PM Wrong - Baby Michael’s family declared refugees
Media Release: 6.45 am 31 May 2005
Yesterday, 15 of the Vietnamese asylum seekers who arrived in Australia at Port Headland in Western Australia, aboard
the Hao Kiet in July 2003, were deemed to be refugee's by Australia including 3 children, after having spent nearly 2
years in Australia's costly remote detention processing centre on Christmas Island.
The parents of Baby Michael Andrew Tran, born in detention under guard in Perth (Monday 23 May 2005), father Minh Dat
Tran, 39 and mother Hoai Thu Nguyen, 39 and 74 year old Grandmother Thi Tu Nguyen, were amongst those who received their
good news today. One-week-old Michael will not be automatically entitled to refugee status along with his parents due to
the Migration Act deficiencies which are coming under increasing question in Australia with a proposed members Bill by
Liberal MP, Petro Giorgio.
Refugee Advocate Kaye Bernard said, "Failing intervention by the Immigration Minister to exercise her powers to grant
Michael protection, the current Migration Act requires Michael to prove his case and stay in detention, possibly
indefinitely." and Kaye Bernard added " to quote the Immigration Minister in her comments over Michael's situation last
week, herein lies the absolute "ridiculous" and "insane" nature of a truly crazy law that needs changing right now."
The Hao Kiet group called themselves the 'Resistance Force' in communist Vietnam, and are pro democracy supporters, who,
under Vietnam law could be subject to the death penalty for questioning the communist authorities if they were returned
to Vietnam.
Prime Minister Howard jumped into the spotlight last week when he said that Michael Andrew Tran could stay in Perth in
detention, contrary to the Immigration Minister and that his Government would not force Michael's family to return to
detention on Christmas Island.
Prime Minister, John Howard said last week about Michael's family, "When their final status is determined, there is a
question of whether the family returns to Vietnam," he said, adding that they could choose to go back there any time
before that.
Baby Michael Tran left hospital yesterday with his mother and his currently held, despite the recent favourable refugee
decision by the tribunal, under 24 hour guard by the Immigration Department in an undisclosed location with his parents
and frail Grandmother somewhere in Perth.
There are currently 7 children born in detention still living under guard.
See pictures at: http://www.chilout.org/
ENDS