An Episode of Sparrows

"Former prisoners, when writing or relating their experiences, agree that the most depressing influence of all was that a prisoner could not know how long his term of imprisonment could be. He had been given no date for his release. Actually a prison term was not only uncertain but unlimited. New arrivals usually knew nothing about the conditions at a camp. Those who had come back from other camps were obliged to keep silent, and from some camps no one had returned. On entering camp a change took place in the minds of the men. With the end of uncertainty there came the uncertainty of the end. It was impossible to foresee whether or when, if at all, this form of existence would end."

- Viktor Frankl. Man's Search for Meaning

Frankl's account of surviving a Nazi concentration camp is chilling for its depiction of camp life and the methodical 'breaking down' of the prisoners' will to live. What struck me about the account (among other things) was the above paragraph, where Frankl seems to be saying that, above all else, the indefinite and uncertain nature of their term of imprisonment was perhaps the most insiduous, distressing and soul-destroying aspect of the prisoners' ordeal. To be honest, I was surprised when I read this. Surely the lack of sleep, food, warmth and general degradation was more harrowing than this uncertainty?

Thinking about it a little more, however, it started to make sense, because when you know there will be a definite end to present suffering, it arguably makes it more bearable. When there is no foreseeable end to a hellish existence, it is easy to see how it could become utterly unbearable. Frankl describes how he, and the prisoners, showed surprising resilience in the face of hunger, cold and disease, almost to the point of 'getting used to it', yet the uncertainty and indefinite nature of their imprisonment drove many men to suicide. To this end, he cites that a sense of hope, even a shred of it, became absolutely essential to survival.

Today in Australia, refugees in detention centres around the country are facing the heavy strain and stress of such uncertain and indefinite detention. With many being held in detention for up to 18 months, often in separation from their families and with no idea when their claims will be processed (or not), it's hardly surprising that there have been increasing suicide attempts and reports of widespread serious mental health problems in centres like Villawood. The fact that many detainees have experienced trauma at the hands of militias and corrupt governments in their country of origin, and have often travelled far and for lengthy periods in order to escape persecution, surely only compounds this suffering further.

(image from the Greens)

It should be noted that I am not trying to compare detention centres to concentration camps. Nor am I trying to posit that this is a straightforward issue with easy answers.

It isn't.

What I am trying to say is that it is distressing and heartbreaking that today, in what I think most people would consider a fairly liberal, progressive country, we are subjecting people to the distress and pain of indefinite detention. We might not be able to set up a perfect processing system but surely we can do much, much better than this.

On top of all that, I feel deeply ashamed of the fact that both major political parties are offering up two extreme options that seem doggedly fixed on avoiding Australia's human rights obligations to asylum seekers, rather than actually trying to find solutions that respect and acknowledge those rights.

Greens Senator, Sarah Hanson-Young summed it up perfectly when she stated: "It is extremely disappointing to see how low the debate has stooped when we are left with comparing the dangers of the Malaysian solution with the damaging policy of Nauru. Neither of these options is acceptable -- both are a waste of money, ruin people's lives and are terribly inhumane. The lives of vulnerable people should not be determined by the lesser of two evils. The Prime Minister wants to send children and families to Malaysia and Tony Abbott wants to send them to Nauru -- Australia can do better than this.  These are vulnerable people who deserve dignity and respect and need our protection. They should not be used as traded goods for the sake of domestic politics." (Greens site)

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Earlier in the week, it was heartening to see the direct impact that public outrage and action had on the live export industry. Many Australians were horrified at the Four Corners' footage of cattle being subjected to long, drawn-out, painful deaths in Indonesian abattoirs. I heard a radio interview earlier today in which the pertinent comment was made that if the Australian public could see or experience even for a moment the conditions in Villawood detention centre there would (hopefully) be a similar reaction. It might not seem like much, but there are small, but significant ways to show that you care about the way asylum seekers are treated in Australia. Write a letter/flick an email to the Immigration Minister, attend a rally, get yourself well informed and help inform others.

Personally, I'm sick of this even being an issue- it was dealt with inhumanely under the Howard government, now the current government is not doing much better. It has to stop.

> A Just Australia has some suggestions for action and advocacy, and myth-busting fact sheets that will dispel any misconceptions that Abbott and Co. have peddled about refugees.
> Short video on ABC summarising the Human Rights Commission into detention centres, well worth watching.
> Refugee Action Coalition Sydney, which has some very insightful articles about the Malaysia solution, as well as information about the World Refugee Day rallies to be held in state capitals in June.