Message from the 11 Asylum seekers : Melbourne Indymedia

We asylum seekers of Nauru Island would like to
request all Humanitarian Organisations for Migration
and Human Rights Organisations to pay attention to our
circumstances and help us.

We escaped from our country of origin because of the
serious fear of death and persecution, and wanted to
live in peace, prosperity, away from war and all other
dangers that we left behind.
We came to take refuge in a country which used to be
pro-democracy, and accept and help refugees.

But unfortunately we have been isolated and put in the
worst isolated part of the world named Nauru and in a
gaol called Topside, without having any sin and
committing any crime. Since we believe that seeking
asylum and wishing to live in peace and prosperity is
not a crime.

So we raise our oppressed voice to you and all the
world.

We started a hunger strike because we got no other
option.

Our message is very clear.

We do not have enough strength to be in gaol any more.

We made our decision that either we should be released
from this gaol or we should die.
The Australian government and all international
organisations for migration and all other
International Organisations for Human Rights would be
responsible for our death.

We raise our oppressed voice and, if you take a
positive stand and help us to be released from this
gaol for the sake of humanity and human rights we
would thank you and be grateful to you.
If the Australian government does not respond to our
strike and do not do anything, then we will also join
them in the hunger strike next time.

This is our message to all humanitarian organisations,
to listen to us, and know what is happening on Nauru.

If the Australian government does not respond, then we
are grateful to you as well, and we will terminate our
lives in this hunger strike.

Thanks
Refugees on Nauru.

The Images of Refugees on Nauru John Howard doesn't want Australian citizens to see

Some images sent to Australian friends over the past few days from some of the asylum seekers illegally imprisoned on Nauru -- people the Australian government deceitfully dismisses as "failed asylum seekers" and "illegal immigrants".

http://refugee.autonomous.org/

The hunger strikers are men who are fathers -- the women who sit with them in solidarity are mothers -- these are some of their children -- they escaped persecution in their homelands only to be stripped of their liberty by an Australian government bereft of decency and respect for human life.

Most of the people on Nauru are Hazara people from Afghanistan -- yep, that same country where the US Army just the other day fessed up to killing some 15 children. Oops, those bombs aren't so smart after all.

Many of the women and kids have husbands already in Australia whose refugee status has been validated by the Refugee Review Tribunal. Why are they being kept separated from their husbands by the Australian government?

The refugees are putting the call out to the world -- to anyone who can spare 5 minutes -- to lobby whatever international humanitarian agency you think might be able to intervene - and remove these people from intolerable and illegal imprisonment.

It is not a crime to seek asylum!
It is not a crime to seek shelter for yourself and your family.
Every person has a right to dignity, justice and liberty.

Australians, we can be much bigger than the diminished puppets and toneless tinmen who pretend to represent us in the hollow halls of power.

Word up! in the spirit of the first Christmas, mythical or historical, this is a call-out to carve the ways to change the situation for the better for all those in immigration detention, in Nauru, and on the mainland.

A special call out to Temp Agency Terrarists .. squat the office machines and fax a message of support to Nauru: 0015 674 444 3524

gefsmith@bigpond.net.au

Please circulate
Press Release 16.12.2003

Tip Toe Out the Back Door ( Australia’s answer to the crisis in Nauru.)

Where are the three men who hatched the idea of this baby?

Mr Howard, Mr Downer, Mr Ruddock.

Have you left it in the hands of a beggar nanny?

In 2001, the Australian Government won the election on the strength of this conception. The concept of a Pacific Solution was born. Australia sent any asylum seekers to isolated island camps in the Pacific.

As we circle with our thoughts over one such camp, we see Topside, a white pock mark, scraped on the stubble of the Island of Nauru. This tiny island is a sovereign state, hundreds of kilometres from Australia, near the equator. It is impoverished. It depends on aid from other countries, notably Australia, for its day to day survival. In fact it is so poor, it does not even handle its own visa applications. Aunty Australia does that.

Now as we get closer to Topside Camp we can hear a quiet sobbing. There are little children here, women here, and frightened young men. Australia has told them they must go back to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Bangladesh. Australia has told them it is safe. But each of these 300 or so souls knows very personal reasons why they cannot.

We, who do not know their personal terrors, can at least see the over all picture. We can see these places are not safe. We would not send our children there.

The people of the camp have been denied all rights to Australia’s protection. In fact it seems they have no one’s protection. As a last desperate bid for help, 24 men have gone on a hunger strike. They are taking neither food nor water. In the equatorial heat this is fatal. They know it. Their lives are all they have left. They have lost faith and lost hope.

Will we see some deaths today?

Australian officials will not see it. The strikers in the camp have not seen DIMIA (Dept of Immigration Officials) since 10th of December, as they made their way quickly from the camp.

IOM (the camp management) is left to attend to the dying. They provide wet compresses and intravenous fluids to the unconscious.

There is no official from Australia, UNHCR, or any other country trying to end this crisis. We wonder if they are happy to see a disaster. There is another election coming up. Will the three men win again with their tough policies?

The Labor Party has called for the abolition of this inhumane solution. They have called for all those little kids to be out before Santa comes.

But as Australia tip toes away from Topside Camp, will they hear the crying of the baby? Or will they just turn off the light?

Elaine and Geoff Smith
403 Ocean Drive
West Haven
NSW
Australia, 2443

phone/fax +61 2 65596977
email gefsmith@bigpond.net.au
http://www.nauruwire.org