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Bring Behrouz home to Australia: he is one of us
There is a pivotal moment in Behrouz Boochani’s book, No Friend but the Mountains.
In late August, 2013, a propeller-driven plane stands waiting on a strip on Christmas Island, to take asylum seekers to a faraway destination.
- Arnold Zable
- The Age
Each man is escorted at two-minute intervals, 50 metres from a bus to the plane.
They are held by the arms between two officers.
At the base of the stairs, they are handed over to a second pair of officers, and led up the steps. The men are being treated as criminals.
Then it is Boochani’s turn. His number is called: MEG45.
His arms are gripped by the officers.
Having witnessed the distress of the men who went before him, he…