Doors that should have been open mysteriously slammed shut. No reasons were given but the message was clear and hostile, supporters were being warned off in a way that was sometimes frightening. The first hint of why this was happening came when SBS Dateline's THE LAST MAN ON MANUS ISLAND aired on March 31 2004. After a gentle moment between the desperate lone refugee Aladdin and his loyal little cat Honey in the detention centre, the Dateline story cut to the implacable Immigration Minister in her well appointed Canberra office. She seemed to enjoy her power she wielded over the lives of others in her hostile and repetitious insistence that Aladdin Sisalem was not Australia's responsibility. But the truly chilling moment came when, in response to a perfectly reasonable question from reporter Olivia Rousset, Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone delivered this extraordinary statement:

"With respect, I might have some different information from that which you have and, no, I cannot say that I have any sorrow for Mr Sisalem's position."

Maybe this was why usually sympathetic politicians failed to speak up for Aladdin Sisalem as did people who had worked for years to expose government lies. It appeared they had been compelled lead to believe there was more to the story. It was a big fat lie and they swallowed it hook, line and sinker. Yup, they got it wrong. Why did they get it wrong? Well there is the possibility that the intent was to damage the solidarity of refugee and peace advocates throughout Australia. Whatever the reason, by the skillful use of powerful innuendo, the deck seemed to have been stacked against Aladdin Sisalem.

Matt Hamon and Aladdin's supporters Lynne Murphy, Cyndy Rich, Jack Smit, Helen Tait, the people of Hopecaravan, Nauruwire, SafeCom and Axis of Logic responded by increasing their Internet activity. And the former Head of Immigration the Australian Diplomatic Mission in Bonne, Frederika Steen together with the United Nations Australian President, Margaret Reynolds backed up those efforts with their advocacy, wisdom and experience. Had it not been for those brave and caring friendship of people on the Internet, the intelligence of some very fine journalists and the skill of his legal team Aladdin Sisalem might never have found freedom. These were the people who kept up the scrutiny on the Howard Government and never gave up on Aladdin Sisalem.

Dateline's Mark Davis made this important point in conclusion to the Dateline update of Aladdin Sisalem's story after he arrived in Australia.

"The Government's about-face raises questions about how they had previously presented Aladdin Sisalem. If they had information, as Senator Vanstone suggested, that raised doubts about Sisalem's background and character, why should he now be let in? Or was it a simple case of unsubstantiated vilification?"

Aladdin Sisalem was met by Julian Burnside QC members of his legal team and dozens of supporters who knew him and cared about him because they had kept in touch on the Internet. When he finally met his Internet buddy Matt Hamon, who had been there for him through all the bad times, a smile lit Aladdin's face and he hugged the man who had become more like a brother than a simply a friend.

In the months that they had chatted on the Internet they had probably spoken to each other more than most brothers would in a lifetime. And when Aladdin was worried about having to leave his cat Honey behind he instantly told Matt who understood completely. Matt knew that Aladdin needed Honey and that she was essential to his wellbeing and key to him settling happily in Australia and building a new life.

To see how this human drama unfolded over the Internet go to: Nauruwire and Hope Caravan

With the help of Australia's most influencial broadcaster John Laws, Honey the cat has left Manus Island and her journey towards being reunited with Aladdin. And those who refused to support Aladdin Sisalem and thought a cat was unimportant or frivolous should read through the news items which have appeared recently all over the world.

And Merlin Luck an evictee the Australian Big Brother caused a far greater commotion. left the house and with his mouth covered by a strip of black gaffer-tape, carrying a banner which read 'Free th(e) Refugees' walked silently into a storm of publicity and changed the course of 'reality' television.

Honey and Merlin each proved words are not necessary to be the most eloquent ambassador for human rights. Both made the mainstream media realise how Australia is treating innocent people. People who never even thought of refugees, or cared about them opened their hearts and started to listen to the real facts.

Who would have imagined that a small white and tan stray cat from Manus Island would be mentioned in LE MONDE or that the Big Brother website would carry this message:

"Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone's statement that 'there are no refugees in detention' is misleading. People who are yet to be processed through the mandatory detention system are yet to be classified as refugees or anything else. The end result of most processing of asylum seekers has revealed that well over 90% are genuine refugees. As it is taking up to five years to process some of these people, it must be understood that Australia is in the practice of imprisoning innocent people without trial.

I am saddened by the disregard from many viewers. Obviously they do not, or dare not, consider refugees are just people like us and [viewers] are incapable or unwilling to consider how they would feel if they, or those they love, were imprisoned without trial...

Detention centres are not like the Big Brother House, they are places where people go insane are driven to suicide, suffer harm and real cruelty."

The Howard Government must be reeling from the impact of extraordinary convergence of the arrival in Australia of the heroic and handsome Aladdin Sisalem and gentle story of his beguiling cat Honey, the honest and idealistic Merlin and the Flotilla of Hope arriving at Nauru with boatloads of compassion and gifts for the prisoners of The Pacific Solution.

It was fitting that on World Refugee Day the Flotilla of Hope sighted Nauru, Honey left Manus Island bound for Australia as Aladdin and Merlin both newly free from entirely different forms of isolation from the world attended huge rallies in two state capitals and addressed thousands of compassionate Australians. This was the first time the Australian press had been out in force to covering World Refugee Day and Government Ministers found themselves facing tough and determined questioning from well informed journalists. Until that day Prime Minister John Winston Howard's dominance of the popular media had seemed unassailable.

In a shopping-mall in Launceston, Tasmania someone asked Helen Tait who was handing out leaflets from HREOC (Human Rights and Equal Opportunities commission) what she was doing. She replied that she was working to get all children out of detention. This was met by an uncomprehending shrug. "Also I want to get a cat off Manus Island" she said.

"Oh Honey! Yes.I know ALL about that!" answered the woman anxious to hear more. Recognising Honey was the key to this woman's understanding and Helen was able to explain about the children suffering very real abuse and trauma in detention centres around Australia and under The Pacific Solution. This woman was appalled to think of innocent children born into imprisonment losing their childhood, trust, physical and mental health as some were teargassed, witness to suicide and deportation as their families were torn apart. One tiny cat had opened this woman's eyes which filled with tears of compassion.

Those who refused to support Aladdin Sisalem and thought a cat was unimportant or frivolous should think again and read through the news items which have appeared recently all over the world.

Those who have worked voluntarily 24/7 at their own expense in support of refugees, asylum seekers and human rights should not be patronised or underestimated and represent a significant voter base in the electorate. Many bring a wealth of professional expertise and experience in computer science, journalism, medicine, psychology and politics to the movement. Only the most naive would suggest Matt Hamon and those who supported Aladdin failed to see the 'big picture' or understand the terrible plight of asylum seekers and children in detention. Some have been engaged actively in this work for more than four years it is folly to dismiss them or hold them in less regard than those who make lamingtons for fundraisers.

The absurdity of Prime Minister Howard's strident claims of anti-Americanism was clear as American human rights supporters joined with Australian to free Aladdin and then Honey. They knew the importance of helping one person and one tiny cat because they knew how the Australians involved have supported and have formed loving friendships with people released into the community on limited and uncertain TPVs (Temporary Protection Visas). They are well aware of the residual effects of isolation and prolonged imprisonment these people suffer. And they knew that Aladdin needed Honey and that she was essential to his wellbeing and key to him settling happily in Australia and building a new life. Anyone reading this Internet exchange between Matt Hamon and Aladdin Sisalem, just hours after he had received news of his imminent freedom knew why it was important to help Honey:

Aladdin Sisalem: last time someone hurt her so bad and almost broke her arm

matt_hamon: oh!

Aladdin Sisalem: the problem there is no one here to take care of her

Aladdin Sisalem: honey is a refugee now

matt_hamon: sure she is

Aladdin Sisalem: if i left her some gonna hurt her or maybe kill her

matt_hamon: we will get Honey to Australia, we have to.

Matt had never lied Aladdin and when he made the undertaking "We will get Honey to Australia, we have to" supporters in America and Australia knew they had to make it so. Australia's most influential broadcaster John Laws instinctively and quite independently took up Honey's cause simply because he liked cats. Laws, many respected journalists and the supporters were as one in understanding the urgent need to get Aladdin's cat Honey out of the Detention Centre where she had previously suffered harm and into veterinary care in Port Moresby PNG. These supporters have done the hard yards and it is folly to describe them as 'nutters' or 'high handed' for voicing their concerns about the delay of Honey's departure.

As these genuinely patriotic Australians joined with others with similar concerns around the world it is possible for us to see that the greatest human rights movement in the history of our planet is on the Internet right now demanding peace, tolerance, justice and freedom.

By making the tragedy of 9/11 central to the political agenda the sad destruction of the twin towers took on the biblical proportions of the Tower of Babel. Two countries have been reduced to rubble and a tinderbox of violent retribution and fundamentalism Christian and Muslim are locked in blind thoughtless conflict. Why will no one talk to each other and why will no one listen? This is the concern of all advocates for human rights.

Like the Bush Administration the Howard Government has scorned intellectuals, ignored or denied the reports of experts, thumbed their noses ad the United Nations and countered all criticism of unjust and cruel legislation or blatant misinformation as unpatriotic and the voice of human rights and decency was all but silenced. Prime Minister John Howard like the neo-cons in Washington that he counts as friends has, since adopting the policies and constituency of the controversial right winger Pauline Hanson, relied heavily on the uninformed and vulnerable in the electorate to deliver a winning margin. By instilling fear in anxious fearful people and endorsing their deep seated prejudices and encouraging bigotry. Hate hit the airwaves and like a dose of Viagra stimulated an angered mob who considered it was now their right and duty to ejaculate misinformed vitriol freely believing they were simply exercising their right to have their say in a 'free' country.

The Prime Minister of Australia has not done this all on his own for the first two terms he was able to count on the bipartisanship of the ALP. There wasn't a peep of dissent out of Canberra or a word from the muzzled media. It was just 'John Howard and his loyal Opposition.' Maybe one day the politicians will crunch the numbers and actually listen and truly represent the people. The people are at their computers on watch but the politicians it seems are out to lunch.

Australians are a funny mob. Laid back and laconic, with a colourful turn of phrase, they have a little regard for politics or politicians. They don't expect self-interest from politicians not the truth so they are unfazed by the fact that it has been proven that the government has lied on numerous occasions. But they 'will turn like a black snake' if they think they are being manipulated or played for fools. They believe in a fair go and there have been too many deaths of innocent people fleeing oppression on the Howard Government's watch.

Australians are keen travellers and they might just be waking up. "Jeez what we used to call the 'free world is bloody wrapped in razor wire - where does it all come from? Who are the mongrels getting rich selling razor wire?" The age-old warning in Aussie slang 'Wha'ja think this is Bush week' has been brought back into use dusted up and is ironically specific to these times. "Little Johnny ... Mate. Wha'ja think is ... Bush Week?"

Yes what is this ... Bush Week? When our leaders place us in harms way everything matters. Everything counts and everything must be protected. Whether it is as large as the World Wide Web or as small as a cat called HONEY.