Since the public outcry over the cruelty of the live animal export trade, many Australians have expressed dismay that the Australian government is prepared to act swiftly to stop cruelty to animals but is preparing to carry out what amounts to the live trade of human beings with its Malaysia refugee swap deal.
People who are concerned about the human rights of refugees will bring two cows to a protest outside the Immigration office on August 22 to highlight the double standards of the government.
“If the live export of live animals is cruel, so is the live export of asylum seekers to Malaysia,” said Refugee Action Collective spokesperson Naomi Farmer.
“Sending asylum seekers to Malaysia is a calculated attempt to destroy the lives of asylum seekers
“To send asylum seekers to a country which refuses to sign any of the UN human rights conventions on refugees or torture indicates that Australian government isn’t committed to these conventions either.
August 22 is the day that High Court proceedings will be held to determine if asylum seekers can be sent to Malaysia.
Refugee activists intend to stage a sit-in inside the Department of Immigration as part of the protest against the Malaysia deal.
Farmer said that “all forms of offshore processing must end. The Refugee Action Collective is opposed to the Malaysia deal and the reopening of Manus Island. We are against the practice of paying the Indonesian government to imprison asylum seekers and we are also against the warehousing of asylum seekers on Christmas Island. Asylum seekers must be allowed onto the Australian mainland to have their claims processed in the community.”
The details of the protest are:
EMERGENCY PROTEST!!STOP THE MALAYSIA DEAL!
LET THE REFUGEES INTO AUSTRALIA!
August 22nd Monday at 12:30.
Outside Department of Immigration (Casselden Place, corner Lonsdale &Spring Streets, Melbourne CBD)