Refugee Rights Action Network - Western Australia

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MEDIA RELEASE - for immediate release

Friday 13 August, 2010

Saturday 14 August will see the Refugee Rights Action Network (RRAN) take their caravan of compassion to the detention centre at Leonora. The caravan will bring toys, sports equipment, art supplies and goodwill to the asylum seekers held in that detention centre.

More than 30 families are being held in mining camp accommodation in the goldfields town of Leonora in Western Australia. Some of these families are subject to the government’s suspension of asylum claims. Some are awaiting the processing of their claims, still uncertain if they will be allowed to recommence their lives or if they will be sent back to persecution and war.

Asylum seekers have been a prominent issue in the current election campaign for both sides of politics. Gillard and Abbott each claim they will “stop the boats”; as if the few asylum seekers who attempt the dangerous journey to Australia are any threat to our society! Politicians are gambling with people’s lives in a bid to secure their own political power.

RRAN’s caravan of compassion to Leonora is about demonstrating to the political leaders and populist demagogues of this country that there is real mateship here. That Australian people are welcoming and generous. That we aren’t afraid of boats!

It is no crime to seek asylum. Free the refugees.

For an interview see our contact details here

REGISTER HERE!

YES!! We are organising a convergence to the Leonora detention facility.

More than 30 families are being held in mining camp accomodation in the goldfields town of Leonora in Western Australia. Some of these families are subject to the governments suspension of asylum claims.  A purely political and unfair practice which is the ALPs weak response to the hysteria and fear-mongering of the coalition.

We have to ask, "If the claims are suspended, if these families' asylum claims are not being examined, if they are not undergoing security checks, then why are they in detention?' The only reason is political.

The government is too cowardly to try and counter the grubby politics of the coalition. They are in effect political prisoners, held hostage to the incitement of racist and xenophobic sentiment.We know that not all Australians agree with these policies. We know that some of us are welcoming, and choose not to be driven by fear and hysteria. To show this to Australia and to the families in detention we will travel to Leonora, with our compassion, open hearts, welcoming embrace, gifts and hope.

We will give these things to the families, in defiance of the incitement of fear and racism that is so prevalent in the political landscape.

If you would like to donate gifts of books, balls, toys or luxury items for the families in detention we will deliver them to Leonora on your behalf. We also hope to donate some of these gifts to the local community. Gifts can be dropped off at the Perth Activist Centre, Unit15/5 Aberdeen Street (formerly Short St), East Perth. Phone 9218 9608 or 0413 976 638 to arrange a time. If you can't make it to Perth, call 0408 525 490 to make other arrangements.

If you wish to join us for the trip to Leonora please register here. To find out more in person, there will be a convergence meetings on 2 and 9 August - see the calender for details

• To show compassion to a stranger is political resistance to racism.
• To make the journey is a statement of solidarity and shared humanity.
• To be generous with our feelings and material things is a challenge to xenophobia and a statement about the sort of society we want to live in.