Melbourne City Council and Victoria Police harassment of refugee protest must cease
For 94 days refugee community members and activists, together with their allies, have camped in front of government offices demanding visa equality for people failed by the former Coalition Government’s broken ‘fast track’ refugee processing system. After a decade of limbo, they are calling for permanent visas to ensure safe futures for themselves and their families.
Recently, Melbourne City Council issued legal notices requiring protestors to clear footpaths and remove all furniture and sound amplification devices. Last week, Melbourne City Council and Victoria Police attended unannounced and cleared out the encampment, forcibly removing protesters’ mattresses, furniture and possessions. Just yesterday, people protesting experienced further harassment as Police attended the encampment twice.
These actions clearly seek to undermine their ability and right to maintain their peaceful protest. Legal threats and police involvement only serve to intimidate and coerce protesters, and show a disregard for both their rights and their welfare.
Over the past weeks and months, people protesting have taken a number of steps to attempt to accommodate Council requests regarding their presence. Despite ongoing pressure, they intend to maintain the encampment for 100 days.
Everyone has the right to make their voice heard. The Human Rights Law Centre stands in solidarity with the encampment and unequivocally supports their calls for permanent visas, now.
Sanmati Verma, Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre, said:
“Everyone has the right to protest, regardless of citizenship or visa status. Encampment members have the right to protest for visa equality. They have been ignored by successive governments for over a decade and are now taking their fight for justice and safety to government’s doorstep.
“The scare tactics and disruption from Melbourne City Council and Victoria Police must stop. These protests would not be necessary, if the Albanese Government extended permanent residency to all victims of the failed fast-track system.”
Media Contact:
Chandi Bates
Media and Communications Manager
Human Rights Law Centre
0430 277 254
chandi.bates@hrlc.org.au
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