BY MARK ABBERTON
Two recent public meetings, one in Canberra and another in Melbourne, have revealed the cruelty that takes place in Australia's refugee prisons.
Wayne Lynch worked as a nurse and counsellor at the Woomera refugee detention centre for seven months from March 2000. On April 10, he addressed 150 people at forum organised by the Canberra Refugee Action Committee.
Lynch told the story of Ali, a proud and hopeful Iraqi asylum seeker, and how detention almost destroyed his human spirit.
After 12 months in detention, Ali had lost weight, was suffering insomnia and had lost hope that he would see his wife and three children again. He felt like a failure and was considering suicide. He told Lynch, "I don't know myself anymore".
Lynch estimated 70-80% of refugees in detention, due to the humiliation of prison life, considered harming themselves or committing suicide. He said that most detained asylum seekers he met in his role as counsellor said it was the "oppression, torture and persecution" they were experiencing in detention in Australia that had caused them to lose hope and want to harm themselves.
Health workers in detention centres had to manipulate the system to provide a resemblance of care.
In Ali's case, Lynch chose not to report the risk of suicide, despite being required to do so by Australasian Correctional Management (ACM), the private company which runs the Woomera centre.
Detainees identified as being at risk of suicide have to endure undignified treatment. They are stripped of their clothes, placed in a canvas "suicide gown" and placed in isolation for 24 hours a day. They are prevented from receiving visitors.
ACM's cruelty is illustrated by two policies recounted by Lynch. Nurses at Woomera saw a memo saying tha detainees were refused the right to get a new pair of eye-glasses, or have their old ones repaired, unless they were "walking into walls". Detainees are not permitted to see a dentist unless they need problem teeth extracted.
Naleya Everson, a legal worker who has worked in Villawood, Curtin, Port Hedland and Woomera detention centres, also spoke. Everson explained that refugee detention centres are not thoroughly bound by law and this has allowed ACM and the government's conduct to be unaccountable.
She described the circumstances that led a family, who had fled Iran, to go on a 25-day hunger strike. In desperation, a 14-year-old boy sewed his lips together. A 11-year-old girl told Everson, "are we animals that they feed in this cage? I don't want this food. I want my freedom".
Jacqui Everitt, who featured on the ABC's Four Corners report, "Inside Story", in August and is now banned from all ACM detention prisons, voiced dismay at the attempted suicide of a 10-year old girl at the Maribyrnong detention centre a week before.
Everitt condemned mandatory detention. She noted that while the Woomera centre and other desert camps have more brutal regimes, because "bleeding hearts" are less able to scrutinise them, the city-based centres should also be closed.
She believes that since the case of Shayan Badraie, the boy who was so traumatised by detention that he could not speak, was exposed by Four Corners, no more children are being sent to Villawood detention centre for fear that their stories may become public.
Sylvia Liertz delivered a short report from the Easter weekend protest outside the Woomera detention centre. Liertz explained that the action had boosted the campaign to free the refugees.
Rachel Evans reports from Melbourne that 400 people packed the new council chambers at Trades Hall on April 9 to view SKA-TV's film on the Easter protest at the Woomera detention centre.
Prior to the screening, Refugee Action Collective spokesperson Judy McVey, the Greens' Pamela Curr and Steve Jolly from the Socialist Party spoke. Andrea Maksimovic from No-One Is Illegal, the group that initiated the Woomera action, also addressed the meeting.
McVey urged everyone to attend the May 1 marches and rallies, "M1 is the next big focus for the refugees' rights campaign". She also implored activists to step up solidarity with the Palestinian people. Rallies are being held every Friday afternoon in Melbourne.
Pamela Curr condemned outrageous new guidelines issued by ACM for donations of toys to children locked in the detention centres. On Easter Saturday at the Woomera centre, more than $1000 worth of toys were handed to ACM to be given to the children inside.
"The new guidelines prohibit supporters giving children detainees toy cars because of 'sharp edges'. Apparently, [ACM believes] they could be used as weapons", Curr explained. "They prohibit soft toys because they could be set alight and used as a flame-throwers. We're not sure what they are going to say about the round furry balls [we gave them], but they are sure to make up a new rule for those too."
SKA-TV's film was breathtaking. It dramatically captures the action as activists pulled down the outer fence of the Woomera centre and began to communicate with the jailed refugees. The refugees' pain and anger is palpable. Detained children are pictured chanting "Freedom".
A number of refugees are filmed as they escape, jumping over the heads of police and into the waiting, welcoming arms of the activists. Refugees with blood pouring from cuts are shown receiving assistance from the medical aid affinity group.
One of the most heart-wrenching shots was of a young girl running as fast as she could in the dry desert, with two activists flanking her, trying to offer some protection.
The film also showcased a spectacular and inspiring march dominated by red and rainbow flags, banners saying "Welcome!" and other political messages in Arabic and English emblazoned upon them.
SKA-TV's film is a vital tool for activists. Phone (03) 9663 6976 to order copies.
From Green Left Weekly, April 24, 2002.
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