In detention

This is a brief note on the current situation for asylum seekers on Christmas Island:

There are currently 27 men in detention: 3 of which are West Timorese, the rest are from West Papua.

There are also 4 families living in DIMIA housing in the community without guards. There are 16 men women and children in this situation. The school age children, 9, have now been enrolled in the local school and will start very soon. Some of the young men and women in this group recently participated in a local 5-a-side soccer comp. and were the star players (and had a jolly good time).

At the moment we are working on settling those in the community, and have begun the process of getting in the centre for visits. We’ll keep you posted. We are awaiting a briefing from the West Papuan Society of WA for information about the situation the people here have come from; I will send this on when we receive it.

Some groups from the mainland have contacted us regarding things they can do to assist the West Papuans both in and out of detention. If your network/group already have a focus for fundraising etc please ignore but if you are wanting to help below are some quick suggestions regarding what you can do for those in detention:

1) Write some introductory letters, which we will take to the centre and let those who wish to communicate, write and tell you about themselves.(we cannot give out names without permission.)

2) Send stamps also so they can write back.

3) Everyone wants to phone home and ‘Say G’day’ phonecards are in urgent need.

3) Magazines are a good flat and well received present.

4) Send all together in Express Post Prepaid parcel (so it gets here by plane rather than ship) to CIRAR address below and we will distribute to all. Once you have contact, you can then send direct to individuals care of the centre (see below).

For those living in the community. We are supporting them with transport, activities and mobile phone credit. Donations for topups, or more ‘Say G’day’ phonecards + stamps would be great for them too!

Thanks again ever so much,

Kind Regards,

Lin Gaff for

CIRAR

P.O Box 513

Christmas Island

WA 6798