BY JODY BETZIEN

MELBOURNE — “We see on a daily basis the incredible courage and perseverance of refugees who have lost everything. For them, every day spent in exile or flight is a day too long. That is why World Refugee Day should be, for all of us, a time to pause and think. Because if they do not give up, why should we?” — this is UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers’ explanation of the emergence of June 20 as an international day of protest for refugees’ rights.

In Australia, activists will be holding rallies, meetings and information sessions across Australia on the day, to highlight our government’s appalling treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

In Melbourne, refugee-rights groups under the umbrella of the Victorian Alliance for Refugees (VAR) are planning a demonstration around the theme “Stop the war on refugees, residency not rejection”. The VAR involves a broad range of organisations including the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the National Council of Churches, the Victorian Refugee Action Collective (RAC) and Rural Australians for Refugees.

“Following the success of the Easter Baxter detention centre protest in drawing attention to the plight of refugees, we want to build a large protest” RAC activist Arun Pradhan told Green Left Weekly.

On the day, the “Act of Humanity” statement will be launched. It is a call for the release of all refugees from detention centres and the granting of permanent visas to all temporary protection visa holders. Well-known writer Arnold Zable will launch the call. Actors for refugees are also organising a performance involving the arrival of boats on banks of the Yarra river.

To get involved in helping to build the demonstration contact the Refugee Action Collective by phoning (03) 9659 3505 or 0438 191 768, or visiting < http://www.rac-A HREF="mailto:vic.org"><vic.org>.

From Green Left Weekly, May 21, 2003.
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