Moria and Nauru. Two places, that couldn’t be further away from each other, and that could not be more similar. Two detention camps where desperate people go to experience life in limbo. Refugees, fleeing from warzones, from destruction and devastation, hoping to save their families, only to be met with apalling conditions, inhumane treatment, exposed to violence, racism, mental illness and abuse. Both places symbols of the respective countries’ governments’ failure to show compassion and humanity.
Both governments ironically exposed by the same organisation – Doctors without Borders.
For Greece, it is the shameful failure of a supposedly ‘leftist’ (that is more prone to defending human rights) government. When in opposition, Syriza had been campaigning for the closure of the shameful detention centre in Amygdaleza – and rightly so. Now that the party is in power, it is allowing for a humanitarian crisis to take place under its watch.
The onus falls on a series of failed ministers – ironically all with experience in the NGO and Civil societey sectors. But it also falls on the EU, which funds the camps, and which will do anything to contain the crisis within Greece’s borders, for fear of it ‘contaminating’ the continent’s heartland.
For Australia, the onus falls on consecutive governments – but it is not without significance that the current PM is boasting of initiating the ‘Stop the Boats’ policy. He takes pride on the activity that has led to children suffering mental illness and sexual abuse, deprived of freedom without facing any charges, because they haven’t broken any law.
Finally, this might change. A series of MPs have raised this issue, calling for the stop to this policy, for the salvation of children. With the Wentworth byelection inaugurating a long election period, this might be the mandate of the next ballots. It should be. Voters should hold politicians accountable. Unless they want to have this disgrace keep happening in their name.