action at Maribyrnong Detention Centre then Melbourne airport
to prevent DIMIA returning 'J' to Nauru

Sunday, 17 August 2003, about 30 of us went to Maribyrnong, only to find through a friend of J's that he had already left, so we had a tactical meeting and decided first to do some media and then to transfer immediately to the airport. Everybody with a phone did at least one media.

The last time I was at the airport, on the NADA national day of action, we allowed ourselves to be located like street merchants in the wind and rain on the footpath at the drop-off point, and that is where we spent most of our time, leafleting and addressing passers-by. But this day was different because we were concerned about 'J.'

We arrived at the airport at about 2pm, and positioned ourselves INside where it was warm, then set up tables, placards and whatnot, and began chanting. We had one megaphone with us. Media were already there in huge number.

Almost immediately we went on a route march around the entire airport which in my opinion is bigger than it needs to be! Led by media walking backwards with expensive cameras flashing all the time, we went through all the shops and past all the different airline baggage check-ins, chanting and clapping.

All the while I was quite bemused that we met not one challenge; not from airport security, or airport management, or the federal cops, or anybody. We even collected about $30; we take our buckets everywhere.

Marching and chanting took about 90 minutes. It's hard to know. Time flew by.

Through a good contact, we found that 'J' was booked on QF 632 leaving at 6pm, so we had a hand show for staying until then, which proved to be good. Not very many were willing to bail out at that stage.

At about 4.30pm we fed ourselves, and took time out to make more impromptu and informative banners and leaflets.

At 5pm we assembled around Qantas metal detector, and began trying to identify people on QF 632.

About eight of us, including me, decided to chance it through to the departure lounge. Removing our badges and other bothersome items like nail clippers, we quietly absorbed ourselves into the queue, proceeding through the beeping archway without any difficulty. On the other side we headed straight for gateway 2, and this was where we finally met the challenge I had been waiting for.

I saw no point in being there if we were not going to talk to people, and the very first person I spoke to headed for security, yelling, "Officer, officer. These three here." When she turned around and showed her over-made-up poxy face I realised immediately I had picked a wrong 'un, but I couldn't have known until she turned around. God, there are very few faces in the world as ugly as that one.

Officers arrived in huge number - more of them than us - and we were escorted to an area away from the departure lounge, and made to stand with our faces to the wall. Why did they not blindfold us and ask us if we had one last request?

After they read the Riot Act on us, and told us we no longer had permission to be in the airport (so why wouldn't they just let us leave?) they started demanding ID. Only three of the eight gave ID. I thought giving it to them would shut them up, humour them. It's quite likely ASIO have already got a substantial file on me already. I don't care. So I gave them my drivers licence.

After three of us had co-operated like that, it seemed they mostly left us alone until the feds arrived; big buggers with deep voices, supposed to scare you, but my late father had the deepest voice in the world and he was really a pussy cat - deeper than John Laws, deeper than Lee Marvin.

I recall a jumbled collage of images: one of us trying to reason with a copper (don't laugh), others in a Zen position, gray-haired and tired me sitting down for a picnic. Never go anywhere without your thermos and a few sandwiches. "Officer, can you get rid of this tea bag for me, please?"

I don't think the feds quite knew what they had when they found us. When they arrived, they told us to leave immediately, which I said I would have done an hour ago if they had let me.

Interesting, the other five who didn't give ID were not pursued on that.

On the escort out, we got to a point where it was either up these stairs, or round the back here and on to the street. We wanted to go up the stairs, to where our stuff was, but they wouldn't let us. Don't ask me why. Bugger it, give in. Go round the bloody back, then up those back stairs.

Coming up those back stairs to the raucus cheers of our comrades at the top, it felt like we were the 'A Team' coming out of the MCG tunnel on Grand Final Day - fists in the air.

Then we packed our stuff, and marched out together, chanting, "We'll be back! To stop deportations!"

The $30 in the bucket went towards parking fees for about 12 cars. Very expensive at Melbourne airport.

As we left at about 7pm, we noticed on the board that QF 632 was still delayed.

I never thought I would be doing this sort of thing, one week short of my 57th birthday. (25 August. Send money, please, not cards.)

Grace

J is in trouble again. His friend Elaine has received a message from him:

It seems he cannot walk without crutches. The new prosthesis is a worse fit than the old one, causes abrasions, and is badly damaged. J is also much thinner since he arrived with the old leg. He has put on weight because of his time in detention and inability to move. The old prosthesis was made for a thinner person and thinner leg.

It is hard to be cooped up in a small room, especially for one so young (29 years old) and strong. He mentions that friends bring him food in the room. He says when IOM (IOM Manager of the camp) convinced him to walk outside with the new leg he regretted the damage it caused his own leg. Cy Winter said the medical staff were trying to get the leg healed by suggesting J walks alternatively with the old and new prosthesis, so the pressure and friction would not be on the same place all the time.

Cy Winter on many occasions reassured me that J will either be sent to Australia for the leg to be adjusted or that Australia will send a technician to Nauru to do this work. In my last discussion with him he said Australia had made the decision to wait and observe. So I do not think they will even send a technician. I cannot understand how this will work. J seems to be in the same position he was before he was sent to Melbourne.

I know why he feels deceived. I feel a bit that way myself. He was sent to Australia for a new leg at the end of July, and returned very abruptly in August after about three weeks as soon as the leg was made, but not properly fitted or the leg healed.

He had not undergone the long training and adjustment therapy that we normally do for amputees with a new prosthesis. We remember that terrible time when he was told that he was to be sent back to Nauru immediately and locked in a room for two days at Maribyrnong Detention Centre while he waited for the flight. I remember how distressed and betrayed he felt at that time. DIMIA tried to calm the situation down by promising he would be returned to Melbourne for any necessary adjustments but this has not happened.

When I spoke to Cy Winter about the toilet he said they were going to rig something. This can help while on Nauru, but we all know they are being sent back at a great rate. There are 50 being sent back this month, they tell me.

I know toilets in Afghanistan are floor level (squat type) and it is not possible for him to use them without the assistance of friends. In many toilets in Afghanistan there would not be enough room to have a helper or two, even if there were friends who would do this. I think this is one of the reasons that a person would feel so powerless, humiliated and distressed. It is difficult enough to do normal daily activities like walking, let alone bathing and toileting.

We had hoped that he could have his eye checked while he was in Australia. I believe that the original damage happened in Afghanistan as a result of a car bomb, and that the eye was further damaged when he was in the sea after the boat had sunk.

I think it is important that both eyes be checked. The functioning eye needs to be protected. The injured eye needs regular checks to make sure there is no progressive damage happening here too, not to the sight which is lost, but increases in pressure or reduction in blood supply could mean that the eyeball dies and causes a serious health problem. I do not really understand these things, but I do not think it would be safe to have an infection, disease or decay connected to the face and brain. We need to make sure that the injured eye is healthy even though not functioning.

I hope he will not be returned to Afghanistan. We hear that Paktia province where he comes from is particularly dangerous. I cannot imagine how a man with one leg could escape an environment where the Taliban are operating. It is only by our efforts that we can help J. We have been asked to be patient and quiet, but I think it is time to ask more questions.

It is time that we did something for him. I have been waiting and waiting, like he has, but nothing is being done. It is time to write to politicians and medical contacts. Does someone have an eye specialist friend to get a bit of advice about the eye as well? We are back where we started from.

The abrupt and upsetting termination of his treatment in Melbourne has been a fiasco. The leg is unusable, he says. It is time to do what we can.

Writes one young man who returned to Afghanistan late in August:

My fellow Refugees:

The danger of new conflect, the existance of Al Qaeda and Taliban in southern and eastern provines along with Pakistani borders and the previous powerful armed groups warn the peace process in Afghanistan. The most islamic fundamentalist Taliban, Al Qaeda and Hezb Islami are regrouging against the transitional government. Generally the southern and eastern provinces and particularly Paktya and Zabul provinces are under intanse attacks of Taliban. they attack on different tribal people and NGOs . they use heavy weapons and have killed thousnads of people this year. this month, a day before i arrived in Ghazni, Taliban killed four NGOs officials between Ghazni and Muqoor division.

UN peace keepers only control Kabul city. the people do not feel safety even in Kabul. the armed groups, who compelled thousands of people to flee their coutry, rule over the majority of the areas. the government officials (the armed groups) still talk to people with their weapons. there is not any sign of liberty. most of the media resources do not report th reality. I have not been able to find any peace place for living since i have arrived in Kabul.

In view of security problems, apart from high unemployment and poverty, my suggestion is that try not to return to Afghanistn in this situation. NGOs officials walk in Kabul and key cities with having tens of security guards and UN peace keepers arround them. there is no peace and security for ordinary people. the use of weapons is so common.

Hundreds of returnees have left Afghanistan again. Afghanistan is still burning. it is hell. I have never seen such kind of corruption in government department and ministries in the history of Afghanistn. The peril of conflect terrifies me every moment.

JKN
Kabul, Afghanistan