australiens detention politik- konzentrationslager der zukunft

Australia's detention policy-the future concentrationcamps?




As war all over the globe increases in 2002 so does the amount of people seeking refuge
and asylum.
Recent events at Woomera Detention Center in the South Australian desert lay bare
the importance of making refugee policy an international issue of defending human rights.

Australia's policy of Mandatory Detention was first set into legislation in 1992.
Today there are about 7 known* Detention Centers all over Australia plus several proposed
ones such as in Darwin. ( here I'm not sure about the exact number, 7 at least)
Of those Woomera is doubtless the most isolated one being situated 178 km north of
Port Augusta in the desert of S.A..

Asylum seekers without Identification or valid visa who mostly reach Australia via boat are
taken to these centers and held in detention awaiting to be processed.
The process itself is not supposed to take longer than a couple of month releasing refugees
as soon as possible into the communities with valid visas.
In reality refugees are kept in detention for up to a couple of years, their children growing up
behind barbed wire.
Instead of considering them innocent until proven guilty , refugees are treated under the same
condition as criminals or worse including children, since September I 1'h even more justified
by John Howard's scapegoating policy promoting fear of possible terrorists invading the
country although no evidence exists of any connection between any asylum seeker to
terrorism.

In fact most onshore refugees are fleeing countries that are torn apart by war , therefore often
have no possibility to apply for visas because either the political situation in their.countries
would not allow it or there is no Australian Consulate accessible in the country itself, such as
in Afganistan.

Mandatory Detention for an indefinite period is a flagrant breach of the fundamental principle
that "refugees may not be punished just for being refugees.".And a contravention of the
Refugee Convention since Australia is obliged to assure refugees the widest possible
exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms as human beings without
discrimination,(Preamble) (UN Convention relating to the status of refugees) including access
to courts (article 16) and freedom of movement (article 26).

Australia is the only "developed" country that by law, requires all asylum seekers who arrive
without permission to be held in custody for an indefinite time , whereas most countries allow
them to live in the community whilst there claims are assessed .
Australia accepts 12000 refugees every year.
Of those 12QOO only 4000 positions are reserved for onshore refugees.

It is perfectly legal to seek access to the Onoolre Humanitarian Program , even if entry is
unauthorised .
It is not a crime to seek asylum but a fundamental humanright as contained in article 14 of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Nevertheless asylum seekers are accused as queue jumpers of genuine refugees .


Conditions in the Centers itself are extremely harsh, speaking of inadequate numbers of
beds, limited bathrooms and inappropriate food.
Solitary confinement ceils were established in most of them.
There is limited access to legal information in other languages than English
Education programs are available but the conditions of education are "impossible".
The programs are tokenistic, make-do.
Apart from a lack of sufficient resources teachers have to be assisted by detainees to be able
to cope with the situation.
As former teacher lnese Petersens stated there were times when 2 teachers were in charge
for 1500 people. Each class group was educated one hour a day, 4-5 days a week.
Some collected children's drawings showing guards, riot gear, crying detainees behind fences
and razor wire , giving evidence enough of the mental damage caused by detention were not
submitted as such.*( the Advertiser, July 3.)




In some camps , such as Port Hedland, detainees work for 1$ an hour in kitchens or gardens
and furthermore are charged with 150$ a day for their accommodation
Money that has to be payed back after asylum is finally granted.
( an 8 month detention costs the detainee about 35000$)

When we spoke to one ex-security guard of Woomera Detention Center he stated
that " he'd rather work in any prison than in Woomera." But refused to give his name and signature for
he was obliged to sign not to give out information with quitting his job.

In Woomera 1700 people are accommodated , sharing 40 showers and toilets.
18 people sharing one room having only enough space to sit in their beds.
The rooms have no fans or air-conditioning although the temperature reaches up to 55
degrees in summer. I
In winter all hot water is used after 30 people had showers .
At lunchtime people queue up to 3 h , whilst lunch is only served for 2 h.
The remaining detainees are sent away .
Meals are often undercooked and food used after its expiry date.
The meals are usually taunted by guards.
At night there is a curfew from midnight and at random times guards would come round to
shake the detainees awake asking for identification .
The asylum seekers in the centers are not called by their name but by a three letter code and
numbers.
Many detainees claimed that what they wore was their only possession for most things were
taken off them on first arrival because of medical security reasons.
On first arrival they are kept in isolation with no access to phones, newspapers, TV or post.
Abuse in the centers has been uncovered including the use of tear gas as well as physical and
psychological violence .
Refugees have to bear constant hurniliation causing great psychological damage , stress ,
depressions, self harm and attempted suicide.
In fact 40 per cent of detained asylum seekers are mentally ill as an infant mental health
expert stated.

A young girl committed suicide after spending some weeks in one of the centers.
She was,granted a student visa before but had to return to the center when the visa wouldn't
be extended.

Even after being processed full refugee status detainees are still discriminated since
prejudices are fed with ridicules lies , such as the children over board scandal , which
actually helped John Howard to win the election , having focussed his campaign on
Australia's refugee policy. ( Earlier this year asylum seekers were accused falsely of having
thrown their children over board)

In contrast to refugees who arrived with already granted visas they would get issued TPVs
(temporary protection visas) which expire autoi-nati.cally after 3 years and are not necessarily
renewable.
This makes it exceptionally difficult to make future plans commit to housing, work or
integration into a community.

TPV holders cannot exit or re-enter the country without their visa being cancelled.
In ad -dition to that they are excluded from the Family Reunion Sherne, which means a
separation from family for a minimum of 5 years as it takes at least 2 years to process
family reunion applications.
Refugees on TPVs are not able to access Migrant Recorces centers , which are in charge for giving financial support in paying bonds, furniture etc. or for providing the possibility to join English classes.
TPVS are unjust since an unfair distinction is made between people who are eligible for
permanent residency and TPV holders for the determining criterion is only their method of
arrival rather than the experiences that led to seeking refuge. It excludes the most vulnerable
from basic social services and furthermore causes discrimination among different groups of
refugees itself.




Right now a hunger strike enters its 13"' day in Woomera Detention Center.
The message is clear: either freedom or death.

More than a hundred people including children refuse to eat getting weaker every day.
According to one asylum seeker calling from the center 190 people were taking part, 5 men
sewing their lips together. Apparently medication for detainees was refused unless they
ended the hunger strike .
Rumors are that a young boy suffers from pneumonia is about to die Earlier advice to
transfer him from the center was refused.

At the same time voices of protest were risen in different groups of society all over Australia,
planning solidarity actions.
Protesters who were involved in a desperate liberation effort one and a half weeks earlier on
the 27.6.2002 at Woomera are facing possible charges up to 10 yearsin jail for aiding and
abetting refugees.
Some people even demanding higher charges justified by the protesters unresponsible
behavior risking the escapees' lives by abandoning them - as media chose to call it- in the desert
without enough food or water and refusing to give information about the detainees location
to the local police.
(To correct wrong impressions I'd like to aid, that the spot where 12 refugees were finally found, was 25 km north of Port Augusta and 4 km inland of the main highway)
20 recaptured detainees were returned to Woomera after their hearing got adjourned to the
5. of November.
A 22 year old Irish man , who was amongst the group of protesters remains in police custody
for the next 3 weeks facing either jail or possible deportation playing the role of a scapegoat
since he isn't even an Australian citizen .
Apparently 7 of the escaped detainees including two boys aged 12 and 14 are safe but refuse
to give information about their location for obvious reasons.

Community groups already offered to provide accommodation and financial support to
families pointing out an alternative to Australia's detention policy.

Already earlier this year, at Easter, about 1000 people gathered in front of Woomera to express their discontent, disbelieve and anger at the treatment of asylum seekers by the Australian government.
This protest too, developed into a spontaneous breakout.
At Easter 30 people got arrested being charged with aiding and abetting as well as harboring refugees.

As well as with this second breakout now most refugees were recaptured but at least leaving
people with hope.....



( References:

Refugee Action Collective (www.rac-vic-orq)
Edmund Rice Center for Justice and Community Education
www.dima.gov.au
www.wackenhut.com
www.amnesty.orci.au
www.unhcr.ch
www.refugeecouncil.org.au )




Not only opposing voices of protest could be heard.

During the last days the hatred and racism rooted deeply in society became more
blatant, as lots of people backed up by media reports dared to speak out loudly
in public.
A man hunger striking in solidarity with detainees in Woomera reported that, in
front of Adelaide Parliament House people passing by would yell at him,
spitting on the ground.

We ourself got harassed, being obviously recognizable as refugee sympathizers
because of our outward appearrance.
Whilst staying in Port Augusta to support a friend who had to remain in custody
charged with aiding and abetting refugees we were taunted by locals, the car graffitied.

Surprisingly most people we questioned responded with a complete lack of
arguments, ignorance and finally violent slogans indoctrinated by the
government's propaganda.
In fact lots of people won't see any alternatives other than the present
Mandatory Detention Policy or a complete opening of borders, the thought of
which seems to scare them to death, arguing with fear of an increasing
unemployment rate and a resulting lack of social security.
The general population is not aware of being conditioned to relate negatively to
innocent people, who are simply asking for help overcoming their own
possible fear of a different culture.
Finally giving some of them no other chance than becoming what they were
considered to be all the time anyway.
( the being determines the consciousness)

One of the biggest concerns raised in society is that
refugees are seen as a finacial burden. What only can be said against this, is, that
the maintenance of detention centers itself and security efforts costs the government a fortune.
(refugees are billed $150 accommodation a day)
Even if refugees integrated in communities would get full financial support and
were put on the dole, which is usually between $300-400 every fortnight the
government wouldn't spent half the money it budgets now.

Honestly there is no way how a refugee fleeing war or political persecution in
his home country ,often not possessing more than what he wears on his body
should ever be able to pay back $35000 , an amount that would result from an 8-month detention .
In this context billing refugees for the cost of their detention must be seen as
an economic means of inflicting a feeling of guilt, dependence and control even
after detention for those lucky enough to finally be granted full refugee status.

conditions similar to war.

Not an open war not fought openly by attacking certain countries directly
- this part belongs to states that managed to find a way to justify their strikes
as "defending" necessity - but by torturing certain countries refugees.
A much easier way , since the enemy voluntarily and unarmed knocks on the doors.

Racism how covered it may be has a dark history in Australia.

Whilst human rights defenders still fight for the full reconciliation with
aboriginal people and are trying to deal with Australia's past, racism reaches
a new peak. not only in Australia but all over the world.

Comparable to the development after World War 2 , during the cold war the world
again seems to be divided into blocks.
This time not driven by fear of communism but of a different culture of a
different religious origin, the witch hunt has begun.

Promoted and fed by the "westernized" countries in the so called fight against
terrorism governments are given the opportunity to justify legeslatorial changes
, such as anti terrorist laws, filling or creating gaps in legislation
in order to re-enforce their powers by cutting down the individuals rights of
freedom.


A tendency that elucidates the importance of raising not only local but
international awareness, since, as a result of ongoing globalization the world
economically as well as politically grows more and more together.

especially considering that lots of facts concerning the refugee issue are
simply not made public.
Making it easy to devalue information as uncertain rumors, weakening those who
try to oppose the present practices.

In an interview given in Germany, John Howard himself denied that media had no
access to detention centers, adding that detainees where able to contact whomever they want.
It is questionable of how much use this possibility is for detainees constantly
fearing possible consequences being humiliated and oppressed by physical
violence such as the abuse of tear gas.
In addition to that virtually no legal information is accessable by the
detainees in languages other than English.
Most news reports are superficial and one sided .

It is an easy option for citizens of a wide and empty country like Australia not
to question too much.
Out of one's everyday life's view , out of mind. Who should care to much about
a few hundred people a few thousand km away somewhere in the outback, where often
as in case of Woomera, lots of the local inhabitants work in the center itself.

the most hopeful approach of defense in the current court cases against escaped
refugees as well as protesters is to prove that detention itself is illegal
since it is in contradiction to the international convention of human rights.

Australia's refugee issue is not only of national interest but an international
concern of defending human rights.

It is time for other countries to take a clear position and to express this
position openly, for it is our responsibility as well
not to let the past catch up with and overtake the present.

Hence still the center's showers are run with water.


(08.07.02 , Anja Neumann)

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