Refugee Supporters Warn Emirates Airline: "Deport Asylum Seekers And Face A National Boycott "

As the Federal Government persisted with its increasingly desperate efforts to deport asylum-seekers to unsafe countries, the Refugee Action Collective of Victoria (RAC Vic) and the Refugee Action Collective of NSW (RAC NSW) last night warned Emirates that assisting the Government with deportations will result in national campaign to boycott their services.

Refugee supporters received a tip-off that Emirates had agreed to help the Department of Immigration Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) deport an Iranian asylum-seeker from Sydney Airport last night. He is a Christian whose life will be endangered if he returns to Iran, where the punishment for conversion to Christianity (apostasy) is death.

This is the most recent in a series of attempts by DIMIA to deport this man. Originally at Baxter Detention Centre in South Australia, he was then taken to Maribyrnong Detention Centre after he resisted attempts to be deported with acts of self-harm. After he resisted further efforts to be deported from Melbourne, he was taken by road to Villawood Detention Centre in Sydney (DIMIA officials are able to bypass airport terminals at Sydney Airport).

RAC NSW last night held a hastily organised demonstration inside Sydney Airport. As many as 30 refugee supporters sought to prevent the deportation, but they were forcibly removed by the police. It is understood the deportation was successful.

It is believed a Sudanese asylum seeker was also deported via Sydney Airport last night.

Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) president Sharan Burrow has requested that union members in Australian airports not assist with any deportations.

Refugee supporters from around Australia will converge on Baxter Detention Centre this Easter to demand the federal government stop the deportation of asylum-seekers and permanently close the camp.

Despite Australia's public support for victims of the Asian tsunami, asylum seekers from tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka appear to be the next group targeted for deportation.

RAC Victoria spokesperson Tim Petterson said the boycott warning would be extended to all other international and chartered airlines.

"We are saying to Emirates and to all other airlines that when you imperil lives by helping the Government deport asylum seekers to unsafe countries, you will also imperil your bottom line.

"Expect your offices to be picketed, and t-shirts, badges and bumper stickers across Australia calling upon your customers to treat you with the contempt you deserve by no longer using your services," Mr Petterson warned.

For information/interviews, contact:
Tim Petterson (RAC Vic) on 0438 399 973
or Ian Rintoul (RAC NSW) on 0417275713

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