'Welcome refugees'

Issue 

"Welcome refugees", "No Indonesian solution" and "Bring the Tamils to Australia", were the main slogans for at a rally organised by the Refugee Action Coalition outside the immigration department on November 9. It followed a rally a week earlier.

Fifty people protested against the Rudd government's inhumane refugee policy and called for those being held on boats or in Indonesian camps to be processed in Australia.

Speakers from the National Union of Students, the Tamil Youth Organisation and Labor for Refugees addressed the crowd. Tamil refugee spokesperson Alex, linked in by phone from the boat in Merak, Indonesia, said 10 women had started a hunger strike that day to call for speedy processing of their refugee claims in Australia.

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.