Workers BushTelegraph discusses current and past events, books and film with the aim of sharing worker political education and consciousness.
WBT poses 3 questions: who owns the land, workers control of production and democratic rights.
Fifty years after the the Whitlam Labor government gave Gurynji their land back in the Northern Territory, land right struggles continue in Queensland with mixed results
Andy speaks to Kuku Yalanji woman Chrissy Grant about their nation taking joint control over national parks,
to Jinibara man BJ Murphy about whether people should climb Mt Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and
Andy gets an update from Djaki Kundu, where Kabi Kabi protectors last week were arrested.
DJAKI KUNDU UPDATE 22nd October 2021: Wit-boooka Sovereign Kabi Law/Lore man has just called all First Nations to come to Kabi Bunya Djha, to Gympie, and stand peacefully with the Kabi Sovereign Tribes to fix this Country, and prevent further acts of destruction and genocide on this Great South Land and it’s islands. In the Spirit of the Wirritjin, Bona wup’pin. FOR DETAILS VISIT https://www.facebook.com/Kabi.Dreaming
Playlist Joe Geia — Gurri ngindin narmi
Nidala — Colours of my people
Zennith — Ancient warrior
John Williamson and Warren H Williams — Raining on the rock
“Queensland Police Service always puts community first” – Labor Government Police Minister, Mark Ryan
Snr Cnst David Giddins growling at refugee activist
Police assault unionist standing up for refugee rights
Footage shows Senior Constable David Giddins (badge number 7763) assaulting people trying to give first aid to man – wearing an NTEU union cap* – Officer Giddins hit the man on the side of the face — who was now bleeding from the ear on the ground in front of him. His victim then suffered a cardiac arrest on the spot while Giddins did his best to prevent onlookers from giving the man first aid.
Giddins continually assaulted several other people and attempted to stop cameras from filming the incident – slapping one camera to the ground in the process – Giddins name and badge number were clear on that camera.
That afternoon on 25 October 2020, Acting Police Assistant Commissioner, Brian Conners, said in a press conference that he believed the actions of the officer were “appropriate“.
Senior police then issued a false statement claiming that the man did not require medical assistance. This was despite the man being admitted soon after to the emergency ward of the Mater Hospital where he spent spent many hours undergoing tests that revealed his cardiac arrest. The assault by Senior Constable David Giddins resulted in the man having life threatening injuries at the scene for which he is having ongoing treatment 12 months later.
Please note that I am aware that these police did not act alone. Police named were not part of some rogue element. They acted with full support from their superiors in the Queensland Police Force. Be mindful also that this podcast is not some plaintive plea to the Minister for justice. All the facts documented in this piece are on the public record. None of the individuals concerned have approached me to take up the savage treatment metered out to them by police. I am unsurprised that given the gravity of the injustice described below that police did not follow up the incident described in Man Down at KP Prison. Clearly I am suspicious of the role played by the Minister for Police. Given the transparent lies promulgated by senior police in this matter follow up should have been taken by the mainstream press. I made a report of the incident on public radio 4ZZZ as long ago Fri 30 Oct 2020 on Paradigm Shift: Australia’s ‘Mare Nostrum’ for refugees yet the serious material raised in the broadcast by Michael McNally (NTEU) and Ian Rintoul (RAC) was universally ignored.
__oOo__
Unionist at Kangaroo Point Hotel/Prison where he was assaulted by police. [NTEU = National Tertiary Education Union.]
A video on social media shows the man standing alone before Qld Senior Constable David Giddins (Public “Safety” Response Team) cowardly punches him from behind. Giddins is a repeat offender having menaced protestors outside the Kangaroo Point prison set up by Immigration Minister Dutton. The Queensland Government has come out against the protestors on several occasions. Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles who has been vocal on the refugee protests is a former office bearer with the Public Sector Union, Together. Miles has been the Labor member for Murrumba in the Queensland Legislative Assembly since 2017.
What appears to have happened is that the police offcier runs up, hits and pushes the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) member to the ground. Another refugee activist wearing a Covid-19 safety mask tries to protect his comrade on the ground. A melee ensues and the crown begins to chant “all cops are bastards” and they push police away as they attempt to arrest the man.
a/Assistant Commissioner Brian Conners responding to questions about the assault on union member
Responsefrom Senior Police A police spokesperson claims police are investigating policeman Giddins.
In a Pythonesque moment at a press conference following the assault by police officer Giddins, a/Assistant Commissioner Brian Conners calmly stated:
“It certainly doesn’t appear to us that it (the assault) was what it appeared to be under the context that it was shown to be (by the video footage).“ Digging himself an even bigger hole, the Assistant Commissioner then went on to blame the camera angles of the footage taken by witnesses for making something that appeared to be an assault to actually confirm that it was an assault.
Quite a lot of footage of the incident was taken at the scene.
Refugee Solidarity Meanjin issued the following statement: “New footage of Senior Constable David Giddins (badge number 7763) assaulting the people trying to give first aid to the person he’d just coward punched—who was now bleeding from the ear on the ground in front of him.
Giddins also assaults several other people and attempts to stop cameras from filming his name and badge number close up.At one point Giddins slaps a phone camera to the ground. Yet Acting Assistant Commissioner Brian Conners said in a press conference that he believed the actions of the officer were “appropriate“.”
Response from unionist who was assaulted by Giddins
Snr Cnst David Giddins assaults unionist
“We should never lose sight of the fact that the violence inflicted on the minds and bodies of the Kangaroo Point and BIDA (sic, BITA = Brisbane Immigration Transit Centre) refugees for more than seven years is a crime infinitely more harmful. Their fortitude and resistance in the face of this brutality is astounding and an inspiration to all of us. … It is, in the end, a political strategy. Cops are used against us when we act in ways that show we refuse to accept and be weakened by concocted divisions based on nationality, race and religion.“
“The frenzied behaviour of the cop who king hit me represents the face of the boss class when those ideas start to break down. He is part of the establishment’s last line of defence. Which is all the more reason for us to keep going. Our friends inside Kangaroo Point prison and BIDA deserve nothing less. See everyone at the action on Friday” … https://www.facebook.com/events/635438127076428/
Democratic Rights Senior police claimed after the assault that the demonstration outside the Kangaroo Point Hotel/Prison was unlawful. This is demonstrably false. The Queensland Peaceful Assembly Act 1992 clearly permits such protests.
Kangaroo Point Prison Over 100 refugees are housed in squalid conditions, locked up in Kangaroo Point Detention centre 24/7. Many have been in detention for over 8 years.
They were locked up 24/7 in Kangaroo Point Prison since the introduction of the Medevac Laws were introduced. The landmark Medevac Bill was passed in early 2019. What is Medevac? The Medevac Bill is a law that was passed by the Australian Government providing critically sick refugees and people seeking asylum held in offshore detention a pathway to be transferred to Australia for urgent medical treatment. To receive medical evacuation to Australia, two independent Australian doctors must recommend for the sick refugees temporary transfer to Australia and agree that appropriate treatment cannot be provided while the person is in offshore detention in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Nauru.
Before the passing of the Medevac Bill and subsequent formation of the Medevac Group, sick refugees were waiting an average of 2 years (in some cases up to 5 years) for transfer to Australia for medical treatment. The Medevac law ensures there is no longer political interference with the medical assessment and application process to evacuate people on the grounds of urgent medical transfer.
Media Response to the bashing
Unionists at KP Prison
Media coverage of the refugee solidarity actions at the Kangaroo Point Hotel/Prison have been patchy and often misleading. There are two governments at play, the federal government that repealed the Medevac laws and the state government that passed the Peaceful Assemblies Act 1992.
The Guardian reporter said the victim of police assault was wearing ‘a purple baseball cap’ in his report of the incident. In fact the man was wearing a National Tertiary Education Union cap. This is a salient fact because it shows that unions have been represented at the protests – including the Electrical Trades Union (ETU), the NTEU, the Retail and Fast Food Workers union.
The Guardian went on to report that the unionist “is seen in the video grabbing at a security fence seconds before a person who appears to be a police officer approaches from behind and appears to punch him.” That is not what the video shows. The unionist walks away from the fence and only then does police officer Giddins attack him knocking him to the ground with sufficient force that he later required medical assistance at a local hospital. Giddins is identified in another video moments after assaulting the man on the ground and bystanders who are trying to film his badge number.
Union response to the assault
Michael McNally, the State Secretary of the NTEU had this to say about the brutal assault on their member (WBT has redacted the name of the man assaulted by police in case the QPS seeks reprisal against the man now suffering from a heart condition) :
“Footage has circulated on social media of a National Tertiary Education Union member being assaulted by a police officer at the Kangaroo Point refugee rally on Sunday afternoon. The man, Xxx Xxxxx, a 56-year-old university librarian, is seen holding a fence when a police officer violently attacks him. Xxx was hospitalised overnight and released from the Mater on Monday afternoon.
“I was shocked and appalled to see Xxx attacked like that. The footage is really short and you can’t see what is happening before the incident, but there is no possible excuse for this excessive use of force.”
“Xxx just appears to be holding the fence when he is attacked from behind, while not apparently constituting a threat to anyone.”
“Xxx has been protesting for a long time against the festering sore that has been created by the indefinite detention of refugees in terrible conditions.”
“It’s totally inappropriate that they are locked up in an inner-city motel that’s not fit for purpose. I bet that the police don’t want to have to be there either, though that’s no excuse for violence. It’s a toxic situation created by inhumane border protection policy.” – [Media Release: Posted 27 October 2020 by Michael Evans (NTEU National Office)]
Labor Party Government response The Labor Party-in-government has done nothing about this serious assault by Snr Cnst David Giddins. At his own media conference the victim of police assault responded to the lies told by a/Assistant Commissioner Brian Conners. The victim took no further action after that press conference. He did so for medical reasons. Also he subsequently received legal advice and concluded he had little chance of succeeding with a complaint.
The University Librarian has received no further communication from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) since the incident.
Police Minister Mark Ryan claims that the “Queensland Police Service always puts community first.”
The minister has done nothing despite there being an alarming rise in lawlessness by police. Especially when confronted by peaceful demonstrations. Police have targetted other activists including an incident where a police constable harassed local councillor Jonathan Sri for a number of years because of his support for refugees and first nations people.
It is time to ask who pays the piper in government in Queensland.
Ian Curr Original report – 28 October 2020 Updated one year later on 23 October 2021
Motherland cradle me, close my eyes, Lullaby me to sleep. Keep me safe, lie with me, Stay beside me don’t go – Natalie Merchant
Local community choir ‘Singpatico‘ saw their way through Covid and managed to put in a great performance at the Laura Street Festival on Sunday 10 October 2021.
The choir featured a beautiful version of the very personal song, Motherland, by Natalie Merchant that gained political attention because the album of the same name was to be released on 9/11. Some of the lyrics were regarded as prescient of the fall of the twins towers.
The final cover of Motherland released in November 2001. The original album cover was a picture of children in a field wearing oxygen masks. Thus the Motherland cover shows a tree laden with apples with the songstress is sitting demurely beneath.
“Take one last look behind, Commit this to memory and mind. Don’t miss this wasteland, This terrible place When you leave Keep your heart off your sleeve”
Natalie Merchant withheld the release of the album Motherland and changed its cover out of respect for those killed in the Twin Towers. So strong were feelings running at the time, Merchant felt pressured into taking one song off the album “The End” which included the lyrics: ‘That’ll be the end of war/ the end of the law of Bible, of Koran, Torah.‘
Such was the hysteria surrounding 9/11, the US government got on with the insane payback of the people of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria. Merchant dedicated her album to the victims in New York of September 11, 2001 attack. Her album sold well.
The singer songwriter has been associated with a number of political campaigns in the US including opposition to President Trump. Natalie Merchant sang her song Motherland and Woody Guthrie’s This Land is our Land at a protest outside Trump Tower in New York City on January 19, 2017. Merchant was also involved in protest against oil and gas fracking in New York state, as well as campaigns against domestic violence. But when tested the songstress stuck to her music choosing the personal not the political (a harder road with probably fewer album sales).
The Laura Street Festival in West End has managed to re-capture community spirit during a very difficult time for people with progressive politics. Organising face-to-face has challenged grass roots movements.
Community organisations, unions, solidarity groups and left-wing parties have all felt the pinch in a world that has turned to religion and the right at a time when the gulf between rich and poor has never been so great.
Well, I’ve walked these streets In a carnival, of sights to see All the cheap thrill seekers vendors and the dealers They crowded around me – Carnival by Natalie Merchant
Playlist Motherland by Natalie Merchant While my guitar gently weeps by George Harrison Lively Up by Bob Marley African dancing music
At the close to the most successful Big Ride for Palestine (Australia) about fifty (50) from the community who support Palestine assemble near the Baladi (=home) Coffee Cart run by Farrah and Tony. Already 115 riders and walkers have completed over 11,200 kilometre Australia-wide and have raised over $44,545 for the Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organisation in the refugee camps in Lebanon. This, our 5th Big Ride for Palestine in partnership with APHEDA (Union aid Abroad), is a good example of practical solidarity and awareness raising!
TBR21 for Palestine Grand Finale In Brisbane, this Saturday the 9th October we celebrated this years Big Ride with a ride and walk at the Grand Finale on 237 Brisbane Corso Yeronga near Baladi Coffee Cart. Riders completed a 25 kilometer half-river loop and walkers went from Baladi up to the Dutton Park Cemetery and back.
After Lachlan Hurse (TBR21 for Palestine) gave a welcome and acknowledgement of coutry never ceded, representatives from Brisbane’s community and activist groups spoke at the gathering. They were:
Omar Ashour (Falesteen Inc), Rosa – Justice for Palestine (Meanjin), and Wendy Turner – Labor Friends for Palestine. We then had a lucky dip to select gifts donated by Palestine Fair Trade (Australia) (winners to be announced).
Noor Zaman from the Rohingyan Community brought his nephew and his banner and looked after the TBR21 for Palestine stall during the ride and walk. Wendy spoke about how difficult it is to get the major political parties to pass motions in support of the Palestinians. Omar addressed the need for a Palestinian community and Rosa spoke about the need for Boycotts Divestments and Sanctions against Israel. JFP (Meanjin) are currently doing walks about the CBD in support of a boycott of PUMA which supplies the Israeli military.
Finally a word from the Director of Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organisation in Lebanon:
“Through my connections with Helen (McCue), I contacted APHEDA (union aid abroad) and with its help we were able to develop this (Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian) organisation and get some important projects off the ground, including job training in the new information technology industry, and in more traditional areas, such as dressmaking and hairdressing.
We also initiated much-needed childcare projects, after-school tutoring and summer school programs for children, and importantly for me, we aimed to keep our culture alive through a program that taught our young about Palestine and customs such as our traditional dance, Debkeh.
We also sought to empower women in the camps with workshops on their rights under Islamic law, and health and literacy education that gave them insights into how they could obey religious laws but still have planned pregnancies.” – Olfat Mahmoud in Tears for Tarshiha.
Learning the Dabke
Rasheed, Heather & Sameer from Al Zayton Palestine Dabke Dance Troup
Rosa – Justice for Palestine (Meanjin)
TBR21 and Labor Friends products and gifts
Wendy Turner – Labor Friends
Omar Ashour – Falesteen Inc
Ian Curr – TBR21 for Palestine
Baladi Coffee Cart
We were joined by the President of the Palestinian Association of Queensland, Omar Ashour. Also our celebration was boosted by the Al Zayton (olive) Palestinian Dabke Troupe performed Palestinian Folk Dabke dance.
Refreshments , coffee and Middle Eastern food were available at Farrah and Tony’s Baladi Coffee Cart. Thanks for their hospitality in helping bring the community together.
It is not that I don’t trust intellectuals, or that I am wary that they can make anything sound true.
It is in struggle that we learn what is true.
However it is always good to discover which side you are on. Here is a clear rejection of Modern Monetary Theory by Michael Roberts. With you, I agree, comrade.
In solidarity
A person of no consequence
5 Oct 2021
Bill Mitchell is a Professor in Economics and Director of theCentre of Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Professor Mitchell is one of the world’s leading exponents of what is called Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). MMT has gained traction in the labour movement in recent years on the grounds that it provides powerful new arguments to refute the claims of mainstream economics that governments need to balance their books ie keep spending in line with tax revenues and not allow government debt to spiral. In order to balance the books, so the mainstream argument goes, government spending must be cut, taxes raised and debt levels reduced, even if that means more poverty and worse public services. There is no alternative – as Margaret Thatcher once said.
However, MMT is supposed to offer the answers to the Austerians, both theoretically and in alternative…
“Misplaced faith in political utopias has led to ruin” – quote from Oxford Languages
Foco can mean a central space, however in revolutionary politics Che Guevara gave it real meaning in guerrilla warfare against military dictatorships around the world. It was a place from which the poor and oppressed could launch their attack on the ruling class.
On the Paradigm Shift, this week, Andy talked “about creating radical collaborative spaces in Brisbane. We hear from people organising this week’s Community Day for Climate, next week’s Laura Street Festival, plus the ongoing spaces at Common House and Moorooka Social Space.” – Andy from Paradigm Shift
Andy interviews people from four contemporary radical spaces around Brisbane: Turnstyle Community Hub in Laura Street, Common House in the Valley, Moorooka Social Space and Extinction Rebellion’s Community Day for Climate at Northey Street Markets.
Surviving utopia The show looks at an evolving need for community. None of the spaces discussed existed more than ten years ago illustrating the precarious existence for organisations that run these spaces. For example, unite, set up only a few years ago (2016) has split and dissolved. Common House is now run by a management committee from a number of different collectives.
Interesting also is the generational nature of theses groups. Faced with a climate crisis, a global pandemic and the sabre rattling of war mongers, there is a need for stable lasting organisation of revolutionary groups … till now, unattainable.
It is interesting to hear Dave Eden speak when unite was set up:
It seems that unite was unable to live up to at least one piece of advice by Dave Eden: “Run, comrade, the old world is behind you!” so itran out of puff. Not that there is any harm in a little utopia in political organisation.
It is very difficult to maintain any level of organisation, something that the more rigid Socialist Alliance did manage for many years prior to being pushed out of that place by the more anarchist unite. Socialist Alliance are still going at the Albion Peace Centre.
During the ten years I did Paradigm Shift on 4ZZZ, I would walk by Common House on Fridays after doing the show from noon till 1pm. Nine out of ten times I knocked on the door at 74b Wickham St, Fortitude Valley, there was no one there. An empty space. Now there’s a radical concept.
Many communities in Meanjin Some longer lasting political groups tied to the Left in some way that were not covered on the show are: Foco Nuevo, the Cuba Friendship Society, Justice for Palestine, LeftPress Printing Society, the Big Ride for Palestine, Andy’s own community, the Catholic Workers, Just Peace, Friends of the Earth & Stop Adani, and Politics in the Pub, Julian Assange supporters and of course a number of union based communities which get together each year on May Day. There is even Paradigm Shift itself that has gained a following thanks to Andy and others since it was begun on 4ZZZ in 2009.
Humphrey McQueen disparagingly calls these little utopias, grouplets and sometimes, when the organisation rests on the efforts of one or two people, there does seem some justification for his contempt. Setting up is hard, but sustaining organisation is harder. Some more examples are mentioned below.
For example, the original FOCO lasted about 14 months, firstly at the old Trades Hall and then at AHEPA Hall in West End and rode the crest of the anti-Vietnam war movement and counterculture that grew out of it.
Foco Nuevo, on the other hand, has been going since 28 March, 2008 and is a monthly concert featuring local and international musicians from many different genres. It takes the form of the Latin American ‘peña‘ , a regular performance space for Jumping Fences and guests, held on theFirst Friday of every month. It has even survived the pandemic. There website provides the particulars:
It was initially organised in association with Ahimsa House, a community space in West End, Brisbane.
The name Foco Nuevo refers to Brisbane’s FOCO Club, a lively and alternative performance space which ran on a weekly basis during the late 1960s. The mix of music and social issues has given a particular character to Brisbane music over several decades, and has never been far from the inspiration behind the song writing of Jumping Fences. Their original work and the influence of their long association with Latin American music have given them a unique profile in Brisbane.
There are a number of other progressive communities in Brisbane (Meanjin). There’s the St Mary’s community that formed because of the need for social justice in the church of Rome. Disillusionment by progressive people about the failure of the church to provide a space for women and gays was a strong motive behind this community. Two priests, Kennedy and Fitzpatrick consistently raised the need for women in the priesthood until the were both de-frocked by Rome and the old order re-established. After all, the church in Rome is a gay men’s club led by luminaries like George Pell, the former leader of the church in Australia, once convicted of pedophilia escaping prison only through the auspices of the High Court of Australia who quashed the conviction by a jury on technical grounds.
Then there’s the community in Musgrave Park, Jagera Arts, WAR and the Sacred Fire which is about sovereignty and first nations land rights.
There’s the Latin-American community that is a loose formation around solidarity with the struggles in the Americas. They often get together at various venues including the Spanish Club, Foco Nuevo, Cuba Friendship events and some restaurants. Not to mention the various places that have evolved from the women’s movement including Women’s House. As mentioned on the show the anti-poverty network is trying to make government accountable for the widening gap between rich and poor, particularly women. And, finally, there’s 4ZZZ an independent radio station that came out of the anti-war movement. But its main focus remains, music.
To name a few … I am sorry a full treatment in this short article is impossible.
Having left the Middle East in chaos, the United States is trying to protect its military superiority in the Indo-Pacific. Like a devoted child, Australia is going along for the ride providing an even greater base for US military superiority.
On this week’s Paradigms Shift, Andy manages to get a submariner on the show to criticise the new nuclear sub deal with United States. Not that the $90 billion French deal didn’t deserve criticism. Former submarine, Rex Patrick, is now an independent MP from South Australia and he shows up the admirals and defence budget analysts with a stinging rebuke.
What a pathetic government we have. 😂
Controlling the seas A key U.S. strategic goal is to dominate the critical sea-lanes between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, through which a large portion of world trade passes. This includes the majority of China’s exports and imports, and the Middle Eastern oil supplies that are so essential to the functioning of its economy.
These sea lanes produce choke points and the US wants to deploy Australian submariners into those places to thwart Chinese attempts to break potentional US blockades of Chinese trade. It seems to me we would be fighting against our own economic interests because of the strong trade relationship we have with China.
What a pathetic President the US has, Joe Biden even forgot Scott Morrison’s name calling him ‘that fella from down under’ when they signed the deal!
This week’s show is about last week’s AUKUS announcement – what does Australia’s new military alliance mean, how does it relate to potential conflict in our region, and what’s the go with these new submarines? I speak to international relations academic Vince Scappatura, and to former submariner, now senator Rex Patrick.
“…while I could not fulfill my grandfather’s dream of burying him in Tarshiha, I did the best I could, I planted an olive tree for my grandfather in his village, I chose to plant the tree as a symbol of hope and peace for my family and for the remaining inhabitants of Tarshiha, that they may be spared further conflict and war. And that one day, my family in exile might to be able to return to their village.” – Chaker Mahmoud, Palestinian refugee, now a Canadian citizen.
Now in its 5th year, the Big Ride for Palestine (Australia) has raised over $77K for important projects in Gaza, the West Bank and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. The crucial demand for the latter is the right of return to their homelands which are being settled by the apartheid state of Israel.
The 2021 ride will follow the COVID-Safe approach adopted last year, where participants ride or walk a self-nominated distance over a fortnight, seeking sponsorship from friends, comrades, and supporters of Palestine. This allows people to join, even in lockdown as exercise is allowed. In places where restrictions permit, local group rides and walks can take place.
Again, The Big Ride for Palestine-Australia will be a national event, held between September 25th and October 10th, 2021.
Following discussions with Union-Aid Abroad-APHEDA, we have decided that in 2021 funds will again be sent to its partner organisation, the Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organisation (PWHO). Palestinian refugees in the camps in Lebanon are presently facing an extreme crisis generated by the convergence of three factors, the COVID-19 Pandemic, the collapse of the Lebanese economy and a political crisis with no functioning government in the country.
Apart from fundraising for critical APHEDA projects, The Big Ride participants assist with raising the profile of Palestinian issues in the general community. We do this through distributing leaflets, posting on social media, and proudly wearing our Palestinian Big Ride jerseys and tee-shirts.
Olfat: Thank you for the introduction. My name is Olfat Mahmoud. I am Palestinian from Lebanon. And I’m the director of the Palestinian Women’s Humanitarian Organization.
Ian: I’ve been reading your book Tears for Tarshiha.
Olfat: That’s my village in Palestine.
Ian: And I’m looking at the front cover of the book. And there are people carrying bales on their heads away from a village .. that’s down a road in what looks like in in the 1940s. Can you can you describe what that is?
Olfat: Actually I tell you the story of my grand mother, because I was not born yet.
It’s in 1948 when Palestinians were really scared and afraid, and it was heavy fighting was the scary … the Deir Yassin massacre and people hear the news, they were terrified. So they decided to send the woman and the children to Lebanon, because they were very close to the south of the south of Lebanon woman and the children mostly all people as well. They left the villages for just they said for two weeks, they were promised that only two weeks and you will return back they left and they never went back and this is the trip when they were leaving their villages to go to run away from war and from fighting to Lebanon. So that is the cover of the book.
Ian: So that’s your grandmother Her name is Alya, isn’t it?
Olfat: Yes. Alia. Yeah,
Ian: Alia, so she has already has children, which would be … is that your mother?
Olfat: Hind, yes, she has children. Yes, she has children. And actually, on this trip, she lost some of her children from measles and so it was very hard for her. She had four daughters and a boy son with her and three, other than these three were died from, you know, measles and infectious diseases.
Ian: Yes, I’m looking at a photo of the Burj el Barajneh Palestinian camp where she arrived in the outskirts of Beirut in the early 1950s. And it looks like a shanty town With a very dusty, and there’s lots of clothes hanging out on lines. So she moved into that situation on the outskirts of Beirut, is that right?
Olfat: It’s the southern suburb of Beirut there near the airport. Actually it was first they went to the south of Lebanon, because it’s very close to their villages, and they stay there for sometimes. Then the United Nations, they established UNRWA. And they told people that they can’t go back now to their villages. So they went first to the Bekaa Valley, and they went to Beirut. So it was a long trip, like from place to place until they settled in Burj el Barajneh camp.
Ian: Yes, I read a comment about this in a in another book, the point that the author makes is that the Palestinian refugees became an ‘inconvenience to the international community’. How did that affect you?
Olfat: We have been refugees since 1948, before I was born, and the internet and actually, this problem is created by the international community, and they should be responsible for what they created. Instead, they get bored really and further from hearing about the Palestinian situation. So they are not doing their duties.
Ian: Alia must have thought that she was going to go back. But then UNRWA was set up. And then UNRWA created a situation where she couldn’t go back. And they started providing aid in those camps.
Olfat: … not UNRWA, not UNRWA … UNRWA is a UNITED NATIONS body, it’s the international community who created this problem in 1947, one day decided to divide Palestine into two states. And then the problem happened and it was war. So the international community should do more, to help the Palestinian to help solve the problem of the Palestinian OF being refugees and help them to return back the international community, they should do more. It’s like we have been refugees for around 74 years. And they haven’t done anything. They should help us to return back to our country. They know that we were there before 1948. And they should work hard to help the Palestinian to return back. We don’t want to get refugees forever.
Ian: I’m looking at your book now. And I see that during your lifetime. You being a really a third generation refugee because it was ALIA. And then there was your mum, Hind and your dad, Khalil. And then then then there’s you. And then of course you have your children there. Your son (obscured)…
Olfat: He has a baby girl. Yes, Leah.
Ian: So that’s Leah, she’ll be the fifth generation refugee. And I’m saying in your book, not only has there been the normal difficulties of living in a camp, with insecure water and electricity, and in very cold and wet conditions. But you’ve also been the subject of bombing in 1985, at Burj el Barajneh, there was there was a bomb hit on the edge of the camp, you would have been really quite young, then. Yes. And then I’m noticing that your connection with Australia through Dr. Helen McCue is that … you and she managed to convince Cliff Dolan, the president of the ACTU,
Olfat: Yes yeah
Ian: …to help set up a feeder union aid abroad with the specific idea of providing care and assistance to the Palestinian refugees.
Olfat: Yeah, that’s true. And they still provide us with support and help.
Ian: Yes, you are not only a nurse, you’re also … I’m noticing here that you have from quite a young age, been exposed to the media and you’ve fielded questions from the media about the situation. Now, over the time that you’ve been doing that work, have you … is that … has the media been more or less sensitive to your situation?
Burj el Barajneh Palestinian camp, early 1950s
Olfat: No, I must say it’s more sensitive now because of, you know, technology, social media. So it’s more sensitive now. Yes, it’s more supportive somehow. Now.
Ian: There’s a picture also here of you as a student nurse. You’re at a nursing school in the Bekaa Valley in 1987. Now, does that mean that you were integrated into Lebanese society? Your training?
Olfat: No, no, this is Palestinian School of Nursing. I was teaching there.
Ian: Okay. Okay, so and
Olfat: … actually we have Palestinian, you know, at UNRWA while they have clinics and clinics only they have, they don’t have hospitals, but PRCS, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, they have clinics and hospitals, I worked there until 1986. And then, because of war, and because of lots of things, I enjoyed nursing, but I left, I left nursing and because I did this community nursing training in Australia in 1984-85. So I started to work within the community, with NGOs, raising awareness sessions, and things like that. Because all my experience with nursing was during war, so I had (had) enough. … And I loved working within the community. So I went back to university, I had three children, and I was working at the same time and I did sociology, psychology, and philosophy. As an undergraduate, then I now have a PhD in psychology.
Ian: Okay, and then you’ve also managed to write this book that I’ve been I’ve been reading … I’m just, … I’m amazed that someone from a refugee camp could do all of this.
Olfat: Yes, this is that was a motivation Actually, I want to prove to the world that we can, we are human beings, like all human beings. We can study we can work we can write, we can. So I’m not a writer, but this is my experience. This is my biography. I wanted to have it on and I should now say thank you, thank you. Thank you, Dr. Helen McCue. Because she encouraged me at the beginning, I refused. I said, expose my private life to you know, it’s and then I decided no, she’s right. I’m, I should write my experience and my biography. People can see from it’s not a political book. It’s not a an academic book. It’s a daily life, you know, experience book.
Ian: Also, I’m seeing you with your son, Chaker, he, he’s a, he’s a Canadian citizen. So he’s moved away from from the homeland. And is, I assume is started his own career.
Olfat: Yeah. homeland. What is homeland for us? It’s, it’s Palestine, which we are not allowed to go. So he was a refugee in Lebanon. And then he had the scholarship to go and study in Canada. So he started there, and he got the nationality. But he is he was able to visit Palestine many times that he became Canadian.
Ian: Aha, I say because of his citizenship that you can’t go there because you’re not a Canadian, but he can because …. so how do you … For example, you’re a stateless person. How do you come to Australia? Because I’ve seen you I’ve met you in Australia.
Olfat: No, like I I get the invitation from APHEDA. Always I get invitation from APHEDA. They sponsor me. And this is how I travel. So you don’t have a passport but there’s a letter I traveling document traveling documents. Need to travel?
Ian: Yes. It’s a year since we spoke and we spoke last time at the end of the last the 2020 edition of The Big Ride for Palestine, Australia. Now, for our supporters and riders and walkers. Can you give us an idea of the current situation for women in Burj el Barajneh, knee and Shatilla refugee camps?
Olfat: Actually, we work in Burj el Barajneh, Shatilla and the south of Lebanon, Palestinian refugee camps mainly in Bar Elias (?) (obscured).The work actually became very hard now. It’s very hard to support families who are already experiencing hardship greater than was seen during the days of the Civil War. And there are many reasons for for that we know that the whole world is affected by covid 19 pandemic and the economic situation everywhere.started to be harsh well, but in Lebanon, we have other crisis. The economic crisis began in Lebanon in late 2019, when we had the start of the 17th of October Revolution. And it was exacerbated by the covid 19 pandemic, after the fourth of August 2020 Beirut blast. All of this made the whole country actually half of the country’s population living in poverty. Even people who had enjoyed a good comfortable standard of living now struggle with soaring prices. So imagine for the Palestinians who live in the camps, already, they have a problem with work, they have no right to work in Lebanon. And already they live in poverty. Even the basic essentials nowadays, including food is unaffordable. The currency devaluation has rendered salaries almost worthless, almost because they was nothing … the Lebanese lire and due to restrictions, Palestinians have no right to work, and many people in the camps dependent on casual labor to support their families, which is (obscured), that means they are dependent on daily payment work, but now dried up due to COVID-19 … lock downs, and all the other crisis we have in Lebanon. Now, what shall I say, if you walk through on the streets, you will find queues of cars in front of petrol station trying to get some fuel to their cars. And people who need to travel to their work, they can’t work now because most of the time they have no fuel. Children now are going so so those who work on daily bement actually, they lost this opportunity. There is no more work. Even many companies who used to work in Lebanon, they move now out of Lebanon, so many people lost their jobs. And they can’t afford doing you know, painting and things like that. So Palestinians who used to do this daily payment work mostly stopped more costly, plus people without work at all. And now it’s the school now our schools are open now you know, after summer vacation. So these children, they will go to schools where there are no electricity, there is shortage of electricity, how they will study. We have been teaching our kids for two years because of COVID-19, online, but we don’t have the resources in the camps. People maybe the whole family, they all have one phone, how they can share it with their kids, they have four or five kids at school. So not all of them will attend classes. And computers, some they have some they don’t have so makes it very difficult to study online. And now if they want to go to school, there is no electricity most of the day. It’s a very difficult situation.
And also hospital hosting hospitals are struggling due to shortage of medicine and the fuel as well. Many cases over chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, heart problems. Nowadays, they don’t get they don’t get their medication. You you you will search for your medicine and you won’t get it and if you get it, it’s over expectation … the price. So it makes it very difficult for people with chronic illnesses. You know, the population and Lebanon it’s around 6,800,000 something … in let’s say 7 million from COVID from COVID-19 virus … from the beginning of COVID-19 till now it’s more than 8200 people died from COVID-19. And now the hospitals they don’t have enough oxygen they don’t have. … So it’s it’s a very, very difficult generation. If people get COVID-19 they … many people’s they suffer they struggle and they die at home. So it’s really really a very miserable situation. And we don’t know how people will survive. It’s it’s very difficult.
And UNICEF and UNICEF has warned that the current that the country’s water supply system is on the brink of collapse. So what we have nothing, nothing. It’s like if I myself, I prefer not to leave the house, because if you leave the house, you will want to buy something you can’t afford. It’s very no electricity, not enough water. Most of the time, no WiFi, no medication, no medicine, how people will survive. It’s really, really a very, very bad situation. Very bad situation. And you know what I call it it’s a dire situation with no end. in sight, it’s a dire situation. With no end in sight, we don’t see how it will be solved. Really no one knows.
Ian: … sorry to interrupt but in my introduction, I mentioned that there are two aims for the big ride for Palestine. The first one is to raise people’s awareness and but the other one was to provide, raise and provide money for programs to be run by your organization. Can you give some practical examples of how that money can helpthe people?
Olfat: Look, I’ll tell you now people are in desperate, desperate need. I know we believe in development, and it’s very important. But to be honest, we need also as well some relief for how they can how people were survive. And the problem is it’s not now it’s in the future and very worried about the future because now they’re in Lebanon there there is no milk for children even so what people are eating is very little and mostly carbohydrates. So after a few years, we will see what will happen to the health of the kids and people already we started to see anaemia, we started to see malnutrition. And we all know, these problems affect … affect, not just our health, but our brains as well. So these children will have problems with their school achievement. But with the help, we really appreciate, really, international NGOs one day contribute money or things to the camps because it helps a lot. .. It helps a lot. For example, it’s very important now and the due to lack of everything, it’s to do short courses for woma]en, mainly women and help them like cook good food, and affordable. Like, like ideas, how she can meat and chicken is you know, in our tradition, they think they are like they should eat them daily.
So we should teach them we should teach them with the help of a nutritionist Of course, how to cook affordable meals for their children. This is very important. It’s very important as well to raise awareness on now. psychological state of the families, like people are very angry people are very afraid they don’t feel safe. Because of the economic situation we started to hear about lots of crimes taking place and you know, I’m not because I’m a woman or … women are more at risk of these crimes because they think you know women are weak we can attack them easily. So on the streets, some young men, they pull the bags behind bags of woman and do what they do bag and run away. So women are afraid now to leave the house. So it’s very important to run some courses on self defense or on exchange ideas how she can protect herself what she can do while she are outside her house, we need to help them to to do like short courses, especially families who have who are not well educated because if the woman if the family is well educated, even if they are poor, they still can do some type of teaching and then get some money. So we were rich women who are not well educated do short courses and You know, making clothes on skills, so she can work from home, she can at least she can at least earn some money to feed her children.
There are lots of other ideas as well also for now school schools are open. So you know, at least help children with extra curriculum help children with some stationary help could help children to if they are at risk to drop out to join especially classes in our center. So to avoid the drop out, there are lots of ideas
Ian: Ken Davis from AHEDA mentioned in his interview, how the alleyways in Burj el Barajneh he can reflect the towns and villages where people lived prior to al Nakba in 1948. And several generations, like you have told us today, have now passed on. And you’re you’re struggling for the right of return to your own town of Tarshiha. What do you say to the people who maintain that the Jewish people must have the right to go to Palestine? And to settle there. What do you say to those people that make that argument?
Olfat: First of all, we believe we believe you know, we have Muslims, the Christians, Jews, we have also Hindus, whatever, like hundreds of other. So anyone, anyone can go and visit, like they can go and visit Palestine, they can go on.
But actually, you can’t put all Jewish people in one state. This is very dangerous, even. This is very dangerous. We should spread Muslims should spread the Christians should spread Jewish should spread. It’s like so all Muslims should go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and say this is where we should live. Also Christians, for example, Jesus was born in Palestine. So they should all go there as well. This is not really I don’t, … this is a very weak argument. I don’t like either to go into this argument. But I think if I am a Russian Jewish, why I should go and live in Palestine. If I’m Russian, Jew, (if) I’m Jewish. This is my religious, not my country.
Ian: Yes, the the international community seems to see both the 1948 and the 1967 refugees as an inconvenience. And recently, the Australian government took $11 million away from projects run by APHEDA designed to assist the Palestinians. What do you say to Australian politicians and government officials? Who are making these cuts at a time of severe economic crisis in Lebanon?
Olfat: Don’t, I would say don’t make people really feel the injustice. If when people feel the injustice, they are exposed to many, many, many, many, I don’t know many problems. So we should we should live in peace and justice. You should not treat people as if they are nothing like they are only they are Palestinian refugees they don’t deserve anything. This is wrong, you are forcing people I’m not giving execuse to what is called between quotations Terrorism what but you are giving calls for people to revalue you are giving cause to people to do really to be angry so it’s the opposite you shall you should help people who feel that they are treated badly you should help people to feel justice you had you you should help people to to meet their needs. But by doing this, you are provoking them.
Ian: Is there anything … Thank you very much. Olfat. I know it’s been very difficult even getting in contact with you but, in these difficult times, but is there anything that you wish to add?
Olfat: Oh, I wish to say like, please always remember us. We are human beings like you. We have been refugees for 74 years without rights. Or with very limited rights. It’s not fair. It’s not fair. Always when we talk, we say, peace and justice, peace alone, it’s not going to work. While peace was justice, it’s going to work. And I believe in that, and believe me, sometimes like when we when I’m really angry of the situation of what’s happening, and I remember nice people I remember very good supportive people. It I don’t know what it what happens, like I say, are no, no, no. The world is not really unsafe by having these nice, very supportive people know, the world is still safe to live. And so I would like to thank all people who are helping and supporting us. And because now of the big right, and walk, this makes us feel really very, very happy. Because we feel that they we have both we are not alone. So keep us in our in your mind, and help us not only financially, also politically, help us talk to your peers, to your government to to keep their support that the Palestinians until there is a just solution.
Ian: I noticed that your son, he wrote a really quite beautiful article, and I just like to read out. The last part of it, he says: “…while I could not fulfill my grandfather’s dream of burying him in Tarshiha, I did the best I could, I planted an olive tree for my grandfather in his village, I chose to plant the tree as a symbol of hope and peace for my family and for the remaining inhabitants of Tarshiha, that they may be spared further conflict and war. And that one day, my family in exile might to be able to return to their village.”
That’s, it’s, it’s, it’s, in a way, it’s a very simple thing. It’s not it’s just how to achieve it
Olfat: …simple but very effective. Yeah, it’s like, you know, give us the hope.
Ian: Well, thank you very much for this. And I’m, I’m want to urge people here in Australia who are participating or thinking of supporting the Palestinian women’s humanitarian organization, by by participating in whatever way they can.
We encourage people also one other thing is we only do this event once every year, that’s all we can manage it our end. But I encourage people who are having thoughts about, about how they can help in other ways. I encourage them to join their local solidarity groups. There are quite a few in Australia now. Locally, here in Brisbane in Queensland, we have the justice for Palestine group, it has a website and a Facebook page. And they conduct a number of campaigns, demonstrations, public rallies. And I think that, you know, if you want to go to another level, that’s really, that sort of solidarity is important. so that people can still have hope.
Olfat: Thank you. Yes, thank you. And I would like to thank all people who think about others. Think about us as Palestinian refugees, and support us, thank you.
We highly appreciate that. And I would like to thank every there for what they are doing, and their support all the time. And
I should thank everybody. And because Helen McHugh is special. I call her my Australian sister. I would like to thank her for all her support as well. Thank you.
Ian: All right. I hope you can now go to bed.
Olfat: Yes, I will tomorrow. I have work in the morning.
Ian: I’ll talk to you again sometime. Bye Bye now.
Paradigm Shift Andy & guests Friday 12:00 – 1:00 PM September 17, 2021
Welcome to the Paradigm Shift on FM 102.1 4ZZZ Fridays at noon. We challenge the assumptions of our current society, to resist oppression …more
This week’s show is about climate adaptation and resilience. I speak with Dan Metcalfe from the CSIRO about natural disaster resilience, economist Andrew Wait about the potential viability of rural Australia, and epidemiologist Colin Butler about the public health effects of climate change. Listen at https://4zzz.org.au/program/paradigm-shift
Wind Farm near NSW/Vicorian Border Photo: Ian Curr
Playlist The Rebel Riot – Let’s fight The Lurkers – DIY armageddon Billy Bragg – King tide and the sunny day flood James Gordon – We can do this
Plus archive of Paradigm Shift (4ZZZ fm 102.1 Fridays at noon)
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