Suprovat Sydney Report: For several days now, refugees have maintained a relentless 24-hour vigil outside the office of Hon. Tony Burke MP in Punchbowl, Sydney. The Minister for Home Affairs, Arts, Cyber Security, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, and Leader of the House has been met with continuous chants and calls from the protestors. They are demanding that the Minister grant them permanent protection and resolve their ongoing uncertainty.

These protests, which began in Melbourne in July and have since expanded across the nation, are calling on the government to issue permanent protection visas.

Despite a meeting between Minister Burke and refugees from Tamil, Bangladeshi, Iranian, Kurdish, Iraqi, Pakistani (including those from Parachinar), and Afghan backgrounds on August 17th, 2024, no substantial action has been taken.

Around 9,000 refugees and asylum seekers have been languishing in this state of uncertainty for over a decade.

Many refugees are living under the strain of temporary bridging visas, leaving their futures shrouded in constant uncertainty. Some have been separated from their families for years, with others losing contact entirely. Many also face significant challenges, such as lacking access to Medicare or the right to work. Young refugees, in particular, are hindered from pursuing higher education as they are denied entry to universities after completing high school.

Renuga Inpakumar, spokesperson for the Tamil Refugee Council and organizer of the ongoing Sydney protest, commented, “We appreciate the Minister’s effort to meet with refugees, but the 15-minute notice left us unable to assemble community representatives. This meeting did not offer the in-depth discussion we need. We require a serious dialogue about tangible solutions and a path forward, rather than a repetition of the same unfulfilled promises we’ve heard over the past 14 years.

The protesters have chosen to observe a period of silence until Friday, August 23rd, 2024, in hopes of securing the requested meeting with Minister Burke. Should no appointment be scheduled by that date, they will resume their protests with increased noise, continuing until 7 p.m. each evening. While they acknowledge this may disrupt nearby residents and workers, they view it as their last resort in their fight for justice.

“We sincerely apologize for any disturbance,” Inpakumar said. “However, we’ve exhausted all other avenues before resorting to this 24/7 protest, and no positive outcomes have resulted.”

“The refugees have made it clear that their protest will persist until they receive certainty about their futures. These individuals have fled genocide and persecution; they need and deserve protection,” Inpakumar emphasized.

Suprovat Sydney, Australia’s only Bangladeshi newspaper, acknowledges that Hon. Tony Burke MP is known for his compassion and willingness to listen to the community. He has consistently supported and addressed people’s concerns with care. We remain hopeful that this time, the Minister will take meaningful action.