bill spoke of the highlights of the day: the unity of the evening, the frankness of the message, the two stories shared, the song of hope that was sung with harmony and feeling, the generosity of the offering and the hospitality after the service. Sunday, September 17th If you are interested in seeing Vox Congo live, then the next event is the Oxfam Concert on Sunday 17th September at 2:30pm at St Thomas Moore's Catholic Church in Belgrave, Victoria. The cost is $15 per head and all proceeds go to supporting Oxfam Australia. Come and support Vox Congo and Oxfam on Sunday Sept 17th. For more information, please contact Mark Riessen (Manager Vox Congo). Phone: 9801 5798/ 0422 115 259 or mark@knoxfieldcc.org.au Website: http://www.voxcongo.com/ or www.voxcongo.blogspot.com

Christ Church Dingley

About a week before UNOH's Surrender 06 Conference (20/8/06) Vox Congo visited Christ Church in Dingley, Melbourne. this was the last in a series of visits to churchs for the 'Wild Ones' for Jesus campaign. Rod Sheard from UNOH's Bangkok chapter was the guest speaker, shared some very wild stories about life in the Klong Toey slum of Bangkok recently.




Vox Congo were awesome once again. What is it about Vox Congo that causes a church to form into a congo line?




The boys couldn't resist the foosball table at the back of the chapel. They are particularly passionate about their soccer even if it is a miniture version on a table.

The extended family of Vox Congo were also there that night. Papy's wife of 3 years Rebekkah and ther 10 month old Jael & Martinse's wife of 2 years Carmen with their 6 month old Grace. they're cute little babies, always smiling.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

Cheers
Mark



Just when Martinse thinks he has it in the bag Adolph wins a victory.