Join us tomorrow (Sunday) at 11am to hear from Jaivet Ealom, a Rohingyan refugee who escaped from Manus and has written an amazing book about his experience.
Details and Zoom rego here: fb.me/e/13isjS8a9
#freetherefugees @rac_sydney @racqld @RSMeanjin
Details and Zoom rego here: fb.me/e/13isjS8a9
#freetherefugees @rac_sydney @racqld @RSMeanjin
Starting now with 82 people on the zoom. Not too late to join now. Follow the link above.
#EscapeFromManus
Live streamed on the RAC Vic Facebook. @jaivet_ joins us from Toronto in conversation with Arnold Zable.
Live streamed on the RAC Vic Facebook. @jaivet_ joins us from Toronto in conversation with Arnold Zable.
#EscapeFromManus is in many regards a companion book to @BehrouzBoochani ‘s #NoFriendButTheMountain.
Jaivet Eolam is the only person to successfully escape Manus.
The history of Manus should never be forgotten.
Jaivet Eolam is the only person to successfully escape Manus.
The history of Manus should never be forgotten.
@jaivet_ speaking now about how he kept records of and a journal. When Manus detention centre was wiped out, he was inspired to write so events couldn’t be forgotten and the government couldn’t wipe out the evidence.
Jaivet’s book started with his childhood to show what life was like in Burma.
Very early, Jaivet had to learn to make bold decisions. His mother was a huge influence. He remembers her as the only woman who spoke Burmese and stood up to authorities.
Education is a survival choice. It’s necessary to be better informed about the regime.
No one chooses to be a refugee. People are often surprised when refugees turn up on their shores. But they need to understand the precursors in their home country.
No one chooses to be a refugee. People are often surprised when refugees turn up on their shores. But they need to understand the precursors in their home country.
The Australian government was the one providing arms to the Burmese army and supporting the military which perpetrated the genocide against the Rohingyan people.
Jaivet never imagined that he would enter such a dark part of his life involving the erosion of hope and optimism. One wave of surprise after another followed after seeking asylum from Australia.
There were two boat journeys. When the first boat sank, that night he got ready to let go and make peace with himself.
When the sun came up, and he had survived, he had to face what he would do next. It was an underlying psychological struggle.
When the sun came up, and he had survived, he had to face what he would do next. It was an underlying psychological struggle.
On arrival on Christmas Island, that morning, July 24th, Jaivet thought that moment would mean it was the time to stop running.
He was welcomed with a strip search and given a number and a metal band.
It was the opposite of everything he had hoped for. Treated like criminals.
He was welcomed with a strip search and given a number and a metal band.
It was the opposite of everything he had hoped for. Treated like criminals.
In Burma, authorities take photos of families and they are given a serial number. Here it was happening again by the Australian government.
The journals started as Jaivet struggled to understand why this was happening. He slept from 3am till 9am when their numbers were called.
The journals started as Jaivet struggled to understand why this was happening. He slept from 3am till 9am when their numbers were called.
Australia was making the most of people’s suffering. The various companies operated in a certain way to torture. It takes time to fine tune psychological torture. Jaivet wouldn’t be surprised if these techniques were borrowed from other regimes.
There was the removal of individual responsibility as it was ‘just a job’ and if they didn’t do it, someone else would. It was a dehumanising experience.
Arrival on #Manus.
The set up of Manus was like from a movie. It was like a human experiment in the middle of a jungle.
It was hard to find the words to describe what it was like. The systematic stripping away of identity. Local people were co opted into crimes against humanity
The set up of Manus was like from a movie. It was like a human experiment in the middle of a jungle.
It was hard to find the words to describe what it was like. The systematic stripping away of identity. Local people were co opted into crimes against humanity
Local people were taught to see refugees as dangerous, too dangerous to be in Australia. This was part of a fine tuned system.
Over 1600 at its height.
Daily torture designed to set people against each other. Refugees against each other, refugees against guards, locals against refugees. Measures were set up at the bottom as well as the top.
Daily torture designed to set people against each other. Refugees against each other, refugees against guards, locals against refugees. Measures were set up at the bottom as well as the top.
#Chauka
The national emblem of the island being used for torture, was like an insult.
The place became a mysterious place. The place was used as a threat.
Jaivet was sent there twice. Once for a phone and once for standing up to a guard who was mocking refugees.
The national emblem of the island being used for torture, was like an insult.
The place became a mysterious place. The place was used as a threat.
Jaivet was sent there twice. Once for a phone and once for standing up to a guard who was mocking refugees.
The lowest points.
It was never a riot. There were never two sides. It was an attack. #RezaBerati died.
How come the media never spoke of these events as an attack?
Morrison’s words were the complete opposite of reality.
February 17th 2014.
It was never a riot. There were never two sides. It was an attack. #RezaBerati died.
How come the media never spoke of these events as an attack?
Morrison’s words were the complete opposite of reality.
February 17th 2014.
Media was selective, not objective.
At rock bottom.
Someone suggested a book. Everyone should read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel.
It was after Jaivet’s suicide attempt. The e book was on the computer. Only 5 pages were allowed per fortnight. In this way, the book was printed.
Someone suggested a book. Everyone should read Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankel.
It was after Jaivet’s suicide attempt. The e book was on the computer. Only 5 pages were allowed per fortnight. In this way, the book was printed.
This book was the one thing Jaivet regretted leaving behind when he escaped. It was covered in Jaivet’s notes. This book helped with his perspective on what was happening.
He would not have survived with separating the physical side of life on Manus from his inner life.
There was a complete lack of control, but what Frankel’s book taught is that there is still a choice in how to respond.
There was a complete lack of control, but what Frankel’s book taught is that there is still a choice in how to respond.
People need to have self agency. There is a difference between real hope and false hope. False hope hurt more than no hope.
The decision to escape.
The realisation that Manus was set up to not end. Jaivet was given a negative refugee decision, riddled with errors. The system wasn’t meant to find the errors and fix them. The ultimatum go back to Burma or go to #Bomana. There was nothing to lose.
The realisation that Manus was set up to not end. Jaivet was given a negative refugee decision, riddled with errors. The system wasn’t meant to find the errors and fix them. The ultimatum go back to Burma or go to #Bomana. There was nothing to lose.
The little group of people Jaivet could trust relied on one stranger working with another stranger. At the end it was an Australian woman who risked her career and reputation to help Jaivet. It was courage and kindness.
The shadow of Australia and it’s relationship across the Pacific followed Jaivet in his escape.
This was all the way to Canada. Even once in Canada, Jaivet didn’t let anyone know until the legal process was completed.
This was all the way to Canada. Even once in Canada, Jaivet didn’t let anyone know until the legal process was completed.
It was Christmas Eve in Canada, extremely cold. He prepared mentally that the welcome in Canada would be the same as Christmas Island. But it was the complete opposite.
The claim was written on scrap paper on the flight. It was the first thing given to Canadian immigration.
The claim was written on scrap paper on the flight. It was the first thing given to Canadian immigration.
Immigration officer wasn’t going to interview someone hungry and in pain. He went out to get food and a drink for Jaivet before the interview. Jaivet was told he could go, the immigration officer in Canada found Jaivet accommodation. #Freedom #Canada
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