BY ANDY GIANNIOTIS
SYDNEY With the demise of the Refugee Action Collective, members of the International Federation of Iraqi and Iranian Refugees (IFIR), the Democratic Socialist Party (DSP) and independent anti-racist activists have formed the Free the Refugees Campaign (FRC). The FRC was founded on January 21 as an open, democratic and active campaigning organisation.
The FRC immediately launched into action, calling a snap protest against immigration minister Philip Ruddock's latest anti-refugee proposals. On January 22, Ruddock announced plans for detainees involved in detention centre protests to be deported, and for security guards at detention centres to have the right to forcibly sedate detainees. The FRC responded by gathering 50 people in Parramatta's mall on January 27 to express their defiant opposition.
Ruddock's proposal to deport those involved in protesting against their terrible conditions, even if they successfully gain refugee status, could result in sending people to their death, said DSP activist and FRC member Paul Benedek. Ruddock wants to drug detainees who try to speak up for their rights because he is afraid that more people will hear their calls for justice. Disgustingly, the Labor Party has said that protesting refugees should have been deported earlier!
Kobra Bahrami from the IFIR declared that refugees are escalating their protests due to the atrocious conditions of the camps and in particular the government's deliberate [policy] of processing refugee applications slowly. Some detainees have been left to rot for over four years.
Zainab Al Turkey, also from the IFIR, outlined the terrible lives of the detainees in the camps, and gave an example of one detention centre where there is only one washing machine for 250 people.
After listening to the speakers, the protesters marched through Parramatta mall chanting Racism needs sedation, refugees need liberation and deportation no way, let the refugees stay.
To get involved in the FRC, call Paul on 9687 5134 or Kobra on 0404 865 421