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.

I Am Watching

Dear Prime Minister,

I am watching the fate of the men on Manus Island, and so are:

  • Senator Nick McKim, currently on Manus Island;
  • The Sydney Morning Herald: Manus Island asylum seekers secure fences, barricade themselves inside processing centre as closure looms;
  • The Guardian: Diary of a disaster: the last days inside Manus Island detention centre;
  • Eyes on Offshore: Mr Dutton - the eyes are useless when the mind is blind and the heart is made of stone;
  • The Conversation: Manus detention centre closure sparks safety fears for refugees;
  • BBC: PNG: Australia must support Manus refugees;
  • The Australian: Timeline of Manus Island detention centre;
  • Behrouz Boochani: Our resistance in Manus is 100% peaceful. We won't fight back if they attack us;
  • ABC News: Manus Island: PNG tells Australia to deal with refugees.

Bring them to safety and freedom now.

Ruth HalbertComment