Ireland: Irish Doctors say NO to Racist Law

The annual conference of the Irish Medical Organisation (the doctors' trade union) has voted to oppose Government plans to introduce identity checks on asylum-seekers and immigrants as a condition of treatment at hospitals and GP surgeries.
The motion agreed states that "the IMO rejects any attempts to introduce legislation which will oblige workers in the public sector (including doctors) to notify [the Government] when they encounter asylum-seekers who do not have appropriate documentation with regard to citizenship and residency".
Dr Mary Favier (Cork GP) In proposing the motion, pointed out that the government's plan, if enacted, would turn
doctors and other public service workers into quasi-immigration officials. Dr Favier drew attention to the Government's "hypocritical and racist" attitude. "The Irish government went out of its way to secure beneficial treatment for Irish illegals in the USA in the mid-1980s. Concern was expressed about how these illegals would manage if they fell sick or were injured at work.
Now the shoe is on the other foot but the government's attitude shows no compassion. Asylum-seekers are to be hounded even when they are sick and in need of help."
The thrust of government policy is to criminalise and deport. This was outlined in a reply that Minister John O'Donoghue gave to the Dail in January when asked about the Interdepartmental Committee Report on Non-Nationals.The Minister has already said (before even looking at their cases) that 90% of asylum-seeker applications are "bogus".The likelihood is that we will soon see a lot of asylum-seekers being declared illegal and subject to deportation.
That is why the IMO resolution is important Other public sector unions (IMPACT, teachers, etc.) are making similar cases for non-compliance with any proposals to turn workers into spies and informers for the government. Info. from Workers Solidarity No 57

Malaysia: On July 27th about 689 out of 1205 detainees at the Lenggeng Detention Centre in Malaysia held a protest over a 3-day water cut and health problems. One detainee died and many others complained of breathing difficulties.
During the demonstration about 192 of the detainees escaped from the camp. The mass protest and breakout follow years of concern and protest at the conditions in Malaysian detention camps, including abuse, lack of food and water, and little or no medical treatment In March 1998 there were protests at Semenyih detention camp when detainees feared camp authorities were poisoning them after many of them fell ill. This led to burning of the camp and shootings by the police. At the same time there were protests in Lenggeng and Machap Umbu camps.
This is the second time in 16 months there have been major protests by inmates in Malaysian detention camps. These events clearly indicate that very little changes have been made to ensure humane treatment or conditions that meet the standards set by international covenants. Malaysian human rights groups are calling for access to the camps for the International Red Cross, UNHCR and international human rights groups and for an international inquiry into the conditions endured by inmates at the Lenggeng and other detention centres in Malaysia.
Information from MAHA (Migrants Against HIV/AIDS)