Grayndler Electorate (NSW): #Evacuate Vigils for Men on Manus
Start: Monday, November 20, 2017• 5:45 PM
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For four years, the Australian government has held the men in the Manus Island Detention Centre in limbo. They have been held against their will, though they have done nothing wrong. Some have been killed during their time in detention, even though all they sought was safety from persecution and violence.
Then, on Tuesday October 31, 2017, the Australian Government-run detention centre on Manus Island was shut down. Food, water, and other essential supplies were cut. The next day, electricity was shut off.
New facilities set up to receive the men have been deemed unacceptable by independent observers, including the UN. The men on Manus have been peacefully protesting their forced removal from the centre for three months and, following the shut down, blockaded themselves into the compound as an extension of their protest. They have said that they are afraid to leave the compound for fear of being attacked by locals, who have already committed violent acts against the men in the past, including recently.
The situation is becoming dire, with the men in the compound running low on food, water, and medications. Experts are warning of impending deaths if something is not done soon. And yet despite the seriousness of their situation, the men are so fearful of attack, they deem is safer to stay in the compound!
Ultimately, the Australian Government set up this centre, and then abandoned it, creating a humanitarian crisis. Both morally and legally it is Australia's responsibility to ensure these men are evacuated and resettled in a safe and permanent location.
SO, WE'RE TAKING ACTION. AND WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US.
Love Makes a Way is planning to hold actions all over Australia. These actions will be peaceful and legal. They will also be brief, about 30–40 mins unless otherwise stated, so you can get to where you need to go afterwards.
At each action we will hold a solemn vigil to draw attention to the current situation on Manus.
We are appearing at the local offices of our Federal members and senators to call them to account and to action in regard to the humanitarian crisis in which they are complicit. We want to send a message to the Government and Opposition that Australia must take responsibility and act immediately to compassionately end a crisis of its own creation.