RECENT “distressing” events at Villawood Detention Centre highlight the need for Australians to demand the Federal Government provides better care for asylum seekers and their children, leading national and local Catholic Church leaders have said.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) delegate for Migrants and Refugees Bishop Joseph Grech listed four key points Australians must keep in mind on the issue of asylum seekers and said Christians must “not drop their guards in supporting these vulnerable people, keeping in mind they too are created by God”.
Caritas Australia’s international programs manager Jamie Davies said a recent death and protests at Villawood should force Australians to assess living conditions inside such detention centres.
St Vincent de Paul Society national council chief executive officer Dr John Falzon called on the Federal Government to fulfil its commitment to use detention in such centres “only as a last resort and for the shortest practicable time and to end the detention of children”.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) executive Peter Arndt said the Government “must establish a process to identify acceptable and workable alternatives to detention”.
Several days of rooftop protests by Tamils, Iraqis and Chinese detainees at Villawood Detention Centre followed the death of a 36-year-old Fijian man Josefa Raulini on September 20.
Asylum-seeker advocates said the Fijian man had jumped to his death from a roof at the detention centre hours before he was due to be deported to Fiji.
Reports said the man, who had been active in the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement (FDFM), feared for his life under the country’s current military government if he was sent home.
Bishop Grech said he would like to highlight four basic points for Australians to keep in mind with regards to the treatment of asylum seekers.
“First of all, the recent situation at Villawood reminds us we must not drop our guard and lose sight of the often desperate situation in which these people find themselves,” he said.
“Each of these people has a story to tell and will be suffering different degrees of stress as a result of their personality and background.
“Authorities need to be alert for signs of psychiatric illnesses displayed by people in detention.
“Another basic principle is that no matter how these people come, we have a duty to take care of them.
“It’s also important to keep women and children, who are extremely vulnerable, away from these centres which hold mainly men.”
Finally, Bishop Grech said it was the duty of Catholics to look past “often inflammatory” views presented in the mainstream media and to become well informed on the issue of asylum seekers.
He urged those seeking a more balanced view to research such information sources as the ACBC website www.catholic.org.au and Caritas Australia at www.caritas.org.au
Mr Davies said Caritas Australia was urging Australians “to be mindful of the horrific circumstances that force millions into asylum each year”.
“In most cases individuals who come to Australia by boat have fled the very real threat of violence in countries plagued by civil war and internal conflict,” he said.
“As well as the obvious physical risks, the psycho-social impacts of prolonged violence and apprehension undoubtedly take a heavy toll on communities.
“As we watch the distressing scenes unfold at Villawood Detention Centre, we’re forced to assess the living conditions inside Australia’s detention centres.”
Dr Falzon said Professor Patrick McGorry, Australian of the Year 2010 and leading advocate of youth mental health reform, had described detention centres as “factories for producing mental illness”.
“We are particularly dismayed by the detention of children,” Dr Falzon said.
“We understand that there are 645 children in detention arrangements in Australia, 448 on the mainland and 197 on Christmas Island.
“Mandatory detention, especially of children, continues to be an abuse of human rights.
“The members of the St Vincent de Paul Society across Australia have been privileged to stand with, and learn from, the many wonderful people who have sought asylum in our country.
“Now is not the time to move backwards in our nation’s commitment to humanity.”
Mr Arndt said the Government should not detain people for long periods without good reason “because it is clear that such detention can cause serious harm to those detained”.
“At the very least, there must be a commitment to strictly limit the length of time any asylum seeker is detained,” he said.
“The Government should provide acceptable and workable alternatives to detention which satisfy the valid concerns of those who say detention is necessary.
“There was a time, not too long ago, when Australia did not detain asylum seekers.”
