SAS Storming of Tampa Deplorable

Date: 30 August 2001

MEDIA RELEASE
August 30, 2001

THE Maritime Union deplores what is essentially a military invasion of a friendly ship in peace time.

National Secretary Paddy Crumlin described the actions of the Howard Government as inappropriate, inhumane and deserving of international condemnation.

"People smuggling has to be combated," he said. "But the perpetrators are the ones who need to be targeted, not the innocent victims, the master and crew of a vessel answering a distress call from a sinking ship. Nor pregnant women and children. This is nothing less than a cynical reelection gambit -- Mr Howard's Falklands War."

The Maritime Union has sent messages of support to Wilhemsen Line, the Master of the Tampa, the Norwegian Embassy and the international trade union movement. It's WA branch officials are also meeting with representatives of the WA labour council and Christmas Island unions later today.

Meanwhile the International Transport Workers' Federation yesterday issued a statement in London calling on the Australian Government to allow the Tampa to proceed to Christmas Island due to the unacceptable risk to crew and asylum seekers. The ITF has also called on International Maritime Organisation Secretary General William O'Neill to urgently resolve the situation and put in place binding international rules for such crisis.

The MUA and the Tampa crew unions are all ITF affiliates.

CONTACT: MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin 9267 9134 or mobile 0418 379 660

For further information

Contact:	Zoe Reynolds
Union:	Maritime Union of Australia
Phone:	0417 229873
WWW:	http://mua.tcp.net.au/

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