Refugees' rights campaign hits campus, city

BY KERRYN WILLIAMS

CANBERRA — More refugee-rights activists are getting involved in the organising of a June 23 protest. In addition to the Refugee Action Committee (RAC), the ACT Council of Churches, Community Aid Abroad, Amnesty International, Labor for Refugees and the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union have pledged to help organise the day.

RAC activists have arranged refugee displays in some public libraries. Public Servants for Refugees will hold a meeting on June 6 to discuss how to best build the protest throughout the public service.

On the Australian National University, a motion will be put to the May 27 ANU Students' Association annual general meeting calling for the SA to: take an official and public stance in opposition to mandatory sentencing, donate $500 to assist the 11 refugees who escaped from Woomera and organise a referendum to make the ANU a "refugee safe zone".

The motion has already been endorsed by ANU RAC, the ANU Muslim Students' Association, the environment, women's and education collectives, the Resistance club and the sexuality officer. The university chaplain is also supportive of the call and has helped advertise the protest. Resistance activists collected $260 during three days of campaign stalls urging students to attend the AGM.

RAC will hold a June 2 meeting on "The Pacific Solution — what does it mean for asylum seekers?" Human rights lawyer John Pace and Father Jim Carty, both recently returned from visiting detainees in Nauru, will be keynote speakers.

From Green Left Weekly, May 29, 2002.

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From GLW issue 494