'A voice for the voiceless' — former Nauru detainee
Sarah Stephen
Ghulam Haider, a 25-year-old Hazara from Afghanistan, fled from the Taliban and sought refuge in Australia. As punishment, he spent three years in the tropical hell of Nauru detention centre, before being given refugee status in New Zealand, where he now studies, hoping one day to be able to bring his family to live with him. He is not able to apply for family reunion until September 2007, when he is eligible to become a NZ citizen.
"It was really a hard time in my life when I was locked up behind the razor wire for so long on the remote island of Nauru. During that intolerable time I was addicted to listening to the radio and watching television, in the hope of hearing some good news.
"I was called a queue-jumper, a blackmailer and an illegal migrant who came through the window. I had heard those sorts of expressions over and over for a long time, and as result I came to believe that I was guilty, that this was why I was in prison ... [This] nasty campaign against us affected me badly.
"One day in June 2003, I received a parcel from one of my Australian pen-friends who sent me letters and presents regularly. In the parcel she sent me a copy of Green Left Weekly. Inside the magazine I found some interesting articles about refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. I asked my pen-friend to send Green Left regularly and she did it for me. I really appreciated that.
"I was really surprised that there was such an interesting weekly publication which is constantly struggling for fair treatment for refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. Reading Green Left was the only interesting thing for me in the hell of Nauru ...
"I always thank and admire the struggle and dedication of those people who tried for a fair hearing and better treatment for asylum seekers and refugees in Australia.
"Anyone who wants to understand the truth and realities in the world should read GLW regularly. It is a publication based on true realities which are going on all over the world, but most people do not know about them. It is a voice for the voiceless who are suffocated by the imperialist media.
"If you want to understand what is behind the wars, invasions and killings of thousands of innocent people; if you want to understand more about who creates and supports the dangerous phenomena of today's terrorists, read GLW."
Aladdin Sisalem, the last asylum seeker detained on another Australian Pacific immigration detention centre, Manus Island, described Green Left (which broke his story) as "the bird which carried my message to the world".
If you know of a detained asylum seeker who would like to receive a complimentary subscription to Green Left Weekly, please write to me at <sarahstephen@greenleft.org.au>.
At the end of the fifth week of the Emergency Appeal, we have raised $64,169.35. A list of new donors will be published next week but special thanks to the generous donor of $2000 who wishes to remain anonymous and to Greg A and Allan L who made donations of $1000 each. With the help of our readers and supporters we hope to raise the outstanding $36,000 over the next five weeks. Please send your donation in to PO Box 515, Broadway 2007, phone it through on the toll-free line 1800 634 206 (calls from within Australia only) or donate online at: <http://www.greenleft.org.au/fogl.htm>
From Green Left Weekly, August 24, 2005.
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