Less than two days after these do-gooders gained access to Villawood and had their heartfelt meetings one man was deceased and others injured and others given false hopes and the saga continues.
""TRADE UNIONS TO VISIT VILLAWOOD DETENTION CENTRE THIS SUNDAY
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, the overseas humanitarian aid agency of the ACTU, will take a second delegation of union officials to Villawood Immigration Detention Centre on 19th September 2010.
The delegation will include:
Jenny Diamond & Michelle Rosicky , NSW Teachers Federation Paul McAleer, Maritime Union of Australia Sally McManus, Australian Services Union Michael Wright, Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union Greens NSW Senator-elect Lee Rhiannon and Riz Wakil from the Australian Hazara Council will also be joining the group.
The group will meet with asylum seekers and refugees from a range of countries to better understand why people flee to Australia, the conditions of immigration detention, and the mental health effects of prolonged detention.
The visit comes during ongoing calls for the Federal Government to end its freeze on the processing of Afghan asylum seekers as ethnic Hazaras continue to be persecuted amidst escalating violence in Afghanistan.
Click here for a letter to the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd from 20 Trade Union and affiliated organisation leaders, expressing concern at the growing stance of indifference towards asylum seekers by both sides of politics.
For further information please contact Brami Jegan, 0433 054 712 ""
