Refugee supporters barricade Border Force HQ in solidarity with the men on Manus

A group of refugee supporters have barricaded the entrance to Customs House, 1010 LaTrobe Street, Docklands, where the Australian Border Force is headquartered. The action is in support of refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island who have barricaded themselves into the immigration detention centre since its closure on October 31.

The barricade in Melbourne, made up of furniture, ladders, bikes, building materials, crates and other miscellany, was constructed to block the main entrance to the Australian Border Force HQ, which oversees the detention of refugees and asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. The protesters then created a human blockade, preventing the removal of the barricade, shutting down business at the building. They intend to occupy the site and prevent workers from entering for as long as possible.

“It has come to this,” said spokesperson Charlotte Lynch. “Our politicians will not listen to the voices of refugees who are fighting for their lives. They will not listen to their citizens who are begging them to stop the madness. We will not let more lives be destroyed for political games. We have to stand in the way of this cruelty.”

On Sunday, PM Turnbull again turned down the offer of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to take 150 men off Manus Island to be resettled in New Zealand.

“This is a national crime. This is a humanitarian emergency. We demand that Australian politicians urgently deal with the crisis they have created on Manus Island and Nauru.” says Lynch.

On October 31 the Australian Government, with the assistance of Border Force, Wilson Security and local Papua New Guinea authorities, cut off all food, water, electricity and medical care to the men on Manus Island detention centre. Over 600 men have now barricaded themselves inside the detention centre as it is the “least unsafe” place for them to be. They are are calling for their freedom. PNG military are preventing food and medical supplies from being taken into the centre. Many of the men on Manus Island have serious medical conditions and the withdrawal of basic services and medication constitutes a breach of international human rights laws. Doctors have warned more deaths are inevitable if the refugees are not resettled immediately.

The persecuted men have peacefully protested every day for 102 days to date. One of the men, Behrouz Boochani, states “We are not doing anything wrong, we are only resisting peacefully. We are asking again for freedom in a third country.”

On Thursday the PNG immigration authorities announced that the men must relocate from the centre within two days, or “force may be used.” Alternative facilities on Manus are not adequate, and there is no suitable resettlement plan being offered.

The protesters demand the immediate evacuation of both island prisons on Manus Island and Nauru, and for the refugees and asylum seekers to be resettled safely.

Australian Border Force, 1010 Latrobe Street, Docklands

#SOSManus
#EvacuateManus
#Justice4Refugees
#SanctionAustralia
Gabrielle de Vietri (Artist Committee), Charlotte Lynch (Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance – WACA)