Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA

RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE

Research Response Number: IND34307 Country: India Date: 10 February 2009

Keywords: India – IND34307 – 2008 – Indian events

This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein.

Questions 1. Could I please have the program for the activities when the Pope was in ? 2. Were there any special programs for Indian/ Malayalam speakers?

RESPONSE

1. Could I please have the program for the activities when the Pope was in Sydney?

The World Youth Day program of events and the Papal Itinerary were found on the World Youth Day website and are included here as Attachment 1 (‘Fact Sheet: World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08)’ (undated), World Youth Day website http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/report/76201/689719/file/Fact%20Sheet%20 WYD08%20June08.pdf – Accessed 9 February 2009 – Attachment 1).

The Youth Festival Guide was also found on the World Youth Day website and is included here as Attachment 2 (‘Youth Festival Guide, 15-20 July’ 2008, World Youth Day website http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/report/151401/1517767/file/WYD08_YouthF estival_EN_(A4).pdf – Accessed 9 February 2009 – Attachment 2).

For more information, see the World Youth Day website: http://www.wyd2008.org/.

2. Were there any special programs for Indian/ Malayalam speakers?

No information on special programs for Indian/Malayalam speakers was found in the available sources. The events found with specific reference to India are listed below.

According to a July 2008 article in The Hindu there were nearly 700 participants who came in the India contingent, with “some 110 Malayalis in the contingent” (Basheer, K. 2008, ‘Keralites among 35 persons “absconding” in New Zealand’ 2008, The Hindu, 17 July

1 http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071759891200.htm – Accessed 28 January 2009 – Attachment 3).

According to another July 2008 Hindu article, part of the Indian contingent to the World Youth Day was “a 20-member music band called Rex Band of ” (‘Kerala participants in Sydney meet to return on Wednesday’ 2008, The Hindu, 20 July http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/20/stories/2008072055220700.htm – Accessed 28 January 2009 – Attachment 4). The Youth Festival Guide lists Rexband as playing on 16 July, 17 July and 19 July. According to the guide, Rexband play in Hindi (‘Youth Festival Guide, 15-20 July’ 2008, World Youth Day website http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/report/151401/1517767/file/WYD08_YouthF estival_EN_(A4).pdf – Accessed 9 February 2009 – Attachment 2).

The Youth Festival Guide also lists the following events with special reference to India:

• Wednesday 16 July: Christian Prayer and Meditation, presented by Magis08 with Fr Gilbert Carlo SV (India) [in English];

• Thursday 17 July: Women in Development – India and Nepal, presented by Magis08 with Sr Sabrina Edwards (Director of the Indian Office of Mary Ward International) [in English];

• Thursday 17 July: Christian Prayer and Meditation, presented by Magis08 with Fr Gilbert Carlo SV (India) [in English and Hindi];

• Friday 18 July: Cultural Dance, presented by WYD08, featuring dancers from Australian Indigenous groups, as well as Malaysia, Latin America, Polynesia, India, Burma and Tahiti (‘Youth Festival Guide, 15-20 July’ 2008, World Youth Day website http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/report/151401/1517767/file/WYD08_ YouthFestival_EN_(A4).pdf – Accessed 9 February 2009 – Attachment 2).

The Guide also lists a large number of National and Community Gatherings; however, India is not mentioned specifically (‘Youth Festival Guide, 15-20 July’ 2008, World Youth Day website http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/report/151401/1517767/file/WYD08_YouthF estival_EN_(A4).pdf – Accessed 9 February 2009 – Attachment 2).

List of Sources Consulted

Internet Sources:

Google search engine http://www.google.com

Databases:

FACTIVA (news database) BACIS (DIAC Country Information database) REFINFO (IRBDC (Canada) Country Information database) ISYS (RRT Research & Information database, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, US Department of State Reports)

2 RRT Library Catalogue

List of Attachments

1. ‘Fact Sheet: World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08)’ (undated), World Youth Day website http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/report/76201/689719/file/Fact%20Sheet% 20WYD08%20June08.pdf – Accessed 9 February 2009.

2. ‘Youth Festival Guide, 15-20 July’ 2008, World Youth Day website http://www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/content/report/151401/1517767/file/WYD08_You thFestival_EN_(A4).pdf – Accessed 9 February 2009.

3. Basheer, K. 2008, ‘Keralites among 35 persons “absconding” in New Zealand’ 2008, The Hindu, 17 July http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/17/stories/2008071759891200.htm – Accessed 28 January 2009.

4. ‘Kerala participants in Sydney meet to return on Wednesday’ 2008, The Hindu, 20 July http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/20/stories/2008072055220700.htm – Accessed 28 January 2009.

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