The story of the Tampa is one of courage and pride for one country - and international shame for another. On August 26, 2001, the Norwegian ship Tampa responded to a distress call and rescued more than 430 people from a sinking Indonesian fishing boat in international waters.
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Sailing from Perth under the command of Captain Arne Rinnan, the Tampa received a call for assistance from the Australian Maritime Authority. The obligation to render assistance to vessels in distress is codified in international maritime law and applies without regard to nationality, status or circumstances. The Tampa changed course and was guided by an Australian coastal search plane to an Indonesian boat crowded with passengers in acute distress. The boat was breaking up in heavy seas, as the Tampa arrived just in time to transfer those on board - including children and pregnant women - to its own decks.
The closest port of safety was Christmas Island, an Australian territory. But Australia's Immigration Department forbade the Tampa to enter Australian territorial waters and refused to allow the rescued people to disembark on Christmas Island.
Prime Minister John Howard threatened to prosecute Captain Rinnan as a people smuggler if he entered Australian waters. After a several day stand-off, Captain Rinnan, concerned for the safety of the rescued people and his crew, declared a state of emergency and entered Australian waters. Australian forces boarded the Tampa and took control of the ship.
The passengers were transferred to a navy vessel and forcibly removed to detention camps in Nauru. A total of 132 unaccompanied minors and families were accepted by New Zealand, where almost all received refugee status. None went directly to Australia. The incident marked the beginning of Australia's "Pacific Solution" policy.
Norway reported Australia to the United Nations for failure to comply with international law and honoured Captain Rinnan for his handling of this incident. Rinnan said: "When we asked for food and medicine for the refugees, Australia sent commandos."
Monday marks the 18th anniversary of the Tampa affair. The Pacific Solution is still enforced. On Nauru and Manus Island, women and men are still indefinitely detained. Many suffer from health issues which in some cases have led to deaths.
Across Australia, Rural Australians for Refugees will rally to remember the Tampa. Ballarat RAR will hold a vigil from 11am to noon outside the Lydiard Street office of Catherine King. We welcome you to join us.
Maureen Riches, Ballarat RAR
