January 18, 2010 marked 100 days since the 255 Tamil asylum seekers, escaping civil war in Sri Lanka, have been moored at Merak in Indonesia, afraid that if they disembark, they will be sent back to their war-torn country. 

A protest was held at the State library in Melbourne on this date, with similar demonstrations held around the world, to mark the 100 days.

Anthony Main, national organiser for the Socialist party, was part of a delegation of human rights activists, lawyers and trade unionists that visited the refugees that are currently on the boat moored in Merak in November 2009.

“It was an eye-opener. It’s such a small boat…250 or so people and it’s absolutely horrific the conditions, the weather is atrocious, the boat is leaking water onto the boat and people are having to lay side by side…there’s only one toilet for 250 people! The food that has been provided is causing people to get really sick.” 

Such appalling conditions have already resulted in the death on board of George Jacob Samuel Christin, 29, who died due to medical negligence on Christmas Eve and have caused widespread illness. 

There is strong evidence from the U.N, with the war crimes Tribunal in Dublin giving evidence, that Sri Lanka has committed war crimes and human rights abuses, with internment camps being compared to concentration camps.

Kanchana Senthuran, the first speaker who is from the Australian Tamil Congress, stated that persecution and discrimination was the cause of the desperate exodus on unsafe vessels. 

The interrogation of the Tamils by the Sri Lankan military, with support from the Indonesian authorities is a clear violation of the U.N human rights convention, in which the Indonesian Government is not a signatory. 

Senthuran continued, stating that Tamils are well-integrated members of society and have made valuable contributions to Australia, both culturally and economically. They are not, as the Sri Lankan government have claimed, ‘radicalised’ or ‘extremists’. She argued: “How can one jump a queue, when one was never allowed to join the queue?” 

Indonesian Solidarity Forum spokesperson, Setyo Budi, raised the fact that the ‘Indonesia Solution’ has propped up the Indonesian regime, a quasi Suharto’s New Order regime that has “ignored the past human rights abuse and give impunity to the perpetrators.” 

As the weather started to break further, a live crossover to the boat was performed with Sanjeev “Alex” Kuhendrarajah’s, who is currently on board and corresponds online. His voice pierced the air, giving a chilling testimonial:

“We have had 100 days of suffering and pain, neglected, denied, threatened, assaulted, physically and verbally. The children are asking questions and I don’t know what to say to them.” 

He doesn’t understand why the Australian government is being so cold. He wants to send a clear message to Kevin Rudd and is willing to go on as long as it takes. Indonesia has made it clear that it is not their problem and politicians should put away their politics and get a clear solution with the Sri Lankan and Afghan refugees, a solution fairer than the Indonesian one.

“We just want freedom.” He said. 

A representative from the Australian Greens, Sarah Hanson Young, also expressed her opinion to the “failed” 'Indonesia Solution', which she said was disgraceful for Australia to think that other people don’t deserve the basic human rights.

“I think it’s shameful that we have an Australian Government, who despite pledging to take a more humane approach, is simply allowing business as usual, given that the lives of the people on this boat are being destroyed.” She said.

Kevin Rudd made the phone call to the Indonesian government to stop this boat form arriving so “That it wouldn’t have to be Australia’s problem.” According the The Age newspaper, Australia maintains it is solely up to Indonesian authorities to negotiate the disembarkation of the asylum seekers.

Since the protest took place, the asylum seekers on board remain in a state of uncertainty. Australian activists Pamela Kerr and Saradah Nathan and Canadian Jessica Chandrashekar were arrested by Indonesian authorities. They were attempting to help those on the boat and after being interrogated and have since been deported back to their respective countries. 

The Indonesian Navy seized the Jaya Lestari on the 18^th of October, 2009. Amongst the 255 on board are 39 children, 29 women (One who is about to give birth) and 186 men. A high proportion of the group has already been assessed as genuine refugees by the UNHCR.