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.

Letters to Tyranny #29

Dear Prime Minister,

Within the Introductory Note to the United Nations "Convention and Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees" [paragraph 2 of page 3] it says 

"... refugees should not be penalized for their illegal entry or stay. This recognizes that the seeking of asylum can require refugees to breach immigration rules. Prohibited penalties include ... being arbitrarily detained purely on the basis of seeking asylum."

In the letter I got from DIBP the writer says that "Australia is committed to providing protection to refugees consistent with the obligations set out in the Refugees Convention." But indefinite off-shore detention does penalise refugees and is one of the penalties prohibited by the UNHCR Convention.

For the sake of the people on Manus Island and Nauru, including Mr XXX XXX, the 29th detainee, please stop these illegal and cruel practises and bring the refugees to Australia.

Yours faithfully

Ruth Halbert

politicsRuth Halbertrefugees, United Nations, Manus IslandComment