Return to Left Link postings on the Internet Interesting that Left LInk openly promote Sinn Fein's web site - an organisation to which Ervin refers below.
From: Lorenzo Komboa Ervin komboa@mindspring.com
[A letter from Lorenzo Ervin - a courtesy copy was sent to
Leftlink.]
Brother Muata:
According to Mr. Ruddock's letter, it now seems that they are trying
to go back to the old tactic of character assassination, due to the
airplane hijacking case of 1969. They also allude to "criminal
association", cleverly implying that the Black Panther Party is such,
while they adopt a new line that this is not a "free speech" issue.
Well, the majority of their own public fully understands otherwise,
and that is what they are trying to deny. The media and the
government itself compared my case to that of Gerry Adams, the
Northern Irish MP and leader of the Sein Fein movement, so this is
clearly political banning, in violation of international law. It's
interesting that just this week the United States government gave Mr.
Adams a visa to vist the USA, but he can't get into Austrailia. In
addition, when Bobby Rush comes to the country as a member of the
United States Olympic Committee, I would like to see them tell him
that the Panthers were a "criminal terrorist organization" and he is
not welcome in the country.
But there is new information I have discovered from the American
press which has a direct bearing on this matter. According to the
Thursday, August 14, 1997 issue of USA Today newspaper, Billy
Hayes, now a director, writer and actor in Hollywood, travelled to
Australia in June 1997 to attend the Sydney Film Festival. According
to the newspaper - "...The trip was one of the first foregin trips he
has made since Turkey slapped a worldwide Interpol arrest warrant
on him in 1978..." Now if you don't remember Mr. Hayes' case, in
1970 he was arrested in Ankara International airport for smuggling
two kilograms of drugs into the country, sentenced to life in prison,
and then escaped to Greece and later came back to America. His case
was sensationalized in a Hollywood movie, Midnight Express,
released in 1978.
Now there are many questions about this Hayes case? Why was he
allowed into Australia even though he had an open criminal case as
an escaped prisoner? Why wasn't he arrested and deported to Turkey
on the Interpol warrant? Why is Mr. Ruddock's Immigration
Department covering this case up and making such a big deal of my
own? Why can people like Mr. Hayes come to Australia with a
criminal record but I am being permanently banned from entry?
Clearly we are talking aout some double standards here, and if I were
white and did not have radical political ideals, I would be welcome,
criminal record or no.
There is no longer any question that this entire matter is a free
speech issue, and that Mr. Ruddock is an out and out liar. He and
Howard's government are applying the immigration laws
inconsistently and based on a conservative political criteria and
racism. This is the same type of racism that Australia has always
been known for, going back to the White Austrailia racial exclusion
immigration policy, which was part of the 1958 immigration
standards that he so proudly alludes to, until just recently.
Australia has had racist policies all along, and my 30-year old
criminal record was never the issue. The Hayes case proves that, if
there was ever any doubt.
I still have attorneys there, and we do intend to proceed in the
Australian courts with a lawsuit against my false imprisonment by
Mr. Ruddock's immigration department, this type of slander by
government officials, the restrictions on my free speech and other
charges related to this. We are also going to challenge on the
international level my political banning by the government, and that
of other political figures by the Australian government.
Finally, we still do intend to launch a boycott against Australian
trade and tourism, and as soon as the Web site is completed, will
advise you of it. Again, thanks for letting me [know] what they are
sending everyone. I would suggest that people write them back and
let them know that you are not falling for these lies by Ruddock.
Demand that they drop the banning order against me, allow me to
finish my nationwide speaking tour, and stop circulating these official
lies.
Lorenzo Komboa Ervin
Date: Sat, 16 Aug 1997 16:40:33 -0400 (EDT)
Message-ID: 199708162312.JAA03403@yarra.vicnet.net.au
Mailing List: LEFTLINK@vicnet.net.au
Thanks for advising me of this letter from Mr. Ruddock, Australian
Immigration Minister, in response to your and others protest letters
over my imprisonment last month in Brisbane.
At 12:39 AM 8/14/97 EDT, [Muata] wrote:
Brother Komboa,
I'm glad to see that your home safely. This is bro. Muata from the
BPL. I, like the rest of the list, sent many faxes and letters
demanding your release. I know that you are aware of this, but I
wanted to forward a response that I received from Phillip Ruddock
[... ] Check it out for yourself. I'm sure that other members
received the same e-mail today, so I'll ask Sis. to post it. Also,
when you get a chance I'd like to know more about BAI. Take care
strong brother.
N struggle,
********************************************
Muata
Thank you for your message to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs concerning Mr Lorenzo Edward Ervin.
Australia's immigration program is universal and non-discriminatory. All non-citizens applying for visas to enter Australia are considered against the legal requirements of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) and Migration Regulations. The Act contains a broad and comprehensive power to refuse to grant, or to cancel a visa on the basis that a person is not of good character on the grounds of their past criminal conduct, general conduct or association with an organisation which, it is reasonably believed, is or has been involved in criminal conduct. A visa may also be refused, or cancelled, on the grounds that a person would vilify a segment of the Australian community, or incite discord in or represent a danger to the Australian community or a segment of the community. All applications to enter or remain in Australia are considered on their merits against the requirements of the Act and regulations, and in the light of all available and relevant information.
Mr Ervin's visa was cancelled because of his past criminal conduct. Mr Ervin is a convicted kidnapper and hijacker for which he received two terms of life imprisonment. Some years later Mr Ervin was convicted to a term of ten years in prison for an assault on a Corrections' Officer. Despite his claims to the contrary, the United States Federal Parole Office has advised that he has never received executive clemency from the United States Government.
The Government has a responsibility to the Australian community to ensure that people who are not of good character are not allowed to enter or remain in the country. My decision to cancel Mr Ervin's visa was based solely on the requirements of the Act and regulations and had nothing to do with the issue of free speech, a principle to which the Government is very committed . Mr Ervin's views on various issues are freely available in Australia, including via the Internet. Please find enclosed a copy of my Media Release of 25 July 1997 relating to the matter, which may be of interest to you. [not included with this letter.]
The Government is very serious about maintaining the integrity of its borders. I am concerned that a visa was granted to Mr Ervin in spite of his inclusion in alert systems operated by my Department. The matter has highlighted a shortcoming in those systems. Remedial action is being taken to prevent a reoccurrence of the kind that occurred on this occasion. I have enclosed a copy of my Media Release of 27 July 1997 outlining proposals to upgrade the alert systems currently employed by my Department. [not included with this letter]
Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention.
Yours sincerely
Philip Ruddock
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