PEOPLE'S INQUIRY INTO MARIBYRNONG DETENTION CENTRE On Thursday 16th of May
in Footscray's Inner West Migrant Resource Centre Hall, a people's inquiry
into the detention centers will be held.
Come along to a community meeting to examine the policy of mandatory
detention and the realities of life inside Australia's detention centers
including the Maribyrnong center located in the western suburbs. Featuring a
panel of welfare workers, ex-detainees, and refugee rights activists.
Speakers include Barbara Rogallo, a former nurse at Woomera, Wayne Lynch, a
former counselor from Woomera, and Pamela Curr, the Greens refugee
spokesperson who works closely with the Maribyrnong refugees. The Inquiry is
of particular relevance to the community in the West because the West houses
one of the detention centers at Maribrynong. More information about the
conditions in detention centers will be made public at the meeting.
Rogallo comments "`These are concentration camp conditions. We are calling
people by a number and we are locking them up behind fences topped with
razor wire. It reminded me of a Nazi concentration camp I visited in
Czechoslovakia". Australia is the only country in the world to have
mandatory detention.
Wayne Lynch adds " I was personally traumatized by it and I decided I
couldn't participate in such an atrocity any more." He understands the
recent escape attempts, explaining that for detainees, escape or
self-mutilation are the only way of exerting control over their lives. Lynch
comments that he witnessed most detainees arriving in good health, robust
and buoyant but by the end of their time in detention may were clinically
depressed, suicidal and mutilating themselves.
People's Inquiries are part of a long tradition of community action and
involvement. Thursday 16th May, at 7pm at the Inner West region migrant
resource center hall, 30a Pickett St, Footscray.
Ph Jody on 0438 191 768 for more info
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