Public Meeting
The Australian, Afghan Memorandum of Understanding
What will it mean for refugees?
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was recently signed between the Australian Government, the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, permitting forcible deportation of refugees from Australia back to Afghanistan. The agreement includes provision for sending back children; unaccompanied minors and other Afghan children who have become separated from their families.There is no way such and agreement can guarantee the safety of any asylum seekers returned to Kabul. It is an agreement with an illegitimate and corrupt government propped up by Australian and Nato forces.
Speakers:
Dr Sara Davies, Centre for Governance and Public Policy, Griffith University
Sonia Caton, Immigration Lawyer and Refugee Advocate
Hansan Ghulam, Afghan Community Worker, Romero Centre
Wednesday March 30th
6:30pm
Lvl 2, Trades and Labour Council Building
16 Peel St, South Brisbane
Organised by Refugee Action Collective
www.rac-qld.org
0424265730
When the AFP and TRG boarded the plane for Christmas Island at 4pm last Friday, the Christmas island protest had just begun. It was a totally peaceful action with groups of men walking the 15 kilometres through the jungle to the inhabited parts of the island.
Over the next two days some went to the Mosque, some to the Construction Camp to visit family, some went swimming and some went to the airport to sit. No crime, no theft, absolutely peaceful.
On Sunday night most of the men returned to the camp pretty happy with their weekends work. Cheers went up and were heard on phone lines as the TV news filmed their banners calling for freedom.
A few hours later this changed completely. All Serco staff were called to the centre to provide a show of force, even the cooks and office staff. DIAC staff decided to enact a “snatch and grab’ to take those thought to be leaders off to RED ONE isolation cells. After this everything changed.
The AFP and TRG then unleashed their secret weapons- bean bag rounds and tear gas, their use unheard of in this country against unarmed civilians. More was to come. Flash bangs and pyrotechnic and stronger tear gas were introduced on another night. By now the camp is on high alert and handed over to the AFP and TRG. As we enter another night, we wonder what weapons will be introduced tonight.
Of deeper concern is why all these weapons were brought on board on that Friday night when there was only a peaceful protest underway.
Why did the police pack such an arsenal of weapons ?
What plan was underway that they thought that they could use these weapons ? Beanbag rounds, flash bangs, pyrotechnics, rifles and machine guns capable of firing this stuff.
Who had even heard of these much less know that our police had them stored away for a rainy day.
There are questions to be asked about the this use of violence which turned a peaceful protest into a running battle.
When will it stop and will detainee deaths result from this brutal game?
NO ONE CAN BE PROUD OF WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.
—
Pamela Curr
Campaign Coordinator
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
12 Batman st West Melbourne 3003
ph 03 9326 6066 / 0417517075
“NO ONE CHOOSES TO BE AN ASYLUM SEEKER”