Hundreds of people gathered in Melbourne`s Federation Square Sunday afternoon to protest federal goverment`s treatment of refugees at Manus Island, the Times reported.
Radical group GetUpup! The Melbourne protests were one of a series of protests across the country calling on the goverment to bring the refugees back to Australia immediately.
In the process, someone read out a message from Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian, in which he thanked everyone for their support. " Without the support of the Australian people, we will never be able to protest peacefully, and I thank you once again. We have decided to hold our own protests, but your support has convinced us that some people care about us, or that some are willing to stand up for justice. "
Boochani said Australian and Papua New Guinea security forces in goverment beat refugees in Manus Island and killed a dog who lived with them.
On Thursday, PNG authorities entered the Manus Island detention centre and gave people living here an ultimatum to leave.
GetUp! Shen Narayanasamy, the director of human rights, said thousands of people would take part in the protest in Australia.
"We believe that Australia is creating a human rights crisis in Manus Island and that people living there need to be evacuated immediately from the island and brought back to Australia. Pictures of police beating and abusing refugees shocked Australia. "
A small number of parade people blocked busy junctions between Flinders Street and Swanston Street during the protests, blocking traffic and trams for up to two hours.
Yarra Trams said part of the, Swanston Street tram was operating as usual during the protests.
At noon Sunday, GetUpup appeared in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin and Hobart! An organized protest.
