19 April 2016

Share the SIEV X memorial story as refugee crisis continues

| Paul Costigan
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There are so many stories to be told around the installation of the memorial to the 353 people who drowned while attempting the journey to Christmas Island on 19th October, 2001. I have visited the SIEV X memorial site at Weston Park numerous times and the impact has not reduced.

With each pole representing an individual and its height indicating the age of the person, as well as the small shape indicating the size of the boat, the tragedy remains as devastating to think about today despite the 14 years that have passed.

At the time we witnessed a response by community members to not allow these individuals to be forgotten. From others, namely forces within the Commonwealth Government, there were desperate efforts to disallow the erection of such a memorial.

In the end it was the ACT Government that worked around the Commonwealth and the NCA and provided the opportunity for the temporary memorial. Over time, the ACT Government has extended the permission for the memorial to stay where it is.

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At the time of its first installation, several people made more out of the politics of the disaster, namely they used the staging of the memorial as another reason to attack the Howard Government. While the actions of that government deserved to be howled down, this memorial was primarily not a political statement but an installation created by groups of people to give the relatives of those who perished some form of outlet for their grief.

The memorial continues to be a reminder of the dreadful state of the world whereby people are forced to make the choice to leave their homes and to risk everything. To think that three times the population of Canberra could be about to walk into Germany seeking refuge speaks volumes of the complexities of the refugee crisis that has now been with us in various forms for over a decade.

Yet we still know not what to do!

The SIEV X memorial is a reminder of the 2001 disaster and of the fact that ordinary people wish this country could do more.

Take people there and tell them the story. Take time out and spend a few minutes there alone to reflect on the on-going situation that others are dealing with right now.

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There is in dogs a certain clear-sighted, stout faculty, which without being deceived by appearances keeps an eye upon the rogues and often proves too cunning for them. Without unfolding all the false and cynical principles behind the motivation that would misappropriate a tragic event for one’s own political purposes and advancement, it is notable that the location of this absurdity near a dog park is quite fortuitous because our canine companions, unfettered by hypocritical veneration, make practical use of these posts in a way that that adequately expresses the opinions of many. May this self-indulgent folly decay, rot and crumble away.

dungfungus said :

HenryBG said :

dungfungus said :

I think you maybe right as a few years ago when that other boat evaded detection and turned up at Christmas Island then foundering on the rocks there wasn’t a peep from the same people that were blaming the federal government for the SIEV X sinking.
Why would that be I wonder?
Time the sticks were moved – the arboretum up in the Brindabellas would be a good site.

That’s a good idea – that will give them more room for all the extra sticks required to commemorate the extra 1,200 people who all drowned while trying to reach Australia under the Rudd/Gillard governments.

…because they *do* want a “powerful and moving” memorial to the people who died as a result of an Australian government’s mis-managed immigation policy, regardless of that government’s political leanings….right…?

The extra 120 sticks wouldn’t look out of place at the Glen-loch Arboretum; along with all the other kitsch that is finding a home there.

I meant 1200 sticks of course.

HenryBG said :

dungfungus said :

I think you maybe right as a few years ago when that other boat evaded detection and turned up at Christmas Island then foundering on the rocks there wasn’t a peep from the same people that were blaming the federal government for the SIEV X sinking.
Why would that be I wonder?
Time the sticks were moved – the arboretum up in the Brindabellas would be a good site.

That’s a good idea – that will give them more room for all the extra sticks required to commemorate the extra 1,200 people who all drowned while trying to reach Australia under the Rudd/Gillard governments.

…because they *do* want a “powerful and moving” memorial to the people who died as a result of an Australian government’s mis-managed immigation policy, regardless of that government’s political leanings….right…?

The extra 120 sticks wouldn’t look out of place at the Glen-loch Arboretum; along with all the other kitsch that is finding a home there.

dungfungus said :

I think you maybe right as a few years ago when that other boat evaded detection and turned up at Christmas Island then foundering on the rocks there wasn’t a peep from the same people that were blaming the federal government for the SIEV X sinking.
Why would that be I wonder?
Time the sticks were moved – the arboretum up in the Brindabellas would be a good site.

That’s a good idea – that will give them more room for all the extra sticks required to commemorate the extra 1,200 people who all drowned while trying to reach Australia under the Rudd/Gillard governments.

…because they *do* want a “powerful and moving” memorial to the people who died as a result of an Australian government’s mis-managed immigation policy, regardless of that government’s political leanings….right…?

Scribble said :

“You can’t memorialise everything, especially things that didn’t happen here.”

Give the AWM a big swerve then. Absolutely chockers with that sort of thing

The AWM is about Australians and where they were when they were fighting for our freedom. You probably were related to them or knew of them. To compare the AWM to the SIEX X memorial is very tacky but hey, you are entitled to your opinion……..

Scribble said :

“You can’t memorialise everything, especially things that didn’t happen here.”

Give the AWM a big swerve then. Absolutely chockers with that sort of thing

Is this the AWM in which every exhibit is aimed at telling the story of violent events involving Australia and its contemporary allies and opponents, or a different AWM that has nothing to do with Australia?

Holden Caulfield said :

dungfungus said :

Holden Caulfield said :

I agree, it is a very powerful memorial. Forget the politics.

By saying forget the politics, what do you mean?

It’s pretty simple. Leave politics aside, regardless of one’s views on immigration, this memorial is incredibly powerful and moving.

I disagree. It was nothing more than a cheap political shot at the Liberals. Utterly disgusting.

Postalgeek said :

neanderthalsis said :

And thanks to the successful border control policies implemented following this incident and the reinstated in part by Gillard and fully by the current government, we will not deaths at sea that we saw previously.

Your statement is open to interpretation. There are still refugee deaths at sea, but just not in Australian territorial waters.

As Indonesia has revealed, the number of illegal immigrants entering Indonesia has plummeted as a direct result of there no longer being any pipeline to Australia through their territory.

The deaths that were being caused by incoherent immigration policies are now no longer occurring in many places, not just our own waters.

“You can’t memorialise everything, especially things that didn’t happen here.”

Give the AWM a big swerve then. Absolutely chockers with that sort of thing

Rollersk8r said :

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

Must confess I had forgotten about the SIEV thing. I never go down that way.

I do remember their was controversy about it, but of course the ACT was Jons fiefdom, so he could do what he wanted.

Whenever I take visitors to Canberra for a drive I avoid this place.
This wasn’t always the case but after 3 separate visitors in row were told it was a memorial for lots of people who drowned allegedly trying to get here they all said “what, drowned in the lake over there?”

Agree – never visited and have no intention to. You can’t memorialise everything, especially things that didn’t happen here. And this is absolutely a protest against the federal government as much as it is a memorial. That’s my opinion.

I think you maybe right as a few years ago when that other boat evaded detection and turned up at Christmas Island then foundering on the rocks there wasn’t a peep from the same people that were blaming the federal government for the SIEV X sinking.
Why would that be I wonder?
Time the sticks were moved – the arboretum up in the Brindabellas would be a good site.

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

Must confess I had forgotten about the SIEV thing. I never go down that way.

I do remember their was controversy about it, but of course the ACT was Jons fiefdom, so he could do what he wanted.

Whenever I take visitors to Canberra for a drive I avoid this place.
This wasn’t always the case but after 3 separate visitors in row were told it was a memorial for lots of people who drowned allegedly trying to get here they all said “what, drowned in the lake over there?”

Agree – never visited and have no intention to. You can’t memorialise everything, especially things that didn’t happen here. And this is absolutely a protest against the federal government as much as it is a memorial. That’s my opinion.

Holden Caulfield9:53 pm 19 Nov 15

dungfungus said :

Holden Caulfield said :

I agree, it is a very powerful memorial. Forget the politics.

By saying forget the politics, what do you mean?

It’s pretty simple. Leave politics aside, regardless of one’s views on immigration, this memorial is incredibly powerful and moving.

dungfungus said :

MERC600 said :

Must confess I had forgotten about the SIEV thing. I never go down that way.

I do remember their was controversy about it, but of course the ACT was Jons fiefdom, so he could do what he wanted.

Whenever I take visitors to Canberra for a drive I avoid this place.
This wasn’t always the case but after 3 separate visitors in row were told it was a memorial for lots of people who drowned allegedly trying to get here they all said “what, drowned in the lake over there?”

Oh good one Dungers

MERC600 said :

Must confess I had forgotten about the SIEV thing. I never go down that way.

I do remember their was controversy about it, but of course the ACT was Jons fiefdom, so he could do what he wanted.

Whenever I take visitors to Canberra for a drive I avoid this place.
This wasn’t always the case but after 3 separate visitors in row were told it was a memorial for lots of people who drowned allegedly trying to get here they all said “what, drowned in the lake over there?”

Must confess I had forgotten about the SIEV thing. I never go down that way.

I do remember their was controversy about it, but of course the ACT was Jons fiefdom, so he could do what he wanted.

neanderthalsis said :

And thanks to the successful border control policies implemented following this incident and the reinstated in part by Gillard and fully by the current government, we will not deaths at sea that we saw previously.

Your statement is open to interpretation. There are still refugee deaths at sea, but just not in Australian territorial waters.

One question we should be asking is whether such drownings in this region have actually been averted, or whether drownings have simply been shifted to another region’s waters, in which case there is no moral achievement in the numbers. I hope that they have been prevented.

Certainly the policy seemingly has had a significant impact in reducing deaths associated with Australian borders.

Suicide now seems to be the main cause of death associated with Australian borders, so still room for improvement.

http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/thebordercrossingobservatory/publications/australian-border-deaths-database/

rosscoact said :

neanderthalsis said :

And thanks to the successful border control policies implemented following this incident and the reinstated in part by Gillard and fully by the current government, we will not hear about deaths at sea between Australia and Indonesia that we saw previously.

Fixed that for you for the sake of accuracy

Another generalisation.
If you know of any deaths at sea that the government agencies don’t report you will no doubt let us all know.
Where do you get your information from?

neanderthalsis said :

And thanks to the successful border control policies implemented following this incident and the reinstated in part by Gillard and fully by the current government, we will not hear about deaths at sea between Australia and Indonesia that we saw previously.

Fixed that for you for the sake of accuracy

neanderthalsis2:39 pm 18 Nov 15

And thanks to the successful border control policies implemented following this incident and the reinstated in part by Gillard and fully by the current government, we will not deaths at sea that we saw previously.

Holden Caulfield said :

I agree, it is a very powerful memorial. Forget the politics.

By saying forget the politics, what do you mean?

Holden Caulfield1:05 pm 18 Nov 15

I agree, it is a very powerful memorial. Forget the politics.

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