FED: Govt refuses Liberian soccer team entry

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-1999
FED: Govt refuses Liberian soccer team entry

By Steve Connolly

CANBERRA, Aug 22 AAP - Immigration officials have stopped a young west African soccer team
from coming to Australia despite the players being invited to a special reception by
Governor-General Sir William Deane.

The Millennium Stars, a team of teenage boys from war-torn Liberia, were due to arrive in
Sydney tomorrow night to attend an international conference on sport and human rights.

The 12 team members, aged 13 to 17, had also been invited by Sir William to a reception at
his Sydney residence Admiralty House.

Catholic overseas aid and development agency Caritas Australia had sponsored the visit by
the boys, several of whom had been forced to fight as child soldiers during Liberia's civil
war.

But the team was refused visas because immigration officials considered the purpose of the
visit was not genuine and that the players might try to stay in Australia.

This was despite offers to ensure round the clock supervision of the boys at their Sydney
boarding school accommodation.

The Millennium Stars, who have the backing of Liberian soccer star George Weah, were to
have taken part in soccer clinics in Sydney and Newcastle, trained with the Sydney Swans and
toured the Sydney Olympic site.

The Human Rights Council of Australia said the boys were to spread awareness in Australia
of the need for international action to end the use of children as soldiers.

"They were special guests at the conference because their story expressed the power of
sport to transform lives and provide hope - one of the main themes of the conference," said
the Council's executive director Andre Frankovits.

"Instead this refusal has shattered their hopes and raised serious questions over how
Australian immigration officials will handle teams and fans coming from Africa to the
Olympics."

An immigration department spokesman declined to comment on the case.

But the Human Rights Council of Australia said Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock had
supported the decision of the Australian High Commission in Nigeria.

Notwithstanding Australia's rejection, the team intends to travel to Britain where training
clinics have been planned with English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Newcastle.

AAP sc/arb/de

KEYWORD: LIBERIA AUST

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