Salvos accused of silencing asylum seekers

6 Dec 2012, 12:48 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A spokesman for the Salvation Army told AAP the move was not designed to censor or restrict communications, but to make access to the limited number of computers on the island more equitable. (AAP)

A spokesman for the Salvation Army told AAP the move was not designed to censor or restrict communications, but to make access to the limited number of computers on the island more equitable. (AAP)

A refugee advocacy group says the Salvation Army is silencing asylum seekers by restricting internet access in the Nauru detention centre.

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Asylum seekers on Nauru are being stopped from communicating their plight to families or media because their internet access has been restricted, a refugee advocacy group says.

Asylum seekers supervised by the Salvation Army on Nauru are only allowed 30 minutes of internet time every two days, the refugees action collective said.

They are also prohibited from giving friends use of their quota, helping one another with the internet or even using spare computers.

Those in the Nauru detention centre had agreed to forgo their internet quota so Mahdi Vakili, an Iranian refugee, could have four hours a day to disseminate information about conditions in the facility via Facebook.

"Using the internet has often been the only way asylum seekers on Nauru have been able to communicate their horrific conditions and publicise their protests and hunger strikes, as media have been barred from the detention centre," Refugee Action Collective spokesman Chris Been said.

"This measure is sadly in step with the government's policy of pushing asylum seekers out of sight and out of mind through the policy of offshore processing and dumping asylum seekers on Nauru."

The new restrictions will cut Ms Vakili's ability to correspond with media, thus preventing government spin from being challenged, Mr Breen said.

A spokesman for the Salvation Army told AAP the move was not designed to censor or restrict communications, but to make access to the limited number of computers on the island more equitable.

"There's just not enough time throughout the day and there's also not enough bandwidth for us to distribute the internet for as long as each person wants," he said.

The refugee action collective will protest the quota cuts outside the Salvation Army City Temple in central Sydney on Friday.

Comment was being sought from the Immigration Department.

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evil Salvos ?

Margaret Becker - from Ashfield, 5 months ago

So now the "Salvos" are the latest scapegoats for the advocates of an open door immigration policy ? just how delusional are these people ?

Ring in the snout

DWK - from Gordon, 5 months ago

As Australians, we live a life of privilege and opportunity, no matter how much we like to claim otherwise. I just have to laugh when I read some of the ignorant comments on this page. An example is this nonsense about a queue - which has no connection in reality to how people are assessed for refugee status by the UN and under the conventions Australia has signed up to. The Labour party is doing a great job of manipulating base opinion for votes, so wake up and stop being led by the nose!

Look at the big picture

David Wiley - from Sydney, 5 months ago

For those who judge asylum seekers so shallow . . . Let's review some facts: 1 - Countries like Australia promoted devastation in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sri-Lanka and all other disaster areas where refugees come from; 2 - Open your eyes and witness the harsher treatment did not make them go away ! 3 - Only a small percentage arrive here . . . alive ! 4 - Pray to whatever you believe in not to end up in their shoes to make such compelling journeys !

Get lost!

Mary - from VIC, 5 months ago

If the public only know the truth about how ALP/Greens are bending over to please them and give them everything you would resent them more! It is sick that illegals can demand. These are the same people they are putting in the community so same behaviour continue. If they were genuinely in need of help which they are not they would not be acting this way. But as we all know, they are here for a easy & good life and don't care what law they break, who they hurt,how they take advantage of everyone

Mr

Alan Winter - from Tuggerah, 6 months ago

Well, we Australians have been slack haven't we? It's enough that we didn't roll out the red carpet for you at the marina and whisk you all away in limousines to the Park Hyatt. Heaven forbid, not enough internet time! You sorry bunch of ungrateful wretches. You have food, water, shelter, clothing, cigarettes, medical care and goodness knows what else - ALL AT OUR EXPENSE! If what we provide is not good enough, then go home.

They are our brothers

Conrad Fleming - from Darwin, 6 months ago

Reading the comments about the article, I am as appalled as I am about the actions of the Salvation Army (though they are contractually bound to DIAC, so who pays the piper....) as I am about the comments. Comeon guys and gals, show a little of the fairgo attitude we pride ourselves on. Australia has become a cruel country. One asylum seeker told me "I thought Australia had compassion - you don"t".

Illegal Arrivals

Jan - from Perth, 6 months ago

These people come here via the back door, are then sent to what some under privileged Australians would consider holiday camps with everything provided yet they still complain. It is presumably not what the people smugglers promised them when they handed over thousands of dollars!!!

Lucky to get that !

Mark Skinner - from Geelong, 6 months ago

Considering the horrific situation that these people are fleeing, and considering that back home they would probably have even less access to computers, I think that they are pretty damned lucky to have what they do. What do they expect, a house and a car?

Tantrum Disorder

Henry - from Sydney, 6 months ago

The 100,000 homeless on our streets could probably do with a holiday in Naru and I'll bet they don't mind the tents, three square meals ever day, showers, toilets, medical, etc: These illegals must have lived in opulance before queu jumping to knock the tents and conditions. This is all about performing tantrums pressuring authorities to give in to their outrageouse demands.

Asylum seekers in Narru

Rubina Javed - from pakistan, 6 months ago

Is there any person who did not contacted his family till the time he is there in detention center.

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