,! ,EXP]I5CE ( ,TAMIL ,REFUGEES 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,COLLECTIVE ,ACTION 

,TEXT 3 

,>AN ,MYLVAGANAM IS A MEMB] ( ! ,TAMIL ,REFUGEE ,C\NCIL4 ,! ,TAMIL ,REFUGEE ,C\NCIL WAS =M$ 9 #baa TO GIVE A VOICE TO ,TAMIL REFUGEES SEEK+ ASYLUM 9 ,AU/RALIA & HAS S9CE PLAY$ A KEY ROLE 9 ORGANIZ+ PROTE/S AGA9/ M&ATORY DET5TION & 9 SUPPORT+ REFUGEES LIV+ 9 ,AU/RALIA4 ,AN>*I/ ,AFF9ITY CAU<T UP ) ,>AN TO TALK AB\T HIS VIEWS ON ! ,AU/RALIAN /ATE'S REFUGEE POLICY & ! CONTEMPOR>Y REFUGEE MOVEM5T4 

,! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T 9SI/S IT IS SAFE = ,TAMILS 9 ,SRI ,LANKA TODAY4 ,:AT IS REAL SITUATION FAC+ ,TAMILS 9 ,SRI ,LANKA8 

,9 #bi ?\S&S ( ,TAMILS W]E KILL$ BY ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T & >MY4 ,ACCORD+ TO A REC5T REPORT BY ! ,UNIT$ ,NATIONS UP TO #g1 ,TAMILS W]E KILL$ & IT MAY BE HI<]4 ,ACCORD+ TO ,BI%OP ,RAYAPPU ,JOSEPH OV] #a#d#f1 ,TAMILS REMA9 UNACC\NT$ =4 ,S9CE #b#i1 ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T HAS BE5 V]Y BUSY SUPPRESS+ ! SURVIVORS1 DE/ROY+ EVID5CE ( G5OCIDE1 & >RE/+ ANYONE :O MAY HAVE BE5 A WITNESS TO ! CRIMES4 ,?\S&S ( ,TAMIL Y\? HAVE BE5 IMPRISON$ UND] SUSPICION ( HAV+ L9KS TO ! ,TAMIL ,TIG]S4 ,HUNDR$S ( ,TAMIL WOM5 FACE SEXUAL ASSAULT BY ! >MY PRES5T 9 ! ,NOR? ,EA/ ( ,SRI ,LANKA4 ,= EV]Y FIVE ,TAMILS !RE IS AN >MY MAN PRES5T 9 ! ,NOR? ,EA/ ( ,SRI ,LANKA4 ,?AT IS A V]Y HEAVY MILIT>Y PRES5CE4 

,ONE EXAMPLE ( ! CONT9U+ G5OCIDE WAS SE5 9 ,AUGU/ LA/ YE> :5 ,TAMIL WOM5 FROM ?REE VILLAGES 9 ,KIL9O**I W]E TAK5 BY GOV]NM5T (FICIALS :O SAID !IR *ILDR5 NE$$ TO RECEIVE VACC9ATIONS4 ,9/EAD1 ! WOM5 W]E CO]C$ 9TO HAV+ SURG]Y TO 9S]T LONG-T]M HORMONAL BIR? CONTROL IMPLANTS4 ,!Y W]E TOLD !Y W\LD BE D5I$ ACCESS TO M$ICAL TREATM5T IF !Y DID NOT ACCEPT ! SURG]Y4 ,! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T IS TRY+ TO *ANGE ! DEMOGRAPHY ( ,TAMIL >EAS1 !Y'RE TRY+ TO SUPPRESS ! ,TAMIL COMMUNITY1 & !Y'RE TRY+ TO ,S9HALISE ! ,TAMIL >EAS4 ,!Y >E TRY+ TO COMPLETE ! G5OCIDE ( ! ,TAMIL PEOPLE & ! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T IS HELP+ !M4 

,& ! ,AU/RALIAN /ATE HAS BE5 PROVID+ ACTIVE SUPPORT TO ! ,SRI ,LANKAN /ATE1 HASN'T IT8 ,= 9/ANCE1 ! ,ABBOTT GOV]NM5T DONAT$ TWO ,NAVY %IPS TO ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T LATE LA/ YE>4 

,?AT'S RI<T4 ,! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T WAS COMPLETELY ON- SIDE ) ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T'S G5OCIDAL AG5DA S9CE #b#f4 ,9 #bf ?REE ,TAMIL M5 W]E >RE/$ BY ! ,AU/RALIAN ,F$]AL ,POLICE ON SUSPICION ( HAV+ L9KS TO ! ,TAMIL ,TIG]S4 ,! POLICE W5T 9TO #c H\SES & ASK$ PEOPLE :Y !Y HAD GIV5 MONEY TO ! ,TAMIL ,TIG]S4 ,!Y TRI$ TO SIL5CE ! ,TAMIL COMMUNITY FROM #b#f- #b#i4 ,:ILE ! C\RT CASE WAS GO+ ON FROM #b#f-#b#i1 ?AT WAS :5 ?\S&S ( ,TAMILS W]E KILL$ BY ! ,SRI ,LANKAN >MY4 ,! RELATION%IP IS !RE4 ,WE KN[ ?AT ! ,AU/RALIAN ,F$]AL ,POLICE1 ,A,S,I,O & ! GOV]NM5T W]E ) ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T AID+ !M4 ,! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T CONT9UES TO AID ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T 9 MANY WAYS4 

,:AT HAVE BE5 SOME ( ! EXP]I5CES ( ,TAMIL REFUGEES SEEK+ ASYLUM 9 ,AU/RALIA8 

,SIGNIFICANT NUMB]S ( ,TAMIL REFUGEES />T$ FLEE+ ,SRI ,LANKA AFT] ! KILL+S 9 ,MAY #b#i4 ,! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T HAS TRI$ TO /OP ANY ,TAMIL REFUGEES :O FL$ ,SRI ,LANKA FROM SPEAK+ \T AGA9/ ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T4 #db ,TAMILS REFUGEES1 AS WELL AS ?REE O!R ,BURMESE ,ROH+YA M5 & A ,KUWAITI MAN W]E DECL>$ TO BE SECURITY ?REATS TO ,AU/RALIA BY ,A,S,I,O4 ,!SE >E 9NOC5T ,TAMIL WOM51 M5 & *ILDR54 ,!Y HAVE BE5 DETA9$ = ! LA/ F\R & A HALF YE>S4 ,!Y >E BE+ TORTUR$ BY ! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T4 ,!IR CRIME WAS TO SPEAK \T AGA9/ ! 9JU/ICES ( ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T4 ,?AT'S ! :OLE IDEA BEH9D REFUGEES HAV+ !IR SECURITY CLE>ANCES REJECT$ BY ,A,S,I,O4 ,IT'S NO?+ TO DO ) /OPP+ ! BOATS4 ,IT'S AB\T /OPP+ ,TAMILS FROM SPEAK+ \T4 ,IT'S AB\T CREAT+ ?AT FE> )9 ! ,TAMIL COMMUNITY4 ,IT'S AB\T SIL5C+ ! ,TAMIL DIASPORA4 ,!Y'VE US$ ,A,S,I,O REJECTION AS A MEANS TO DO ?AT4 

,TAMIL REFUGEES :O COME TO ,AU/RALIA W]E ! FIR/ GR\P TO FACE SO- CALL$ '5HANC$ SCRE5+ PROCESSES'4 ,:AT ?IS MEANS IS ?AT Y\'RE GIV5 #ae M9UTES TO PROVE ?AT Y\'RE A G5U9E REFUGEE SEEK+ ASYLUM4 ,IF Y\ DON'T DO ?AT !N Y\'RE 9 TR\BLE4 ,Y\ GET DEPORT$ BACK /RAI<T AWAY4 ,!Y DON'T EV5 PROCESS Y\R CASE4 ,?R\< ?AT PROCESS OV] #b REFUGEES SO F> HAVE BE5 DEPORT$ BACK TO ,SRI ,LANKA4 ,TAMIL M5 & WOM5 & *ILDR5 FLEE ! ,SRI ,LANKAN GOV]NM5T1 !Y COME H]E1 & ! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T GIVES !M #ae M9UTES & DEPORTS !M BACK4 

,?IS IS ! EXP]I5CE ( ! REFUGEES4 

,:AT DO Y\ ?9K HAS BE5 MISS+ FROM ! REFUGEE MOVEM5T 9 ,AU/RALIA8 ,:AT C\LD ! REFUGEE MOVEM5T BE DO+ ?AT IT HASN'T TO DATE8 

,BROAD] REPRES5TATION HAS BE5 MISS+ 9 ! REFUGEE MOVEM5T4 ,IT'S ALL ! LEFT GR\PS TALK+ TO EA* O!R1 TALK+ TO ! CONV]T$1 AB\T ! PLI<T ( ! REFUGEES4 ,I DO BELIEVE ?AT WE HAV5'T TAPP$ 9TO ! BROAD] COMMUNITY 9 T]MS ( RAIS+ AW>5ESS AB\T REFUGEES4 ,I ?9K !RE IS REALLY GOOD REGIONAL >EA REPRES5TATION N[ADAYS1 :I* IS A GOOD ?+4 ,BUT WE DO NE$ TO TAP 9TO BROAD] RANGE ( PEOPLE1 RA!R ?AN JU/ HAV+ RALLIES AMONG LEFT GR\PS4 ,ALSO1 IF Y\ LOOK AT C]TA9 RALLIES RELAT+ TO CLIMATE *ANGE OR ! ,P]? RALLIES AGA9/ ! CULL+ ( %>KS Y\ HAVE ?\S&S ( PEOPLE TURN+ UP TO RALLIES ORGANIZ$ AT ! LA/ M9UTE4 ,!SE >E PEOPLE :O >E G5U9ELY CONC]N$ AB\T HUMAN RI<TS & 5VIRONM5TAL RI<TS4 ,:Y >5'T !SE PEOPLE TURN+ \T TO RALLIES 9 SUPPORT ( REFUGEES8 ,!RE'S SOME?+ ?AT WE'RE DO+ WRONG4 ,I DON'T KN[ :AT ?AT IS4 ,WE NE$ TO LOOK AT H[ WE CAN ATTRACT ALL !SE PEOPLE AS WELL SO ?AT WE CAN BUILD A MOVEM5T ?AT WILL PUT PRESSURE ON ?IS GOV]NM5T TO BR+ ! CRUEL TREATM5T ( !SE REFUGEES TO AN 5D4 

,HAVE REFUGEES BE5 LEFT \T ( ! 0REFUGEE MOVEM5T0 9 ,AU/RALIA8 

,I DON'T ?9K REFUGEES HAVE BE5 LEFT \T ( ! REFUGEE MOVEM5T 9 ,AU/RALIA1 BUT ,I DO ?9K ?AT MORE C\LD BE DONE TO PUT REFUGEES AT ! FRONT ( ! REFUGEE MOVEM5T1 RA!R ?AN JU/ HAV+ ODD SPEAK]S AT RALLIES4 ,!RE NE$S TO BE MORE 9VOLVEM5T FROM REFUGEE GR\PS LIKE ! ,TAMIL ,REFUGEE ,C\NCIL & ,R,I,S,E 7,REFUGEES1 ,SURVIVORS & ,EX-,DETA9EES7 TO HELP BUILD ?IS MOVEM5T1 RA!R ?AN JU/ SOCIALI/ GR\PS4 ,IT'S IMPORTANT ?AT WE HAVE REFUGEE GR\PS1 PEOPLE FROM REFUGEE BACKGR\NDS1 & PEOPLE :O'VE BE5 9 DET5TION C5T]S HAV+ A SAY AB\T H[ WE %\LD BUILD ?IS MOVEM5T4 

,H[ IS ! ,TAMIL ,REFUGEE ,C\NCIL RESPOND+ ! SITUATION FAC+ ,TAMIL REFUGEES 9 ,AU/RALIA8 

,! ,TAMIL ,REFUGEE ,C\NCIL DOES A LOT ( WORK ) REFUGEES4 ,WE'VE BE5 DO+ SOME WELF>E WORK = ! LA/ #ah MON?S4 ,I REMEMB] 9 ,JUNE LA/ YE> ,I W5T TO ?IS H\SE :]E SOME ( ! REFUGEE BOYS W]E SITT+ ON ! *AIRS1 & DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO SLEEP1 BECAUSE ! FLOOR WAS TOO COLD TO SLEEP ON4 ,I W5T TO ANO!R H\SE 9 ,APRIL LA/ YE> TO VISIT A GR\P ( REFUGEES LIV+ 9 ,MILL ,P>K4 ,!Y W]E \T ON BRIDG+ VISAS & DIDN'T KN[ :]E ! %OPS W]E4 ,!Y W]E GIV5 A PACKET ( BISCUITS BY ! ,R$ ,CROSS & !Y ATE ONLY ?AT = #bd H\RS4 ,WE TRY TO ID5TIFY !SE PEOPLE & GET \T TO !M AS SOON AS !Y'RE \T 9TO ! COMMUNITY4 ,WE TRY TO /OP DEPORTATIONS :5EV] !Y >E AB\T TO TAKE PLACE4 ,EV]Y TIME ! ,AU/RALIAN GOV]NM5T MI/REATS REFUGEES WE REACT TO ?AT4 ,EV]Y TIME !Y DO ! WRONG ?+ IT'S IMPORTANT ?AT IT GETS HI<LI<T$4 ,& WE'VE BE5 DO+ ?AT CONSI/5TLY = ! LA/ #ah MON?S4 

,I WI% WE C\LD HAVE DONE MORE TO /OP ! DEPORTATIONS ( ?\S&S ( REFUGEES4 ,I WI% WE C\LD HAVE /OPP$ ! SUICIDE ( ,%OOTY1 ! ,TAMIL BOY :O WAS 9DEF9ITELY DETA9$ 9 ,VILLAWOOD DET5TION C5T] DUE TO ,A,S,I,O1 :O KILL$ HIMSELF TWO YE>S AGO4 ,I WI% WE C\LD HAVE FRE$ ! #df ,A,S,I,O REFUGEES CURR5TLY /ILL 9 DET5TION4 ,!RE >E SO MANY FAILURES FROM \R 5D 9 ! S5SE ?AT WE HAV5'T HAD ! P[] TO OV]COME ?IS GOV]NM5T4 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON ,JANU>Y #a#h1 #bba FROM WEB4>*IVE4ORG47 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #a#g1 #bbb 3 ,! ,EXP]I5CE ( ,TAMIL ,REFUGEES -- ,ADD$4 

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