This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/dec/03/people-ask-us-why-we-protested-in-parliament-for-refugees-we-ask-why-didnt-you
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| People ask us why we protested in parliament for refugees. We ask, why didn’t you? People ask us why we protested in parliament for refugees. We ask, why didn’t you? | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Australia is a country built on the spilt blood of Indigenous people. We are a country whose secret past is founded on a violent boat invasion and occupation of First Nations land. | Australia is a country built on the spilt blood of Indigenous people. We are a country whose secret past is founded on a violent boat invasion and occupation of First Nations land. |
| For Waca (Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance) and many compassionate and caring people in Australia, the fear of asylum seekers arriving by boat, and the normalisation of violence against refugees detained on offshore death camps, represents an extension of this violent colonial mentality. | For Waca (Whistleblowers, Activists and Citizens Alliance) and many compassionate and caring people in Australia, the fear of asylum seekers arriving by boat, and the normalisation of violence against refugees detained on offshore death camps, represents an extension of this violent colonial mentality. |
| For many years, members of Waca have collectively campaigned for the rights of refugees, visiting those held in onshore and offshore detention centres, attending rallies, speaking with friends and family, petitioning the government and calling on our representatives to legislate humane refugee policies. | For many years, members of Waca have collectively campaigned for the rights of refugees, visiting those held in onshore and offshore detention centres, attending rallies, speaking with friends and family, petitioning the government and calling on our representatives to legislate humane refugee policies. |
| However, time and time again, successive governments have ignored the pleas of the community, of doctors, of lawyers and even the United Nations while continuing to militarise their response to what is essentially a humanitarian crisis. | However, time and time again, successive governments have ignored the pleas of the community, of doctors, of lawyers and even the United Nations while continuing to militarise their response to what is essentially a humanitarian crisis. |
| We, like the millions of Australians who support resettling refugees in Australia, feel our politicians are not listening and that every day on Manus Island, Christmas Island and Nauru is another day in hell. We believe this is a state of emergency and one that requires community intervention because our leaders have failed us and those seeking asylum. | We, like the millions of Australians who support resettling refugees in Australia, feel our politicians are not listening and that every day on Manus Island, Christmas Island and Nauru is another day in hell. We believe this is a state of emergency and one that requires community intervention because our leaders have failed us and those seeking asylum. |
| That is why during the last sitting week of parliament, activists travelled from around the country to join Waca members in delivering a message to our leaders. | That is why during the last sitting week of parliament, activists travelled from around the country to join Waca members in delivering a message to our leaders. |
| People ask why we did it. We ask, why didn’t you? How can we remain passive and silent while people are held indefinitely, tortured and raped, and others in such states of despair are self-immolating. We travelled to parliament to speak the truth to both sides of politics. To tell them they are complicit in the murder, rape, torture and child abuse of refugees, that they are playing political games with people’s lives. | People ask why we did it. We ask, why didn’t you? How can we remain passive and silent while people are held indefinitely, tortured and raped, and others in such states of despair are self-immolating. We travelled to parliament to speak the truth to both sides of politics. To tell them they are complicit in the murder, rape, torture and child abuse of refugees, that they are playing political games with people’s lives. |
| We did this to demand that they close the camps. The only way that law and society evolve is when people challenge the status quo. Protest is an essential component of a participatory democracy and has been for centuries; it is our right and our responsibility. | We did this to demand that they close the camps. The only way that law and society evolve is when people challenge the status quo. Protest is an essential component of a participatory democracy and has been for centuries; it is our right and our responsibility. |
| It appears that people are more upset by us interrupting parliament than they are about what is happening on Manus and Nauru; this highlights the normalisation of the maltreatment of refugees and our passive attitude towards engaging in the democratic process. | It appears that people are more upset by us interrupting parliament than they are about what is happening on Manus and Nauru; this highlights the normalisation of the maltreatment of refugees and our passive attitude towards engaging in the democratic process. |
| One of the central functions of the fourth estate is to investigate the actions of the political elite that acts in our names. The media have failed to focus on the abuse and suffering of asylum seekers and have instead chosen to report on the personal lives and appearances of the refugee advocates who participated in the protests. Anyone with a social conscience is dismissed as a bleeding heart. | One of the central functions of the fourth estate is to investigate the actions of the political elite that acts in our names. The media have failed to focus on the abuse and suffering of asylum seekers and have instead chosen to report on the personal lives and appearances of the refugee advocates who participated in the protests. Anyone with a social conscience is dismissed as a bleeding heart. |
| The stereotyping of protesters must stop. There seems to be no understanding of the diversity of the 50 participants or of the time, effort, personal and financial cost involved. Additionally, the parliamentary security laws were slated to be changed long before those responsible had any inkling of our protest; it is typical of the government to use their critics as a scapegoat for their anti-democratic laws. | The stereotyping of protesters must stop. There seems to be no understanding of the diversity of the 50 participants or of the time, effort, personal and financial cost involved. Additionally, the parliamentary security laws were slated to be changed long before those responsible had any inkling of our protest; it is typical of the government to use their critics as a scapegoat for their anti-democratic laws. |
| Regardless, it’s a shame that the media chooses to focus on anything but the issue. This is not about parliamentary security. Who we are is irrelevant. The real issue is the torture and abuse of refugees and asylum seekers held in detention. | Regardless, it’s a shame that the media chooses to focus on anything but the issue. This is not about parliamentary security. Who we are is irrelevant. The real issue is the torture and abuse of refugees and asylum seekers held in detention. |
| Contrary to some media reports, we did not “storm” parliament. We entered calmly as citizens. Anyone who has ever seen question time knows our politicians behave like children, constantly ridiculing and interrupting each other. | Contrary to some media reports, we did not “storm” parliament. We entered calmly as citizens. Anyone who has ever seen question time knows our politicians behave like children, constantly ridiculing and interrupting each other. |
| The response of these (mostly) men, who ostensibly work for us, was cowardly and juvenile. Bill Shorten’s comments that “this is the exact opposite of democracy” show that he has forgotten where his party came from; Malcolm Turnbull turned away and smirked; Peter Dutton could not look us in the eye; the majority of the Liberal party walked out. Why won’t they listen? | The response of these (mostly) men, who ostensibly work for us, was cowardly and juvenile. Bill Shorten’s comments that “this is the exact opposite of democracy” show that he has forgotten where his party came from; Malcolm Turnbull turned away and smirked; Peter Dutton could not look us in the eye; the majority of the Liberal party walked out. Why won’t they listen? |
| There has been continued speculation that we are not autonomous agents, that we needed a political party to organise us. We are the voice of the community, unaffiliated with any political party and operating independently. | There has been continued speculation that we are not autonomous agents, that we needed a political party to organise us. We are the voice of the community, unaffiliated with any political party and operating independently. |
| We are disappointed, but not surprised, by these responses. | We are disappointed, but not surprised, by these responses. |
| We are grateful for the support we received from others in the gallery at question time and to the members of the public who joined us outside the next day, and are humbled by the thanks we received from people in detention, including Behrouz Boochani, a journalist and Iranian refugee, who has been held on Manus Island since 2013. | We are grateful for the support we received from others in the gallery at question time and to the members of the public who joined us outside the next day, and are humbled by the thanks we received from people in detention, including Behrouz Boochani, a journalist and Iranian refugee, who has been held on Manus Island since 2013. |
| In standing up for refugees at parliament, we were demonstrating participatory democracy, because our rights mean nothing if we do not exercise them - in fact this is how we ensure a healthy democracy. Our leaders have failed. Our system has failed. Our representatives are not representing us. It is up to every single person to do something to stop the abuse and torture of refugees. | In standing up for refugees at parliament, we were demonstrating participatory democracy, because our rights mean nothing if we do not exercise them - in fact this is how we ensure a healthy democracy. Our leaders have failed. Our system has failed. Our representatives are not representing us. It is up to every single person to do something to stop the abuse and torture of refugees. |
| For the people who are standing up every day and resisting – we will continue to rise as they rise. This is what democracy looks like. | For the people who are standing up every day and resisting – we will continue to rise as they rise. This is what democracy looks like. |