Refugees: 'Human rights cannot be sedated'

BY ANDY GIANNIOTIS

SYDNEY — With the demise of the Refugee Action Collective, members
of the International Federation of Iraqi and Iranian Refugees (IFIR), the
Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) and independent anti-racist activists
have formed the Free the Refugees Campaign (FRC). The FRC was founded on
January 21 as an open, democratic and active campaigning organisation.

The FRC immediately launched into action, calling a snap protest against
immigration minister Philip Ruddock's latest anti-refugee proposals. On
January 22, Ruddock announced plans for detainees involved in detention
centre protests to be deported, and for security guards at detention centres
to have the right to forcibly sedate detainees. The FRC responded by gathering
50 people in Parramatta's mall on January 27 to express their defiant opposition.

“Ruddock's proposal to deport those involved in protesting against their
terrible conditions, even if they successfully gain refugee status, could
result in sending people to their death”, said DSP activist and FRC member
Paul Benedek. “Ruddock wants to drug detainees who try to speak up for
their rights because he is afraid that more people will hear their calls
for justice. Disgustingly, the Labor Party has said that protesting refugees
should have been deported earlier!”

Kobra Bahrami from the IFIR declared that “refugees are escalating their
protests due to the atrocious conditions of the camps and in particular
the government's deliberate [policy] of processing refugee applications
slowly. Some detainees have been left to rot for over four years.”

Zainab Al Turkey, also from the IFIR, outlined the terrible lives of
the detainees in the camps, and gave an example of one detention centre
where there is only one washing machine for 250 people.

After listening to the speakers, the protesters marched through Parramatta
mall chanting “Racism needs sedation, refugees need liberation” and “deportation
no way, let the refugees stay”.

To get involved in the FRC, call Paul on 9687 5134 or Kobra on 0404
865 421 

From GLW issue 435