Ruth Halbert
artist, weaver
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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 196th man on Manus Island

Dear Prime Minister,

On 17 August 2016 'J.C.', Director ABF Ministerial Correspondence Section Support Group - ABF wrote to me about conditions for refugees on Manus Island:

“All transferees at the Manus RPC receive clinically indicated health care, broadly consistent with Australian public health standards.”
— https://www.ruthhalbert.com.au/dear-prime-minister/2016/8/24/letter-from-tyranny-1

Yet in this week's Senate committee inquiry into abuse, self-harm and neglect in offshore detention it is revealed that the clinical opinions of doctors are regularly overruled and that refugees wait months for medical treatment. Most tragically, Faysal Ishak Ahmed was refused medical treatment at least thirteen times before he collapsed and died.

'J.C.' and other staff of DIBP lie about Australia's offshore detention regime. Minister Dutton lies. People are dying because of these lies. Sack Minister Dutton, end offshore detention and end the lies and the deaths.

Peter Dutton, liesRuth HalbertManus Island, torture, refugees, death, medical careComment