Deport Fears For Visa Girl

[george]

Deport fears for visa girl

QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: -- THE grandparents of a 12-year-old Thai girl living in north Queensland fear she may be deported as soon as tomorrow.

Plarm Pongprom was brought to Australia three years ago by her grandparents, Kenneth and Sunan Ritchie, but has not been granted a protection visa.

When she was five, her drug-addicted parents fled the family farm in Thailand because they feared being killed, abandoning Plarm to an elderly great- aunt in a poor part of the country. Plarm's grandparents are worried because they have been asked to take her to the Department of Immigration in Cairns tomorrow afternoon.

"They have not extended her bridging visa this month as they normally do so I'm thinking the worst," Mr Ritchie said from Mareeba.

"The current bridging visa expires on Monday.

"If they refuse her a visa, they could snatch her on Monday afternoon and fly her out of the country within hours."

The family has been pleading with officials and Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone for months to allow Plarm to stay in Australia.

They fear if she is deported, she could fall prey to sex slave-traders and pornographers known to operate in the area where she would be sent.

"We seek help from the public and the Australian Government," Mr Ritchie said. "Plarm has not seen her parents for over five years and she has nobody to return to. All we want is to keep our granddaughter safe here in Australia."

Plarm has settled in well at the Mareeba State School, where she is a Year 7 pupil and was recently named vice-captain of her school sports house.

A protest to support Plarm has been organised outside the Department of Immigration building in Adelaide St, Brisbane, from 12.30pm tomorrow and Mr Ritchie is hoping a protest will take place in Cairns.

--news.com.au 2004-05-08

[john b good]

I would just like to add my best wishes for whatever that is worth that the Oz authorities show some compassion to little Plarm as she would have a very good opportunity to achieve anything she wants in the future just by being in Australia.

With a few exceptions it is a wonderful country.

We should not judge Australia or any other country for that matter by the sometimes vitrioic rantings of a few their "denizens" (people) as has been seen in recent postings

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I would just like to add my best wishes for whatever that is worth that the Oz authorities show some compassion to little Plarm as she would have a very good opportunity to achieve anything she wants in the future just by being in Australia.

With a few exceptions it is a wonderful country.

We should not judge Australia or any other country for that matter by the sometimes vitrioic rantings of a few their "denizens" (people) as has been seen in recent postings

I plan to contact the Thai Consul-General in Brisbane today,and ask if he can intervene

[Pink Mist]

Havn't seen anything on the media here, so hopefully the protest will raise awarness of the issue.

If you want support from amonster slobstone, bribe her with 2 tonnes of tim tams.

Seriously though if they are trying to get her out it would be to avoid media attention.

The Gov. have egg on their face over the other issue involving children that's been hogging the headlines for a while, the last thing little jonnie wants is another front page childrens immigration issue.

I will email channel 7 today and maybe get it some attention on their morning program.

Any more of you Aussies here start sending emails to the media about young Plarms plight.

Any more ideas lets post them now!!

[tuky]

I would just like to add my best wishes for whatever that is worth that the Oz authorities show some compassion to little Plarm as she would have a very good opportunity to achieve anything she wants in the future just by being in Australia.

With a few exceptions it is a wonderful country.

We should not judge Australia or any other country for that matter by the sometimes vitrioic rantings of a few their "denizens" (people) as has been seen in recent postings

I plan to contact the Thai Consul-General in Brisbane today,and ask if he can intervene

let us know how you go Doc.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

He'll call me after he talks to the Ambassador. BTW when you are in Oz you can pay extra and get a new passport in a day.

[Pink Mist]

for what it's worth have emailed channel seven so see what happens.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

for what it's worth have emailed channel seven so see what happens.

What about doing 9 as well Bronc ?

[Pink Mist]

It may already be news over there but no worries will do 9 they have a morning show also.

7 is the one though, they have a Kevin (Labour front bencher forgot his surname, too much VB) and joe hockey on every Monday morning so maybe they might raise it as a discussion point between them.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

It may already be news over there but no worries will do 9 they have a morning show also.

7 is the one though, they have a Kevin (Labour front bencher forgot his surname, too much VB) and joe hockey on every Monday morning so maybe they might raise it as a discussion point between them.

Is there any way that you can get hold of Kevin Wotsisname ?

[Pink Mist]

It may already be news over there but no worries will do 9 they have a morning show also.

7 is the one though, they have a Kevin (Labour front bencher forgot his surname, too much VB) and joe hockey on every Monday morning so maybe they might raise it as a discussion point between them.

Is there any way that you can get hold of Kevin Wotsisname ?

You know the guy Doc you reckon he is a bit up himself, cant even remember his portfolio, shadow foreign affairs or immigration.

Will search and see what I can find.

[Pink Mist]

Kevin Rudd, had a mental block and kept coming up with ruddock and ruddock wont help.

[Pink Mist]

Any one who is interested could email this bloke [email protected]

The next Prime Minister of Australia, I hope.

[Pink Mist]

One more email [email protected] get them happenig guys.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Good boy Bronco. No VB on tap today ?

[george]

Update:

Community fears Thai girl may be deported

Federal officials face community opposition over any decision to send a 12-year-old girl living in far north Queensland back to Thailand.

The communities of Cairns and Mareeba have rallied around the girl ahead of a meeting with Immigration officials in Cairns on Monday.

Plarm Pongprom has lived in Mareeba with her grandparents for the past three years.

The schoolgirl was abandoned by her drug-addicted parents in Thailand at the age of five.

Her grandfather Kenneth Ritchie is worried about the implications of the meeting with Immigration officials.

"They want us to report to the office at 4:45pm on Monday and that's rather out of hours so I'm very apprehensive," he said.

Plarm says she is fearful of returning to life in Thailand.

"I don't want to go because no one look after me there," she said.

Protests timed to coincide with the meeting with Immigration officials are planned for Cairns and Brisbane although a spokesman for Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says no decision has been made to deport the girl.

--abc.net.au 2004-05-09

[p_brownstone]

"They fear if she is deported, she could fall prey to sex slave-traders and pornographers known to operate in the area where she would be sent."

I have sympathy for the situatiuon of course - but am I the only one irritated by this ridiculous comment?

[Pink Mist]

"They fear if she is deported, she could fall prey to sex slave-traders and pornographers known to operate in the area where she would be sent."

I have sympathy for the situatiuon of course - but am I the only one irritated by this ridiculous comment?

Let's not get to far off subject here and don't be worried about press comments. The reality is Plarm goes back to LOS, no parents, nobody to support her, what are the options?

If the situation can be controlled in Oz then problem solvered. She has caring Grandparents who will support her so what is the problem?

Australian Immigration thats the problem, all we can do is expose these black shirts to the Oz public who would not support the tactics of separating orphaned Children from their natural families.

[tuky]

He'll call me after he talks to the Ambassador. BTW when you are in Oz you can pay extra and get a new passport in a day.

Thats the plan Doc.

Shame about my Azeri visa though, I will have to pay the US$350 to have it transferred into my new passport. Oh well

I think we are going to BKK on Tuesday. Will let you know how the visa thing goes.

[george]

Thai visa chased up on the pending deportation from Australia of a 12 year old girl with a decent claim for a protection visa.

Admins here approached the Royal Thai Consulate-General, and he got approval from Her Excellency the Thai Ambassador in Australia to follow the matter up with Australian Ministers immediately.

While there are no guarantees, it is a delight to see that thaivisa has some influence with the Royal Thai Government.

[davethailand]

i don't know anything about this story or the details but i would like to wish the grandparents and plarm every success and i hope the immigration officials use their heads and do whats best for this young girl.

[Pink Mist]

Good job really, we have some more swords into the fire, lets hope Plarm can benefit from this.

[tuky]

Thai visa chased up on the pending deportation from Australia of a 12 year old girl with a decent claim for a protection visa.

Admins here approached the Royal Thai Consulate-General, and he got approval from Her Excellency the Thai Ambassador in Australia to the matter up with Australian Ministers immediately.

While there are no guarantees, it is a delight to see that thaivisa has some influence with the Royal Thai Government.

Lets hope that this girl gets the start in life she deserves.

Well done Thaivisa for trying, I am proud to be a part of this forum.

I hope we get to know the outcome of this.

[tuky]

If she was deported is there any way we could do something here?

A temporary home until the visa can be sorted out properly?

or would she be sent somewhere? an orphanage or something?

[samran]

Just saw ABC news story on it. Immigration have stated that no decision regarding her deportation has been made yet. Looks like the community and media have made them think twice.

For any lawyers out there, isn't it possible under Australian (state) law that someone who is in her situation is able to be adopted by her carers (in this case by the grandparents) if it can be shown that she natural parents have abandonded her (regardless of nationality). Under Australian law then, an adoptee automatically then becomes and Australian citizen.

[Pink Mist]

Havn't seen anything here yet but will keep watching.

Havn't recieved a reply to emails either, yet.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

He'll call me after he talks to the Ambassador. BTW when you are in Oz you can pay extra and get a new passport in a day.

Thats the plan Doc.

Shame about my Azeri visa though, I will have to pay the US$350 to have it transferred into my new passport. Oh well

I think we are going to BKK on Tuesday. Will let you know how the visa thing goes.

Carry the old passport as well as the new one and you'll have no problems at all Leith

[Stefan Beck]

Hi Guys,

She is on Channel ten news tonight - I am still in Australia and was following this wiith some interest!

I will advise if she hits the othe channels as well. Maybe I can do something??

Kindest Stefan

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Good upon you Stefan. Thanks. The girl, as of 45 minutes ago, was granted an extension of the visa for one more month. I believe it is phase one of capitulation by the Oz Immigration Minister.

[Pink Mist]

Hi Guys,

She is on Channel ten news tonight - I am still in Australia and was following this wiith some interest!

I will advise if she hits the othe channels as well. Maybe I can do something??

Kindest Stefan

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