What's the problem?

All Australians are the same. All white people are the same. Would any white person agree with me? I don't think so. Then why would you say, "All Africans are the same. At least the black ones are all the same. They're also worse than other people"? Why would we be worse than others? We're not missing a leg or an eye. But you can be sure that we're not all the same.

In a report in The Age on 2 October 2007, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said that refugees from Africa are problematic. Maybe he thinks we are violent and uneducated because we spent time in refugee camps while waiting to come to Australia. But not all people who came here from Africa spent time in refugee camps. Some of us lived in houses. My family and I didn't have to wait in refugee camps.

I don't understand how it is that African migrants are the ones who are "problematic" when people from our community have been attacked and even killed by Australians. As far as education goes, we all went to school back in Africa. It is true that some of us didn't speak English, but the reason for that is because English wasn't the main language! The main language taught it was Arabic, especially for those who lived in the north. There are also at least three languages spoken by people who live in the south, none of which are English.

How are the people in Africa, those who are in camps waiting patiently to be accepted into Australia, going to cope? What will happen to those who have no homes any more, those who have been stuck between Egypt, Kenya, or Ethiopia and Sudan, believing that their acceptance by Australia is guaranteed?

This decision is inhuman and unfair. I think (and a lot of people will agree with me) Australia's refugee program should be conducted on the basis of need.

The decision to stop African migration is based on the perception that we Africans are not integrating into the Australian community. What happened to Australia being a multicultural country? Why do you think Australia is a peaceful country? It's because everyone brings a different perspective and different culture to Australia.

It's true that African migrants are not finding it easy to settle in Australia, but we are trying the best we can. Just as we must learn to adapt to new circumstances, so too should Australians.

At the moment, millions of Africans are stuck in refugee camps without hope. The greatest need remains in Africa. Mr Kevin Andrews should reverse his decision. This decision not only affects people in Africa, it affects people here just as much. I don't feel welcomed in Australia anymore.