BY BRONWEN BEECHEY
ADELAIDE — In recent weeks, the Woomera detention centre has been the focus of media attention, following allegations that the centre's management had covered up the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old boy at the centre. There have been other criticisms of the management style of Australian Correctional Management (ACM), a subsidiary of US private prison operator Wackenhut, which has itself been accused of numerous violations of human rights in the private prisons it runs in the US.
What has been largely absent from the news stories is the voices of the refugees themselves. That is because they are denied access to any media or other outside observers. Those who work with the refugees in Woomera and other detention centres are required by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) to sign secrecy declarations. If they speak out about conditions in the detention centres, even if they are no longer working there, they will not be allowed back in.
On November 17, a group of around 50 refugees at Woomera went on hunger strike to protest against conditions at the centre, and at delays in processing their applications for refugee status. Initially, DIMA spokespeople tried to play down the action, claiming that the refugees were "fasting for Islamic reasons". The period of Ramadan, when many Muslims fast between sunrise and sunset, did not begin until November 30.
Last week, a number of the hunger strikers were taken in handcuffs to the Woomera hospital and forcibly fed liquids. Immigration minister Phillip Ruddock defended the action in federal parliament, saying that he "did not want to be a minister in a situation where a person's survival could have been addressed and there was a failure on my watch for that to occur." The Adelaide Advertiser published an extract from a letter it had received from one of the hunger strikers in Woomera Hospital.
"Dear Australian people, we are human, not exactly like you, because we have been suffering a lot", the letter began. "The cruel conditions forced us to seek asylum... to accept a slow death. Is our life actually valuable? Does anyone in the world think about us?"
On December 1, a press release from Ruddock claimed that the hunger strike had ended, but at the time of going to press this had not been confirmed by the hunger strikers themselves.
Farhad Noori, who works as a resettlement co-ordinator for refugees granted temporary protection visas and is an activist in the Coalition for Justice for Refugees, told Green Left Weekly that the hunger strike was a sign of the desperation of the asylum seekers to be heard. "It is a cry for help", he said.
Ruddock had earlier claimed in parliament that South Australian authorities had investigated further charges of sexual abuse against a 15-year-old boy at the centre, but had found no evidence to support the claims.
Noori said that it was difficult to ascertain the truth of the sexual abuse allegations due to the secrecy operating at Woomera, but felt that these claims were being used by Ruddock to further alienate public support for the refugees. "The real crime is being committed by the Australian government, who are keeping children in detention", he said.
The Australian government's punitive attitude to the asylum seekers continues even when they are granted refugee status and allowed to settle in the community under temporary visas. They are granted only a minimal benefit to live on, and do not have access to English classes. Noori pointed out that this makes it extremely difficult for them to find work.
"Many of these people are highly qualified, but cannot get work because of their lack of English", he said. "They want to work, to support their families and send money to relatives back home. They don't want to be on social security. It is very frustrating and depressing for them."
Meanwhile, another 22 refugees are still being held at the Adelaide remand centre, awaiting trial over charges arising from the so-called "Woomera riots" in August. The first trials of the refugees are due to begin on December 18.
The Democratic Socialist Party and Resistance, along with other supporters of human rights for refugees, will hold a protest on the steps of Parliament House on December 17, at 1pm. For more information ph. (08) 8231 6982.