RAC

Fwd: [Refugee] HOME TRUTHS- hard stuff

2011-08-11T16:51:00.001-07:00

STATISTICS: (is this all these people are?)
L

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	[Refugee] HOME TRUTHS- hard stuff
Date:	Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:26:47 +1000
From:	refugee@lists.justfreedom.org.au

This will not make anyone feel proud.  http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/immigration_detention_ctte/immigration_detention/submissions.htm  There are 1591 refugees in detention awaiting security checks. the list  grows longer not shorter. There were 900 in February 2011.  There are 392 Stateless people rotting in detention with no country to  call home. these are some of the most persecuted, cruelly treated people  on earth. They have nowhere to go and we keep them locked up forever. Read on and weep. The Immigration statistics are still unavailable.  --  Pamela Curr Campaign Coordinator Asylum Seeker Resource Centre 12 Batman st West Melbourne 3003 ph 03 9326 6066 / 0417517075  "NO ONE CHOOSES TO BE AN ASYLUM SEEKER" -----   the pdf of answers to questions on notice is at: https://senate.aph.gov.au/submissions/comittees/viewdocument.aspx?id=a7993578-c642-42b4-a915-c46981e0717e

Rally 3rd Sept 1pm Petrie Plaza

2011-08-08T01:04:00.001-07:00

No to the Malaysia Deal! Rally for Refugees - Canberra
Time: Saturday, September 3 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Location: Petrie Plaza, Civic (in front of the merry-go-round)
Canberra, Australia

A Facebook page for the September Rally http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=197478166980161
invite your friends! (if you are on facebook)

A voice of persecution in human Cage

2011-08-03T19:52:00.001-07:00

An email from Pamela Curr 3rd August 2011:

It is bad enough to see AFP officers practising assault in the jungle, but what is going on behind closed doors is equally disturbing.

Three men who in desperation were on the roof in Darwin and who have been receiving specialist Torture and Trauma Counselling, were forcibly removed to RED BLOCK on Christmas Island.

No expense to be spared to persecute and punish.

There they will be detained at the Minister's pleasure in isolation cells.

I have met one of the men. He bears scars on his face and neck from attacks and beating by the Taliban but of course he was found not to be a refugee.

Last week he sent this plea

With due resepect i pay my best regards to you and wish that my email will find you happy and healthy. I am sending a an open letter by the name of " A voice of persecution in human Cage". It is about to show the people, the kind people of Australia, the loving people of Australia, The sincere people of Australia that we are in very bad conditions. We the Hazara Afghan Asylum seeker have been detained in side the cage for about 15 to 22 months. So we humble request, we humbly beg a assist from the kind people of Australia that please come and help us. We are waiting for you and looking for you assistance. So please, please.
I hope you will read this and understand about our compulsion that we have now.

Wish you all the best and may the blessing of the God be upon you.

Now he is a sound proof cell where no one will hear his cries.

Pamela Curr Campaign Coordinator Asylum Seeker Resource Centre 12 Batman st West Melbourne 3003 ph 03 9326 6066 / 0417517075 "NO ONE CHOOSES TO BE AN ASYLUM SEEKER"

Next Meeting 19th July and new stats & links.

2011-07-06T06:54:00.001-07:00

http://tinyurl.com/3o88xt9 A refugee reconnects. A story in The Age 2nd July 2011.
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2782310.html Mandatory Detention. Expensive and unnecessary. Pamela Curr in The Drum. (ABC)

Boat arrivals in 2010 = 6502
Boat arrivals so far in 2011 = 1621 people. SEE THE DROP in number in the same year that we are planning to export people.
Policy based on the politics of hate and prejudice not evidence
Boat arrivals to Lampedusa (island off coast of Italy) so far in 2011 =40,000 -

http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/goback "Go Back to Where you came from!" was on SBS from 21 June. Read the comments, join the conversation.
An article in The Age (Raye Colbey) Thank you Raye
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2770450.html The Drum, ABC comment from Helen Razer 24June2011

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 19th July 2011 6pm: at ANU
Contact: Peter 0401 960467 or Farida 0412 109160

NEXT MEETING: 5th July 6pm: ANU Moran G07

2011-07-01T02:27:00.001-07:00

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 5th July 2011 6pm: at ANU Moran G07
Contact: Peter 0401 960467 or Farida 0412 109160

Boat Arrivals EFY figures (ie 30June2011)

2011-06-29T18:28:00.001-07:00

from Pamela:

Boat arrivals in 2010 = 6502
Boat arrivals so far in 2011 = 1621 people. SEE THE DROP in number in the same year that we are planning to export people.
Policy based on the politics of hate and prejudice not evidence

Boat arrivals to Lampedusa(island off coast of Italy) so far in 2011 =40,000 -

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 21st June Copland Lecture Theatre 6pm

2011-06-19T00:15:00.001-07:00

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 21st June 2011 6pm: at the ANU Copland Lecture Theatre. Come along to help organise our next events.
See map at http://campusmap.anu.edu.au/displaymap.asp?grid=gh32 (Copland Lecture Theatre is building 25)
Contact: Peter 0401 960467 or Farida 0412 109160

Newsletter: World Refugee Day this weekend

2011-06-16T12:21:00.001-07:00

1. Civic stall 18 June
2. RAC meeting 21 June
3. 'The majority of children'
4. World Refugee Day action in Sydney, Sunday 19 June

1. Civic stall 18 June

The Canberra Refugee Action Committee will commemorate WRD with a stall in Garema Place from 10AM to 2PM on Saturday, 18 June. Please contact Adriana if you want to help out: 0404 551544; asiddle@gmail.com

2. RAC meeting 21 June

The next meeting of RAC will be held on Tuesday 21 June at 6PM in the ANU Copland Lecture Theatre. Come along to help organise our next events.

3. 'The majority of children'

On 1 March, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen, stated,

On 18 October last year, the Prime Minister and I announced that the Government would move the majority of children and vulnerable family groups out of immigration detention facilities and into community-based accommodation by June this year. http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2011/cb159599.htm

The Immigration Department has not yet released data on detentions for June, so it is too early to say whether 'the majority of children and vulnerable family groups' had been released by the beginning of June. There were many more children in detention in mid May, however, than there were in October. The media are treating it as if Gillard and Bowen's promise had been to release children by the end of June. In that case, it's possible that the majority will have left 'immigration detention facilities' by the end of the month. As we mentioned last October, the children were never to have been released into anything other than 'community detention'. As the PM said at the time,

The Minister will also use his powers under the Act to place conditions - such as curfews, requirements to live at a certain address and obligations to check in regularly with authorities - on those permitted to live in the community while awaiting the outcome of their applications for asylum.

Here are some relevant links:

* Government to move children and vulnerable families into community-based accommodation MON 18 OCTOBER 2010 Prime Minister, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship http://www.pm.gov.au/press-office/community-based-accommodation-children
* Bowen explains detention centre changes – AM Tuesday, October 19, 2010 Lyndal Curtis http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2010/s3041895.htm
* Moving asylum seeker children into the community Tuesday, 1 March 2011 Statement by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the Hon Chris Bowen, MP http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/media/cb/2011/cb159599.htm
* Backdown over detention pledge Kirsty Needham June 7, 2011 http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/backdown-over-detention-pledge-20110606-1fpe7.html
* Labor under pressure to meet commitment to move majority of kids out of detention Lanai Vasek and James Massola The Australian June 09, 2011 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/special-rights-for-malaysia-refugees/story-fn59niix-1226072269557

4. World Refugee Day action in Sydney, Sunday 19 June

Please consider attending the WRD action in Sydney: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170456896347356

Press releases from Sydney RAC:

WORLD REFUGEE DAY RALLY MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 14 2011
*************************

"NAURU UNDERSTANDS – WHY DOESN'T ABBOTT?": PROTEST ORGANIZERS OPPOSE NAURU REOPENING AND MANDATORY DETENTION

Following Tony Abbott's Nauru visit, organizers of Sunday's World Refugee Day demonstration in Sydney are highlighting Nauruans' opposition to the mandatory detention of refugees.

"We are opposed to any suggestion that Nauru be reopened,' said Nick Riemer, a spokesperson for the World Refugee Day Organizing committee. "Nauru is a failed Pacific State without infrastructure where refugees will be beyond the reach of Australian law."

"Even though Nauru wants Australian refugees for economic reasons, they're reported as preferring open detention centres where refugees are free to come and go," he continued. "We already know from Australia's experience that detention leads to self-harm, suicide, and lasting psychological trauma. Now the Nauruans recognize that mandatory detention is psychologically damaging to refugees."

"Tony Abbott wants to reopen Nauru, but won't consider abolishing mandatory detention in Australia. Even Nauru understands that mandatory detention destroys lives and is the worst possible option. Why doesn't Mr Abbott? Why doesn't Mr Bowen? Processing asylum seekers in the community like every other Western country is the only way to avoid the litany of tragedies that mandatory detention causes. It speaks volumes about Tony Abbott's priorities that he's happy for Nauru's primary school to be uprooted to make way for asylum seekers who are Australia's responsibility."

Stephen Blanks, from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, which has endorsed the rally, said that "mandatory detention means injustice is inevitable. Mandatory detention sends a message that people who arrive in Australia will be met with injustice. Imposition of injustice is not a legitimate part of any proper policy."

The rally, whose theme is 'It's time to end mandatory detention', has been called to mark World Refugee Day, and has been endorsed by a wide range of organizations and individuals, including GetUp!, ChilOut, The Australian Tamil Congress, Labor for Refugees, the NSW Greens, unions and refugee rights groups. The rally will begin outside Sydney Town Hall on Sunday June 19, at midday.

Speakers include Sarah Hanson-Young (Australian Greens Senator), Dr Zachary Steel, clinical psychologist, Shane Prince (Labor for Refugees), Renuka Balasubramaniam (Lawyers for Liberty, Malaysia), Kate Gauthier (ChilOut), as well as former detainees.

Media enquiries
Contact Nick Riemer (0435 533 027) or Mark Goudkamp (0422 078 376)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 8 JUNE 2011

OVER FORTY ORGANISATIONS BACK CALL FOR ACTION ON REFUGEES
SYDNEY RALLY FOR WORLD REFUGEE DAY, SUNDAY JUNE 19

A broad coalition of over 40 refugee rights and other groups has called for members of the public to take to the street on Sunday 19 June in recognition of World Refugee Day 2011.

The rally, to begin at Sydney Town Hall at noon, will demonstrate community support for the right of those persecuted to seek asylum and protection in Australia, and call for an end to mandatory detention.

The need for action is more urgent than ever, with the Government planning to effectively close Australian borders to those most desperately seeking asylum and arriving by boat. The "Malaysian Solution", currently being drafted, will add to the numbers of the already 94,000 asylum seekers and refugees currently living in appalling conditions in Malaysia., and further undermine Australia' international obligations to asylum seekers.

Consequently, more than forty organisations endorse the call for this year's rally and march in Sydney.

Johanne Gow from the World Refugee Day Committee said, "Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both condemned Malaysia's human rights record. Malaysia doesn't even pretend to respect human rights – abuses are written into law. Use of the death penalty is accepted and regularly meted out, and indefinite detention and caning are commonplace. No Australian would accept the human rights conditions we are expecting those already deeply vulnerable."

Another spokesperson for the World Refugee Day Committee, Nick Riemer, pointed out that, "Short of tracking each individual transported, the Australian Government would have no way of knowing whether Malaysia adheres to any promises it might make about their welfare. They will have no right to work, and no child will be able to attend school."

The World Refugee Day Rally organising committee encourages all those who find this policy abhorrent to make their views known by attending at Town Hall at noon on Sunday 19th June.

Media enquiries:
For more information or comment please contact Nick Riemer (0435 533 027).

Endorsees:
AID/WATCH,
Australian Council for International Development,
Australian Tamil Congress,
Balmain for Refugees,
Bathurst Refugee Support Group,
Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group,
Braidwood Greens,
Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney,
ChilOut,
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (NSW),
Cross Border Collective,
David Shoebridge, MP, Greens (MLC),
Dr Claudia Tazreiter, UNSW,
Edmund Rice Centre,
Eva Cox (Research Fellow, Jumbunna, UTS),
Fairfield Liverpool Greens,
Friends of the Earth, Sydney,
Greens NSW,
Inner Sydney Greens,
Jamie Parker, MP, Greens (Member for Balmain),
Justice and Arts Network
Justice John S. Purdy,
Labor 4 Refugees (NSW),
Lake Macquarie Greens,
Marie Coleman, Women's Advocate (Senior Australian of the Year 2011),
Maritime Union of Australia, Sydney Branch,
Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW,
Muslim Youth of Sydney,
National Tertiary Education Union NSW,
Newcastle Greens,
Northern Beaches Greens,
NSW Council for Civil Liberties,
Parramatta Greens,
Refugee Action Coalition, NSW,
South Sydney Greens,
Student Environment Activist Network - NSW& ACT (SEAN),
Sydney Peace Foundation, University of Sydney,
Tweed Greens,
Union Aid Abroad/APHEDA,
University of New South Wales Anti-Racism Club,
University of New South Wales Student Representative Council,
University of Sydney Anti-Racism Collective,
University of Technology, Sydney Anti-Racism Collective

June 2011

2011-06-12T21:46:00.001-07:00

http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2011/s3240886.htm Malaysian Deal is illegal says Refugee expert.
"Professor James Hathaway says Australia's current Government and the previous one have acted with extraordinary callous disregard for the rights of asylum seekers.…
…The difficulty is there is no gate keeper. Having denied the courts the right to apply the treaty the Government effectively knows that it can act effectively in disregard of its obligations and no-one has the power to stop them."
(reported in The World Today Friday 10th June, 2011 on the ABC)

Mandatory Detention is no deterrent. Canberra Times 11th June 2011.

http://content.enewslettersonline.com/21240/49725.html
Distressing reading: The June 2011 newsletter from ChilOut. (Children out of Detention)
we have returned to older ways.

Breaking Point. A death in Villawood. TV report on Dateline May 29th 2011.
http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/story/about/id/601166/n/Breaking-Point

read Julian Burnside on the "Malaysian solution". http://tinyurl.com/4xhrf6l

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 21st June 2011 6pm: at the ANU
Contact: Peter 0401 960467 or Farida 0412 109160

Villawood (report and photos)

2011-05-25T20:19:00.000-07:00

with thanks to Pamela Curr:

Dear Friends
The Human Rights Commission has today released the report of its visit to the immigration detention facilities at Villawood.
Do have a look at the PHOTOS- they speak a thousand words.
If you can stomach it read DIAC response.
Pamela

· the report is at http://humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/immigration/idc2011_villawood.html

· the DIAC response is at www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/immigration/idc2011_villawood_response.html

· photos of the detention facilities at Villawood are at www.humanrights.gov.au/human_rights/immigration/idc2011_villawood_photos.html.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday 10th May 2011 6pm

2011-05-03T18:51:00.001-07:00

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 10th May 2011 6pm:

ASIO checks paying off.

2011-05-03T18:49:00.001-07:00

Thank You!
http://www.smh.com.au/national/fast-asio-checks-pay-off-for-refugees-20110502-1e57l.html
Fast ASIO checks pay off for refugees
Kirsty Needham
May 3, 2011

Free.. almost 1000 refugees have been given the green light.
ALMOST 1000 refugees have been given the green light to leave overcrowded detention centres and receive visas after a push to clear the faltering system's security backlog.
Human rights groups had criticised the federal government for keeping 1300 people found to be genuine refugees in detention for up to a year as they waited for ASIO to do security checks, the final stage of processing.
Refugee advocates had blamed the delays for creating tensions that spilt over into riots and self-harm in the centres.

The federal government has revealed it had completed 70 per cent of outstanding security checks for people accepted as refugees as of March 17, finalising about 900 cases. This is in line with a commitment given in a letter to every detainee at the height of the Christmas Island riots.
A Herald analysis of immigration data shows that about 400 refugees who arrived by boat were released from immigration detention in April, leaving another 500 to be released in coming weeks. It takes 10 days to process paperwork for a protection visa for approved applicants.
Refugee groups said there had been a ''pickup'' in new refugees referred to resettlement services in recent weeks.
....
As of April 19, only 21 boat arrivals had received adverse security assessments, and these did not include any of the 900 cases sped up by ASIO.
.....
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/national/fast-asio-checks-pay-off-for-refugees-20110502-1e57l.html#ixzz1LLN5NUn1

MEETING Tuesday 19th April Copland G030

2011-04-18T05:19:00.001-07:00

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 19th April 2011 6pm: Copland G030
See map at http://campusmap.anu.edu.au/displaymap.asp?grid=ef32 Copland/Moran is at the far right of the map sheet. These rooms are in the quadrangle reached through passageways in the middle. (a car park is behind the Crisp building)

Rally Sat 30 April 12noon Petrie Plaza

2011-04-13T22:08:00.001-07:00

FREE THE REFUGEES

12pm Sat 30th April

Petrie Plaza Civic

(near the merry-go-round)

Last October when the government announced it would release children seeking asylum from detention, they held 742 children; today, there are 1084. Two weeks ago, we witnessed the fifth suicide in immigration detention in just seven months. Instead of incarcerating asylum seekers as a last resort in accordance with the government’s stated policy, PM Gillard has insisted on demonising them, sending riot police to Christmas Island to shoot non-violent protesters with tear gas and beanbag bullets.

It's time to stand up for refugees!

Let them know we welcome them.

Say no to the government's disgusting racist refugee policy.

We demand:

No deportations

No offshore processing

End mandatory detention

Organised by the ACT Refugee Action Committee

Peter 0401 960467 Harry 0433 375501

If you want to find out more information, or join us in the fight for refugee rights, visit

www.refugeeaction.org or email mail@refugeeaction.org

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=154699181260290

Next Meeting: Tuesday 5th Manning Clark 6

2011-04-04T05:54:00.001-07:00

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 5th April 2011 6pm: Theatre number 6 in the Manning Clark Centre (it's exam time!)

"Now we are shooting them." (David Marr)

2011-03-30T21:16:00.001-07:00

in Sydney Morning Herald 25th March 2011 David Marr on the violence on Christmas Island.
"Now we are shooting them. Tear-gas, batons and water cannon were used years ago when unrest swept detention centres. But a fresh line was crossed on March 13 and crossed again a few nights later when Australian Federal Police at Christmas Island's North West Point detention centre fired on asylum seekers. Then the place was torched.…"

inquest in Perth and five suicides in seven months

2011-03-30T05:38:00.001-07:00

In The Australian, 30 March 2011 from the inquest into the shipwreck on Christmas Island on December 15, 2010. "there was no surveillance of boats approaching Christmas Island …"

We remember with sadness the death on Monday of Mohammad Asif Atay, a 19yr old Hazara man who committed suicide in Curtin detention centre. There have been five suicides in seven months in detention centres.
See also: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/45750.html In ABC's The Drum unleashed 30 March 2011.

from David Marr Violence on Christmas Island (SMH)

2011-03-25T22:39:00.001-07:00

Violence on island of broken promises

David Marr

March 26, 2011

As the smoke clears after the detention centre riots, the government is still not asking the big questions, writes David Marr.

Now we are shooting them. Tear-gas, batons and water cannon were used years ago when unrest swept detention centres. But a fresh line was crossed on March 13 and crossed again a few nights later when Australian Federal Police at Christmas Island's North West Point detention centre fired on asylum seekers. Then the place was torched.

The riots mark the failure of another great Kevin Rudd initiative: to process all boat-people on this remote island. Logistical miracles are required to keep it operating. Distance makes everything so difficult. It costs a fortune: five times as much to process refugees out there as on the mainland. The Ombudsman, Allan Asher, declared in February this year: "The current scale of the operation on Christmas Island is not sustainable".
Read on...
http://www.smh.com.au/national/violence-on-island-of-broken-promises-20110325-1ca13.html

Eureka Street articles

2011-03-24T17:43:00.001-07:00

Articles in Eureka street. Worth reading: Blame Detention Centres, not detainees by Andrew Hamilton (21 March 2011);
Also the Lenten Podcast series. Who is welcome at our table? Australia's response to refugees. (This five-part podcast series will feature the stories of refugees who have arrived in Australia, as well as interviews with experts and advocates working in the refugee field)

MEETING 5th April 6pm

2011-03-22T03:21:00.001-07:00

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 5th April 2011 6pm: venue to be announced

(and twenty people came to the protest outside DIAC.)

Protest Tuesday 22nd March 5pm!

2011-03-20T01:22:00.000-07:00

Close Christmas Island detention centre
End mandatory detention
Tuesday 22 March, 5-6.15pm
Dept. of Immigration and Citizenship, 6 Chan St Belconnen
Organised by the ACT Refugee Action Committee
Call Peter on 0401960467 or Harry on 0433375501

What is happening on Christmas Island

2011-03-20T01:14:00.001-07:00

Christmas Island protests were peaceful until the police and Tactical Response Group arrived from the mainland with a level of force which has not been seen in Australia before. (but also, see below, the story of a SERCO guard caught in the mayhem on Thursday night.)

This email from Pamela Curr, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. sent 11.24am 19 March 2011

"When the AFP and TRG boarded the plane for Christmas Island at 4pm last Friday, the Christmas island protest had just begun. It was a totally peaceful action with groups of men walking the 15 kilometres through the jungle to the inhabited parts of the island.

Over the next two days some went to the Mosque, some to the Construction Camp to visit family, some went swimming and some went to the airport to sit. No crime, no theft, absolutely peaceful.

On Sunday night most of the men returned to the camp pretty happy with their weekends work. Cheers went up and were heard on phone lines as the TV news filmed their banners calling for freedom.

A few hours later this changed completely. All Serco staff were called to the centre to provide a show of force, even the cooks and office staff. DIAC staff decided to enact a "snatch and grab' to take those thought to be leaders off to RED ONE isolation cells. After this everything changed.

The AFP and TRG then unleashed their secret weapons- bean bag rounds and tear gas, their use unheard of in this country against unarmed civilians. More was to come. Flash bangs and pyrotechnic and stronger tear gas were introduced on another night. By now the camp is on high alert and handed over to the AFP and TRG. As we enter another night, we wonder what weapons will be introduced tonight.

Of deeper concern is why all these weapons were brought on board on that Friday night when there was only a peaceful protest underway. Why did the police pack such an arsenal of weapons ? What plan was underway that they thought that they could use these weapons ? Beanbag rounds, flash bangs, pyrotechnics, rifles and machine guns capable of firing this stuff.- who had even heard of these much less know that our police had them stored away for a rainy day. There are questions to be asked about the this use of violence which turned a peaceful protest into a running battle. When will it stop and will detainee deaths result from this brutal game?

NO ONE CAN BE PROUD OF WHAT IS GOING ON HERE."

----

Good news story from Christmas Island.

It happened on Thursday night up at the Camp at NW POINT where all the tears gas and flash bangs were in operation.

SERCO officers were inside the compounds when AFP unleashed torrents of tear gas which they followed with the flash bangs.
This is a problem because tear gas lowers the ignition point of air and so the flash bangs ignite causing fires.

Serco guys were at risk so pick-up cars were driven around the perimeter and Serco were told on radios to get out and run for the cars.

One guy said that he couldn't because he was blinded by the tear gas and couldn't see where to go.
He said I am staying put - too dangerous to run when can't see where to go- besides my guys (detainees)will look after me- they know me.

Car moved on.

The detainees started to light a small fire. The Serco guard panicked and said - what are doing - you told me that you would look after me.

The detainees replied- yes we will - come over here and put your head over the fire and smoke- it will take the sting out of your eyes.
He did and it worked.

(thanks to Pamela for passing on this story!)

shotguns and a WA link

2011-03-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

When were rubber bullets last used in Australia? Have they ever been used before?
Lateline has the story: [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/ [when the 15th March is on line] the AFP Tactical Response Group were using modified shotgun pellets. (little "balloons filled with pellets) wouldn't it be so much easier and cheaper to keep the gate open? to run a bus into the town… this is an island community. we are not talking about criminals. why incarcerate them?

http://www.rran.org/ Western Australian Refugee Rights Action Network. A useful site.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND: Tear Gas AND Rubber Bullets

2011-03-14T04:35:00.001-07:00

We are hearing that a man has gone to hospital with a broken leg --- caused by a rubber bullet…
Detainees heard shooting last night. These are men who know that sound.
When were rubber bullets last used in Australia? Have they ever been used before?

NEXT MEETING Tues 15 March 6pm

2011-03-14T00:03:00.001-07:00

NEXT MEETING:
Tuesday 15th March 2011 6pm: venue Copland G30
Contact: Peter 0401 960467 or Farida 0412 109160

A new Myths and Facts sheet for March 2011 Myths&factsMarch2011.pdf
It’s true that there are no children in the six designated IDCs. But as of 4 February 2011, the Immigration department held 1027 children under the age of 18 in other immigration detention facilities, many more than in October when the government announced children would be released.

Refugee Action Committee Blog

2011-03-14T00:01:00.000-07:00

I am hoping to use this blog to keep a listing of changes to the refugeeaction.org web page. That will help people keep a track of changes and find old items more easily than the present archiving.