BY AMY PARISH
WOLLONGONG — "Refugees are willing to contribute to society but the government won't let them", Afghan refugee Riz Wakil told a public meeting, organised by the Illawarra Refugee Action Collective, at the Thirroul Senior Citizens Centre on May 16.
A former detainee in the Curtin detention centre, Wakil shared with the meeting his experiences in detention and of living under a temporary protection visa. While in detention he was forced to work eight hours a day for five cigarettes (he does not smoke).
Despite advice from friends to "keep quiet" about his frustration with Australia's racist policies, Wakil said he was determined to "make this issue public".
Todd St Vrain from Illawarra RAC contrasted his treatment as an international student from the United States with Wakil's experience . "When we ask why, it raises issues of racism and xenophobia... what is it that I have that Riz doesn't?"
St Vrain pointed out that there are currently 50,000 people, primarily from the US, Britain and Canada who are illegally overstaying their visas, yet the government continues to lock up in prison camps those who it has "both a legal and moral obligation to protect from persecution".
He told the audience that the treatment of refugees in Australia is "worse than [that of] animals". His miniature snouzer, which had to spend two months in quarantine was given "two private rooms, two personal attendants and the highest quality dog food", while refugees like Wakil are often forced to spend years in prison camps.
From Green Left Weekly, May 22, 2002.
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