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5 November, 2001There is concern that the visa rejections are based on discrimination against delegates coming from Muslim African countries.
SYDNEY: After having already refused visa requests last week for two African delegates - from Ghana and Cameroon - to attend the International Metalworkers' Federation 30th World Congress, to take place in Sydney November 11-15, the Australian government has turned down entry visas for four additional African union officials seeking to attend the IMF Congress. (Australian authorities have accepted to review the visa request for Ms Martha Hansen-Sackey of Ghana.) These delegates have been told they needed to apply for the visas three months in advance of attending the Congress.
Julius Roe, national president of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) and a delegate to the IMF Congress, said today that it is ridiculous and discriminatory to put a three-month limit on the application for visas to attend a union conference in Australia. "I am concerned that these delegates are being discriminated against by the Australian government on the basis that they are coming from Muslim African countries. The reality is, no business could operate with the imposition of having to give three months' notice before travelling, and these delegates have ligitimate union business to conduct in our country," added Roe.
"Delegates coming from Western and European countries have not experienced any difficulty in gaining entry visas to Australia. I am writing today to the Immigration Department in Sydney to demand an explanation for why these delegates have been denied entry," Roe said.
The delegates who have been denied entry are:
Julius Roe, national president of the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) and a delegate to the IMF Congress, said today that it is ridiculous and discriminatory to put a three-month limit on the application for visas to attend a union conference in Australia. "I am concerned that these delegates are being discriminated against by the Australian government on the basis that they are coming from Muslim African countries. The reality is, no business could operate with the imposition of having to give three months' notice before travelling, and these delegates have ligitimate union business to conduct in our country," added Roe.
"Delegates coming from Western and European countries have not experienced any difficulty in gaining entry visas to Australia. I am writing today to the Immigration Department in Sydney to demand an explanation for why these delegates have been denied entry," Roe said.
The delegates who have been denied entry are:
- Daniel Ndoum, from Cameroon;
- Marc Nsi Engo, from Gabon;
- Kouadio N'Dri, from Ivory Coast;
- Mohamed Naceur Nisiri, from Tunisia;
- Mahamed Seddik Kordjani, from Algeria.