On September 6, 35 people attended a meeting held by the Perth Refugee Rights Action Network to hear a reportback from participants of the RRAN “Compassion Caravan”.
The Compassion Caravan involved 25 people traveling to the Leonora detention centre, in remote Western Australia, where 200 men, women and children refugees are detained. The caravan delivered toys and welcome notes to the refugees, written by Perth primary school children.
Caravan participants reported distressing stories about conditions in the detention centre. Refugees are no longer behind razor wire, but they are still detained under prison-like conditions.
There is no privacy in the camp, and guards are constantly present and able to enter refugees’ dwellings. Parents aren’t allowed to cook for their children and health services — even for pregnant women — are severely restricted. Detainees are also denied access to English lessons.
Caravan participant “Kimba” told the meeting what Tamil refugees told her. “They said just wanted to live in the community”, she said. “If we can’t allow that, at least don't keep the children and pregnant women in detention ... I don't think that's too much to ask.”