Wednesday, October 06, 2010



Maybe not so heartless after all

On Monday, the government decided to deport Sital and Usha Ram, condemning their kiwi children to life in a slum. Today, they've decided to review that decision. I guess public pressure (and the threat of being tarred as the party which breaks up kiwi families and condemns kiwi kids to a life of poverty) works.

Of course, the Minister may not change her mind. But she's now been clearly and publicly put on notice by the Human Rights Commission of her obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. After this, any decision to deport would be publicly seen to be unlawful, as well as cruel and heartless. With the political deck stacked in that way, hopefully she'll make the right choice and let these kids and their parents stay.