Asylum seekers on Nauru will hold another protest inside the detention centre between 3pm and 5pm, today (Wednesday 17 October).
The almost 300 people from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka are expected to be involved in the protest and will be calling for refugee processing to begin immediately on the island and for Australia to stop sending asylum seekers to Nauru.
Today’s protest follows a major protest on Nauru on Sunday and comes after an angry meeting between Australian officials and asylum seekers on Monday, 15 October.
The Nauruan asylum seekers were angered by what they regard as attempts by Australian Immigration trying to defuse and divide their united protests.
Nauruan asylum seekers have told the Refugee Action Coalition, that on Monday 15 October, an Australian Immigration officer arrived at the detention centre with Nauruan police.
The Immigration officer, identified as “Mrs Annette”, called the asylum seekers together to tell them that they could make application for protection visas on Nauru and that if accepted they could stay on Nauru.
At that point, “everybody left the meeting.” “We will stay together,” the asylum seekers said, “and continue our protests.”
Yesterday, the asylum seekers were told that if they ‘behaved” they might be able to live outside the camp.
They are also concerned at the level of medical attention in the camp. One asylum seeker and two guards have been quarantined as an “influenza” outbreak has swept the camp. “The only preventive measure, we are told is ‘wash your hands,’” the Refugee Action Coalition was told.
“The asylum seekers are blaming the crowded and unhygienic conditions in the camp,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“There is an urgent need for independent observers on Nauru to monitor both the conditions in the camp and the actions of the Immigration Department. The asylum seekers have still had no access to layers or advocates for assistance and advice. They are at the mercy of the Australian Immigration department. Their future is being held to ransom by the punitive ‘no advantage’ conditions that underpins Labor’s Pacific Solution 2.0.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
