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APRIL 2, 2007

Oppressive Immigration Restrictions Partly to Blame for Tragedy of Abbott Children

The death and injuries to the Abbott children has been in part caused by the oppressive immigration restrictions imposed on the disabled by the Government in 2004, according to the spokesperson for Disbabled Liberation Aotearoa, Doug Hay today.

Mr Hay was responding to TVNZ's airing of the story on its Sunday programme last night. "As Minister of Immigration, Lianne Dalziell, herself a former Minister of Disability, introduced restrictions on disabled immigration and did this despite protestations from both Disabled Liberation Aotearoa and other leading Disabled organisations.

"These restrictions clearly breach International Human Rights, and will result in parents who wish to migrate here having to either abandon or kill any disabled off-spring," he said. "The disabled of Aotearoa / NZ should be insisting that Dalziell have sat alongside the father when it came time to pass the sentence, for she; and the Crown as represented, are just as guilty of the crime," said Mr Hay.

"Speaking as a physically disabled adult, these laws are barriers and must be abolished if done without the consent of disabled themselves. An able-bodied form of arrogance is beginning to rear its head akin to the Nazi days of the 1930's and this must be stopped, alongside other legislation which restricts inclusion into everyday life," he concluded.

ENDS

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