I am writing this piece as a plea to the Macalester community to stand up against an atrocious violation of human rights. Since 1999 the Australian government has instituted a policy under which immigrants who do not have the correct papers to enter the country are placed in "mandatory detention" for an indefinite period of time while their visa applications are processed. These rules apply to political and economic refugees and no exceptions are made for children.

Wholly because of this unrelenting policy, the current government, the 'liberal party,' was reelected in the past federal elections. So strong were the passions aroused by fear of illegal immigrants and of Australia being swamped by Asians and Arabs that such matters overwhelmed domestic policies. The government-controlled media has consistently manipulated the facts about asylum seekers in an effort to dehumanize and heighten the country's hostility towards them. September 11 also affected Australian attitudes. Bombarded with propaganda about a "crisis" involving a potential flood of illegal immigrants from Afghanistan—most of them Muslims and some of them possibly terrorists—voters rallied behind John Howard (the current Prime Minister) and Phillip Ruddock (the Immigration Minister).

All but one of the detention centers are in isolated, desert regions of the country; the living conditions are appalling. They are even surrounded by electric wire. The detainees are humiliated daily by the guards, and the prisoners are told that behavioral reports will affect their visa applications. The "Villawood" detention center is the only one that is located in the heart of the suburbs of Sydney, and there is an eerie historical resemblance in the way people can walk by these prison camps daily and turn a blind eye.

There have been 2,500 children in detention over the past three years. In his recent report on detention centers Justice Prafullachandra Bhagwati, the UN envoy, commented, "young boys and girls, who instead of breathing the fresh air of freedom were confined behind spiked iron bars with gates barred and locked." Most "appeared traumatized and severely affected by a culture of self-harm" (e.g. slicing of wrists and suicidal threats). Bhagwati asserted that he was standing in front of a "great human tragedy." There have been incidents of week long hunger strikes and people sewing their lips together to symbolize their lack of a voice. The Australian government remains resolute.

Although slow in getting started, there is now a growing opposition movement toward the policy in Australia; however, there is still a good percentage of the country that stands firm behind John Howard's "strong leadership". While I was home this summer break, I joined a letter writing group with some friends to get together with like minded people and write letters to some of the asylum seekers. Many of the prisoners have not had any outside contact for years, don't know if people are even aware of their existence and are overjoyed to have a friend. We have been able to send lots of things to the detainees, including books, clothes, food and music. I continue to write to two young men, Simon and Mohommad Rezaie. Receiving their letters is a huge privilege and I believe that only by hearing individual stories will public opinion ever start to change. We have sent many of the letters we have received to prominent newspapers in Australia, and I have printed some extracts here for the equally important Mac Weekly. If anyone is interested in writing to an asylum seeker, I have a shockingly long list of names and will be very happy to pass them on.

Simon: He is 19 years old and from Sudan.

"I am very sorry I can not tell you much about my country because I left my country when I was very young (11 years old). I left my country and fled to Kenya. I lived in the street of Kenya (Mombasa) for five years. Life was very difficult for me, so I went to Port of Momnasa (harbour) I board a ship. I hid in the ship for three days without food or water, the fourth day I surrender to the ship captain. They brought food, clothes, for me they were very good people … The ship went up to Saudi Arabia to take oil for Shell Company in Australia. After 22 days the ship arrived in Australia in Melbourne port of Geelong. The department of immigration came and took me to Mariyong detention centre. I stayed there for three days after they transferred me to Port Hedland Detention Centre where I have been here for two and a half years in this hellhole."

Mohammad Rezaie is being held the one detention center that is actually located outside Australia. The Australian government has paid the small Pacific island Nauru to set up a detention center in their country. However, it is evident through the letters I have received from him that there are insufficient funds and the prisoners are suffering some of the worst conditions of any of the prisons.

"Let me to tell you how I cross the sea. Our smugglers promised to provide for us a strong boat … the time was night they ordered us to go into boat early. We were embarked but the place was very narrow we did not know how many people we are. Then the boat departed water came into boat a lot of people became wet and soaked they were in the water about five or four days … we never moved our body, our legs became fat and we could not sleep … I never forget the night that I was believed that I will sink after a short time … the situation of sea was very bad we were believed we will die … but that day Tampa ship came and rescued us while we were surrounded by the death. Therefore we obliged to Tampa's captain for his services. We cross a lot of danger to approach the door of your home and knock the door to be opened to us but the authorities slapped us on the face and moved by force to Nauru and made us as a prisoner. It is approximately one year we are living in predicament and horrible situation. The weather is hot and there is not enough water to wash clothes and get washer, bath. We have to wait for rain … the shortage of water always makes us suffered and there is not sanitation … the authorities don't allow us to go to outside they make the refugees prisoner in Nauru prison without any reason … going to home is very difficult because in Afghanistan we never be safe and we spend a lot of dollars to come here there is no anything to manage our life because the houses were destroyed and money were spent. The terrorists are alive."