Newsletter for 31 October 2017 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

_{Next Roadside Demo -Coffs Base Hospital Thursday November 9th 2:30pm}

_{Next Market Stall - Bellingen Sat 18th November}

_{Good news story}

_{Looming crisis on Manus}

_{Roadside demonstration report}

_{Last week’s roadside demonstration in Bellingen went well. We had  small but enthusiastic band of supporters, and our very visible presence drew lots of positive and sometimes  exuberant support from passing motorists. These demonstrations are an excellent way of keeping the plight of asylum seekers in the public eye. It would be great to welcome more supporters to these fortnightly demos, so why not come and join us? Our next demo will be in Coffs Harbour, by the Pacific Highway, opposite the Base hospital on Thursday 9th November from 2.30  until 4.00 pm.}

_{Our next market stall: Saturday 18th November at the  Community Market}

_{Our next market stall will be at the Bellingen Community Market on Saturday 18th November from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm. As usual, we’ll be handing out leaflets, collecting signatures on our petition, interacting with market-goers and selling our merchandise on behalf of the Asylum Seekers Centre. The markets are always enjoyable occasions, so if you can join us at the stall for an hour or two, then please let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.}

_{Some wonderful news}

_{A few weeks ago, we told you about the Iranian asylum seeker family who were hosted by members of our local RAR group earlier this month . On their return to Sydney, they finally had their long-awaited lengthy interview with Immigration in relation to their application for refugee status. We were delighted to learn last week that the family’s application was successful and that they have been granted a Temporary Protection Visa  (TPV), which will allow them some certainty about their future in Australia.  This is a great outcome for them and we have of course sent them our warm congratulations. A huge cloud has been lifted from their shoulders.}

_{Looming crisis on Manus Island}

_{Today marks the deadline for the closure of the Manus Island detention centre, and the situation for the men held there is utterly dire. The facilities for the refugees and asylum seekers have been gradually closed down around them, as our government attempts to coerce them into moving to three separate accommodation blocks on the outskirts of Lorengau. Senate Estimates Committee was informed last week that all facilities, including food, water and electricity, will be cut off as of today.  The local Manussians are very unhappy about the the arrival of the detainees in Lorengau and are threatening them with violence. The detainees are very fearful that they will face violence or death at the hands of the locals. Imran Mohammad, a Rohingya refugee on Manus, wrote in this week’s The Saturday Paper: “The refugees and asylum seekers on Manus island are at the lowest point in their lives. There are no words to describe the pressure the Australian government is imposing in order to empty and close its illegal offshore detention centre by October 31st...........We call out for help in the vain hope that someone might answer.......Six  men  who were full of life have died because of the endless pain. They would have been alive if they had been taken to safety.”}

_{It is clear that this is a disaster waiting to happen, and that it is likely to happen very soon, unless our government intervenes to bring these men to safety in Australia. The government, sadly, remains intransigent and indifferent to the plight of the detainees. As far as the government is concerned , “everything is proceeding at this point”, according to a spokesperson for Minister Dutton. And as regards the removal of the detainees from the detention centre, well, according to the Immigration Department Secretary Michael Pezzullo, a man not noted for his humanity or compassion,  it is a matter for the PNG government to decide whether the men would be removed by force. Please consider sending an email to the Prime Minister to urge him to bring the detainees to Australia for resettlement here or in another safe country. You can email him at: www.pm.gov.au/contact-your-pm.  Or you can write to him at: PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra. ACT 2600.}

_{Check out the index of subjects on our blog  http://bellorar.blogspot.com.au} 

_{It includes articles from many sources and letters to politicians and newspapers.}

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_{The National RAR web site is at  www.ruralaustraliansforrefugees.org.au} 

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