<nettime> Woomera update [2x]

[Dave/Cherry <fold@idl.net.au>]

[digested @ nettime]


Table of Contents:

   Refugee Embassy report                                                          
     Dave/Cherry <fold@idl.net.au>                                                   

   Labor's position                                                                
     Dave/Ross <fold@idl.net.au>                                                     



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Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 08:03:11 +1000
From: Dave/Cherry <fold@idl.net.au>
Subject: Refugee Embassy report

News from the Refugee Embassy in Woomera

A complaint about the cost of phone calls from inside Woomera is being
investigated by the ACCC, and a report back from them is expected next
week.  Asylum seekers have informed us that overseas calls cost $2.20 a
minute, and local calls cost 75 cents a minute.  We don't know if there
are connection charges.  This compares with other phone cards which charge
between nine and 22 cents a minute (with a 50 cent connection charge),
including overseas calls.  The phones at Woomera have been blocked from
accepting any other phone cards or other free (i.e. 1-800) numbers.  We
believe that this monopoly is illegal and cruel.

Duncan Kerr, MP, has directed a question on notice to the Minister for
Immigration with regard to the pay phone scandal at Woomera.

More than 70 detainees at Woomera have sent us forms requesting visits,
and a few people have come from around Australia to apply for visits to
detainees.  Last week, three lots of visitors were successful and were
able to spend several hours with some of the detainees.  This was a great
boost to the morale of these people, and it has raised the hopes of others
that they too may receive visitors one day.  We urge all Australians to
consider the possibility of making a trip to Woomera sometime this year.  
(Plan to stay for a few days to allow for security checks, etc. before you
can get in.  Camping, with cold showers and toilets, is free at the Pimba
Roadhouse!)

Ross has been manning the Embassy on his own for the past few weeks, while
Dave visits his wife in Newcastle.  We will both meet up at the court case
in Port Augusta on Monday, after which we will return to Woomera.

Finances have been trickling in.  Thanks to a generous donation from the
Quakers in Newcastle, we have been able to cover our expenses so far.  If
everyone on our mailing list would give just a few dollars each, it could
cover our expenses for the next few months.  The question is just whether
or not you think that this is an important service.  If you do, please
support it.  You can go to any branch of the Westpac Bank, and make a
deposit into account number 544-823 (in the name of Ross Parry), at Branch
number 735-065, and it will come to us at Woomera.  It costs us about $250
a week to keep the embassy going, but if we can get more than this, we
have an idea that we would like to try out.  It will depend on how much
finance we have available.  Here it is...

Detainees need to become involved in living their lives where they are
now, in order to make time pass more quickly, and in order to overcome the
feelings of hopelessness that so many have about the future.  So we would
like to start a NEWSPAPER for detainees at Woomera.  They can send us
artwork, articles, bits of news and gossip, etc.  We can also include
little competitions that can inspire them to improve their knowledge of
Australia and of the English language, with small prizes awarded each
week.  The newspaper can be produced outside of the centre and be posted
to each detainee who wishes to receive it.  This could be done for as
little as $100 per issue, including postage.  (Postage is necessary,
because it is the only way to guarantee that the papers will be delivered
to the detainees.  It is against the law for ACM to interfere with the
mail.)

We would like to hear your thoughts about such a project.  It will depend
on your support, so please think seriously about whether you can make a
donation today.  Thanks.

Ross Parry & Dave McKay, Refugee Embassy, Post Restante, Woomera 5720

Westpac Bank Branch Number 735-065, Account number 544-823.


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Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 16:53:08 +1000
From: Dave/Ross <fold@idl.net.au>
Subject: Labor's position

Dave here, with the text of a letter I sent (and then re-sent) to

"Wootton, Robert (K. Thomson, MP)" <Rob.Wootton@aph.gov.au>

in response to the form letter that we've all been getting from the Labor
Party.  It seems that the moment you ask any probing questions of any of
these "party line" guys, they do not want to know you.  He has refused to
reply to either the letter below or to the re-send, in which I said that I
was asking on behalf of a lot of people, and his answers (or lack of them)
would be passed on.  I do not think that his reply would be much different
to that of the rest of the Labor Party straights.  Might be good if a few
others contacted him, letting him know that you are disappointed that he
cannot defend his own position.

Dave McKay, for the Refugee Embassy, Woomera

Dear Robert,

A friend has forwarded on to me a copy of a letter you wrote with regard
to the anti-terrorism bill.  Thank you for taking the time to write that,
and to explain your position.

Can I please ask you a question with regard to the Bill, and that is,
"How, in real terms, are the various provisions of the Bill actually going
to make any difference with regard to combatting terrorism?"

It's true that all Australians want to combat terrorism.  But that was
true before September 11 too.  Taking away a person's right to have legal
representation, for example, does not seem to offer any new options with
regard to combatting terrorism.  Instead, it just gives new powers to take
away a person's rights.

We have laws now which have been used for many years to uncover and
prosecute criminals.  Those laws have also sought to safeguard the rights
of people who may be falsely accused or falsely suspected of criminal
activity.  It is true that some criminals have used those laws to their
own advantage; but it is also true that, even with existing legislation,
some innocent people have suffered at the hands of over-zealous law
enforcement agencies.

So I ask again, "How can so-called 'tougher' legislation make a
significant difference to our ability to combat terrorism without, at the
same time, eroding the rights of the innocent?"

Yours sincerely,

Dave McKay
Phone: (02) 4954-2590


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