When the eyes of the world are focused upon Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and other victims of the corporate-global wars, their victims and refugees, sometimes we tend to forget the obscure regions of the world where war's refugees are forgotten and without hope. This month we salute Matt Hamon, activist extraordinaire. Cyndy Rich (North Carolina), an activist with a heart for refugees, was the first to urge us to support Matt Hamon and his work at Hope Caravan. Matt is the Administrator, Web Graphic Designer of Hope Caravan. He lives in Adelaide, Australia and has been a key figure in bringing international attention to Aladdin Sisalem, a Palestinian refugee who fled from country to country, seeking asylum and refuge.
In citing the work of Matt Hamon, we would be remiss if we did not also tell something of the story of Aladdin Sisalem, who by example, has taught all of us lessons of compassion, endurance and courage. Aladdin was born in Kuwait, a country known for it's use of Palestinians as cheap labor. But as the son of a Palestinian refugee, Aladdin did not have automatic right to residency. Unable to legally work and harrassed by police, he traveled to Indonesia. He applied for asylum with the U.N. High Commission for Refugees but without success. After living on the streets of Jakarta for a year, he went to Papua, New Guinea. There he was jailed for entering illegally and beaten in prison. He then made his way by fishing boat to Australia's Saibai Island in the Torres Strait in December, 2002. There he was interviewed by Australian officials and taken to Manus Island, PNG. He was imprisoned on Manus Island and steadily deteriorated in terms of physical and mental health. As activists who followed Aladdin's plight, many of us became concerned about his health and survival in prison.
Many activists worked for Aladdin's freedom. But Matt Hamon was central to that movement by taking up his case through Matt's work at Hope Caravan. Matt was relentless in his commitment to secure this man's freedom through many months of contact with Aladdin and the pressure he placed upon Australian authorities who are no strangers to the detention of refugees under inhumane conditions.
At Axis of Logic we closely followed Matt's work (See our section on World Refugees and witnessed his personal sacrifice on behalf of Aladdin. His compassion and hard work for Aladdin and many other refugees is nothing short of exemplary.
In a description of the work of Hope Caravan, Matt cites a quote from the great Sufi and poet Jelauddin Balkhi (Rumi) who wrote:
"Come, come whomever you are, wanderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.
Ours is not a caravan of despair but ours is a caravan of hope.
Come, come even if you've broken your vows a thousand times.
Come yet again, come..."
The picture below is adapted from a drawing that one of the detainees in Woomera Concentration Camp made and gave to one of the HOPE Caravan members. One picture says it all!
This image is based on the original created by a refugee
held at Woomera detention centre
If you return later to this column in days to come, you will find a special tribute to Matt by Mary Dagmar Davies, a long-time activist with the heart the size of Australia and one of the keenest minds in international advocacy for refugees. Until then, please read below what Ms. Davies wrote earlier about Matt Hamon (pub. June 4, 2004 on Axis of Logic)
By Mary Dagmar Davies
Jun 4, 2004, 18:55
A Refugee, a Brave Australian & the Internet
Aladdin Sisalem and his beloved cat Honey are free, the Australian mainstream media and talkback are now open to refugee issue. We may never know who or what influenced the Howard Government to finally release Aladdin from his expensive and isolated imprisonment on Manus Island. Many people helped to free Aladdin Sisalem but Matt Hamon was central to so many ways that were truly significant.
I firmly believe that Matt Hamon should receive a human rights award for his courage and tenacity.
Matt showed the most extraordinary personal bravery in setting up the weblog and internet connections for Aladdin Sisalem in the prevailing political climate of Australia. I can tell you there were times when I feared for Matt's safety.
I knew Matt needed the support of people wiser than myself. I was alarmed and realised just how difficult and dangerous this was for Matt when I approached people I expected would help without question and they refused their support. And I cannot tell you the relief I felt when Margaret Reynolds, President of the UNAA and Frederika Steen came to Matt's aid.
Matt Hamon walked a knife edge ensuring that nothing he did, wrote or said was counterproductive, sub judice or harmful as he organised support and publicity Aladdin. He worked with the lawyers, the advocates, the news groups and the press and ensured Aladdin was informed at every stage.
Aladdin Sisalem felt his situation was hopeless it was undeniable that he was in a traumatic situation justifiably fearing for his life and often deeply depressed. All efforts to obtain professional trauma counselling for Aladdin proved time consuming and were utterly fruitless so the tough stuff was left to Matt. I know of the personal toll on Matt and the stress he suffered as everyday for three months he conversed with Aladdin and tried to keep his hope alive. And I know how careful Matt had to be in avoiding raising false hope in the lone castaway.
While I was able to put JANNAH THE SIEVX MEMORIAL on hold the same was not true of Hopecaravan or his other commitments particularly as the Flotillas of Hope were about to set sail. Somehow he did it all and still was there for Aladdin.
The last weeks of Aladdin's imprisonment were the toughest. When they say it is 'darkest before dawn' they are right. Aladdin seemed to be in even greater danger on Manus. Matt had technical trouble and had to change everything to a new webserver. My computer was hit by a virus which took my address book and many of my files and with my internet support all but terminated I could only give him telephonic help. Then Matt got ill, an abscessed tooth had to be drawn then a painful infection took hold in his jaw. He was in agony but still he did not give up.
I came home last Friday evening turned on the SBS and heard the news that Aladdin was free. I rang Matt immediately. He had not heard. Telling Matt that Aladdin had been granted a protection visa on humanitarian grounds will remain with me as one of the most wonderful moments of my life. Matt burst into tears of relief but could not really believe it and could not find any confirmation on the net. I stayed on the phone with him until he saw the news for himself.
"Wherever he lands you have to be there to meet him" I said. For Matt has alway stayed in the background, it has never been about him it has always been about the refugees. I had to insist and he had to borrow the money to fly from Adelaide to Melbourne to meet the man who had become his friend and his brother.
Aladdin had no idea he would be at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport to greet him and he might never have know if Melbourne advocate Pamela Curr gently pushed Matt forward. She told me later "When Aladdin's lawyer said 'this is Matt' Aladdin's face lit up in a smile and he reached out and hugged Matt." It was Aladdin's first smile in Australia, his first smile as a free man. And it was Matt who put that smile on his face.
I saw my friend Matt for the first time as I watched the television coverage of Aladdin Sisalem's arrival in Australia. Yes, I have never met Matt Hamon but I love him and I admire him. I am old enough to be his mother and if Matt was my son I could not be more proud of him.
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