Refugee Rights Action Network launched in Perth

January 24, 2001
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BY ANA KAILIS

PERTH — Supporters of refugee rights here have formed a new Refugee Rights Action Network to demand the immediate release from detention of all asylum seekers and a complete overhaul of Australia's border policy.

The January 16 meeting, initiated by the Democratic Socialist Party and attended by representatives of a range of organisations, reached agreement on a five-point platform for the group: close the detention centres; let the refugees stay permanently; increase the intake of refugees to Australia; reintroduce the family reunion program; and give immediate social security rights to all refugees.

The meeting also agreed to support the struggle of oppressed people around the world who are faced with persecution and are obliged to leave their homes including those who are internally displaced within their own country.

The group's formation comes only a month after one of the most dramatic protests for refugee rights held in the city.

On December 16, the immigration department decided to deport Iranian refugee Mohmmadreza Farshchian back to Iran. According to the International Federation for Iranian Refugees, Farshchian had been detained at the Curtin Immigration Detention Centre, near Derby in the far north of the state, for over 18 months.

A student activist in Iran, Farshchian was also involved in organising other refugees for better conditions in the detention centre.

The Democratic Socialist Party received news of the deportation only 24 hours before it was due to occur and called a hasty protest inside Perth's international airport.

The 20 protesters announced to passengers that a deportation was about to take place, causing quite a stir amongst those in the terminal complex. One passenger agreed to try to stop the deportation if Farshchian was on her flight.

It was later revealed that immigration department officials had deported Farshchian on an earlier flight. Department spokespeople claimed that Farshchian left Australia voluntarily, a claim contradicted by other Curtin detainees.

Anthony Benbow, the Democratic Socialists candidate for Fremantle in the WA state election, attended the protest and had backed the formation of the Refugee Rights Action Network.

Benbow told Green Left Weekly, "This deportation is symptomatic of the appalling treatment dished out to refugees by the Australian government. The only solution is to close the detention centres and to give permanent residency to the refugees.

"The Australian government is only contributing to the human rights abuses already experienced by these people. On a state level, the WA government should refuse to have detention centres anywhere in Western Australia. We challenge any government that is elected to the WA parliament to do whatever is in their power to close down the detention centres permanently".

The protest against the deportation of Farshchian has spurred activists to get more organised for future deportations including linking up with progressive union activists at the airport. "These actions are just the beginning of what is likely to develop into a strong political movement", Benbow said.

The next meeting of the Refugee Rights Action Network, to be held on January 30 at 6.30pm at the Citiplace Community Centre, will focus on what action the network can take next. To get involved or for more information, contact Ana on 9433 6790.

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