Close Detention Centres banner put up near Australian Embassy

On the 100th day of protests on Nauru and the national day of civil disobedience in Australia against their detention centres for refugees a large banner calling for the end of detention centres, and the closing of the Manus Island and Nauru detention centres, has been put up just down the road from the Australian Embassy and next to the Wellington motorway.

The banner reads, "Close Manus, Close Nauru. End detention now!"

This is on the same day as Peace Action Wellington will hold a symbolic blockade of the Australian High Commission at midday. The High Commission will be turned into a symbolic detention centre.

Peace Action Wellington Spokesperson Emma Cullen says, "We choose to create a detention centre at the Australian High Commission because we feel that the Australian authorities lack empathy and need to understand that no one is illegal. They represent the Australian government, whose current treatment of refugees is reprehensible. While it's only the embassy staff's lunch hour, some asylum seekers and refugees have been detained on Manus Island and Nauru for years. We stand in solidarity with these people and demand their release."

ENDS

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