Protesters told Curtin 'worse than Woomera'

BY STUART MUNCKTON

CANBERRA — "I hope the staff inside have their pen and paper out because they have been seriously misinformed if they think that it is safe for Hazara refugees to return to Afghanistan", Refugee Action Collective (RAC) activist Claire Bruhns declared at a speakout in front of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs on April 24.

Immigration minister Philip Ruddock is claiming that all Afghan refugees can now return, despite the fear of persecution held by ethnic minority communities, such as the Hazaras.

Fifty supporters of refugee rights turned out for the hastily organised emergency speakout called by RAC in solidarity with the protesting refugees inside Curtin detention centre. A large banner stating "Stop the war on refugees" and cardboard people-shapes decorated with the stories of refugees, made the protest impossible to ignore and plenty of cars passing by offered their support.

The crowd also heard from community radio station 2XX's Tanya McConville, who has been in regular contact with Curtin detainees. She described speaking to detainees who had been moved to Curtin from the Woomera detention centre because of their involvement in protests. They told her they could not believe they had found a place worse than Woomera.

From Green Left Weekly, May 1, 2002.

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From GLW issue 490