Flotillas of Hope

by Matt Hamon
Hope Caravan

A group of yachts and their crew will be heading off from Australia and sailing to the small nation island of Nauru on the 15th May with the aim to arrive at Nauru for World Refugee Day, 20th June 2004.

The yachts are going to Nauru with the specific goal of bringing hope to those detained in appalling conditions in Nauru's Australian Immigration gulags. The Flotillas of Hope also wish to highlight the plight of the indigenous Nauruans who through the neglect of the Nauruan government has sold their future to foreign interests.

Recently the Flotillas of Hope project received the following warning (see below) from Ms Helen Bogdan, a hired Australian Public Relations Consultant for the Nauruan Government. In her message and the warning from the Secretary of Justice several interesting points are made.

There is a clear understanding by the authorities why the Flotillas of Hope are heading to Nauru yet this does not prevent them indicating a reaction which would be overkill under the circumstances.

None of the asylum seekers on Nauru have visas and this being the case proves that Australia has committed an offence under the Nauruan Immigration Act of 1999 by aiding and abetting the transport of illegal immigrants to Nauru. After all they were asylum seekers in our country but Australia through its trading in people policy is surely guilty of people smuggling.

Matt Hamon, a spokes person for Flotillas of Hope and Hope Caravan said, "It is obvious that DFAT (Department of foreign affairs and trade) are advising Nauru."

"It will be interesting to see what lengths the Australian government will go in order to prevent ordinary Australian's highlighting the plight and the shame of asylum seekers being indefinitely detained on Nauru in Australian's concentration camps," said Matt Hamon.

Stavros Georgopoulos also a spokesperson for Flotillas of Hope and Hope Caravan said today, "If they arrest us when we do land, we have won because they will have to explain why they are locking up Australian and British citizens on their gulag. They will also have to explain why they won't let our lawyers on the island to protect our rights. The images and messages sent out will be reminiscent of Guantanamo Bay, in fact worse because they won't allow legal representation happen."

Stavros Georgopoulos went on to say, "If they stop us using Australian Navy at the 12 mile international waters zone, then the message and images of two little boats being hounded by the Navy will be overkill. This is particularly so with our Teddy Bear flags blowing in the wind."

Although the warning has been issued this has not deterred the crews of the Flotillas of Hope from making their journey to the prison island in 6 days time.

Public Affairs Warning

May 7, 2004

Dear Sir,

We write to you, as the registered owner of the domain Flotilla2004.com.

You are aware that this site is being used to publish information regarding the proposal Flotilla of Hope which intends to sail to Nauru this month.

The government of the Republic of Nauru wishes to make known that no visas will be granted to people wishing to arrive in Nauru on the Flotilla of Hope.

It is therefore requested that you post this information on your site and that the statement from Nauru's Secretary for Justice be distributed to the organizers and participants of the Flotilla of Hope campaign.

Yours faithfully,

Helen Bogdan
Public Affairs
Republic of Nauru

Secretary of Justice Warning

FLOTILLA 2004

It has come to the attention of the Department of Justice, Republic of Nauru, that a flotilla of ships are embarking on a voyage to the Republic of Nauru for the 20th June 2004 to draw attention to the asylum seekers situation in Nauru. It is claimed that the purpose of the voyage is to offer hope for the asylum seekers to highlight their plight and to bring support to the indigenous people of Nauru and that there is no intention to break the law, The voyage is a peaceful one.

The Department of Justice, responsible for Immigration, states that under the Immigration Act 1999, no person shall enter Nauru from overseas without a valid permit, know as a visa. Any person who is not the holder of a valid permit is a prohibited immigration. The entry into or presence in Nauru of a prohibited immigration is unlawful and is guilty of an offence and liable to a penalty of a fine not exceeding A$ 3000 or imprisonment for one year or both.

It should be also noted that the Captain of a vessel upon arrival in Nauru shall not permit any person to disembark until disembarkation has been authorized by Immigration Officer and the Captain who contravenes this is guilty of an offence and liable to penalties.

The Captain who aids, or incites, another person to enter or remain in Nauru in circumstances where the person would be, or become, a prohibited immigration or harbours or assists any person whom he knows or has reasonable cause to believe a prohibited immigrant will be guilty of an offence. The Immigrations Regulations 2000 sets out the classes of visa that can be granted and the Voyage 2004 does not fit into any of these classes.

Accordingly the Department of Justice wish to advise that no visa will be granted to any person body or organization associated with this.

Safety Warnings

It should be understood by anyone who seeks to visit Nauru that they will not only break the law but face considerable danger.

Nauru is a remote and isolated island. It is surrounded by dangerous reef and shark-infested waters.

There are no search and rescue facilities on the island of Nauru and medical facilities are limited.

Denzil Seneviratne
Secretary of Justice
Republic of Nauru

May 7, 2004