Hobart honks for refugees on Manus and Nauru

When: Friday 6 October, 4:30-6pm
Where: Corner Murray and Macquarie Streets, Hobart CBD

As part of nation-wide action, we will continue to shine the spotlight on the plight of the people held on Manus and Nauru.

The Honkathon: we hold signs up to passing traffic, who honk to show their support. Hobart residents will show our support by holding a sign or putting our arms up crossed in protest – as the men on Manus do every day at 2pm. We wil be wearing high-vis or yellow to attract attention. Bring your friends and family. Lets make this the biggest honkathon ever.

The Manus Island detention centre is being closed down around the men currently held there, forcing them into an unwelcoming and threatening community. This includes members of the Rohingyan community, who’s situation in their homeland has been the subject of much recent media attention. This makes it impossible for them to return home.

Reports of assaults on refugees, hostility of many of the local people towards the refugees, and increasingly violent attacks: all evidence that people cannot be safely resettled in either place.

All who remain in limbo on Manus Island and Nauru continue to suffer the anguish of sustained uncertainty, and real and present fears for their safety.

They are concerned that the Australian government will abandon them there, as it is clear that the US “deal” to take refugees is will not provide safety for the majority of the 2,000 refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.

Sunday October 8 is a National Day of Action: People will join together in protest rallies in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with other events in regional and rural communities.

The event photo was designed by Farhad Bandesh, a man held captive on Manus Island. The image is called “I Am Peaceful”.

https://www.facebook.com/events/861999570631940/
Lili Calitz, Member, Amnesty International Tasmania Refugee Rights Group