Dr Niko Leka of Newcastle's No War Collective received from this from Alex, a Tamil refugee who spent many months on board the boat in Merak Harbour, Indonesia. Why is this not in the media? Contact Alex to let him know that you know tamilassylumseekers@gmail.com>
"Sadly I have some really bad news Niko. Another boat of asylum seekers trying to seek safety had tried but it has left 7 dead.
two smaller boats had tried to take the asylum seekers to the larger boat, however the wind was too strong. Supposedly one had toppled over throwing all that were aboard into the open sea. The information I got was that 7 people had died, two of who were close friends of mine who had escaped from the boat in merak before I even left the boat.
The saddening news is the fact that this happened on the 7th and it has not been told to anybody, that means that 7 bodies have been floting in the open seas. 7 families not knowing about their deaths. 7 more asylum seekers finding death as their only source of freedom.
I am not concerned about the others as they will find freedom one way or another, hopefully without sacrificing anyone else. What worries me is that 7 deaths have gone untold. My heart gets weaker with each death, Im not sure how many more have to die for the world to understand that Tamils will risk all to seek freedom as they have no home to return to and only hope for a country to accept them."
I dont understand how Countries and continents can close doors and put upwalls declaring that this is our land we found it first, and we dont want you here....
Another Asylum seeker story to write in the history books of Australias dark past.
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Niko Leka
About Me
- Phillipa Parsons
- I am a Greens councillor on Lake Macquarie City Council. I am also the Greens candidate for Swansea in this upcoming 2011 NSW state election. My biggest motivator is ensuring sustainability. This must be the key word in decision making at all levels of government. We need investment in renewable 'clean' energy sources and begin a just transition from dirty coal that pollutes the air, affects the health of entire communities and contributes to climate chaos globally. We need to ensure that we protect our communities from over-developments and protect public space. We need to ensure public education and health are top of the list of funding priorities. I appreciate feedback so don't hold back if you have something constructive to contribute! The biggest question we all need to ask ourselves is "what will you tell your grandchildren you did to address these issues?"