To: Amanda Vanstone, Australian Minister for Immigration

Minister Vanstone:
So, now the truth is out – and it's just as any alert Australian would have suspected: In the matter of the Turkish refugees, your government lied, as it has before, on refugee issues, and in the most pathetic manner. Is what you did illegal under international law, or just contrary to the basic humane values that international law tries to impose on renegade governments such as Australia's present mob of ratbags? Have you and your colleagues any shame at all?
With appropriate disgust and disappointment,


http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s988766.htm
The Turkish Kurds are now being held in Jakarta. (Reuters)
Howard shrugs off refugee U-turn
By London correspondent Fran Kelly
Prime Minister John Howard says whether the Turkish Kurds who landed on Melville Island last week applied for asylum is irrelevant.
The Government has been accused of deceiving the Australian people after revealing the men did seek protection as refugees.
"At the time any so-called application for asylum might have been made, the islands had been excised," Mr Howard said.
The Government corrected the record late yesterday after it had categorically ruled out that any of the 14 Turkish Kurds aboard the boat had claimed asylum.
It now says the words 'human rights' and 'refugee' were mentioned by some and at least one man pointed to the word refugee in a dictionary.
Mr Howard also says the Indonesian Government knew of Australia's decision to tow a fishing boat carrying 14 Turkish Kurds back into Indonesian waters.
Opposition leader Simon Crean says the Government concealed the truth for a week-and-a-half.