Detainees at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre, the Bahamas

It has been a long time since my last post, I really wish that was different. Hopefully I'll manage to post more regularly from now on.

AMR 14/001/2009

Amnesty International fears for the safety of detainees at a detention centre in Nassau, the Bahamas. The Carmichael Road Detention Centre houses foreign nationals alleged by the authorities to have breached immigration laws, including asylum-seekers, some of whom are believed to be children.

A number of recent reports indicate that detainees are severely beaten and otherwise mistreated. Read the full brief from AI.

Please write to

• Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Honourable Brent Symonette via fax Fax: +1 242 356-5990, 328-8212 or 326-2123 
  
• Minister of National Security, The Honourable Tommy Turnquest, via Fax: Fax: +1 242 356 6087 or 356 7444
• Minister of State for Immigration, The Honourable Branville McCartney, via Fax: Fax: +1 242 326 0977
• Send copies to: The Tribune Newspaper, via Fax: + 1 242 328 2398.

(Follow the link above to obtain mail addresses.)

My letter is below.

The Honourable Brent Symonette

Ministry of Foregin Affairs

Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre

West Bay Street

P.O. Box N 3746

Nassau, The Bahamas

FAX: +1 242 356 5990, 328-8212, 326-2123

Ole Koksvik

Philosophy, RSSS

The Australian National University

Canberra, ACT 2600

AUSTRALIA 16/03/2009

DETAINEES AT THE CARMICHAEL ROAD DETENTION CENTRE

Dear Deputy Prime Minister,

My name is Ole Koksvik, I am a Norwegian citizen, a permanent resident of Australia, a PhD Candidate at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. I am a member of Amnesty International.

I am writing to express my grave concern at reports that people being held at the Carmichael Road Detention Centre have been beaten and ill-treated.

I call on you to ensure that the detainees who have been ill-treated are given immediate medical treatment.

I request that you initiate an immediate, thorough and independent investigation into the allegation of ill-treatment, and that you ensure that those found responsible are brought to justice.

I call on you, furthermore, to ensure that independent monitors are allowed access to the detention facility, including that of human rights organisations.

I urge that you unsure that no asylum-seeker be returned without access to a fair and effective refugee determination procedure, which should include the right to appeal to an independent tribunal, and which should include, also, access to effective legal assistance, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and access to interpreters.

Finally, I urge you to use the detention of irregular migrants and asylum-seekers only as a measure of last resort. Please ensure that alternatives to detention are available and accessible, both in law and in practice, and without discrimination.

Thank you for considering these concerns.

Sincerely,

Ole Koksvik