Fed: Woomera protests hurting perceptions of Afghanis: Consul
CANBERRA, April 1 AAP - Protesters who broke into the Woomera detention centre wereundermining the public perception of Afghani refugees, the honorary Afghanistan consulto Australia said today.
Mahmoud Saikal said the protesters had added to views that Afghanis were violent.
He said while he understood the concerns of protesters, they were hurting the effortsof many Afghanis to seek refuge in Australia.
"It looks like the events of the last few days is creating a rough view towards thoseAfghanis in the detention centres," he said.
"The protesters have a right to organise and complain about the centres, but violenceand tearing down the wall (at Woomera) does not help.
"We have many Afghanis who have fled the violence of the Taliban and now they havemore violence and they just want it to end."
Mr Saikal said a few of the Afghani detainees wanted to return home, while others werestill unsure whether to go home or stay in Australia.
He said the efforts of many others to remain in Australia were being hindered by thecontinuing protests and use of violence.
"To the protesters, I want to say thank you for caring, but the violence that has happenedis not going to help those people wanting to get out of the camps," he said.
"Taking the law into their own hands will not achieve anything."
Mr Saikal said he was talking to the federal authorities about dealing with the refugeeapplications of Afghani detainees.
AAP sw/ph/sb
KEYWORD: WOOMERA AFGHAN
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