Ruth Halbert
artist, weaver
Paper boat Rud.jpg

Blog: Dear Prime Minister

On July 30 2016 I started writing letters to the Prime Minister of Australia to protest against the imprisonment and torture of the asylum seekers in the offshore detention centres of Manus Island and Nauru. I started with the intention of writing a letter a day for every person in detention until they are all freed. There are more than 1800 asylum seekers in off shore detention. These are those letters and any response from Mr Turnbull.

For the 124th man on Manus Island

Dear Prime Minister,

The entire premise of offshore detention is built on lies. Now we find out that Australia has been commissioning and using a fleet of fake fishing boats to put asylum seekers in and turn them back to Indonesia. Indonesia cannot take refugees and UNHCR on Indonesia cannot resettle even a fraction of the asylum seekers who have only 1 month there before they are put in jail. You have failed to find any solution. Australia must accept its responsibility for the people who ask for asylum. Refugees who are welcomed and supported would become some of our greatest citizens. Stop denying them and Australia a future

politics, liesRuth Halbertbring, boats, refu, illegal detentionComment