Tamil Refugee Seeks Senate Seat In Australia
MELBOURNE: At age eight, she fled the Sri Lankan civil war to Malaysia with her family before settling in Sydney as a refugee 22 years ago.
In the federal election expected to be called in the next few days, Brami Jegan will seek a Senate seat.
The 30-year-old former investment banker with Macquarie Bank and JP Morgan in Sydney, for about eight years, will stand as a Greens candidate as she wants to "contribute to our society".
She told The Australian newspaper she became determined to chart a more public-minded course after returning to Sri Lanka for two weeks in 2002, with her father.
"Seeing children blinded through malnutrition and adults without arms and legs because of landmines was really shocking," Brami was quoted as saying.
"And that's when I decided to do something more with my life. That was the beginning of a road to a career in politics."
Having worked as a journalist with an Australian television station, and currently as a communications officer with Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, Brami is also expecting the scrutiny that comes with seeking public office.
Last year in Britain, her uncle, Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar -- known as AC Shanthan -- was jailed for two years for allegedly aiding the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), outlawed in Britain as a terrorist organisation.
The founder of the British Tamil Association, Shanthan was found to have acquired electrical components and military manuals for the LTTE.
Three other charges were dismissed.
"Yes, it happened, but I don't believe I have anything to apologise for," Brami said, pointing to a transcript of the judge's comments in which her uncle was called "a thoroughly decent man" who hadn't sought to "assist (the LTTE) in war".
"The fact is, my uncle was trying to help Tamils in Sri Lanka. He wasn't a terrorist," she told the newspaper.
Brami nominates refugee policy as her main political focus in Australia.
She is a regular visitor to the 39 Tamil asylum-seekers held at Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney's west.
And, while she agrees Sri Lanka is more secure now, she cites the latest UNHCR report in stating the threat still exists for some, and that asylum-seekers should be assessed, case by case.
Tengoklah ini, pendatang pun diberi peluang untuk dilantik senator. Bukan macam negara kita, walaupun dah beratusan tahun di sini, bersumbang pada negara, tapi masih dianggap pendatang, disuruh balik china atau india.
BalasPadamSaya cuma anti sama pendatang tanpa izin yang perangainya menyusahkan Sabahan atau rakyat M'sia... Kalau yang perangai bagus & pandai bawa diri malah bagi sumbangan sama negara, saya mestilah hormat juga.. Ini baru namanya hukum alam, buat baik dibalas baik.. hehehe
BalasPadamyalah pendatang tanpa izin di sabah ni sebenarnya manusia juga mencari rezeki halal demi untuk hidup. kita tidak salahkan mereka sebab mereka ingin menumpang rahmat yang ada di M'sia. cuma kalau yang melampau tu...merompak merogol dan mencuri...tu yang buat rakyat negara kita benci menyumpah seranah PATI..yang lebih haru bila mereka dapat hak kerakyatan!
BalasPadamPATI di M'sia dan Sabah khususnya adalah seperti penyakit kanser yang sukar untuk dihapuskan
BalasPadam