Harmony Day labelled a “PR” stunt
1 April 2001
		By Chris Hook The Department for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) and the Federal Government have been condemned for celebrating Harmony Day while detaining asylum seekers under mandatory detention policies. Harmony Day took place on March 21 to coincide with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Prime Minister Howard said the day was “an opportunity ... to state there is no place in Australia for racism or bigotry”. But the national coordinator for Justice For Refugees, Maqsood Alkabir Alshams, told a rally outside DIMA offices in Sydney that the Government’s promotion of Harmony Day was hypocritical when 4,000 asylum seekers were detained throughout Australia. He said Justice For Refugees had come about because of the need to educate people about the “false understanding” that asylum seekers were queue jumpers. “We are trying to educate the community that what they have learned from successive Australian governments is wrong,” said Mr Alshams. Also speaking to the rally was Thang Ngo, a Unity candidate for the Senate in the federal election due later this year. Speaking to The Catholic Weekly after the rally, Mr Ngo called Harmony Day a “public relations stunt”. “You can make laws until the cows come home, but until the Minister (Philip Ruddock) and the Prime Minister become more tolerant, that’s the example people will follow.” Mr Ngo accused the Federal Government of pandering to a small minority of One Nation voters and said the “compassionate vote” for minor parties such as the Greens, Democrats and Unity far outstripped One Nation support.