RAR Call to action - leading to a concerted action on 18 October 2017

Regional Communities say Enough

Manus and Nauru

Not Safe for Refugees

Bring Them Here!

Concerted action 18 October 2017 

details below

The crisis on Manus: a call for urgent action

Background:  

·      The situation for asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island is worsening and now potentially life threatening.

·      There are 900 men currently in the existing camp and of these 730 have had positive refugee assessments.

·      With the announcement that the Manus Island camp is to close by 31 October, the authorities are putting enormous pressure on the men to move to a so-called “transit centre” in East Lorengau – about half an hour away from the existing camp.

-       Lorengau was built and insured for 298. If the authorities have their way it will be filled with 800 men.

-       There is no medical facility there; people must attend the local hospital.

·      It also means that they will be living among the local people many of whom are very hostile to the refugees and asylum seekers.

-there have already been a significant number of attacks on the refugees with muggings, beatings and attacks with knives now documented.

·      In the meanwhile the existing camp on Manus is being progressively shut down, forcing the people there into overcrowded and makeshift accommodation in other parts of the camp. Water and power is being turned off in some sections. The exercise area has been closed, English language classes ended, most things removed for sale from the small canteen and case managers no longer given access. Officials simply repeat that the men have the possibility either of returning to their home country or settling in PNG.

·      As Behrouz Boochani recently wrote: This whole situation targets the mental wellbeing of the refugees on three levels. First, living conditions within the prison camp are deteriorating daily. Second, it has been made perfectly clear there is no favourable future for refugees in PNG; no one feels safe. And third, the process to transfer them to the US is still up in the air.

RAR and the Australian Refugee Action Network (ARAN) will shortly be sending you resources and we will let you know what others are doing to inspire your action.

Zali Nash the RAR Social Media convenor is developing a social media strategy to be released next week.

It would be great if you send us information including photos for putting on our website and facebook and of course ‘your suggestions’ that we have not thought of.

Following is a program for action for RAR across Australia.

RAR Call to Action:

The situation has now gone well beyond any justification by the Australian Government. The situation is unsafe, the Papua Guinea government has admitted that it cannot protect the refugees and asylum seekers and we fear that as the closure of the camp approaches even more tragic outcomes may eventuate.

It is important to make sure that our elected representatives cannot claim that they “don’t know what is happening”. We need to ask them to demand information from Government and expect change.

We also want to let the media know we expect reporting from them on this as an issue of significance for our community values and democracy.

Recommended Action

Manus to be a priority in our activities leading up to the closure of Manus at the end of October. Other networks will be doing this too.

We recommend

1.     Use the theme: of ‘regional communities say enough’ and the ARAN slogan Manus and Nauru etc.

Regional Communities say Enough

Manus and Nauru

Not Safe for Refugees

Bring Them Here!

2.     Focus on parliamentarians and media.

3.     Make this part of your ongoing activities eg vigils, churches etc.

4.     Brief your local member and ask them what they can do to ameliorate the human costs for the detainees. 

5.     Make appointments with your local MP now, involve a small group of locals and advise the MP that you will return again in 6-8 weeks for the MP to report b ack to you and make an appointment for your return visit.

6.     Take photos of the visit or the meeting if possible so that you can use for media releases and Facebook posts

7.     Involve your local media about your activities – papers, community radio and of course your local ABC regional outlets (we hope to provide you some media formats if you need them).

8.     Plan a regular/continuing presence outside your MP or Senator’s local office and/or join with other RAR groups in your region to organise weekly vigils outside the local MPs office.

9.     Organise letter writing meetings, phoning MPs office, contact talkback radio and encourage members of your community to be involved

10.Plan a concerted action (along with other groups in Australia) for October 8, 2017.

letter to editor from Dr M Blockey - disappearing refugees

                         'Disappearing' refugees

In a letter last week I concluded that the Pacific solution and turn back were almost identical in that they sent boat people to detention camps on either Manus/Nauru or in Indonesia. Where the two policies are hugely different, however, is what we do with them  in these camps. In the Pacific solution, refugees had their claims for asylum heard, 92% pass this 'test' and were settled here. In turn back, we 'disappear' refugees!

'Disappear'? The Coalition refuses to send Immigration Department (ID) staff to Indonesia  to hear the refugees' claims for asylum. The result is that they stay in the camps forever. Without ID approving their claims to asylum, they can never come to Australia and nor will   the Indo government release them into the Indo community. The Coalition is paying it a 'billion or two' for 'caring' for our refugees and the Indonesians want this 'arrangement' to continue.

The Coalition won't send ID staff to Indonesia because it fears most will be so appalled by the brutality in these camps, they will tell refugee activists on their return. An Australia-wide campaign could lead to the Indo government closing the camps and refusing to accept 'turned back' refugees back into Indo. This would mean the end of turn back and turn back is a great vote winner for the Coalition!

The Coalition has a problem. If it hears the refugees' claims for asylum, turn back unravels as does its chances of re-election in 2019. If it doesn't hear their claims for asylum, it condemns them to a life, and death, behind razor wire.

How many refugees are in Indo camps? Some 1474 refugees have been in Indo camps for 4 years, another 1500 for 3 years, a further 1400 for 2 years and 1450 refugees have been in camps for a year, a total of 5500/6000.

I have borrowed the word 'disappear' from Argentina. In their Dirty War in the 1970s, some 10 to 30,000 activists were plucked from the streets by the Army and imprisoned for the rest of their lives. Their family and friends had no idea where they were. They all died in prison.

Our 5500/6000 refugees have been 'disappeared'. And they will die in prison! And why? To protect turn back!!

Dr Michael Blockey, Scotts Head

Newsletter for 1 August 2017 Rural Auatrallans for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Next Roadside Demo - Bellingen Thursday August 10th 2:30pm

Next Market Stall - Valla Beach Sat 5th August

UNHCR criticises Australia

Manus Island latest

Les Murray dies

Roadside demonstration report

A big thank you to the small band of dedicated supporters who turned up for last week’s demonstration in Coffs Harbour. At last the sun was shining and we received  overwhelming support from passing motorists and pedestrians. It would be great if a few more people could join us for these demonstrations, which are a powerful reminder to the public of the brutality and inhumanity of our government’s asylum policy. Why not make a note in your diary to come and join us ? Our next demonstration will be in Bellingen on Thursday 10th August from 2.30 to 4.00 pm. You will find us at a new location, adjacent to the playing fields just after the High School as you come into Bellingen. We hope to see some of you there.

Valla Beach Market : Saturday 5th August from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm

A reminder that our next market stall will be this coming Saturday at the Valla Beach market. You will find us at our usual spot near the large storage shed. As always, we’ll be handing out leaflets, asking people to sign the petition calling for the immediate closure of the Manus and Nauru detention centres , chatting to market-goers and selling our merchandise. We hope to have new bumper stickers for sale! Do drop by for a chat and sign the petition if you are visiting the market. If you can help out for an hour or two, particularly after 10.00 am, then please let Mike know at:mand.griffin2@bigpond.com.

This month we also have a stall at the Coffs Harbourside market on Sunday 27th August.

UNHCR slams duplicity of Dutton and his team

When the Turnbull government struck a deal with the US to allow up to 1,250 refugees from Nauru and Manus to resettle in the US, the UNHCR agreed to facilitate the process. It did so on the clear understanding that the small number of vulnerable refugees with close family ties in Australia would be quietly allowed to resettle here. The numbers involved are miniscule – a mere 36 cases have been identified – but  Minister Dutton has now reneged on the commitment to resettle these vulnerable people. The refugees have been informed that their only options are to remain where they are, be resettled in the US or Cambodia, or return to their country of origin. The UNHCR statement, which you can read on our blog, states: “There is no doubt these vulnerable people, already subject to four years of punishing conditions, should be reunited with their families in Australia. This is the humane and reasonable thing to do. The Australian government’s decision to deny them this possibility is contrary to the fundamental principles of family unity and refugee protection, and to common decency.”

Please consider writing to protest about this latest appalling episode, which serves to underline yet again the government’s utter intransigence, cruelty and complete disregard for the human rights of refugees. Let us also target the Labor Opposition, and urge them to oppose this action by our government, and to demand that the agreement with UNHCR  be honoured.

Details of politicians to target:

Peter.Dutton.MP@aph.gov.au. (Lib)

Luke.Hartsuyker.MP@aph.gov.au. Nat)

Shayne.Neumann.MP@aph.gov.au. (Lab)

Tanya.Plibesek.MP@aph.gov.au. (Lab)

Bill.Shorten.MP@aph.gov.au. (Lab)

Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au. (Lib)

Manus Detention Centre: The government tightens the screws

Refugees in one of the largest of the four compounds  in the detention centre in Lombrun on Manus Island have been forced out and threatened with arrest if they resist the attempts of the authorities to move them out of the centre to the “transit” centre on the edge of the township of Lorengau. One of the refugees, the journalist and writer Behrouz Boochani, writes:  “Of the 200 people who inhabited Foxtrot compound, during the past month 100 have moved “voluntarily” to other sections of the prison. They have received no assistance in finding space elsewhere and it has caused overcrowding.......The main objective of these kinds of oppressive tactics is to coerce the refugees out of the current prison camp and into the East Lorengau camp.”

The refugees are very fearful that forcing them  into the township of Lorengau will place them at serious risk of harm. The locals don’t want them there,  and it is clear that the refugees will be in serious danger if they are forced to relocate to the “transit” centre. As Behrouz states: “What eventuates may threaten the lives of many.” Sadly, our government doesn’t seem to care.

Vale Les Murray

Yesterday saw the death of Les Murray, best known as the man who popularised the round ball game in Australia. He was the father of football and his voice will be known to all of us. He was also a refugee and a refugee advocate. In one report I saw last night it stated that he asked people to not send flowers but to donate to refugee support groups. He was  a man of compassion and integrity. Vale.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/video/2016/aug/27/dear-australia-les-murray-the-tv-legend-saved-by-a-people-smuggler?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

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.

This newsletter is sent to >500 recipients

Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/

(482 likes)

Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam

Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com

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

The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook

Newsletter for 25 July 2017 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

Candlelit vigil report

Next Roadside Demo - Coffs Base Hospital Thursday July 27th 2:30pm

Next Market Stall - Valla Beach Sat 5th August

The costs of running Manus and Nauru

Candlelit vigil report

Notwithstanding the biting wind  last Wednesday evening, more than 40  people participated in our candlelit vigil by the Bellinger river to mark the four years since the then-prime minister Kevin Rudd announced that “any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia.” Since then, untold suffering has been inflicted on men, women and children who  fled oppression and violence in their homelands to seek safe haven on our shores. In spite of the consistent revelations of  physical, sexual and mental abuse , our government remains shamefully unmoved. People have died whilst in the care of the Australian government.

At the vigil, we held a minute’s silence to remember the six men who have died whilst in the care of our government, and we heard the moving accounts of four men on Manus Island – Imran, Amir, Madu and Naseem – all of whom have been locked away for the past four years.

Imran writes: “I have lived with fear and sadness for the last four years. But the worst part is being without hope. Wasting away without a glimpse of hope for the future.”

Madu writes: “ I came to Australia for safety- I came to seek safety. I suffered a lot when I was in Burma. I escaped but now I am here and still suffering. I still have hopes and dreams. I want to study.”

Naseem writes: “ The last four years.... Really I have no words to describe how we’ve suffered. Every minute, every second, every night, we die a little bit.”

Amir writes: “The worst part about being here is the disempowerment. You have no control over your life. The system is implemented this way to make you suffer. To take away your power and your hope.”

You can read their full accounts on our blog. To access the blog, just click on the link at the foot of this newsletter.

Roadside demonstration: Thursday  27th July : Coffs harbour, 2.30 to 4.00 pm

Our next roadside demonstration is this Thursday, 27th July in Coffs Harbour. You will find us by the Pacific Highway, opposite the Base hospital. It would be great to have a good turn out on what is forecast to be a sunny day. Please try to join us if you can, and remind the community that many Australians continue to oppose the government’s cruel asylum policies. We have lots of banners and placards to share, but we do need a few more willing hands to wave them aloft.

Next market stall: Valla Beach, Saturday 5th August from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm

A reminder that we have our next market stall coming up soon on 5th August.  If you can lend a helping hand for an hour or two, particularly from 10.00 am onwards, then please let Mike know by emailing him at : mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.

The cost of running the two offshore detention centres

Figures released under recent Senate estimates questioning reveal that our government has spent a staggering $5 billion building and running the detention centres on Manus and Nauru over the past four years. It has cost the Australian taxpayer roughly $2 million for each of the asylum seekers who have languished in these hell holes for the past four years. This does not include the huge cost of the naval blockade to ensure that asylum seeker boats are turned back, usually to Indonesia. And there is no end in sight as yet for the 2,000 refugees and asylum seekers who are still awaiting their fate. It goes without saying that all these people could have been resettled in Australia long ago at a fraction of the cost. Instead, we have broken their spirits and destroyed their lives, simply to keep them out of sight for political ends. We must surely keep up our efforts to bring about change.

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.

This newsletter is sent to >500 recipients

Our Face book is at https://www.facebook.com/Rural-Australians-for-Refugees-Bellingen-and-Nambucca-Districts-269696303205083/timeline/

(482 likes)

Twitter Account @RARBellingenNam

Email address bellingen.rar@gmail.com

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

The National RAR facebook site is at  RAR Facebook

UNHCR Statement - Australia must end harmful practice of offshore processing

From: UNHCR Broadcast

Sent: Monday, 24 July 2017 11:29:24 AM

To: All Staff at Headquarters and in the Field

Subject: UNHCR Statement - 24 July 2017 - Australia must end harmful practice of offshore processing

Geneva, 24 July 2017

Statement by Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Australia must end harmful practice of offshore processing

Australia’s policy of offshore processing in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, which denies access to asylum in Australia for refugees arriving by sea without a valid visa, has caused extensive, avoidable suffering for far too long.

Four years on, more than 2,000 people are still languishing in unacceptable circumstances. Families have been separated and many have suffered physical and psychological harm.

In light of this dire humanitarian situation, last November UNHCR exceptionally agreed to help with the relocation of refugees to the United States following a bilateral agreement between Australia and the US. We agreed to do so on the clear understanding that vulnerable refugees with close family ties in Australia would ultimately be allowed to settle there.

UNHCR has recently been informed by Australia that it refuses to accept even these refugees, and that they, along with the others on Nauru and Papua New Guinea, have been informed that their only option is to remain where they are or to be transferred to Cambodia or to the United States.

This means, for example, that some with serious medical conditions, or who have undergone traumatic experiences, including sexual violence, cannot receive the support of their close family members residing in Australia.

To avoid prolonging their ordeal, UNHCR has no other choice but to endorse the relocation of all refugees on Papua New Guinea and Nauru to the United States, even those with close family members in Australia. 

There is no doubt these vulnerable people, already subject to four years of punishing conditions, should be reunited with their families in Australia.  This is the humane and reasonable thing to do.

The Australian government’s decision to deny them this possibility is contrary to the fundamental principles of family unity and refugee protection, and to common decency.

UNHCR fully endorses the need to save lives at sea and to provide alternatives to dangerous journeys and exploitation by smugglers. But the practice of offshore processing has had a hugely detrimental impact. There is a fundamental contradiction in saving people at sea, only to mistreat and neglect them on land. 

Australia has a proud humanitarian tradition, manifested in its support for overseas aid and its longstanding refugee resettlement programme. I urge Australia to bring an immediate end to the harmful practice of offshore processing, offer solutions to its victims, for whom it retains full responsibility, and work with us on future alternatives that save lives at sea and provide protection to people in need.

At a time of record levels of displacement globally, it is crucial that all States offer protection to survivors of war and persecution, and not outsource their responsibilities to others. Refugees, our fellow human beings, deserve as much.

Background

Approximately 2,500 refugees and asylum-seekers have been forcibly transferred by Australia to ‘offshore processing’ facilities in Papua New Guinea and Nauru since the introduction of the current policy in 2013. Of these, some 1,100 remain in Nauru and 900 in Papua New Guinea.

Following the Australia-US bilateral agreement on relocation, UNHCR has referred more than 1,100 refugees to the US over the past eight months. Another 500 people are still waiting for the outcome of the refugee status determination processing being carried out by authorities in PNG and Nauru, under the Australian arrangement.

{ The UNHCR Broadcast mailbox is used only to distribute UNHCR All-staff messages.This mailbox does not receive replies or messages. For any queries on internal communications please send your mail to: GlobalSD@unhcr.org - La boîte e-mail UNHCR Broadcast sert uniquement à diffuser les messages destinés à l'ensemble du personnel de l'UNHCR. Vous ne recevrez aucune réponse de cette adresse. Pour toute demande de communication interne envoyer votre message à: GlobalSD@unhcr.org } ' 

{ The UNHCR Broadcast mailbox is used only to distribute UNHCR All-staff messages.This mailbox does not receive replies or messages. For any queries on internal communications please send your mail to: GlobalSD@unhcr.org - La boîte e-mail UNHCR Broadcast sert uniquement à diffuser les messages destinés à l'ensemble du personnel de l'UNHCR. Vous ne recevrez aucune réponse de cette adresse. Pour toute demande de communication interne envoyer votre message à: GlobalSD@unhcr.org }

Join our #WithRefugees campaign 

Sign the petition today

RACS - His Parents don't know he's in Nauru

“His parents don’t know he’s in Nauru”  Sarah Dale, Principal Solicitor, RACS This week marked four years since the detention regime of offshore processing was announced by the Federal government. Men, women and children have been in Nauru or on Manus Island for four years living in torturous limbo. Sarah represents 24 teenage boys who are currently in Nauru. Initially, following their arrival on Christmas Island, the boys had been detained in the Australian detention centre, but then, suddenly, in the middle of the night, they were dragged from their beds and taken to Nauru by force. These boys have spent the most significant years of their lives languishing in tents, fearing for their safety. In today's news from Manus Island, we have heard of cruel methods being used to force people from the regional processing centre and into the transit centre in town as the compound is being shut down in October. Power is being turned off. Drinking water is stored in direct sun, chairs are being removed. People are afraid to move to the transit centre in town because they feel it is unsafe. Refugees have already been violently attacked.   There is so much uncertainty, they are defenceless and afraid. We still don’t know what the future holds for these desperate men on Manus or for the 24 teenage boys we represent in Nauru, and all the others who wait to see if they can be moved to the US. To date, not one person has yet been resettled. At the candlelight vigil this week, alongside so many other supporters, we mourned the destructive nature of this regime and called for the immediate evacuation of these men, women and children and for the government to bring them to safety on Australian shores.  It is empowering to see so many Australian people turn up on a cold night to show they care about the people asking for our help. Together, with the support of people like you, we are giving a stronger voice to those seeking asylum, not just in Australia, but in offshore detention. Keep fighting alongside us, and please continue to show your support so we can make a difference. Support Refugees Now

Tanya Jackson-Vaughan Executive Director Donate to RACS Facebook Twitter Website

Letter to Editor Sydney Morning Herald - asylum seeker vigil in Bellingen 19 July 2017

Letter to the Editor: Sydney Morning Herald

Dear editor,

I was born during the second war in which my father died before my birth. As a child I remember stories of my idea of Australian values; mateship, bravery, humour in awful circumstances, looking out for each other. 

I also remember a story during the battles against the Japanese in PNG, towards the end of the war. Two young soldiers were carrying a wounded Japanese prisoner to safety. One gave the prisoner a puff of his cigarette. The Japanese was astounded at the compassionate treatment he was receiving at the hands of these Australians.

Last evening with my husband, I attended a candle lit vigil on the fourth anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s statement that no asylum seekers attempting to get to Australia by boat will ever be settled here. 

In the intervening four years, in the detention centres we are responsible for on impoverished island neighbour’s land, five men have died due to violence and lack of adequate medical treatment. 

There are some 2,000 refugees and asylum seekers still languishing on Nauru and Manus, including 169 children. $5 billion have been spent to keep these people fleeing persecution off our soil, and this equates to spending $500,000 per year on each asylum seeker in order to keep them out of our sight.

In the past we fought with mateship, and looking out for each other. How are these values displayed in our current policy: making prisoners of those who come to us for help?

Malcolm Turnbull, is this your idea of Australian values? Is this anybody’s idea of Australian values? If not, let’s get together and make change.

Patricia Abell

Bellingen

Letter to editor Bellingen Courier Sun - asylum seeker vigil - 19 July 2017

Dear Editor ,

Shining a Light in Bellingen

Last Wednesday 19^th July marked 4 years since the Rudd Government declared that asylum seekers attempting to reach Australia by boat would be held in offshore detention and would never be settled in Australia. To protest against the cruelty and inhumanity of this  policy more than 50 candle lit vigils were held all around Australia . The aim was to highlight  present government policy where innocent families are kept in desperate conditions on remote islands with no prospect of rebuilding their shattered lives.

We need to remember that Australia’s intervention in conflicts overseas has played a  major  part in creating the present refugee crisis and so the least we can do is to show humanity to those families affected , many of whom have fled their homelands in fear of their lives . The present policy costs two million dollars to keep one asylum seeker for 4 years on  Nauru or Manus . The Australian taxpayer has footed a bill of over $5 billion to keep a small group of asylum seekers in offshore detention for the past 4 years. Just imagine how much more productive it would have  been to bring these people to Australia . It would cost a small fraction of this to give them due care and assistance. Let’s also remember that many of them are professional people who would have much to offer our communities here in Australia. We have obligations under the International Treaty of Human Rights to assist these refugees as many other countries around the world are currently doing.

Our local refugee support group, RAR , held its own well-attended candle lit vigil to join with many hundreds of others  shining a light on this dark chapter of Australian history .   These unsustainable and cruel policies need to change.

Marlene Griffin.

Valla Beach .

The photo shows our local vigil held on Wed 19^th July by the river in Bellingen.