SIEV X commemorated in Adelaide

A moving ceremony was held last Saturday in Mosley Square in 
the seaside Adelaide suburb of Glenelg to mark the second 
anniversary of the tragic sinking of the SIEV X. Organised by the 
Refugee Action Collective and introduced by East Timor solidarity 
activist Andy Alcock, the deaths of the 146 refugee children, 142 
women and 65 men were remembered in speeches, poetry, song and 
street theatre.

Greens MHA Kris Hanna spoke of his outrage and sadness at the 
events of October 18, 2001, especially after having seen the 
reports that incriminate Australia's Government and Defence 
Forces. "I've been to Woomera and Baxter many times and I can't 
think of the treatment of these people without tears and shame", 
he told the gathering.

Burmese refugee and activist Dr U Ne OO also pointed to the 
callousness of the Australian Government with regard to refugees 
and read some harrowing accounts of the sinking of the SIEV X by 
survivors themselves. These can be found on the website: 
www.sievx.com.

Folk singer Geoff Haswell sang his powerful condemnation of those 
"with blood on their hands" with his composition SIEV X. Local 
poet and refugee from the bloody coup in Chile in 1973, Juan 
Garrido, read his poem in honour of a refugee father [reproduced 
below]. Members of the crowd later placed their floral tribute to 
the victims from the ill-fated refugee boat on the water of the 
Gulf.

Words from an Iraqi father

"My only wish is to hold my children
in my arms — in whatever country."
These words are from an Iraqi father
My family is somewhere in this world.

Years of silence grown between us
Distance is a blind fog lamp that can't find the shore
To draw hope in the sand as a gift for my children.

I see them every night through the stars
Playing with the moon's tears.

The sea was the only window could I find to flee the darkness.

All I have is a Temporary Protection Visa:
My key for freedom, my key for prison.

Day and night I have only one dream: a boat on the sea
My visa is my morning's bread, my water,
A ball in the park, new friends,
A walk through life in a new land.

"My only wish is to hold my children
in my arms — in whatever country"
I am a refugee,
I am a father,
I am from Iraq

Juan Garrido Salgado