Mass breakout of asylum-seekers in Australia

It has been reported that 60-70 Afghani men have escaped from the refugee and asylum- seekers' detention centre in Darwin today, Wed 1st September. The men, the majority of whom are asylum-seekers whose request for refugee status has been declined, are holding a 'sit in' alongside the Stuart Highway, with banners that read "Please help us", "Show us mercy", and "We are homeless, defenseless and we seek protection".

Some of the men have informed the media that if they return to Afghanistan they will be killed. "If I go back, they will cut off my head," said Kazemi Syed Zulfiger.

The peaceful protest comes just days after 100 accused people smugglers rioted in the centre, lighting fires and smashing windows. Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition, explains that the rioters are impoverished fishermen who have been manipulated by criminal gangs and should simply be sent home.

Links |  Refugee Action Coalition Website  |  Asylum Seeker Resource Centre  | Australian Indymedia.

Immigration was a key policy issue for the major parties in the recent general election, both parties favouring a crack down on the so called 'boat people'. It was left to the minority parties and the grass roots activists on the streets to highlight the irony of refusing refuge to Afghanis while Australian troops occupy their homeland for what the government assures us are humanitarian reasons.

More information from campaigns struggling for justice and compassion for these people can be found at the Refugee Action Coalition Website, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Australian Indymeda.