By Danielle Kutchel
Local refugee activists will join with others from around Australia on Saturday July 20 to rally for an end to inhumane treatment of refugees held offshore.
Saturday will mark the beginning of the 7th year of detention for the refugees.
Activists from Casey/Cardinia for Refugees have held a weekly Thursday morning vigil for over a year on the Berwick High Street in an effort to draw motorists’ attention to the cause.
A member of the group said that recently a refugee who had fled from Iran stopped to thank them, describing how grateful he was to now have the opportunity to house his family, and start a business to provide for them and contribute to the community. According to the group, this aligns with what refugees from Manus tell them. They said another recently messaged: “This past six years of offshore detention, we could have spent serving the community, living productive lives.”
Anne Jones, a member of Casey/Cardinia for Refugees, said refugee groups across Australia work tirelessly raising awareness about the mental and physical suffering of those who have sought asylum, the death of 12 people in detention and what the group describes as the “appalling” waste of Australia financial resources.
“Imagine if all this effort had been spent on compassionately assisting refugees to recover from their ordeal, find accommodation, integrate into communities and secure employment. Imagine if their human rights had been addressed in this way,” she said.
Rallies will be held around Australia on Saturday July 20, demanding an end to detention under the government policy of indefinite mandatory detention for those who have sought asylum by boat since 2013. The Melbourne rally begins at 2.00pm at the State Library and will include guest speakers.
