Executive council notes the report on the situation of refugees on mandatory detention and the situation in Maribyrnong in particular. We support the following demands in support of all asylum seekers in this country:
VTHC will participate in the Refugee Action Collective (RAC) and adopt the campaign statement distributed by RAC. Executive council urges all affiliates to:
Executive supports the visit to Maribyrnong by the Secretary next Monday and urges all affiliates to participate in a visit program each Monday over the next two months.
Back to top of pageRefugee rights groups today accused the government of maintaining a reign of terror inside detention centres like Port Hedland.
After provoking protests at Port Hedland earlier this month by removing strike leaders to other detention centres, more than 100 police and ACM guards, some in riot gear, have been used to intimidate other detainees. Detainees had been demanding an increase in the pay rate from $10 to $20 for a minimum of eight hours work, a proper roster of available work and paid overtime after eight hours. The strike by detainees who mostly work in the kitchen had severely disrupted the detention centre.
"Immigration minister Philip Ruddock treats the detainees as if they have no rights whatsoever. He has denied them the right to strike and now wants to deny them the right to protest," said Ian Rintoul, a spokesperson for the Refugee Acton Collective in Sydney. "This is the same kind of show of force the government put on after the riots at Woomera last year, but not one of those charged was convicted," said Mr Rintoul.
The only person convicted of violent offences is the former Australasian Correctional Management head of operations, at Port Hedland, Graeme Hindmarsh, convicted of bashing a handcuffed refugee only two weeks ago.
In contrast, no charges have been laid against the six �troublemakers� who have now been transferred to detention centres in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Similarly although five detainees have been held in police cells since the fires at Curtin detention centre two months ago, there have been no successful prosecutions.
At 4.00am on Saturday, ACM guards locked the huts while detainees were asleep. The detainees were kept locked down for more than eight hours while police and guards made repeated searches. Police even raided the mosque disrupting early morning prayers.
Men, women and children were handcuffed. Women were batoned to force them to sit or kneel on the ground. Twenty-two Iranians, Iraqis and Palestinians including two teenagers have been taken to police cells.
Immigration minister Ruddock is using the protests and the police action at Port Hedland to try and justify the government�s policy of mandatory detention in remote areas and to divert attention from the appalling conditions at the detention centres.
"The government is facing electoral defeat and is under mounting pressure over its policy of mandatory detention. The police raids are a desperate attempt to cover-up what is really happening inside the detention centres, said Ian Rintoul. "The charges against the detainees are a sham and should be dropped. Asylum seekers are not criminals. As long as they are denied their rights, protests will continue inside and outside the detention centres," he said.
A national day of action to "Free the Refugees", demanding funding for settlement not detention, will see rallies in every capital city on Sunday 3 June.
For more information contact the Refugee Action Collective: Sydney, Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713 or Cyrus 0413 486 231; Melbourne, Judy McVey 0418 347 374, 03 9386 4815
In the light of media reports of the arrests of 22 detainees in the wake of the riots at Port Hedland, see for example ABC online and The Age, it might be interesting to read these message posted this evening (26 May) by Asem to [email protected]:
Dear all,
Ruddock the Multicultural Minister asked police and ACM to enter Port Hedland Detention Centre at 4:30AM while detainees praying and they entered the mosque with their shoes on and took some of the detainees while they were praying. They also tool CHILDREN and tied up their hands. They also took a whole Iraqi family.
I got the list of names and Ruddock Concentrations Camps Numbers. The Operation started from 4:30am until 12:00 midday. The ACM Manager advised detainees to say at police station to say that "they throw rocks to protect themselves".
Also, after the operation finished ACM distributed a statement that the Police investigated the riots happened two weeks ago and decided to take some detainees to the police and charge them.
This is Ruddock democracy.
For more information please contact me on 0415 802 780
Dear all,
Ruddock officers steps on detainees heads while they are praying.
The detainees at Port Hedland will start their stike on food today. The detainees communities at Port Hedland feared that DIMA will separate them again.
The Iranian boy, who beaten two weeks ago, removed with his family including his father to another detention centre. Ruddock did that to cover up the main reason for the riots two weeks ago.
Mohammed Sahtoot, YAK12, 15-years-old Palestinian detainee, they tied his hands and taken to the police or the prison. Also, they took a whole Iraqi family their children aged 17, 15, 10 an 8 years old. ACM told detainees on Thursday 24 May, that the Federal Police investigated the riots and they will come tomorrow and take 5 detainees to the police.
Ruddock used the Zionist style and did the operation on Saturday early morning, so the media and activist will not make a big noise. The total number taken is 22 according to the ABC Radio. I have some of the names:
7 Palestinians;
3 Iranians;
One Bedon;
1 Syrian; and
7 Iraqi
Please help them.
Regards,
Asem Judeh
A statement signed by more than 150 Port Hedland asylum seekers has called on the government to tell the truth about the protests at Port Hedland. The Refugee Action Collective in Sydney has received the statement dated 28 May.
"Why has only a part of the video tape of the protests been shown on television?" they ask in the statement. "The government is hiding the truth." They call for a thorough investigation of the events at Port Hedland, rather than a trial by the release of selective video tape. "Why don't they show the tape of what ACM did to us," they ask. "What about what ACM threw at us?"
The statement also calls for the dropping of the charges against the 22 arrested in police raids last Saturday. "They are innocent", the statement says.
The statement confirms that the trouble began over the strike in the kitchen and an attack by ACM guards on two teenage boys. "If you want the truth, it was ACM that lit the match at Port Hedland," they say. According to the statement ACM provoked events by starting the engine on the water cannon, and dressed in riot gear attacked groups of detainees. "We stood with women and children in the middle to protect them from the batons of ACM," they say.
The statement continues, "The ACM is creating hatred in the detention centres. They humiliate us, they disciminate against us. They put us in chains."
"What have we done?" they ask. "We are human beings, with feelings. What have we done to this country to be treated this way? We faced persecution and distress and came seeking protection. But we do not get protection, but more stress and punishment." Conditions in Port Hedland are at breaking point they say. In a phone conversation, one detainee said, "The police and ACM act like Nazis. We have never seen anything like it, even in Iran or Afghanistan."
The statement ends with a call to the courts to recognise the innocence of those charged.
Meanwhile the hunger strike at Port Hedland continues. In a move that threatens to inflame the situation, another 15 people have been singled out by police for their participation in the protests. Around 130 people are still on hunger strike protest. Detainees have rejected the suggestion by immigration minister Philip Ruddock that children are being coerced to join the hunger strike.
"Families have been placed in desperate circumstances by the minister and feel they are left with no choice. They want to stay and fight this together. It is the minister who has divided families here," one detainee told the Refugee Action Collective in Sydney.
"The government is hiding the truth in more ways than one," said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Collective in Sydney. "If minister Ruddock wants the truth to be known about what's happening at Port Hedland, why are the detainees being kept incommunicado?" said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Collective. Phone enquiries to Port Hedland are being told that contcat will not be possible for a week.
Protests are expected in Port Hedland and other detention centres to coincide with the national day of action which will see major rallies in all capital cities this Sunday, 3 June.
Activists occupy refugee detention centre roof
A group of refugee activists occupied the roof of Melbourne�s Maribyrnong Detention Centre, today.The activists have vowed to stay on the roof until their demands are met.The activist�s demands include:
Maribyrnong Detention Centre, managed by the Australasian Correctional Management, has been the subject of controversy recently with allegations of mistreatment of detainees and the death of Viliami Tanginoa. Viliami Tanginoa died after he climbed a basket ball pole while resisting his deportation after seventeen years in Australia. After an 8-hour standoff in which ACM guards taunted him and refused to negotiate, Villiami jumped to his death.
Activists are concerned that the State Coroner has not acted to ensure detainees who witnessed Viliami�s death are not deported. Already four witnesses have been deported in the last month.
Tahir Cambis, activist and Emmy award winning filmmaker said today,
�We are acting out of concern for the thousands of refugees held in terrible condition in camps and prisons throughout the country. How can we celebrate Australia Day and Federation while this situation continues."
Helen Newman, refugee activist said today,
�The circumstances of Viliami�s death must be properly investigated. The Department of Immigration and ACM can not be allowed to deport all the independent witnesses to their involvement in Viliami�s death.�
For more information and comment:Helen Newman 0417 211 156,Tahir Cambis 0438 315 506,Jess Whyte 0418 573 307.List of Demands and further information follows.
We wish to highlight the treatment of asylum seekers at the hands of both the Australian government and Australasian Correctional Management.
Asylum seekers held in Australian Detention Centres are existing largely in a climate of fear. In recent times detainees at Maribyrnong Detention Centre have been subjected to intimidation, physical abuse and unsubstantiated charges. Friends from the broader community have been refused visiting rights for speaking out against Detention Centre conditions and lawyers collecting evidence in relation to Viliami Tanginoa�s death have been unable to adequately access witnesses. It is out of serious concern for the rights of these people, and in defense of Australia�s broader human rights that we have decided to act.
There is no public mandate for the incarceration, forced sedation and abuse of defenceless men, women and children.
We make the following demands in support of all asylum seekers in this country:
Over the last two hundred years this country�s history has largely been shaped by the hundreds and thousands of migrants and refugees who have reached its shores with the hope of building a new life in a land of freedom and justice. In light of our Australia Day and Federation celebrations this Howard Government policy is a shameful attack on our traditions.
For information and comment contact:Helen Newman 0417 211 156,Tahir Cambis 0438 315 506, Jess Whyte 0418 573 307
Back to top of pageDear Mr McLeod,
Re: request for an Inquiry in the Port Hedland Immigrationm Detention Centre
I am writing to you as the Independent Federal Member for Calwell to officially request a formal inquiry by your office into the causes of the recent violent incidents at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC) in Port Hedland.
The Minister for Immigration and the media have made much of the recent violent incidents on 11 May 2001. However, I understand that there have been two earlier incidents this year at the Port Hedland IDC, on 26 January and 30 March. For reasons that I will explain I would like the inquiry to cover all three incidents.
In relation to the most recent incident on 11 May, I understand that Australasian Correctional Management (ACM) guards reportedly beat several asylum-seekers with metal batons. I have been informed that violent actions of the asylum-seekers on this occaion were in reponse to brutal actions carried out by ACM staff. In particular, a claim has been made that a malicious bashing of a young refugee boy provoked the violent action of the asylum-seekers.
The circumstances as they have been explained to me appear to be as follows: It is claimed that ACM officers told several Iranian detainees to follow them in order that they could make a statement about an earlier scuffle between several detainees. When they reached the van, the detainees discovered that ACM were going to take them to another detention centree, away from their families. One 17-year-old boy refused to go, and a a result ACM started to beat the boy while he was on the floor. The other detainees tried to prevent this, and as a result struggles occurred between them and the other officers. Enraged by this situation, other asylum-seekers sought to protect the Iranian detainees, and were then set upon by ACM staff using metal batons.This then led to the more violent scenes, which the Minister has been happy to release to the television stations.
The recent claims against ACM staff have been made by several detainees who witnessed the events. I have the personal details of the key detainees involved in the matter, which I am happy to provide to you on a confidential basis.
I do not condone any of the violence, but I do believe it is very important in the interests of justice and fairness to determine what happened in this instance. In my view, the Minister's release of selected videos of the events, and his subsequent commentary, have totally prejudiced any fair assessment, and any subsequent trial for the asylum-seekers should they be charged with offences. Leaving aside the unfair consequences of the Minister's acion in his releasing of the videos and making of his statements, I find it very difficult for ACM's account of events to be believed in the light of of their previous behaviour.
I am referring here to the revelations with respect to the so-called riot in Port Hedland on 20 January of this year. At that time, the Miister made similar condemnatory statements of refugees and refused to accept any account which suggested that the asylum-seekers may have been provoked. Yet on 26 April, an ACM guard at Port Hedland pleaded guilty to twice bashing a detainee on 19 January. - the night before 120 detainees engaged in violent actions, obnviouly in direct response to this bashing. The fact that this ACM guard has been convicted with two counts of occasioning bodily harm clearly shows that the asylum-seekers acted only when provoked by the 'guards'. It is my view, from the information that I have received, that his recent incident was also based on an illegal bashing of a refugee claimant, and the consequent provocation of the rest of the asylum-seekers who are living in extremely tense and tough circumstances.
The January bashing that provoked the so-called riot at that time, were illegal and represented a gross abuse of human rights of refugee claimants. These bashings come on top of other human rights abuses which you have identified in your earlier report on IDCs. The attempt to describe the incident in January as an isolated action by one individual is incorrect. It now appears that a further bashing has provoked this round of violent disturbances. I believe that an investigation is therefore warranted as a matter of urgency, and I ask you to carry out your independent statutary responsibility, and initiate such an inquiry immediately.
For a number of years, I have followed closely the fate of our refugee claimants, especially those in detention. I would not be asking for this enquiry if I were not convinced that the three incidents at Port Hedland represent an exploding volcano which is a consequence of the terrible conditions that the refugees are suffering under in these centres and their treatment by the ACM. It is imperative that the Australian public receive an objective report as to:
- the underlying causes of the grievances of refugees;
- the immediate causes which provoked the violent actions of the refugee claimants on those three occasions, including allegations of brutality of ACM officers; and
- an objective account of the actual incidents that took place, rather than the one-sided picture presented by the Department and ACM.
Could you please inform me as soon as possible as to your intentions in this matter.
Yesterday�s report on the Woomera detention centre shows why Australia should abandon its inhumane and unjustifiable policy of mandatory detention for asylum seekers, says the Refugee Action Collective (Vic).
"The Flood report, despite its narrow field of inquiry, is a damning indictment of the federal government�s attitude to those fleeing torture and death threats," said RAC spokesperson Judy McVey.
"Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock boasts how Australia is leading the way around the world with mandatory detention. The report shows that Woomera is indeed a hell hole -- not just for children and women, but for men, too.
"We welcome the potential release into the community of women and children. But we are also calling for male detainees to be released, and for the abolition of all such inhumane detention centres around the country.
"Those seeking asylum should be allowed to live in the community while their cases are being heard. The Liberals� hard line is a racist sop to the One Nation constituency and a crude attempt to scapegoat the vulnerable for the government�s economic rationalist agenda.
"The Flood report shows the cracks in the Liberals� policy. Now is the time to dump it as the cruel imposition that it truly is.
"We also call on Labor to pledge to break fully with the Liberal approach if they win office later this year."
For further comment or information, ring Judy McVey on 0418 347 374.
Back to top of pageRefugee supporters condemn police raids on homes!
The Free the Refugee Campaign (FRC) condemns the Federal Police's harrassment of refugee rights supporters in the wake of the escape by 14 detainees from Villawood Detention Centre. Up to 50 homes,including those of members of the FRC, have been raided over the past couple of days.
Arsalan Nazarian, an FRC activist whose home was invaded while he was out on Monday night, related the intimidation experienced by his flatmates. "The police bashed at the door, totally surprising my flatmates," Nazarian said. "After showing some identification, the police barged in, demanded 'where is Arsalan', and started going through the unit. They tried to get in to a room where a woman flatmate was getting dressed. All this happened while two children aged 6 & 8 looked on in shock and fear."
Nazarian rang the police to express concern, pointing out his right as a citizen not to be victimised. When he asked if the police had a warrant to search the premises, the police replied that the woman in the house had invited them over!
"It is already appalling that refugees are locked up like criminals," Nazarian said. "Now those who support refugee rights are also treated as criminals! Is it now illegal to support human rights?"
Nazarian explained the desperate situation of the detainees. "The detention centres are hellholes, holding innocent children, women and men, in some cases for several years, in prison like conditions, with abuse common. The government's harsh procedures mean that many deserving refuge are told they are to be deported. Just last week, one detainee attempted suicide after hearing he was to be deported - we have since heard that there is a strong likelihood the deportation has gone ahead. Refugees came here for a new life - not continued persecution. Is it any wonder they try to escape?"
Nazarian and the FRC believe the escapes, protests, hunger strikes and suicide attempts are a direct result of the detention, deportation and traumatic treatment within the detention centres. The only solution, the FRC feels, is to close the detention centres altogether.
The FRC will stage an emergency protest and press conference outside the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) office, 477 Pitt St, SYdney, on Thursday March 29, at 1pm.
For interviews or information, Ph: Arsalan Nazarian: 0419 252 923, Trish Corcoran: 0410 629 088
Back to top of pageRefugee Action Collective - Victoria PRESS RELEASE Riot at Curtin Detention Centre Wed 4 April 2001 The Refugee Action Collective condemns the mandatory detention policies for asylum seekers in Australia, and the treatment refugees receive in detention centres such as Curtin which lead to the riot there yesterday. "Refugees are fleeing persecution - they are not criminals, and should not be imprisoned. It is inevitable that frustration at being detained for months and years will lead to disturbances such as that at Curtin and recently at Port Hedland and Woomera," said Refugee Action Collective spokesperson Judy McVey. "Allegations of beatings of detainees at Curtin noted in a Human Rights and Equal Opportunites Commission report revealed today highlight the need for the end of the harsh and unnecessary detention regime in Australia. The cruel anti-refugee policies of the Liberal government lead to enormous suffering both inside detention centres, and amongst refugees in the community, such as Shuharyar Kiyani who was not allowed to bring his daughter to Australia due to her disability, and in desparation set himself alight on Monday in protest." The Refugee Action Collective is organising a National Day of Action on June 3, with rallies across Australia, endorsed by the Australian Council of Trades Union and the Victorian Trades Hall Council and other community groups and individuals. RAC is calling on the government to end mandatory detention, and grant permanent visas with full rights to all refugees. Contact Judy McVey, Refugee Action Collective 0418 347 374Back to top of page
25 April 2001
The Refugee Action Collective in Victoria condemns the government�s plans to slash the "off-shore" program for refugees coming to Australia.
Whereas previous governments kept the "off-shore" and "on-shore" programs separate, Philip Ruddock�s administration plans to reduce the number of refugees who apply to enter Australia from overseas locations, because of the increase in refugees who arrive in Australia and then claim refugee status. However, Australia is only taking about 12,000 refugees per year, a small number compared with other countries. There are now approximately 23 million refugees in the world today.
RAC spokesperson, Judy McVey, said: "All people seeking asylum need our help, and the vast majority of refugees who have come here by boat without the necessary papers, have proven their refugee status after application."
In fact, 90 per cent of Iraqis and Afghans who have arrived in the past three or four years have been successful in their application for refugee status under Australian law.
Judy said: "They are NOT �illegals�, as Mr Ruddock would have us believe. They are NOT �queue jumpers��there is no queue. This is a deliberate attempt to scapegoat the refugees languishing in Australia�s detention centres. The decision to cut the �off-shore� program is arbitrary, to create an illusion of a queue."
Back to top of pageRefugee Action Collective will assist refugees who recently escaped from Woomera Detention Centre with their legal costs.
"We support their right to struggle to become Australian citizens," said spokesperson Judy McVey from RAC in Victoria. "For months they have been living under a wrong Australian law that allows for innocent people to be incarcerated indefinitely without charge or trial."
Refugee Action Collective opposes mandatory detention and supports government funding for settlement services, not detention. The latest spate of peaceful protests, riots and now an escape only highlights the problems with this inhumane government policy. Asylum-seekers should be allowed to live in the community while their cases for refugee status are being heard.
"The mandatory detention of asylum seekers is against the 1951 Refugee Convention, which Australia helped formulate and to which Australia is a signatory. The escapees deserve support for their bravery and resourcefulness as well as the justness of their cause." Ms McVey continued.
Refugee Action Collective will publicly collect money and donate it to assist the legal costs of the former detainees and their supporters who have been arrested and charged, because these people have no access to legal aid for representation.This collection campaign will be officially launched at rallies outside Department of Immigration offices on 20 June, World Refugee Day. In Melbourne the rally will start at 12.30pm on Wednesday 20 June, at 2 Lonsdale Street.
"RAC calls on members of the community to support these refugees who came to Australia seeking help and refuge from a violent dictatorship, mostly in Iran, Iraq or Afghanistan. They have more avenues for appeal under Australian law and we will also assist them with those legal cases," said Cyrus Sarang from Refugee Action Collective in NSW.
RAC has demonstrated a growing movement of support for refugees in the detention centres and opposition to the Howard government's brutal rule of terror against asylum-seekers.
CONTACT JUDY MCVEY 0418 347 374
SIMON O'NEILL 0402 413 914
CYRUS SARANG 0413 486 231
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Refugee groups said they were disgusted at the deportation of the family of one of the Villawood escapees. The mother was separated from her three children at 6.00am before being deported on Sunday morning.
"It is the politics of revenge," said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Collective, in Sydney. "The minister has punished the family for the actions of the father. It is exactly the kind of collective punishment for which the detention centres and ACM has become notorious," said Mr Rintoul.
"The minister for immigration has acted against the most vulnerable people imaginable. The Liberal government says it is a supporter of families, but this obviously doesn't apply to the families of asylum seekers. To deport a family like this reveals a Liberal government without a shred of compassion or human decency.
"It is an out and out callous act against the most vulnerable people imaginable. It is almost indescribable to deport this family in such distressing circumstances," said Mr Rintoul
The family has been in detention for three years and have one child born inside the detention centre. There had been an attempt to deport the family last year. Since the escapes from Villawood, detainees at Villawood, Maribynomg and other detention centres have faced personal body searches and searches of their cells and personal belongings.
"The deportation is another attempt to intimidate the asylum seekers," said Ian Rintoul. "But the heavy-handed security measures are a failure. Neither asylum seekers nor their supporters are going to be intimidated by increased penalties or more razor wire. The money that has been wasted on increased security and new detention centres planned by this government could have paid to settle the asylum seekers who have come to Australia hoping to make a new life free of persecution."
For comments about Algeria and Algerian asylum seekers, contact Angel 0416 268 897.
For more information contact Refugee Action Collective: Ian Rintoul, mob 0417 275 713 or Cyrus 0413 486 231
Back to top of pageRefugee groups have initiated a campaign to demand the release of an Iranian family being held in Villawood detention centre.
The plight of the Badraie family has been highlighted on the ABC program, Four Corners, on Monday night.
Fears are held that the government may attempt to deport the Badraie family following their emotionally charged appeal from inside the Villawood detention centre. Today (Tuesday) the family has been summonsed to attend an interview with immigration department officials in Stage 1 at Villawood, which is often the first step to summary deportation.
Serious concerns are also held for the medical condition of their six year old son, Shayan, who has been diagnosed by doctors as suffering "acute or chronic post traumatic stress syndrome" as a result of his experience in detention. As of Tuesday afternoon, Shayan was still in Westmead hospital.
Despite the recommendation of doctors that the welfare of Shayan would be best served by the family staying together, the department of immigration has refused to allow the family to be accomodated outside the detention centre. The department has refused earlier requests even to allow Shayan�s mother to accompany him outside the detention centre.
The family has reluctantly agreed to allow Shayan to be placed with a family outside Villawood in the hope that his condition will improve. The department won�t even give a guarantee that the family won�t be deported.
It was a 48-hour notice of deportation issued to the Badraie family that was one of things that precipitated the escapes from Villawood last month.
"The department�s attitude is outrageous," said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Collective in Sydney. "The minister has been prepared to trial the release of women and children at Woomera, but refuses to allow Zahraa, Shayan�s mother, to accompany Shayan outside of Villawood. There are families in Sydney ready and willing to put up any bond for the family and to cover the costs of looking after Shayan and his family."
"If immigration minister Philip Ruddock had an ounce of humanitarian concern he would use his discretionary powers to order the release of the family and lift the threat of deportation," said Ian Rintoul.
Refugee groups will target the airport this Friday to raise public awareness of the threat to deport the Badraie family and approach unions to consider bans on flights depoorting asylum seekers.
For more information contact: Refugee Action Collective, Ian Rintoul 0417 275713,
Cyrus Sarang 0413 486 231
The family: Zahraa (31)and Mohammad (30), six year old son, Shayan and an eighteen month old daughter Shubnam, born in detention at Woomera.
They have been held for over 17 months in detention altogether, 11 months at Woomera.
Shayan, has been diagnosed as suffering "acute or chronic post traumatic stress disorder" by doctors at Westmead hospital, Sydney. Doctors have recommended that Shayan should stay with his family.
In and out of hospital over the last few months (including 50 days continuously), Shayan is longer eating or drinking at the detention centre and requires hospitalisation every few days for tube feeding and rehydration.
Department of Immigration has refused to allow the mother to be placed with Shayan outside detention. The family has very reluctantly agreed to have Shayan placed with a family outside the detention centre.
Back to top of pageThe Australian Greens, at their Victorian State Conference yesterday, have called on the Minister for Immigration to grant a permanent residency visa to Shayan Badraie and his family.
The Greens Spokesperson for Refugees, Chris Chaplin, said the Federal Government had a moral obligation to provide the long-term medical treatment for Shayan, who specialists claim acquired his acute post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his inprisonment in Woomera and Villawood detention centres.
"The Federal Government has failed in its duty of care, and they are to blame for Shayan's illness. They are therefore responsible for helping him to get better, and the only way that that can happen is for Shayan and his family to live here in Australia permanently," said Mr Chaplin.
The Greens State Conference also reaffirmed its call for an end to the bipartisan policy of mandatory detention, and the abolition of temporary protection visas.
The full statement endorsed by the Conference reads:"Shayan Badraie's current serious illness is a direct result of the traumatising and inhumane conditions under which Australian asylum-seekers are imprisoned. The Australian Greens (Victoria) reiterate our call for an immediate end to the bipartisan policy of mandatory detention of asylum-seekers, for the adoption of a humane model for processing on-shore asylum applications such as exists in Germany or New Zealand, and the abolition of Philip Ruddock's illegal and discriminatory category of Temporary Protection Visa.
"We further note that the Australian Government, having failed in its duty of care for Australian asylum-seekers in general and Shayan Badraie in particular, has a moral obligation to provide the long-term medical treatment required to undo the damage inflicted on Shayan.
"We therefore call on Minister Ruddock to exercise his discretionary powers and immediately grant permanent residency visas to the whole Badraie family."
In another resolution, the Greens Conference launched its own appeal for donations in support of the Asylum Seeker Project, raising over $100 from the floor of the Conference.
The Conference also endorsed the Refugee Action Collective's "Free the Refugees Solidarity Tour" to Woomera detention centre in September, and agreed to sponsor up to 50% of the travel costs for up to three participants.
For further details on the Greens' refugee policy or the State Conference resolutions, contact Chris Chaplin on 0400 886 876.
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Please find attached a statement issued by the Pacific Conference of Churches and regional church and non-government organisations, about Australian policy towards the detention of asylum seekers and refugeees in the Pacific
Regards,
Nic Maclellan
The issue of accommodating refugees in detention centres on some of the small islands in the Pacific for Australian immigration screening purposes, is a sensitive issue and concern for the Churches and Peoples of the Pacific. The Australian Government refuses to comply with the United Nations 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, which Australia has signed and ratified "to provide asylum to refugees, irrespective of their mode of arrival". Instead the Australian government has made aid deals with the governments of Nauru and Papua New Guinea, and now approaching Fiji and Kiribati without wide national consultation on the issue.
The Pacific Conference of Churches together with national member churches and Pacific Regional NGOs, on behalf of the peoples of the Pacific, voice our concerns over the Australian leadership�s denial of their moral and legal obligation to support and protect those who flee their own countries because of persecution and violation of human rights.
We support the National Council of Churches in Australia in appealing to the Australian leadership to exercise her role as a democratic state, which upholds human rights principles, to reconsider its decision and accommodate refugees within Australia.
We also appeal to Pacific Island Governments to carefully consider the long-term impact and consequences of accepting Australian aid deals in connection to the refugees. To welcome and accommodate Australian refugees for the sake of money will add more problems and will have adverse impacts on our communal life as Pacific communities, as well as our sovereignty. Pacific island Governments need to focus on finding solutions to overcome political, social and economic problems at home.
We are also concerned that accepting the Australian aid deals will make Pacific Island Governments part of the process that solicits money/profits out of trade in human trafficking, and in this case the asylum seekers.
We collectively reiterate our stand in safeguarding Pacific Islands dignity and refuse to see the Pacific region continuously becoming a dumping ground for the benefit of industrialised nations.
For further information:
Contact PCC Secretariat:
GPO Box 208,
Suva, FIJI
Tel: (679) 311277;
Fax: (679) 303205;
Email: [email protected]
Elders from across Australia have joined together in calling for a peace and healing camp to be established at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
Next year will be the 30th anniversary since the Tent Embassy was first established to help black Australians fight for their human rights. It is time for us to call for an end to the bombing in Afghanistan, join black Australia in our call for Human rights for the people living in Afghanistan. Don't be silent about the massacres taking place here and overseas. It is time that people globally begin to challenge the dominant political powers and the continued white washing of their terrorist activities. Both here in Australia, first by the British government then by the Australian government, and the discrimination of numerous First Nation groups in the Americas by the British, French and now the United States government who are denying the war they waged against these ancient peoples.
We the black people of this country have every right to speak about the country, they cannot stop us telling the truth, we have been terrorised by successive Australian governments who have continued to subjugate ancient knowledge, culture and traditional laws of this land.
In calling for International Peace we are talking from experience, we know firsthand about the trauma of terrorism. On the 15th October 1953 the British and Australian governments exploded the first nuclear bomb at Emu junction north-west of Cooper Pedy. As Rebecca Bear-Wingfield Senior Woman and spokesperson for the Kupa Piti Kungka Tjuta's Aboriginal Council said "whilst we all have empathy for the victims and families of the September 11th tragedy, Americans can be thankful that those four planes did not have nuclear warheads on board. My mother, sister and other family members were exposed to radiation fallout when two 10 kilo tonne atomic bombs were exploded in the Kokatha people's country. That we were affected by these bombs is an act of terrorism and genocide against Australia in its entirety. Anyone who has been affected by exposure to nuclear weapons should join us in Australia's call for peace."
Arabunna Elder, peacemaker, nuclear campaigner and winner of the 2001 Nuclear Free Future Award, Kevin Buzzacott, shares a mutual concern that "these governments will turn to the power of nuclear weapons to undermine the destiny of humanity. It is well past the time for an International call for a total ban on all nuclear weapons."
Join us here at the embassy when we march on parliament to address the nation about the continued International breeches and the failure of the Australian government to rectify the legal lie of "Terra Nullius". The caretaker Prime Minister Mr John Howard, does not have a mandate for Black Australians, and he has no shame sending young Australians into war. He does not represent the views of the black community who share concerns for the 'so called' war on terrorism. Once again innocent women, children and elders are being slaughtered by the indiscriminant bombing raids on Afghanistan.
Elders at the tent embassy are calling on all communities across Australia to send representatives to help establish a camp for further training in global peace, nuclear disarment and spiritual unity. Grandmothers, grandfathers, elders, greenies, peacemakers, university students,nuns, educationalists, families of victims of 'the Gulf War' and anywhere that have been terrorised by the super powers are welcome.
What to bring - tents, camping equipment, art supplies, banners, ideas, opinions and understanding about the call for peace. We need donations of blankets, bicycles, a motor car, food, money, wood and physical support.We are expecting several thousands of people to converge on the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as we get ready to march on parliament on the 11th of November 2001 at 10:30am.
A peace vigil will take place at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, candles are being lit. For further information contact Kevin Buzzacott on 0401 835 053.
Across the road from the old Parliament house.
26/10/01