Nauru Burning

$15.00

In Nauru Burning, Mark goes behind the veil of secrecy around Australia’s offshore immigration detention centres to reveal a climate of fear and hopelessness, culminating in the riot and fire which destroyed much of the Nauru regional processing centre in July 2013.

Nauru Burning acts as a sequel to his first book, The Undesirables. The July 2013 fire occurred one month after he left Nauru and finished working for the Salvation Army. The story is pieced together using first-hand accounts from men who were formerly detained inside the detention centre and staff from service providers on the island.

The book reveals how the tinderbox ignited and examines the investigation into who was responsible. It is the story of the fight of the men in detention to prove their innocence, and of the workers who tried to help them. Ultimately, it is a comment on the lack of accountability and oversight for service providers in the deliberately remote and closed environment of Australia’s offshore detention centres.

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Description

”Baqir wanted to die there; he wanted to stop living. ‘Everything I had ever suffered and lived before, it was in front of my eyes.’ His bright future was destroyed.

Mark IsaacsNauru Burning
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Climate for a riot

Asylum seekers were deported to an intentionally remote location, to a climate of high heat and humidity, and incarcerated indefinitely without right of appeal, without a transparent refugee processing system, where they waited interminably for a decision they didn’t know would ever come. Everyday life on Nauru was numbingly boring. People in detention lacked any power over their lives and their fate. They did not know what would become of them. They were lost and helpless with no clear way of expressing their concerns. Even if they could find a way to communicate, who would listen? The gradual build-up of pressure, the unalleviated stress, the uncertainty of their future, created an atmosphere of simmering helplessness, frustration and anger.

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The Protest

Protests were not uncommon in Nauru. Faced with continual delays in the processing of their asylum claims, the men staged regular peaceful protests.

“The protest was to give us a voice. The only agreement was to do a peaceful protest. Nobody agreed to fighting, breaking things; just to have their voice heard.”

But things didn’t go as planned.

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Play Video

Listen to Mark speak to the ABC about the book

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Nauru Burning Study Guide

This study guide or unit of work has been created for teachers who want to study Nauru Burning. It is intended for senior students and is available for free download.

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Reviews

“Mark Isaacs’s insight into the events that led up to the riot and fire at the Nauru refugee detention centre, and its aftermath, should concern every Australian. This book is graphic evidence of dark practices directly linked to Australia’s immigration and border protection policies. It is a shameful story that needed to be told.”

Tim CostelloCEO, World Vision Australia

“In writing and publishing Nauru Burning, Isaacs has bravely taken a stand against the policies of secrecy surrounding detention and the lack of accountability for service providers. It is a timely reminder of how far we have to go, and a push for a system which protects the human rights of all people, regardless of where they come from.”

Alyssia TennantCritic, Right Now Magazine

“This is an important book at a critical time for Australia. Our country's policies on asylum seekers are appalling. I have no doubt we will look back on this period in history with a sense of shame. I hope that by publishing this book, we can influence ordinary Australians to question the nation's offshore detention policies and press for change, and influence our political leaders to take a stand rather than allowing these atrocities to continue on their watch.”

Charlotte HarperEditor

“This is a pretty sobering look at Australia's detention policy but also super important for understanding why current refugee processes across the world are not sustainable.”

Emily Craven

“This book is a crucial if harrowing read... As a society we need to face these unpleasant facts- our collective denial makes us guilty.”

Stef Rozitis
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