11/24/2003: 
Nauru
Calls continue for release of Nauru asylum seekers
from The Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Political and community groups in Australia have renewed their calls for the release of more than 400 asylum seekers being held in detention on Nauru.
A conference in the city of Melbourne is exploring ways to pressure the government to end its so-called "Pacific Solution" and bring the asylum seekers to Australia.
The leader of the minor opposition Democrats party, Andrew Bartlett, says recent legal challenges have given some hope the policy can be overturned.
However, Senator Bartlett says in the interim, the asylum seekers face an uncertain future.
"The way things stand at the moment, there's every likelihood that if unless there's a change of policy, a change of approach, these 300 plus people and 90 plus children will still be there in another year's time," he said.
"[It would be] another year of mental torment and degradation in mental and physical health that they'll have to endure," he said.
OK, imagine if you will that you are a refugee from Afghanistan or Iraq and instead of getting put up somewhere in Australia, they put you in a detention camp on Nauru. Talk about hypocrites! Imagine if the Aboriginies had turned away that first boatload of English criminals. These poor refugees have been there almost two years, and they still have not been processed. I will try to find pictures of these camps and keep you updated on the "Pacific Solution."
