Transcript
FATHER ROD BOWER: Part of what my nation at the moment is doing to refugees is really quite disgusting so I think to continue the fight for freedom that's what we have to do, we have to continue the fight for freedom. So part of my purpose in putting up that sign was trying to get that message across. I was deeply disturbed last year when an extraordinary young muslim woman here in Australia, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, said the very same thing; 'Lest we forget Manus and Nauru'. She received death threats and rape threats and she eventually left the country because she felt she was under such threat for actually asking a very valid question, what are we doing about incarcerating innocent people indefinitely? So I really wanted to see what would happen when I said the same thing. I am not anywhere near as well-known as Yassmin Abdel-Magied. I got the usual suspects, threatening and so forth, but the viciousness of the threats were nothing like what they were for a brown a muslim woman and a white male christian.
KORO VAKA'UTA: Do you think also that maybe people are starting to be more receptive to that message about Manus and Nauru?
FRB: I'm not convinced that that is the case in fact I fear that it is opposite. One of the things we are noticing about Anzac Day here in Australia is it is becoming part of the rise in rhetoric of nationalists and one of the reasons, the other reason, why I asked that question is to pose at least some kind of antidote for that nationalism. I am all for commemorating everything that Anzac means, but if it gets narrowed too far into a nationalistic day of fervour than that is incredibly destructive. I have deep concerns for my nation, to be honest , because I don't think our conscience is softening towards some of the world's most marginalised people, refugees and asylum seekers. I think that does not bode well for the soul of our nation.
KV: With your latest signage and your message, have you been able to start discussions with other people about Manus and Nauru and what's happening there?
FRB: We do have discussions but I have to say here in Australia, it is a very polarised issue now. I think the persuadables in the middle of the conversation have tended to by now taken a position. Either for a more humane response to asylum-seekers are against that response.
KV: This has been an ongoing struggle for you, in terms of these issues, why do you pursue this with such fervour? Why do you see it as your job to push these issues?
FRB: Primarily because I am a Christian and a Christian priest. The whole issue of welcoming the stranger and not oppressing the alien in our midst is woven into the entire Biblical narrative. In the Judaeo-Christian tradition it is an issue that simply cannot be ignored. You can't call yourselves a Christian and a bibilicaly-based Christian and ignore how we treat the foreigner. Secondly, I am a human being. I can't in good conscience stand by and allow the powerful oppress and to marginalise the powerless without actually standing up and saying something because the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.
KV: What would you want the government to do or what would you want to happen with those on Nauru and Manus now?
FRB: Both detention centres have to be closed. It is unsustainable, economically and humanely unsustainable. I know New Zealand is willing to take a few. Those that can't be found other places have to be brought here and I understand there's political consequences to that. I understand that that has to be accompanied by other policy shifts in terms of regional agreements to processing refugees and asylum-seekers.
