COFFEE beans and lawn bowls will replace protest banners and marches tomorrow (Sunday November 2) as Freo’s Refugee Rights Action Network takes a new tack to protest Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers.
The RRAN is holding a Freo4Freedom event at the North Fremantle bowling club where artists, chefs, musicians, dancers, comedians, refugee groups and social media gurus will come together to raise awareness about the issue.
Leonie Lundy from RRAN says mixing the entertainment with information is an opportunity for people to become involved in the issue without having to storm a detention centre.
• Fikirte Hailmariam treats Tim Grey-Smith to a tasty Egyptian treat—freshly roasted coffee. Photo by Steve Grant
RRAN claims Australia’s policies stomp on human rights and are detrimental to asylum seekers’ safety and mental health. Earlier this week ABC’s Lateline aired allegations one of the first Hazara men deported from Australia was captured and tortured by the Taliban upon his return to Afghanistan.
Freo RRAN this week took part in a protest at Perth airport against the deporation of another Hazara man. Ms Lundie says her comrades handed out flyers to other passengers on the aircraft, asking them to help prevent the plane taking off by refusing to buckle their seatbelts.
That didn’t happen, but she says the returning protestors report they’d received good support from passengers.
Freo4Freedom is being held at the North Fremantle bowling club with an afternoon program from 2pm featuring bowling, music, workshops, art and food.From 6.30pm entertainers take over with Persian singer Tara Tiba, Tamil dancers, a Burmese rapper and more. Entry is by donation. It’s part of the Fremantle Festival.
by STEVE GRANT