Refugees and their supporters marched to Labor MP Tony Burke’s office at Punchbowl on August 31 after rallying first at Dorothy Reserve in Bankstown, where the program began at 1pm.
Hundreds of refugees, their friends and family members, and activist groups joined in.
Renuga Inpakumar, spokesperson from the Tamil Refugee Council, was the rally chair. Speakers expressed solidarity and support for the refugees’ demands for permanent visas.
The mood was sombre as the rally remembered Tamil refugees Mano Yogalingam and Sasikaran Selvanayagam who recently died, the former from self-immolation.
Refugees spoke about the challenges they face, particularly accessing education and employment while their visa statuses remain in limbo.
The crowd then marched to Burke’s office, chanting, “What do we want? Permanent visas!” and “Tony, Tony, where’s your heart?”
On Day 11 of the encampment, the minister agreed to a brief meeting with eight refugee representatives. So far, there has been no action taken to provide any certainty.
Speakers mentioned how international law protects asylum seekers, and Labor is failing to adhere to it, as well as the failure of the so-called “fast-track” process which has left several thousand refugees in danger of deportation.
Refugees asserted their pleas for permanent protection, no deportation and reunification of separated families.
They continue to apply pressure, while recent deaths in their communities add more fuel to the fire.
With 24/7 encampments and vigils in both Naarm/Melbourne and Sydney, the coordinated protest actions are not going to stop any time soon.
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