Campaign to release refugees escalates

BY TONY ILTIS

MELBOURNE — About 150 people rallied outside the Maribyrnong detention centre on February 25. It was the first in a campaign of weekly vigils that will occur every Sunday until it is closed down.

Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard poured scorn on the propaganda about a "flood" of refugees entering Australian, describing the 10,000 who have arrived in the past 10 years as a trickle.

Palestinian refugee and former detainee at the Curtin detention centre in Western Australia Mohammed Taba gave a harrowing account of the brutality he suffered while in detention.

A group of protesters also gathered outside the Refugee Review Tribunal on February 27 for the secret trial of Suranga Tenakoon. Suranga, a refugee from Sri Lanka, was a witness to the December 22 death of Viliami Tanginoa at the Maribyrnong detention centre.

In what appears to be an attempt to cover up of the role of Australasian Correctional Management in the death, Suranga was transferred to Port Philip Prison after speaking to the media. He is still being held despite police finding no offence to charge him with.

While the public are allowed to attend criminal trials, the Refugee Review Tribunal holds its sessions in secret. Protesters attempted to get a message given to Suranga, but tribunal staff refused to even confirm or deny that Suranga's case was being heard.

From GLW issue 439