Refugees on Nauru demand freedom

Refugees detained on Nauru staged further protests last week, marching from their compound into the city to demand better living conditions and fairer treatment from locals.

Many refugees on Nauru have been released into the community and resettled with no prospect of coming to Australia. Conditions in detention and in the community have become increasingly intolerable.

These protests follow several others over the past year on both Nauru and Manus Island.

Refugees marched outside Connect Settlement Services, the company making millions from detaining and demonising refugees on the Island.

Protesters chanted “We want freedom!”

One unnamed protester told ABC News: “We are refugees, we are not slaves. The way that we’re living here and the way the Nauru government is behaving with us is just like slaves.”

Some reports say that as many as 200 refugees were arrested and jailed, before being released on bail. This included a 13-year-old boy. For exercising their right to protest, while being attacked by locals, they’re being charged with assault and staging unlawful demonstrations.

In response to the protests, new immigration minister Peter Dutton said that he was unmoved and that no refugee would be resettled in Australia. In a statement, Dutton said, “My message to those who protest is that it will not change the government’s commitment to the processing and resettlement arrangements in place on Nauru.”

Dutton and officials on Nauru have repeatedly accused refugee advocates in Australia of “encouraging protests”. If that’s because activists have voiced solidarity with refugees and continued to protest here for their freedom, then we’re guilty as charged. But the conditions on Nauru and no prospect of release continue to drive refugees on both Nauru and Manus Island to protest.

There are numerous reports of refugees being assaulted and bashed on the island, and being released into the community only on condition that they don’t visit places such as schools, hospitals and the airport.

The racism and violence have led some to demand they be put back in the camp. One Iranian refugee told the Guardian: “They attack the refugees. You are walking in the street, they say ‘Fuck you, go back to your camp.’ They throw rocks. They spit at you. This is normal.”

Both the Australian and Nauruan governments have created this situation, pitting refugees and Nauruan citizens against each other.

Meanwhile, the Nauruan government and private corporations like Transfield are making millions from the contracts.