Sri Lanka, bastion of fairness, freedom, democracy, bla bla.... Well they're such a bastion that Abbott gave them two of our Navy boats in November last year, just to help them out patrolling for asylum seekers trying to get to Australia. This caused quite a stir at the time here, particularly with the Greens who questioned Abbott's wisdom in gifting military equipment to a country with such a poor human rights record:
The Greens have criticised the new deal with Sri Lanka, with party leader Christine Milne saying Australia should not collaborate with the country because of its human rights record. "In order to sure up Tony Abbott's cruel and hollow policy to stop the boats he is resorting to collaboration with Sri Lanka and will turn a blind eye to human rights abuses," she said in a statement. "This has nothing to do with fairness, justice or saving lives. "Any resources provided to Sri Lanka would be better spent in leading a genuine regional solution that cares for refugees by bringing more of them to Australia and by pushing for global action to investigate alleged war crimes." more
Now whenever I see a story about Sri Lanka I always think of those two Australian Navy boats now being used there. Well just in case we'd all forgotten about the boats gift, here's a little reminder about just how bad they are with human rights. This British tourist was arrested and deported because her tattoo was deemed to have hurt people's religious feelings:
A British tourist is to be deported from Sri Lanka, after she was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport in the capital Colombo for having a tattoo of Buddha on her arm.
Naomi Michelle Coleman had arrived at the airport from India, and was detained when the tattoo of a Buddha seated on a lotus flower was spotted on her right arm, according to Sri Lankan police officials.
After her arrest Coleman, appeared before a magistrate who ordered her deportation, which will take place “very soon…tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” a police spokesman said.
He added that the 37-year-old was arrested for “hurting others' religious feelings”. more
The outrageous robodebt fiasco, which has resulted in at least one suicide (a 20yr old that Centrelink claimed owed $18,000) is now bei...
About me
After 30 years of very physical full time work in the printing industry our print dept was outsourced and we all lost our jobs. As I'd gotten HIV beforehand and was having trouble attending and doing work I discussed with my HIV doctor whether I should apply for the Australian Disability Support Pension. He agreed,and I became a DSP pensioner under the new Gillard rules of adherence that now sees 75% of DSP applicants rejected.
Have been diagnosed with PTSD, severe depression, chronic kidney failure, and of course HIV. I'd become suicidal in 2009 after 3 extreme life events in a row; My best friend killed herself in the US (I don't make friends easily BTW), my teenage/young adult daughter had me charged by the police with a minor problem, and I was diagnosed with HIV. All in three weeks.
Some say god won't give you more than you can bear, my reply is "Well what happened to me?" If not for the HIV support here in Australia and me being able to have access to it I'd likely be dead by now. Unbearable pain often causes suicide, no matter physical or mental.
Today I've not worked since being made redundant. I remain with episodes of depression and panic attacks, sometimes severe. I may be fine and happy to leave the house, at times I'm paralised in bed, secure and safe and not willing to face the world.
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