Tas: "Let our mate stay" school s plea for Kosovar

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2000
Tas: "Let our mate stay" school s plea for Kosovar

By Don Woolford

HOBART, April 6 AAP - Hobart high school prefect Matt Dewey today pleaded with the
federal government: "Let my mate Albert stay."

Chantal Walters added her plea: "The government should be ashamed of itself. Tasmania
has a declining population and what's six more people?"

The six are Kosovar refugees Vesel and Nexhmije Sopjani and their sons Armend, 17,
and Albert, 15, and two young men, Avni Muhadri and Akif Lutfiu.

They know that unless today's plea to Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock, or a High
Court action in Canberra tomorrow, succeeds, the six refugees will be forced on a plane
back to their war-ravaged homeland within days.

That will mean only one of about 600 Kosovar refugees who came to Tasmania last May
- Naser Dasic, who's been given permission to apply for refugee status - will still be
here.

Tasmanians who've had contact with the Kosovars, and there are many around Hobart,
can't understand why Canberra is insisting that such a small group, who've fitted in so
well, is being forced back to a country whose horrors are still shown almost nightly on
television.

In a late bid for a reprieve, staff and students at New Town High School, which Albert
Sopjani attends, circulated a petition, which was handed over to Premier Jim Bacon, who
promised to send it to Mr Ruddock.

A second petition, organised by independent upper house member Don Wing and backed
by all parties, was also sent.

Mr Sopjani, who comes from a village near Pristina, said he hadn't been told when they
would have to go, only that their visas would expire on Saturday.

He said he'd been in contact with former refugees who'd gone back from Tasmania and
their news was frightening.

The country was still shattered and unstable, with few services, rampant crime, Mafia
groups, and abductions, particularly of children.

He was very happy in Tasmania, where he'd made a lot of friends and received enormous support.

"I don't want to get on that plane," Mr Sopjani said.

Mr Muhadri was relocated to Bandiana when the government closed the Tasmanian haven,
but made his way back six weeks later.

He came back because he loved it. He had friends - and a special friend in Chantal
Walters - a job and played soccer.

Mark O'Callaghan, an English teacher at the haven centre, said the Sopjanis had shown
a lot of guts in settling into Hobart so well.

"They decided to live in the community and made a home," he said.

"They found a job and haven't drawn on the taxpayers' pocket. The boys have gone to
school, played in a local soccer club and according to their teachers have become most
loved and respected.

"We should be ashamed of the way the Australian government has treated them and should
be welcoming them with open arms."

Matt Dewey agreed.

"Albert is a great guy," he said.

"He works real hard and doesn't give anyone rubbish. I know he'd be there for us if
we needed him."

But there was little comfort from Canberra. A spokesman for Mr Ruddock said all the
Kosovars had been invited to explain why it was unsafe for them to return.

If, on advice from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, it was decided
it was safe, they would be expected to go back.

"Australia has been very generous and we hope they will reciprocate," the spokesman said.

He said the Tasmanian Kosovars would probably fly to Melbourne on Saturday morning
to join a charter flight leaving for Europe later in the day.

AAP dw/apm

KEYWORD: KOSOVO AUST TAS

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