Refugees remembered

Refugee-rights activists rallied and marched in cities around the country on August 26-28, to mark the anniversary of the Tampa crisis in 2001.

In Melbourne, Chris Peterson reports, around 500 people rallied at the State Library on August 26, and were addressed by Mustafa Najib, an Iranian Tampa survivor now living on a temporary protection visa. Najib expressed his sadness that he may not see his "beloved family again for five years, if ever".

Margarita Windisch from the Stop the War Coalition told the rally, "I have a dream that one day there will be no refugees and no borders, and that we will all live together as citizens of the world". The Melbourne march stopped traffic in front of Flinders Street train station to symbolise the long wait that people in detention centres face.

In Sydney, Sarah Stephen reports that 200 people rallied on August 26 before marching through the city centre, attracting lots of support from late-night shoppers.

From Green Left Weekly, August 31, 2005.

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From GLW issue 640