“Detention” implies a short time so they are not “detainees”. “Prisoners” have usually committed a crime. These are innocent people who have not been charged or tried. Indeed, the government wants to do people-swaps with them, as Israel does with Palestinian people in “administrative detention”. It was Noam Chomsky who made the point that such people are correctly called “hostages”. Let’s stop using bureaucratic-speak that hides the truth.
A bunch of us from different groups are holding a weekly “happening”, or protest, every Friday between 6 and 7pm, at the Queen Victoria statue, in front of the QVB, diagonally opposite Woolworths. It is a place to get together for an hour, and then have tea or coffee afterwards at the cafe behind the statue.
We have a megaphone, open mic and lots of banners. My favourite says: “BRAVO BEHROUZ. WE WILL WIN.” Last week we read out endorsements from Noam Chomsky and John Pilger, and the words of David Rovics’ remarkable song, “Leila and Majnun” (about Omid Masoumali who burned himself to death on Nauru, and his wife, now a widow, whom we think is still locked up by the government).
All are welcome. Please come. It is not a new group, but a place where people can come together. I would love to take credit for the idea, but it was that of my wonderful, activist partner Vivien. We will be there, at the statue, every Friday, until the 1400 hostages on Manus and Nauru are free. Despite the ABC having dropped reporting of the camps, and never quoting the brave and eloquent words of Behrouz Boochani, I think we will crack it this year. We must. You can call the ABC on 9333 1500. Head of news at the ABC is Gavin Morris.
