Sara and Safdah's Bali bombing

[Immigration Minister] Ruddock's hypocrisy is extraordinary in its blatancy and its cold, calculating and spiritually dead mercilessness. Take the following story:

In March 2003 Ruddock mentioned family reunion principles, but of course - and as Australia's refugee advocates have come to expect - not while referring to his own broken record of failures to abide by these UN provisions.

While speaking on the ABC's 7.30 Report about Ibrahim Sammaki, the heartbroken Woomera detainee who lost his wife in the Bali bombing, he referred to Indonesia's obligation under the family reunion provisions under the Convention for the rights of the child.

Ruddock had the audacity to suggest that if Indonesia accepted residency for the three motherless little children who were found to have lived in an Indonesian prostitution residence after their mother's death, they would also be obliged to take the father in, who has been denied this compassionate privilege by Australia. Ibrahim has been incarcerated for almost two years in Woomera. All his attempts to reunite his family in Australia failed, which is the reason he took a boat to come here, hopefully ahead of his wife.

And just now, in the week prior to Easter, Ruddock finds justification in refusing a holiday visa for the little children, stuck in Indonesia. Created by Ruddock in his calculating way, at all times claiming to protect the immigration system of Australia, this inhuman situation will now result in the children, Sara and Safdah, being banned to Indonesia without their father, and Ibrahim eternally doomed to Baxter hell, ruled with a merciless fist by Ruddock.

UK's first lady Cherie Blair summarized it aptly last week when she compared the plight of asylum seekers to that of Jews in Nazi Germany, and that Australia may not have the right to call itself democratic if asylum seekers were denied human rights.

In their respective churches during this Easter, Ruddock and Howard will no doubt feel well about themselves and their cosy family unions. But one can imagine that hundreds of demonstrators at Baxter detention centre could within this context be likened to one man, standing up, rolling a tombstone away, and, with haste, taking action to right the wrongs of Australia's atrocities in his own unique and radical way.

ACM / DIMIA beats detainees, orders them to stop singing

Reports have just been received from protesters at Baxter detention centre that on Saturday evening detainees have been beaten by guards for singing in chorus "Give us Freedom" in response to protesters at the fence outside the centre, and ordered to stop singing, and ordered to their rooms, some also being locked in 'solitary confinement' units.

Another report claims that a detainee was beaten by a guard for speaking by phone with one of their regular support contacts, who happened to be outside amongst the protesters.

This report conflicts starkly with the explicit statements made by Minister Ruddock in his press conference on Saturday, during which he claimed "that life was 'as normal' in the centre," with detainees being able to make phone calls to the outside world.

In today's press conference, the Minister now actually, for the first time since 'the Tampa election', has admitted to the existence of 'solitary confinement' rooms in Australian detention centres.

Just recently, Minister Chris Ellison, in replies to questions in Parliament, flagrantly denied the existence of such spaces. Now we look forward to the Minister altering the information on his section of the DIMIA website, which informs the world that "solitary confinement" does not exist in Australia's detention centres". The Minister now has to stop manipulating this tiny aspect of the truth about what happens inside these centres.

Solidarity and Defiance in the Desert

Melbourne Indymedia
by Emma Murphy
8:27pm Sat Apr 19 '03

After months of planning, up to 800 people from across Australia have converged on the Baxter Detention Centre, outside Port Augusta, to protest against the government's newest, purpose-built detention centre, and show solidarity with the refugees imprisoned inside.

The weekend of action began with a picnic in Port Augusta, where arriving protesters were welcomed onto Bungala land by Linda Dare. Many local residents attended the picnic, and links were made with various indigenous groups which remained strong for the whole weekend.

The protest was attended by a range of people and organisations, including Refugee Action Collectives from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, the Greens, No-one is Illegal, the Socialist Alliance, Chil-Out, and many others. There was a representative from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra, and elders from the Bungala, Kokatha, and Adnyamathanya nations attended and expressed their support.

Once out of Port Augusta, the protesters resolved to set up camp as close to Baxter as possible, walking unhindered through established police lines and arriving within sight of the Detention Centre. Up to two hundred police looked on while tents were pitched, and there was a positive, peaceful atmosphere.

However, employing a tactic of intimidation and provocation, police in riot gear and on horseback suddenly moved in. Tents were confiscated, batons were used and people were arrested on minor charges such as swearing at police. The police on horses where used to break up the camp. They charged the tent site while people where still inside their tents causing injuries to the protesters.

While this provocative attack on the camp was obviously intended to frighten and demoralise the protest, a new camp was established, and the sense of festivity and solidarity grew among all those present. Throughout the camp were spontaneous political discussions, chanting in different languages and plans for further actions throughout the weekend.

Saturday morning saw a vibrant and successful march to the gates of the detention centre. The dehumanising, prison-like nature of Baxter did not stifle mood of the protest which was peaceful, defiant, and colourful.

Despite an enormous police presence, protesters sang and chanted, and despite media hype and police expectations, people were very clearly there to demonstrate, in a peaceful manner, their opposition to the Howard government's inhumane treatment of refugees. Indeed, the small incidents of violence were perpetrated by the police. "Snatch and grab" tactics were employed, with groups of police running into the crowd and dragging protesters back into their vans.

The protest was a success, however. After three hours of plenty of noise, the rally marched back through the dust to camp. The day concluded with a Rock On Against Racism which included local bands and others from Melbourne.

From Melbourne to Baxter

Melbourne Indymedia
by Sparticus
8:47pm Sat Apr 19 '03

Buses departed Victorian Trades Hall at around 08:30pm. Stiff necks arrived some time during the overnight journey. Buses arrived at a park in Port Augusta, around 11:30am.

The buses were unable to take us any further, regulations requiring the drivers drive no more than 14 hours - or 12 hours, depending on who you listened to - and the police had sent word that driver logs would be checked for any infringements. Great.

At the park, we were formally welcomed by members of the indiginous comunity, after which a spokescouncil meeting was held to determine where and how to camp. Facilitated discussion was attempted, everyone in a circular formation talking one at a time, people offered potential camp sites and others suggested pros and cons of the various possibilities. Difficult, chaotic and frustrating would sum up the mood.

Forward members had scouted the area surrounding the detention centre. Road blocks had been set up on the eastern and western approach. The indigenous members requested that we avoid certain areas deemed sacred. At this point a map was definitely needed, so someone drew one. But the map was considered by some to be not very accurate ... sigh....

Eventually, it was pretty well agreed that the camp site would be at the western police road block; just drive up, off-load and pitch. Signs had been constructed recently stating 'No Camping Allowed,' but try telling hundreds of campers they can't camp.

By word of mouth I later discovered there were tentative directions issued by the police as to where we would be allowed to camp, after which not so tentative mounted police stormed the camp ordering that the camp site be moved further back from the detention center. Apparently one officer gave someone a broken nose, and another protester was trodden on by one of the horses.

The tail end of participants arrived after dark, setting up tents under moonlight and finally settling in at around 9:30pm. Feeling exhausted, I struggled out again, ate some tasty food provided by Food Not Bombs, and followed people down to a noise action, aided by the dual lighting of a near full moon and the sweeping spotlight of the police helicopter, and accompanied by starlight.

Approximately 150 people provided a scene of colour, noise and movement outside Baxter in front of a line of fully-clad riot police who in near total contrast were all in dark outfits with black helmets and leg guards, standing in still, stubborn silence. The police numbers were close to those of the protesters.

After much noise and calls of, Freedom! Set the refugees free, and 'Azadi' (farsi for freedom), and after much kicking and punching of the outer gate of Baxter's main entrance, to a funky beat led by resonating drums, of course, everyone made their way back to camp. Before we left though, we had several moments of silence, a very piercing silence, listening for any signs of the refugees. After no sounds could be heard, sad laughter broke out when someone in the crowd suggested the refugees had all been gagged. In the week leading up to the convergence, reports came out that eight refugees had been pre-empitively moved to solitary confinement and gagged as they were considered potential escapees.

Seven more arrests at Baxter Detention Centre

Sydney Morning Herald - AAP
April 19 2003

Seven people were arrested today after more than 350 protesters converged on the Baxter Detention Centre, South Australian police said.

Police have so far made 12 arrests during protests which are expected to continue over the Easter break.

Five men and two women were arrested today after breaking through a perimeter fence and have been bailed to face Port Augusta Magistrates Court on June 2.

Police have so far made 12 arrests during protests which are expected to continue over the Easter break.

Up to 500 demonstrators arrived in Port Augusta yesterday to rally against the federal government's detention of asylum seekers.

Police and protesters clashed earlier today as parts of the fence were flattened and demonstrators trespassed on commonwealth land.

The protesters spent around two hours just metres from the outside perimeter of the Baxter centre and were held back by more than 100 police in riot gear.

Protest spokesman Grant van Riessen told AAP that demonstrators had earlier pushed through a police cordon about 10.50am (CST) before knocking down parts of a temporary wire fence near the facility.

"There was a line-up of 40 to 50 police - it wasn't clear what their intentions were but once we got through (the line) they searched our bags and confiscated placards," Mr van Riessen said.

He said police had also confiscated an empty water tank which protesters had rolled one kilometre to the front of the centre.

The protesters later left the scene to rest and eat lunch and more protests are expected tonight.

"People are unsatisfied with what's happened and we are planning more creative action tonight," Mr van Riessen said.

Assistant Commissioner Graham Brown said no SA police were injured during the protests and morale was high "although they have had some difficult times".

"Police officers are being purposely tripped and being surrounded by protesters trying to intimidate them while they make arrests," he said.

Today a 28-year-old woman from Fairfield, Victoria, was arrested for trespassing, a 28-year-old man from North Fitzroy, Victoria, was arrested for trespassing and carrying an offensive weapon.

A 24-year-old man from Redfern, NSW, and a 27-year-old man from North Fitzroy, Victoria, were arrested for property damage, a 24-year-old man from Hurstville, NSW, was arrested for damaging property and trespassing.

Police said a 25-year-old man from Condell Park, NSW, and a 20-year-old woman from Redfern, NSW, were arrested for flying a kite in a prohibited area.

Five demonstrators were arrested yesterday afternoon, including a 33-year-old woman from Burra, SA, for using offensive language and a 35-year-old man of no fixed address for carrying an offensive weapon.

A 46-year-old man from Maidstone, Victoria, a 41-year-old man from Napperby and a 29-year-old woman from Clovelly, NSW, were arrested for loitering.