In support of the Bedraie family

3 September 2001

Over a hundred people turned out for the rally called by RAC in support of the Bedraie family, featured recently on Four Corners (TV program) and now threatened with imminent deportation.

Unlike the rally last Wednesday, there was a noticeable police presence today, and the media were prominent. The Tampa crisis may have played a part there. But most important was the number of people who came to express their outrage at events and get involved with the campaign. The organisers of the Woomera bus trip, in particular, are being swamped with enquiries and bookings. Not that they are complaining ...

While the rally was in progress the news came of the lifting of the Federal Court injunction that had been preventing removal of the asylum seekers on board MV Tampa, but we also got more encouraging news regarding the Bedraie family; they are safe for at least a few weeks pending an appeal hearing by the full bench of the Federal Court in NSW.

In addition to speeches by, amongst others, Labor Senator Barney Cooney, ACTU president Sharan Burrow, and representatives of RAC, No- One Is Illegal, The Greens, Socialist Alliance, and the Iranian community, we were also able to hear a letter read out from the refugees on board the Tampa, addressed to the Australian People.

Claire reads the letter from The Tampa rescuees

After the demo at DIMIA we relocated a short distance away to Exhibition Buildings where the Prime Monster was attending a ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the convening of the first Parliament of Australia.

As we approached from the distance, chanting and shouting, our banners held high, we could see about 100 other people already there. Naively, one or two of us thought we were going to make this protest even bigger and better...

However, we had effectively rained on the Prime Monster's parade. Because we were much more animated than he was, we gave the TV cameras more "arresting" footage. On all the TV news programs that night our protest eclipsed his historic anniversary.

This dear sweet old lady emerged to share her opinion of us:
"They should send them all back, and you should go to jail."