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In memory of SIEV X
SYDNEY — On October 26, 300 people attended the launch of the National SIEV X Memorial Exhibition. The project was first launched in Canberra in October 2003 to involve high school students in the design of a memorial to the people of the ship called SIEV X, which sank en route to Australia in October 2001, taking the lives of 353 people.
Designs by high school students aged 13-15 from 140 schools across Australia were on display in the St James Uniting Church on October 26-30. The exhibition will travel around Australia next year and the memorial will be built in 2005 on the shores of Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin.
Project coordinator Steve Biddulph and the Uniting Church's Rod Horsfield spoke at the launch, which was attended by SIEV X survivors and many of those who had lost family when the boat sank. Survivor Amal Basry spontaneously addressed the crowd, and moved many to tears when she spotted and embraced another survivor, Sondos Ismail, who she hadn't seen since they were rescued from the sea.
A memorial service was held in Hobart on October 19, where Tasmanians for Refugees unveiled the first permanent memorial for the victims of the SIEV X tragedy at Cornelian Bay — a bench and memorial plaque overlooking the Derwent River.
For more information, visit <http://www.sievxmemorial.com>, <http://www.sievxmemorial.org> or <http://www.sievx.com>.
Sarah Stephen
Let Sri Lankan asylum seekers stay!
MELBOURNE — On October 25, 40 people gathered at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in western Melbourne to launch a campaign for Sri Lankan asylum seekers to be granted permanent residency.
Up to 500, mostly Tamil, Sri Lankans are currently being threatened with deportation. The immigration department has deemed Sri Lanka safe to return to, despite ongoing conflict.
Many of those under threat of deportation have been living in Australia for over 10 years. Many also have children who were born here, who have never been to Sri Lanka and who do not speak the language.
Messages of support and offers of assistance can be sent to <srilankacampaign@yahoo.com.au>.
Zoe Kenny
From Green Left Weekly, November 3, 2004.
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