BY HELEN BRANSGROVE
& OWEN RICHARDS
SYDNEY — "Waiting is the greatest punishment in life." With these words, Maqsood Alshams encapsulated the plight of refugees held in Australian detention centres.
Alshams, a member of the Refugees Action Collective (RAC), and a former prisoner of Villawood detention centre, spoke of his experiences at a Green Left Weekly public meeting, "Fighting racism: the struggle for indigenous and refugee rights" here on 7 September.
During his 475 days in the camp, Alshams suffered and witnessed many incidents of torture, harassment and human rights abuses. All this on top of the endless waiting asylum applications to be processed.
The Villawood Detention Centre, said Alshams, is essentially a maximum-security prison suitable for the most dangerous criminals. At any one time there are between 130 and 160 prisoners, more than twice the complex's maximum capacity of 72. Many of the inhabitants have been kept waiting there for up to four years.
Alshams pointed out the blatant racism behind the refugees' treatment, considering that the vast majority of illegal immigrants are the 60,000 or more visa overstayers from Western countries who are never imprisoned for being illegal.
Paul Benedek, secretary of the Sydney West branch of the Democratic Socialist Party, and a member of RAC, spoke about the systemic nature of racism, as well as its origins and role in society.
He pointed out that the progressive answer to racism, and its close cousin nationalism, is internationalism, which promotes the extension of solidarity between oppressed sectors in different countries.
The meeting ended with both speakers encouraging people to help build the Parramatta "Free the Refugees!" rally, which will be held at 1pm, Saturday, September 23, in Church Street mall.