It seems the treatment of asylum seekers by the Australian Government
is only getting worse. In the wake of Labor’s ‘Pacific Solution 2.0’ –
the reopening Nauru and Manus Island’s detention centres – we have
witnessed further inhumane treatment of desperate asylum seekers.
Since the Australian Government announced that it would reopen
the detention centre on Manus Island, there has been raging opposition
from those who support the maintenance of basic human rights – those
who see detention centres as prisons. This opposition has gained further
momentum as a stream of negative stories have emerged.
Recent suicide attempts and a culture of self-harm within the
facility add to an already long list of examples of the terrors faced in
Australian detention centres. Three men ran into the ocean to drown
themselves, another man hung himself, and dozens are currently on
hunger strike with some now collapsing. In November 2012 we heard
the government planned to use tents as housing for the asylum seekers.
It has been reported that these tents can reach over 70% humidity and
temperatures beyond 30 degrees with the UN describing them as “harsh,
humid and damp”, yet they are the main type of accommodation for
single men. It is blatantly clear that the conditions faced in detention
centres are a form of torture. Indeed a new type of mental illness has
been coined to describe the state of asylum seekers in detention: ‘Asylum
Seeker Syndrome’.
The Papua New Guinea (PNG) opposition party is in agreement
that the conditions in which refugees are forced to live are inhumane,
even that the entire detainment process is illegal under the PNG
constitution. The Opposition leader – Belden Namah – recently
launched a legal campaign to shut down operations of the Manus Island
detention centre. The legality of the process has been questioned, with
lawyers engaging in a Supreme Court challenge. It has been argued that
the incarceration of asylum seekers is unconstitutional as it deprives
them of their civil liberties, because they are imprisoned indefinitely
without charge.
Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers is not only inhumane
but explicitly illegal by international law – specifically human rights
and refugee law. Seeking asylum is a basic human right and offshore
processing violates the United Nation’s Refugee Convention and is
therefore illegal. In 2011 the High Court ruled that deporting Asylum
seekers to Malaysia for offshore processing was illegal as it breached our
obligations under the Refugee Convention. It was outlined that offshore
processing would place asylum seekers at risk of persecution, particularly
as Malaysia is not a signatory to the Refugee Convention. Clearly
there is no justification for offshore processing as it opposes so many
internationally agreed policies. This leaves the Australian Government
with nowhere to hide their inhumane politics and with no excuses
denying the legal reality.
It is becoming increasingly evident that the Australia government
is not motivated by the protection of human rights or upholding of
international law, but rather, their own political agendas.
John Howard’s success in securing a third term has been attributed
to the incitement and inflammation of Australian xenophobia and
racism with his refugee policies. His response to the Tampa affair:
refusing 438 rescued refugees access to Australia and instead sending
them to Nauru for detainment, received condemnation from Norway,
the owner of the saving vessel, yet instilled a xenophobic mindset in the
Australian public of ‘turning back the boats’. The Child Overboard affair
occurred soon after in which the Howard government made allegations
that asylum seekers had thrown their children overboard in a supposed
evil scheme to secure placement in Australia. These accusations were
later proved to be fabrications, recognised as an attempt to demonise
asylum seekers in a bid to secure fear-mongered votes. This pattern of
demonising asylum seekers, international condemnation, and even
the Pacific solution itself eerily mirrors the current behaviour of the
Australian government. It seems, once again, asylum seekers are being
used as pawns for vote-hungry politicians.
The government claims a humanitarian mindset, reasoning that
offshore processing is only to deter asylum seekers from getting on ‘leaky
boats’. But why do we need deterrence at all? Asylum seekers should be
welcomed and aided with the wealth of resources Australia has to offer.
In reality this so called “humanitarian” act of deterrence poses more
danger, forcing people to get on boats due to the lack of a clear, safe
avenue for seeking asylum. With statistics revealing that in the past 12
years over 1000 asylum seekers and crew have died at sea on their way to
Australia. It is clearly time for the government to reconsider its idea of
deterrence.
With the election later this year, it’s highly likely that we will see
once again a political race to the bottom when it comes to asylum seeker
policy. The major political forces in Australia seem to be competing to
achieve the most inhumane and racist refugee policy we have seen in
decades. Both main parties are blatantly against supporting the rights
of refugees which makes it even more imperative for us to stand against
racism and stand up for human rights.
This highlights the need to build a grassroots campaign to push
against our politicians. With our feet on the ground and our voices filling
the air we can collectively make a difference as we demand correct and
just treatment for all asylum seekers and refugees and hopefully bring an
end to the atrocious policy of mandatory detention. Get involved now to
help end the torture of thousands of innocent people.
Lisa Vincent is a member of the Monash Refugee Action
Collective. MRAC is the club that fights for refugee rights at Monash.
To find out more about the upcoming protest actions, or to get
involved with MRAC, contact Dean on 0425 808 173 or
dvin5@student.monash.edu.
