Newsletter for 28 November 2017 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

_{Next Roadside Demo - Big Banana Coffs Thursday December 7th 2:30pm}

_{Next Market Stall - Valla Beach 2nd December}

_{RAR annual get together Sunday 3rd December}

_{Congratulations to Violet Roumeliotis}

_Nauru

_{Bennelong - Trumble plays the race card}

_{Manus Island tragedy continues}

_{Roadside demonstration report}

_{Another really successful demonstration in Toormina last week, with eleven supporters turning up to remind the public about the plight of our asylum seekers in offshore detention centres. A big thank you to all involved. The response from motorists was overwhelmingly positive, as always.}

_{Our final roadside demonstration for 2017 will be on Thursday 7th December}

 _{next to the Big Banana in Coffs Harbour, from 2.30 until 4.00 pm. Let’s make the last one a big one, so please put the date in your diary!}

_{Our next market: Saturday  2nd December at Valla Beach}

_{A reminder that our final market stall for the year is this Saturday at Valla Beach market from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm. A great opportunity for people to buy our asylum seeker T shirts, bags and tea towels for Christmas! We’ll be handing out leaflets, engaging with market-goers and collecting signatures on our petition, as usual. If you can help out for an hour or two (no previous experience required), then please email Mike at:mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com to let him know.}

_{Meeting and lunch: Sunday 3rd December, starting at 10.30 am}

_{A final reminder that  our end of year meeting and lunch will be held at 39, Rogers Drive, Valla Beach next Sunday. We can still squeeze a few more people in, so if you would like to attend, then please let Mike know bySaturday at the latest by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.  There are two options for parking, either in Rogers Drive or the Robert Louden car park, which is just 80 metres from the house. In Rogers Drive, you can park in the driveway at number 39,  on the nature strip at the end of the drive, or the hard standing parking area opposite the house. Please don’t drive onto Mike’s newly-laid lawn!}

_{Directions to Rogers Drive: Turn off the recently-named Giinagay Way into Valla Beach road. Proceed for 500 metres and, just before the water tower, take a left turn into Kuta Avenue. Proceed along Kuta Avenue for 450 metres, and  Rogers Drive is the third turning on the left. Proceed down Rogers Drive and you will find number 39 almost at the bottom of the hill on the left.}

_{Directions to the Robert Louden car park.  Proceed along Valla Beach Road as above, but continue past Kuta Avenue  and take the next left into Henderson Street. Proceed down Henderson Street into Cockburn Street and at the bottom of the hill you will arrive in the car park. Take the path by the side of the house next to the car park, cross over a small footbridge and you will emerge into Rogers Drive. Number 39 is just a few metres up on the right.}

_{We look forward to seeing you there.}

_{Congratulations to Violet Roumeliotis}

_{Last week, Violet Roumeliotis, the child of immigrant parents who came to Australia with nothing, was awarded the Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year for 2017.  She is the CEO of the not-for-profit organisation Settlement Services International, and under her leadership, the organisation aims to give voice to vulnerable Australians and raise awareness of the economic value of migration.Through its employment and enterprise efforts, 1185 people have gained work in the past 18 months.}

_{Warehousing people on Nauru to cost   a million dollars a day}

_{The latest government estimates show that Canstruct, the building company and Liberal party donor now engaged to run services for refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru, will be paid $385 million over the next twelve months to continue the indefinite detention of the people who fled violence  and persecution in their home countries to seek a place of safety in Australia. It is clear that our government has every intention of continuing its policy of punishing innocent people, at great expense, for political ends. We must keep up our fight to bring this cruel and inhumane policy to an end.}

_{Turnbull plays the race card in Bennelong}

_{Unsurprisingly, but disgracefully, our Prime minister, just like John Howard before him, sought to gain some electoral advantage at the weekend in the Bennelong byelection by playing  the race card in an attempt to scare the voters. In Sydney he stated: “ Kristina Keneally wants us to bring all of those asylum seekers from Manus to Australia........When the boats start again, if Labor were ever to get back into government, how many of those asylum seekers is she going to bring to Bennelong?” It’s surely a sad indictment of the state of our nation when our political leaders think it appropriate to encourage voters to fear that the arrival of small number of people from Nauru and Manus  will change the world as we know it.}

_{The Manus tragedy continues}

_{The tragedy of lies, propaganda, and punishment continues on Manus, as the detainees are forcibly moved into new detention centres in the township of Lorengau. The evidence from phone footage and from witnesses makes it clear the the detainees offered no violence, and that they were mistreated by the police who removed them from the now-closed centre. We have been repeatedly told by Minister Dutton that all three relocation centres were ready for occupation, whilst conceding that perhaps the BBQ areas were not yet complete in one centre. It took the stark reality of Tim Costello standing in front of the building site which is the third centre to force a partial back down. By now we are all used to the blatant untruths from the minister, and to his regular vilification of all those who seek  to get to the truth and to hold the government to account for its brutal offshore detention regime. Following hard on the heels of the appeal from Doctors for Refugees, from former Australians of the Year, from the Australian Medical Association, we now have this week a group of some of Australia’s most senior clinicians offering to conduct free health assessments of the men held on Manus to ensure that they are not being deprived of their human rights. In their open letter, the eighteen clinicians say: “ We believe that the humanitarian issues take precedence over politics. This is a matter beyond immigration and border control but one that affects the health of people and others’ perceptions of our great nation.” The letter goes on to say: “All politicians regardless of their political party should respect the human right to health and themselves be advocate of “health for all” without discrimination.”}

_{We congratulate these clinicians for standing up for the detainees on Manus.}

_{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 21 November 2017 Rural Australians for Refugees Bellingen and Nambucca Districts

_{Next Market Stall - Valla Beach Sat 2nd December}

_{Next Roadside Demo - Hogbin Drive Toormina Thursday November 23rd 2:30pm}

_{RAR annual get together Sunday 3rd December}

_{Manus Island standoff continues}

_{Bellingen market report}

_{Our market on Saturday in Bellingen was a huge success in every way. We were out in force – a total of fourteen supporters  helped out at various times throughout the morning -  and we interacted with hundreds of market-goers. Normally at our markets we hope to get between 50 and 100 signatures on our petition. On Saturday, people were literally queuing up to add their signatures and to express their anger and dismay about the cruelty and lack of compassion of our politicians.  We collected an amazing 300+ signatures, which is unprecedented, and we sold more than $250 worth of merchandise. Our success was not just a result of our very active presence, handing out leaflets to everyone who would accept them, though that was clearly very important. It was surely also about the fact that, during the past two weeks, we have finally had significant coverage on television  and in the media about the terrible situation on Manus island, something which the government has sought to hide from public view. The Australian people have at last  been presented with some evidence of the cruelty of our government’s policy, and they don’t like what they see. All the more reason for us to keep up the pressure. The tide may be turning!}

_{Our next market, which will be our final one in 2017, will be at Valla Beach market on Saturday 2nd December, from 9.00 am until 1.30 pm. If you can help out for an hour or two, then please let Mike know by emailing him at:mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.}

_{Next roadside demonstration: Thursday 23rd November , Toormina, 2.30 to 4.00 pm}

_{A reminder that our next roadside demo is this Thursday, in Toormina. You will find us at our usual spot on Hogbin  Drive, opposite what used to be the Sawtell nursery, about 75 metres from the roundabout. Please come and join us if you can to help us keep up the pressure on our politicians. We have lots of banners and placards to share.}

_{Our final roadside demo for 2017 will be in Coffs Harbour, next to The Big Banana on Thursday 7th December from 2.30 to 4.00 pm.}

_{Meeting and lunch: Sunday 3rd December from 10.30 am}

_{Have you booked your spot yet?}

_{A reminder that we are planning a meeting and social get-together on Sunday 3rd December at 39, Rogers Drive, Valla Beach. This is an invitation to all our 500+ supporters, and we hope that a good number of you will want to attend. There will be the opportunity to discuss what we have done and achieved in 2017, and to explore activities for 2018. Following the meeting, we’ll have a relaxing lunch together on the back deck. Please bring a plate to share. If you are intending to come along, then it’s important to let Mike know by emailing him at: mandm.griffin2@bigpond.com.}

_{The Manus stand-off continues}

_{It is now three weeks since the PNG authorities cut off the water, food, services and medical support for the detainees in the Lombron detention centre, in an effort to coerce the men into relocating to Lorengau. The physical and mental health of the detainees must be deteriorating as each day goes by. The New Zealand government has repeated its offer to take 150 refugees, but the offer has again been turned down by the Australian government, which on the one hand acknowledges that the two sovereign governments of PNG and NZ can negotiate an agreement to resettle refugees in NZ , but in the next breath hints darkly about possible repercussions. Sadly, the PNG and NZ governments seem  to have backed down in the face of the veiled threats issued by minister Dutton.}

_{Meanwhile, hard on the heels of the letter from Doctors for Refugees, which we reported on last week, the Australian Medical Association’s federal council has voted unanimously to call on the government to grant access to the Manus detention centre so that doctors can assess the men’s health, well-being and living conditions, stating that: “with a worsening and more dangerous situation emerging on Manus, the federal council believes that urgent action and answers are needed”.}

_{If you haven’t yet made contact with politicians to protest at the government’s cruel intransigence (and the opposition’s support for government policy), it’s certainly not too late, and only takes a couple of minutes. Simply tell them that:}

• _{the treatment of the men on Manus is cruel and unconscionable.}
• _{there is ample evidence that the Lorengau township is not a safe place for the refugees, and that they are right to be afraid.}
• _{the New Zealand offer of resettlement should be accepted immediately.}
• _{the Australian people have a right to know what is happening in relation to the possible resettlement of refugees in the US.}
• _{all offshore detention centres should be closed immediately and the refugees and asylum seekers should be brought to Australia for processing and resettlement.}

_{Telephone numbers:}

_{Prime Minister Turnbull: (02) 6277 7700 and (02) 9327 3988}

_{Opposition Leader Shorten: (02) 6277 4022 and (03) 9326 1300}

_{Minister Dutton: (02) 6277 7860 and (07) 3205 9977}

_{MP Hartsuyker (02) 6277 4482 and (02) 6652 6233}

_{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}

Letter from Doctors for Refugees - Manus Island

_{From: David Berger <daveberger@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 7, 2017 at 9:17 AM
Subject: Re: Newsletter for 7th November 2017 RAR Bello and Nambucca
To: Refugee Group <bellingen.rar@gmail.com>}

_{Doctors for Refugees sent this to all parliamentarians last night.} 

_{Dear MP,}

_{Immediate action required to prevent humanitarian catastrophe on Manus Island}

_{As you know, a major humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding on Manus Island. Six hundred male refugees and asylum seekers are occupying the former Regional Processing Centre (RPC). Outside sits the PNG Defence Force, which is preventing food supplies, purchased by well-wishers, from entering the facility. The men have been told to move to three locations in or near the regional capital, East Lorengau. Two of these are not ready for habitation. All three are insecure and these men have legitimate fears for their own safety. PNG locals have demonstrated their opposition to the move to the town in the last week with a vocal protest outside the centre and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary Police Commissioner, Gari Baki, stated in a media release in late October 2017 that the safety of refugees is ‘not to be taken for granted given the tensions that are being expressed by the locals on Manus Island’.[1][2] Paradoxically, the former RPC, with no access to food, clean water, sanitation, electricity or adequate medical care is currently the ‘safest’ place for these men to be.}

_{However, the former RPC is not safe. These men have now been without access to the fundamentals necessary for life for over six days. In PNG’s tropical climate we must expect that serious consequences will start to occur this week. We can expect severe skin and respiratory infections, dysentery, malaria and other illnesses to start to take hold. If no action is taken immediately to alleviate this situation, we can expect deaths to start occurring very soon.} 

_{On the evening of 4th November 2017 a man with a suspected heart attack in the former RPC sought assistance in Lorengau Hospital. This man was discharged from the facility without having an ECG or blood tests and returned to the former RPC. Thirty six hours later these essential investigations still had not been performed. With this level of medical support, it seems there is little hope for any refugee who becomes seriously unwell on Manus Island, whether they are in the former RPC or relocated to East Lorengau.}

_{If the situation deteriorates further and the PNG Defence Force decides to clear the centre then there is a risk of many deaths through violent action. This is a military force which has demonstrated tremendous antipathy to the refugees, which fired indiscriminately into the RPC causing multiple injuries earlier this year and which has no training in crowd control.[3]}

_{This situation is a direct consequence of the Australian government’s arbitrary, indefinite incarceration of hundreds of innocent men in a hostile environment on a remote island in a poor country, unequipped in all respects to look after them. It must finally take adequate responsibility for the welfare of these men. The duplicity of the Australian government in this matter is eye-watering. On the one hand, the representations of Doctors for Refugees and others about the welfare of these men are referred on by the Australian government as ‘a matter for the PNG government’. On the other hand, we hear that Prime Minister Turnbull has once again turned down the New Zealand government’s offer to shelter some of these men.[4] If the Australian government can dictate what happens to them then it is evidently responsible for their welfare and in fact PNG Immigration Minister, Petrus Thomas, explicitly stated last week that Australia will remain responsible for the welfare of these men when the Australian-funded centre closes.[5] All pretence to the contrary must now stop.}

_{Amnesty International and the UNHCR have been condemning the detention and conditions of these men for years and this was first termed a situation amounting to torture over two years ago.[6] Today, things are exponentially worse and we reiterate: we are heading for many deaths in the coming days and weeks unless urgent action is taken by Australia. Action to alleviate these men’s situation needs to be taken today to prevent deaths. As a start, they need food and water today.}

_{You, as an Australian parliamentarian, must realise that at stake are these men’s lives and Australia’s international reputation as a Western democratic nation and that only you hold the power to influence the situation. Whether by your action or inaction to date it is you who is directly responsible for what is happening. If you do not act now, by speaking, lobbying and voting appropriately then whatever happens to these men will be on your conscience.}

_{For the sake of humanity and compassion we urge you to act immediately. The world is watching you.}

_{Yours sincerely,}

_{Dr David Berger, Executive Committee Member}

_{Dr Barri Phatarfod, President}

_{Dr Paddy McLisky, Secretary}

_{Dr Igal Augarten, Treasurer}

_{Doctors for Refugees}