Little sympathy for asylum protests on Anzac Day

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Mon, 25 Apr 2011 6:07p.m.

Protestors have been criticised for staging their rallies during Anzac commemorations

Protestors have been criticised for staging their rallies during Anzac commemorations

By Amanda Gillies

In Australia, Anzac Day commemorations have coincided with protests by asylum seekers and their supporters.

The protesters have chosen the worst possible day to garner sympathy for their cause, because Australians fully support Anzac Day but are notoriously intolerant of illegal migrants.

A lone bugle sounded the final farewell this morning.  A message for the fallen: “Your job is done. Rest in peace”.

But on this most sacred day, there was no peace outside Australia’s detention centres.

From the outside, they wanted in. From the inside, they wanted out.

One by one, police arrested and removed protestors at the Curtin Detention Centre in Western Australia, while on the other side of the fence, one by one, asylum seekers refused to eat.

Refugee advocates claim 400 asylum seekers are now on hunger strike. Officials say just 12 Afghanis are refusing meals.

Across country, in Sydney, three asylum seekers remain on the rooftop of the Villawood Detention Centre. They have been there since last Wednesday and have been given no food, only water.

They now claim the Immigration Department has also stopped negotiating with them.

Asylum seekers involved in last week's riot are still being held - without charge - in a Sydney maximum security jail.

But it appears there is little sympathy here today on Anzac Day. The protestors and their supporters have been criticised for staging their rallies when Australians are honouring those who fought so bravely for their country.

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Comments

27 Apr 2011 09:41a.m.

darren wrote:

With all the people on line that are againts the violent and agressive minority that in these destention centres why doesnt somebody go down and have a peaceful protest with signs like criminals have no place in OZ or break the law we dont want you.
They are asylum seekers they have ran away from something that is very bad and they want what our beatiful country can offer if i ran away from my country i would be happy being safe and getting look after for free. If its not good enough they are more than welcome to go back to what ever they ran from or as illigal (criminal) imigrants wait for a proccess that can keep religious fanatatics, racists, violent and aggressive people out of this wonderful country.

27 Apr 2011 03:34a.m.

G wrote:

What planet are you living on Cory.
They should have put all those involved in the riot, straight back on a ship and sent back to their own country. Asylum seekers are just using International law to scrounge from the wealthiest countries throughout the world.
John Howard had the right idea, if any unwanted boats sail into Australian waters, then blast them out of the sea.
They would only have to do this once and that would be enough to stop anymore arriving, saving thousands of dollars keeping them on an Island for 4 years

25 Apr 2011 11:24p.m.

Cory wrote:

REFUGEES ARE WELCOME!! RACISTS ARE NOT!! You're totally wrong cyril... asylum seekers are NOT illegal immigrants - according to international law any person is allowed to arrive at any point on any border, by any means and seek asylum. They are not 'illegal immigrants' or 'que jumpers'. To detain people - including children children(!) - fleeing war and destitution behind razor wire is a crime against humanity. Good on the demonstrators I say! FREE THE REFUGEES!!!

25 Apr 2011 10:32p.m.

Cyril wrote:

Your attitude disgusts me. Just FYI.

25 Apr 2011 08:28p.m.

cyril wrote:

Ive got ne sympathy for them. They are illegal imagrants and nave to wait or they can piss off home.