RACNSW MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday, July 31st, 2003
REFUGEE ANTI-DEPORTATION PROTEST TARGETS QANTAS
A protest outside QANTAS headquarters in Sydney will be the latest in a
series of protests against the Federal government's deportation of
asylum seekers.
Refugee advocates are concerned that the increased use of deportation
could be the beginning of a major deportation drive by the government.
Over the last week, the government has deported a 7 year old Iranian
girl and an Afghan asylum seeker, Ali Mazhra (the brother-in-law of Ali
Bakhtiyari) from Baxter. There was also an attempt to deport an
Algerian man from Villawood that was only prevented by an eleventh hour
injunction by the Federal Court.
A Russian women in Villawood now also faces deportation without her baby
that was born in Australia.
On Friday, the Family Court will rule on the release of children from
detention. Meanwhile the immigration minister has said that it intends
to deport the Bakhtiyari family.
QANTAS was the airline that would have transported Mourad, the Algerian
man from Perth.
"We are targeting QANTAS to highlight the government's deportation
offensive. The governmen hopes to create a climate in which deportation
is acceptable. Iranians in detention face an immediate threat despite
the record of human rights abuses by the Iranian regime" said Ian
Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
"The government has been prepared to ignore the courts and send people
back to places that are unsafe. We will be calling on QANTAS not to
co-operate in violating the human rights of asylum seekers," he said.
"In the case of the Bakhtiyari family, the minister seems to be
resorting to trial by media, pre-empting future court decision's
regarding Ali Bakhtiyari, in the same way as the revelations of his
taped comments on ATSIC,' said Ian Rintoul.
"The National Anti-Deportation Alliance will be stepping up its campaign
to stop the government deporting asylum seekers.
"There have been at least 7 deaths of asylum seekers in Europe related
to the use of restraint during deportations. We don't want deaths here
and we don't want deaths when people are returned to Iran or
Afghanistan," said Ian Rintoul.
A national petition opposing the deportations of Iranians will be
presented when federal parliament resumes in August.
Sydney protest, Thursday 31 July, QANTAS, Chifley Square, City12.30pm
For more information contact: Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul
0417 275 713
Attachment: Report regrading removal from Villawood
LAST MINUTE COURT ACTION PREVENTS FORCIBLE DEPORTATION
Refugee advocates have accused the Immigration department of ignoring
its own procedures and the legal rights of detainees as the department
resorts to the forcible deportation of asylum seekers. A federal court
injunction prevented the deportation of an Algerian man on Saturday only
twenty minutes (20 minutes) before the flight was to depart Perth
international airport.
The man was being forced onto the plane when the phone call from the
government solicitor stopped the deportation.
The attempted deportation followed two other forcible deportations last
week - a seven year old Iranian girl was deported on Wednesday night and
Ali Ali Mazhar, the bother in-law of Ali Bakhtiyari was deported on
Thursday night.
The Algerian man was taken on Friday night by chartered flight from
Villawood, Sydney to Perth detention centre on Friday night even though
he had made application to the Minister of Immigration to consider
further evidence of his claims for protection. Since his first
application to the Refugee Review Tribunal, his two brothers were shot
dead in January this year and another brother tortured by police in
February.
The attempted deportation was carried out despite assurances from the
government that it does not remove asylum seekers while such
determinations (48B) are being made.
The Algerian man told immigration officials at Villawood of his
application, but was told, "I don't care what you have. You are going
today." His request to phone for legal assistance as refused. Both the
Sydney and Canberra immigration offices were made aware of his application.
He was forcibly taken to Banstown airport at 11.00pm after fighting
attempts to forcibly sedate him at Villawood detention centre. Up to
eight guards and a male nurse were used to restrain him at Villawood.
Two guards and the male nurse accompanied the Algerian on the chartered
flight to Perth.
It was last minute action in the federal court on Saturday morning that
resulted in an injunction being granted to prevent the deportation.,
"It is a disgrace that Federal Court injunctions are needed in these
circumstances. The government seems willing to ignore refugee rights in
order to get the outcomes that the government wants. The government is
trying to get around its own laws " said Ian Rintoul a spokesperson for
the Refugee Action Coalition.
"The forcible deportations are deliberately being used to intimidate
Afghan, Iranian and other refugees and coerce them into accepting
packages to be returned to unstable and insecure countries," he said.
Refugee advocates are certain that the High Court or family Court would
have issued an injunction to prevent the deportation of the 7 year old
from Baxter.
Refugee advocates this week will step up their campaign against the
deportation of asylum seekers. There are concerns that the government
will try to thwart orders from the Family Court on Monday to release
children from detention by deporting the children or the family.
For more information phone Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul 0417
275 713 (For comment concerning the attempted deportation of the
Algerian man, contact Frances Milne ph 02 9810 7812)
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