Day 2 - SIEV X

We came upon this monument on the shore of Lake Burley Griffin completely by accident. .SIEV X was a decrepit fishing boat carrying more than 400 asylum seekers hoping to reach Australia, mainly from Iraq. The boat sank and. 146 children, 142 women and 65 men drowned. This happened in 2001, in the midst of a federal election in which “border protection“ was a major issue and the government was determined to prevent any asylum seekers reaching land in Australia.
The monument was created by schools, community groups and churches. Each pole bears the name of one of those who died. The extra shows how some of the poles have been positioned to demonstrate the length of the boat. It is tiny.
SIEV is dehumanising official speak, standing for “Suspected Irregular Entry Vessel”.