Politics
The castaways
CAST OFFS
Knit one
Purl one
How many stitches
How many tears
Dropped
Unseen
Lines for people
Spun and twisted
Seas break
Hearts break
News break
“Detainees CAST OFF- released from Nauru today”
Four years in the making
Four years in the breaking
Tampered, garments
Arriving to here at last.
Long scarves of madnesses
made by Australia.
The Age
NEVER was the gap between political rhetoric and human reality wider than in the case of the last detainees on Nauru. Prime Minister John Howard yesterday hailed the offshore detention facility as an “outstanding success” after the Government announced 25 of the last 27 detainees would be transferred to Australia. Yet, as The Age reported yesterday, the Government made the decision on advice that the detainees’ mental health was declining rapidly.
While Mr Howard still insists the Pacific Solution “stopped the boats”, numbers of asylum seekers fell worldwide following the fall of repressive regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq — although co-operation with countries such as Indonesia did help counter people smuggling.
But what of the justifications for the harsh regime of detention: that “illegal” immigrants might have links to terrorists and, having thrown children overboard (a claim found to be false), were not the sort of people we wanted in this country? Even among the last 27 detainees on Nauru, 13 were found to be refugees, which means they had a legal basis for seeking entry (as did hundreds of the 1232 people who were held on Nauru). Eight of the 13 were from Afghanistan and five from Iraq, which exposes a cruel contradiction of government policies. They fled the very regimes that Australia helped topple, only for their ordeal to continue when they got here.
The damage done to people who were demonised and detained over the past four years, and to Australia’s standing as a fair and just nation, cannot easily be undone. Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone’s “sensible and pragmatic resolution” is a welcome relief, but much needless suffering could have been avoided had compassion and good sense prevailed years ago.
Two important events of bearing witness.
a) SIEV X Commemorative Memorial Exhibition
I remind you of the ceremony of 2003 when many of us sheltered in the rain under the great oaks of Princes Park while the little cards representing the people of SIEV X were buffeted in rain squalls and Ken rang out from the Chalmers bell tower the 353 bell toll. Last year some of us place flowers in the park and held a quiet personal memory.
Remember too: Condolensces at www.sievxmemorial.org
This year with the help of Greens on Campus, some members of TFR and RAR Deloraine, we have a long term SIEV X exhibition in the making. There is a pleasantly surprising mood out in the community to uncover the story of refugee deterrent in Australia and begin something like a period of ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ around that. We are gathering a locally mushrooming wealth of paintings, writings, sculptural installations, film, theatre, and other expressions of outrage and seeking for understanding.
This is a work in progress and I invite you to support and contribute as it progresses
On Tuesday when we will set up the exhibition in the Conference room Arts Building UTAS L’ton as an adjunct to THE PEOPLE”S Inquiry at that venue on 21st and 22nd October [This coming weekend]. We will be providing space for written comments / expressions from the supporters and the general public.
We are working to bring things together for Tuesday 18th with The Dissenter’s Book out of the State Archive for further signing AND the Columbian – Kiwi Ron Riddell will be along on Tuesday evening to tell of his peace work and to read some of his poetry.[aaah with the dash of inspiring Spanish music and spirit]
b) THE PEOPLE’S INQUIRY – Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd Check for details below
Well if you wondered and want to ask, and want to hear, and want to speak about what was happening when we were held silent in the spin of our leader’s sanitized words or in words from Ron Riddell something like -When the world watching did no see -Here is a wonderful PEOPLE’s opportunity to tell and find out how Australians treated Asylum seekers traveling on courageous ships of desperation, managed to reach our shores.
Purpose of the People’s Inquiry
The Australian Council of Heads of Schools of Social Work (ACHSSW) have established the People’s Inquiry into Immigration Detention. The ACHSSW is an academic organization that is independent from government.
The purpose of the People’s Inquiry is to:
enable people to tell their stories and give evidence of their experiences of detention
be an open inquiry into the practices and procedures of immigration detention
collect these stories and evidence and make it available for all people
Public Hearing
Friday 21st October and Saturday 22nd October 2005 University of Tasmania
Faculty of Arts Room L142 Newnham
If you want to participate in the hearings, or for more information on how the hearings will be conducted, please contact Sarah Rubenach on 63243643 or send email to sarahr0@postoffice.newnham.utas.edu.au