March on detention centre planned
BY PAUL BENEDEK
SYDNEY — Migrants, refugees, anti-racists, students and all supporters of human rights are being encouraged to join a huge protest for refugees' rights planned for August 26. The demonstration will march on the Villawood detention centre, in Sydney's west, and will highlight opposition to the federal government's brutal treatment of asylum seekers.
Maqsood Alshams, a member of the Refugee Action Collective, which is organising the action, told Green Left Weekly that refugees face "prison-like conditions" in Villawood and the processing of applications for refugee status are deliberately drawn out.
"Some asylum seekers have been detained for more than four years", alleged Alshams, who was himself imprisoned in the centre for 16 months. "They have staged break outs and hunger strikes to bring to the public's attention the inhumane conditions".
The August 26 protest will demand the end to mandatory detention of asylum seekers; funding for settling refugees, not for detention; full citizens' rights for refugees; permanent residency not temporary visas; and an end to the government's racist scapegoating of refugees.
Alshams said that movement in support of refugees' rights is growing. Increasing numbers of migrant groups are adding their support as well as student groups around the country.
The protest will be on Saturday, August 26, at noon. Participants will gather at Villawood train station and march to the Villawood detention centre. A protest will occur on the same day in Melbourne at Maribyrnong detention centre.
Other activities include: a speakout on the Bankstown campus of the University of Western Sydney, organised by Resistance; a film night in Sydney; and a public forum in Parramatta with Alshams and a speaker from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. See the calendar for details, phone 9687 5134 or email <sydwest@dsp.org.au>. To contact the Refugee Action Collective, email <RAC_NSW@egroups.com>.