Protesters freeze traffic

A protest against the Federal Government’s asylum seeker visa freeze saw about 250 people stop traffic to march around the block opposite Town Hall.

The protest was organised by the Refugee Action Coalition, with prominent representation by the Greens and the Socialist Alliance.

Coordinator Ian Rintaul said the visa freeze was the main concern, but not the only one.

“We’re also calling for the government not to reopen the Curtin Detention Centre and to close Christmas Island and bring the asylum seekers to the mainland,” he said.

Protesters were also calling for an end to the ‘Indonesian Solution’, which currently sees 254 Tamil men, women and children crowded into detention cells indefinitely.

Police closed streets as protesters marched shouting: “Let the boats land; let them stay!”, “Unfreeze the visas; close Christmas Island!” and “No deportations to dangerous destinations!”.

The rally included speeches by human rights lawyer George Newhouse, NSW Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon, Edmund Rice Centre Director Phil Glendenning, and Border Crimes author Michael Grewcock.

Also speaking were Shiko Zaher, an Afghani former detainee, and Brami Jegan from Sydney’s Tamil community.

Lawyer George Newhouse, who represented well-known former detainees Cornelia Rowe and Vivian Solon, said the new laws were a setback for Australia’s international reputation and human rights record.

“This year’s Australian of the Year, Professor Pat McGorry described the Howard Government’s immigration detention system as factories for producing mental illness and mental disorder,” he said, “I hoped we’d seen the last of that system.”

“I’ve many clients today who endured detention centres and who are now so ill that their lives have been shattered … they require ongoing psychiatric treatment – not because of the torture or trauma from their countries of origin, but because of the appalling conditions in which they were held in mandatory detention.”

Former detainee Shiko Zaher questioned the Government’s assessment of Afghanistan’s improved circumstances.

“Why are Australian soldiers in large numbers being sent to various unsafe parts of Afghanistan? Why are our young men and women being put in danger? Why should the families of our soldiers suffer the grief and worry?

“Shia family law, known as ‘rape law’ by the human rights activists, is an example of the legal reform Kevin Rudd’s government refers to,” she said.

Mr Rintaul said the Government’s announcement of changed conditions in Afghanistan and Sri Lanka was a lie.

“They said they were going to rely on the UNHCR review. That UNHCR review – part of it has actually been made public already. Have a close read of that.

“The government’s own determination processes show that the vast, vast majority of people who are arriving here from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are genuine refugees,” he said.

The Refugee Action Coalition began in 1999 in response to the Howard Government’s introduction of Temporary Protection Visas.

The group has organised protests outside the home of the then Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock, outside detention centres, and in recognition of World Refugee Day.

The group said visa freeze actions and rallies were being organised around the country.

By Lawrence Bull