Proud records of Australian government in dealing with asylum seekers:

The following letter is from asylum seekers detained in Port Hedland Detention centre in West Australia. Some are detained since 1999. Australian government must be proud to have such laws, but it seems ridicules to others when they see how others that don't qualify as refugee get in without any problems.

NOT YET

Not yet, we expected our freedom but they are going to give us another centre. Our frightening detention will be ongoing and the story continues without an end in sight. Port Hedland centre will close by 30^th June 2004 and this is creating far more fear and uncertainty. Will we be moved again down the track? This is another way for a company trying to make money by playing with our minds and our hearts. I am Ardeshir Gholipour, an Iranian asylum seeker, currently living at Port Hedland Detention Centre. I wish to be able to openly talk to you about several problems and several people that I think on the whole would interest you. I have been living in this centre for more than four years and have now begun painting murals and canvases both for inside the centre on walls and for the local Art Galleries outside the centre. I would like to thank the people who helped me get into painting as I had not begun to do this in my own country, I studied this in Detention. For the second time I am a participant artist whose work is, ping to be on display at the Art Exhibition held on Friday 2"^d July 2004 at Court.

I louse Art Centre and Gallery 16 Edgar street Port Hedland Phone # 91 731 064. On my first participation with an Art Gallery I won the best 2D Abstract / Modern with my entry "Freedom Song". You are most welcome to come to the gallery with all of your friends to see the work that is on display. It will be an experience that will lighten your heart, as the people and the place are wonderful.

When I won a first prize for the first time it was not accepted by the then DIMIA (Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) Manager. Prior to the competition, I had informed DIMIA and asked them about the competition that I wanted to enter and was told that I would be able to compete. They did not tell me that if I won I would not be able to claim the prize money. So when I did win I approached the DIMIA Manager and was informed that it was Canberra's Policy that I was not to receive money from outside the centre.

On my own bat I tried to contact the DIMIA Management in Canberra and was told to contact Centre Manager about this problem. Amazingly the decision was reversed and I did receive my money.

Now I would like to share with you some of our other dilemmas. They include:

1. We as a whole are finding it hard to cope with the stress of being in a confined situation. Constantly we are finding it hard mentally and physically to continue to act as though we are free. We are not free, we only have occasional days we are allowed to entertain our thoughts of freedom after long waiting. Of course, always with officers looking over our shoulders. We have committed one offence and that is stretching our hands and sought help in desperation.

2. Some of us are qualified workers in our own countries, hard earned qualifications that could be used to contribute in the development of the Australian community as a whole. We have doctors, engineers, builders and many other professionals.

3. We have a problem because many detainees are using drugs to get by. I have seen some people turn a blind eye to this problem. I am not sure if this is allowed and am worried that this problem may get worse. Several times we have had officers take several detainees to the hotel or a disco where there are many people that could give them alcohol or drugs. This is hard for those who wait for excursions and can't get them only to hear that others have taken their places. I do not consider that there is a systematic preferential treatment of detainees. However, I want to assert that there is a consistent poor management practices that do not demonstrate fairness.

4. I have seen, as have others, in here that we have a trend of officers or staff that have half of their families working for the companies that are in control of Detention, First ACM and now GSL and also DIMIA. We as detainees are confused as to what we are to do if we have personal problems in detention. If for example I had a problem with one of the officers and wanted to complain to someone, I find that because of relationships between the staff members, I could be complaining to that officer's wife, daughter, son, cousin or husband. Curtin manager was a good example. The DIMIA manager of the Curtin Camp had a lot of family members working there. Who could we turn to? Not many people without causing more problems to ourselves. There are family groups at Baxter where we have been.

informed that we are to go by June 30 2004. There are many good officers that will lose their jobs when we go to Baxter and yet the family groups that are working inside the centre (as in husband, wife cousins and children) can still go on. Does the government know? Did you know? 

5. How can we get good managers if bad management practices go unnoticed. For example, if a detainee wishes to speak to someone in upper management or with DIMIA about a problem we more often that not are told "Not today, we are busy, we will try tomorrow, put in another request" these are some of the lines we often receive. This will happen all the time until one breaks something or hurts oneself. Then of course one will be able to speak to the people one wants. Members of the public may complain that we are responsible for everything that happens at the Centre and that we have no respect for law and order, but there are always two sides to a story. At an incident that happened last year, detainees tried hard to attract attention of Management to their plight but to no avail. The situation went out of control rapidly and this chaos was brought about by mismanagement rather than anything else. The situation could have been handled very easily with better management skills. Please refer to NORTH WEST TELEGRAPH Wednesday, December 10, 2003 Page3 for an Example of Detainees becoming frustrated and resorted to chaos but due to mismanagement than anything else. Another example of mismanagement is When Ahmad Shah first went to hospital from a drug overdose he was handcuffed. Does a fainted ill man need to be handcuffed? Apparently DIMIA did not think so but GSL did.

6. In 2003 we had a fire in India block at the Port Hedland detention Centre. It was caused by a group of tired and worn down detainees who had waited a long time for answers to outstanding questions asked from DIMIA. I praise the officers who accepted the risk of ensuring the safety of the rest of us because the work they did including cleaning up the mess DIMIA Managers is praiseworthy. You know the funny thing is no one got charged for this fire. The Police managed to lose paperwork and forgot to interview people - what an irony? One of the questions asked was "If Mr. Ruddock says we are getting a lot of money for excursions where is the money and why don't we have these excursions?" We did not get an answer. To cover the government and the Australian people's money why not bring in an independent person like the Ombudsman to see where the tax payers money is going. Why not have them ask where these people go on holidays ... Maybe Fiji spending government money...

7. Don't think that I have no respect for the DIMIA staff as I find that current DIMIA Manager is a caring and thoughtful man. While I was walking one night I heard that one of my friends had climbed on the roof to, as he said to get blown out to sea in a cyclone. Kavoos had mental problems which he got while in detention. He had come to the end of his rope and wished to die. The current DIMIA Manager came to the centre and spoke to Kavoos the night of the incident. He spoke to him very calmly and appropriately, Kavoos came down from the roof and was given his life back. I am glad for him and very thankful to the manager and the officers that were there also to help including the Centre Manager. Two years ago we had another very good DIMIA Manager. She tried to find out about us. She took an interest in the job she had here to do. It is promising that she is now in charge of the Baxter Camp where we are heading.

8. I have heard that in Baxter drugs are a major issue. Detainees are allegedly provided with drugs as a means of control. This is astonishing if proved to be true. Some are given strong medication tablets that make them drowsy. Some are provided with illicit drugs and the abuse is tolerated. I wonder who sanctions the arrival of drugs to the compound. As I understand, the Centre is controlled and any movement is under restrictions. This is something that is in urgent need of action. The question arises: under strict control that exists, which authority allows the arrival of drugs into the compound? Is this a ploy to calmly keep asylum seekers in long term detention?

We do not have medical expertise. If long term detention is going to cause irreparable damage to the detainees' physical and mental health, shouldn't the health professionals be asked to report on them and if proved to be the case, the concerned detainees be release according to the law, with bridging visas?

For example detainees who are taking anti-depressants show some side effects including:

Aref Ashrafi (ID PH0188) is an Iranian asylum seeker aged 34. He arrived in Australia on 5 September 2000. Aref had a problem with his religious beliefs in Iran. He lost his job because he refused to attend Muslim Friday prayers. He has become increasingly depressed in Port Hedland. He was in Curtin Detention Centre at first and came to Port Hedland in September 2002.... His Court applications have been refused and he insists that he cannot return because he has converted to Christianity. He is an artist who received an award at last year's Exhibition, but due to his depression and ill health he is unable to enter the exhibition this year. On one occasion, he removed one of his teeth with a pair of pliers and his nervous condition is deteriorating rapidly. He is currently waiting for a High Court decision. His hearing is scheduled for 28^°i May 2004, this is the final decision and he is feeling stressed and is finding himself getting chest pains.

Daryoush Hoshmand Najad, ID: FRU 12 is an Iranian asylum seeker aged 45. He arrived in Australia by boat on 19. 10. 2000, and applied for a protection visa and was refused by RRT and Federal and Full courts. The minister for Immigration gave him notice of intention to deport him to Iran. He doesn't wish to return to Iran because he fears of persecution on grounds of political opinion and being a convert to 4 Christianity. He worked for twelve years as an electrical technician in an oil refinery in Iran. He became involved in organizing a rally and a number of violent clashes occurred which he was not involved in but a warrant was issued for his arrest as an organizer of that rally. Some of his fellow organizers were arrested and died in detention. He clearly had to flee for his life and has left his wife and two daughters behind who have lost their provider. Since coming to Australia, and living in a detention Center, he hasn't been involved in any riots and had been cooperative and helpful. He was converted to the Christianity on 22, December 2002. 1 would like to write a support letter for him and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any queries. Thank you very much. Anyone that can help him please contact: Mr. Mark Cox at GPO Box M952 Perth W.A 6843 or please phone: (08) 94 861 577. Fax: (08) 94 861 599, E-Mail: social.justice wa.uca.org.au

Babak Dobari, an Iranian , known in detention also as ID VAR 14 is seeking protection. He has been in Port Headland I.R.P.C for four years? He came to Australia on Jul of 2000, because of his anti-Islamic activities, lie had been arrested several times by the Iranian Authorities and since his arrival to Aus he converted to Christianity. Unfortunately, the courts have rejected all of his claims. He is a mechanical engineer but at the moment he is doing other skills as a cook! He is really worried of his return to Iran, he wants to die but doesn't want to go back to Iran, at least, Babak, who has lots of other skills, like being a welder, turner, and also and industrial draftsman, he needs Australian peoples help because he is here without any reason. And when you spent such a long time in detention without any crime it is even harder to bear. His only offence is illegal entry to seek help. If anybody wants to help him by showing their support to the Minister or independently, they can contact his lawyers Mark Cox, 2^nd floor Wesley Center 93 William street Perth WA GPO BOX M 952 telephone NO. 0894861577FAX NO. 0894861599 Email Social. Justice @ W.A. Vca. Org. au

Ponampalam Jeguyanthan PHO 122 is a Sri Lankan asylum seeker aged 21. He has been locked up for two years and four months in Port Hedland Detention Centre. He applied for a protection Visa on November 28 2001 but is now at the High Court stage. He needs a lawyer to help him. He was forced to join the L.T.T.E( Tiger of Tamil Elam) he now has a problem with the L.T.T.E and also the Sri Lankan Army. If anyone could help him it would be very much appreciated. He needs his case be defended at the High Court or seeking the ministerial discretion for his release.

Thivakaran Mahadevan PHO 124 he is a Sri Lankan asylum seeker aged 24. He has also been locked up for two years and four months in Port Hedland Detention Centre. He applied for a protection Visa on January 12, 2002 but his case is now with the High Court. He does not wish to return to Sri Lanka as he also has a problem with the L.T.T.E and Sri Lankan Army. He has been in Sri Lankan detention twice by the army. He has three sisters who live with his parents back home. He has not had contact with his family. He is a farmer. If he goes home Army Security will kill him. If anyone can help him with his court issue either personally or by the minister we would appreciate the support.

Meanwhile, I have to acknowledge that GSL, the Company that runs the Centre has improved the lives of detainees considerably as compared to the previous keepers called ACM. GSL now has special programs and regular outings on a weekly basis taking detainees to swimming, fishing, shopping and providing them with other sport and educational activities. The program manager Miss Deanna Perry and the former program manager Mrs Elaine Protheroe have been organizing some meaningful activities and manage these activities very well. I'd like to thank them.

Details of Residents at Port I-ledland I.R.P.C. - Each person has his own story that has not yet found the ending which would lighten their hearts. We would love your individual support as we are scared and all have Individual needs/concerns. This is our beginning to help us to stay in your community, the end hopefully is not over ... NOT YET...

IRAN

NO

I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 II 12 13 14 15 16 17

Australia has decided that the only way to punish the people smugglers is through keeping people in need of help in detention. This includes incarceration of women and children. This is against the international norm. The detention for an unlimited period is wrong if not criminal. We have people who have been kept in detention for more than 6 years. I have been told that detention longer than a year is definitely against human rights. Isn't it a grave historical mistake that similar to stolen generation one day the Australians may come to realization that they wished would have never happened? We, the detainees who have been held in detention for years, would like to stretch our hands and once again seek help from the public. Please get us out of here.

Yours truly,

Port Hedland Detention Centre Ardeshir Gholipour.

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