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ABC
Online News Baxter
detainees in solitary confinement Baxter protesters break through police roadblock ABC Online Sat, 19 Apr 2003 11:31 AEST About 500 protesters near the Baxter Detention Centre have marched through a human roadblock of about 20 police, on their way to the centre. Police tried to block them, and remove items they considered dangerous, including placards, cane poles and kites. But police were vastly outnumbered, and after minor scuffles the protesters got through. Five protesters were arrested yesterday as demonstrators clashed with mounted police and 150 officers in riot gear. Baxter 'open day' a hoax The Advertiser/AAP April 19, 2003 A PRESS release advising of a media open day at South Australia's Baxter immigration detention centre today was a hoax by a protest group, Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said. The release put out under Mr Ruddock's name told media to report to the centre's main gate at 9am (CST) for the open day. However, a spokesman for Mr Ruddock today said the release was a fake and no such event had been organised. The spokesman said the release had given phone numbers of the Immigration Department rather than the minister's office. Protests against the federal government's treatment of asylum seekers are being staged outside the Baxter centre over Easter. Australasian Correctional Management (ACM), which manages the Commonwealth's detention facilities, also said the media release was a hoax and no media open day was planned. The Associated Press The Culprits: hoax media release Media Release: RACNSW to send representatives to Baxter Media Open Day Alex Broun Apr 15, 2003 22:54 PDT RACNSW MEDIA RELEASE April 16th, 2003 RACNSW to send representatives to Baxter Media Open Day The Refugee Action Coalition of NSW (RACNSW) has decided to send two representatives to the Baxter Media Open Day, this Saturday at 9am at the Baxter Detention Centre near Port Augusta in South Australia. The Baxter Media Open Day, announced by the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Philip Ruddock, earlier this week, is a chance for the media to finally take a look insider the operational Baxter facility. The centre has alternatively been described as "five star" by some media outlets and a "hell hole" by detainees. Mr Ruddock has offered to "personally meet members of the media and take them on a full tour of this state of the art detention facility" in a bid to head off "lies and dis-information spread by certain disruptive elements in our community." RACNSW spokesperson Mark Goudkamp however is concerned that the tour may be "censored" with the Media prevented from entering certain areas of the Detention Centre. "Ruddock has said a full tour and we expect a full tour", said Goudkamp today in Sydney, "and that means that no areas of Baxter will be blocked to the media including isolation chambers." Goudkamp also expected to speak to detainees without restriction once inside Baxter. "If we are to be allowed to tour the facility then we should have access to speak to the Œinmates¹ as well" said Goudkamp, "and ask them personally how they are being treated." "Ruddock said that he is "very tired" of hearing lies about Baxter. Well so are we. And there is only one way to find out the truth. Talk to the detainees themselves. They can¹t just shut them all away during the tour." Goudkamp went on to say that his presence at the Open day should not be jeopardised by his status as a noted Refugee Activist. "Nowhere in Ruddock¹s announcement did it say ŒRefugee Activists not included.¹ He extended an open invitation to all media and I attend to accept it as I am a regular contributor to a number of publications." "Another member of RAC who is also an accredited journalist will be accompanying me and the Minister has no right to prevent us from going on the tour just because we oppose Mandatory Detention like many other Australians." "Indeed we are exactly the sort of people he needs to convince that Baxter is as he says Œa five star facility¹. I urge other members of the media also attending the Baxter Convergence to join us at the Media Open Day. It is time the truth about Baxter is known." The Baxter Media open day, in what Ruddock described as a "bold move", is set to co-incide with a planned National Protest against Mandatory Detention at Baxter over the Easter Weekend. For more information call Mark Goudkamp on 0422078376 or Alex Broun on 0408 268 043. REMINDER: All media wishing to attend the Media Open Day are reminded to please report to the main gate of the Baxter Detention Centre at 9am exactly on this Saturday April 19th. DIMIA have requested each media representative please bring a valid Media Identification card and one other form of photo ID. Baxter protesters prepare to march again ABC ONLINE NEWS Saturday, April 19, 2003. 7:38am (AEST) Protesters camped near the Baxter Detention Centre in South Australia's outback say they plan to march to the centre again today. There were ugly scenes yesterday when protesters clashed with police two kilometres from the centre. Police are blaming yesterday's confrontation on the lack of communication by protesters with police and amongst themselves. Camille Barbagallo from the group No One Is Illegal says the police road blocks were unrealistic. "The camp was always going to be difficult, I think that we've got the campsite settled," she said. Chief Superintendent Peter Mildren says the protesters need leadership to avert future problems. "Someone needs to step up and represent some authority, so that everyone knows what they're doing, they were going off doing their own things, and nobody quite knew what they were up to," he said. Around 200 of the protesters marched to the centre last night. Police say they will not hold them back, but there are restrictions as to how close to the centre the will be allowed to go. Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock says while everybody has the right to express their views, many of the protesters are merely looking for trouble. Refugee boy playing for SA The Advertiser By BRONWYN HURRELL 19apr03 AN Afghan refugee who was a Woomera Detention Centre inmate has been chosen in South Australia's junior cricket team. Mohammed Safi, 12, and his family fled the village of Basood, in central Afghanistan, and came to Australia on a people smuggler's boat in December, 2000. Soon after, they were detained at Woomera for four months - a terrifying time when they felt like they were "in prison". But now he wants to make this state proud of him on the cricket pitch - and let his family make Adelaide their permanent home. Mohammed said yesterday he took up cricket "because it's a great game". "And I'm good at it," he said. Living in Mile End on a temporary protection visa which is due to expire next year, Mohammed first picked up a cricket ball at Brompton Primary School in September, 2001. His bowling performance for club side Woodville this season - 13 wickets for 67 runs in five matches - has earned him selection. The South Australian Cricket Association and SA Primary Schools Amateur Sports Association (SAPSASA) team contest the national championship in Darwin in June. The team was selected from the best 250 under-13 cricketers. Mohammed says he bases his game on his favourite players "fast" Brett Lee and "slogger" Matthew Hayden. State under-13 coach Ben Smith said Mohammed had relatively little experience compared with the other players. "Most of the other kids would've played cricket for five or six years by now, so he's on a steep learning curve," he said. "He started playing about 18 months ago but his skills are very good." Mohammed's parents, Nasimah and Alidost Safi, and sisters Nazirah, 15, Sabera, 9, Basira, 6, Zahra, 5, and brother Mohammed Reza, 3, are bursting with pride. "The whole family is so proud of him," cousin Shaima Ashghari, 19, said yesterday. "It was such a horrible life in Afghanistan. "Mohammed was not allowed to get an education and he is so happy in Australia to get an education." Ms Ashghari said the family had never seen cricket before Mohammed started playing at school. "When Mohammed first went to school and said `look mum, I'm playing cricket' we were surprised," she said. "We said `what's cricket?' "Then he brought us the bat and ball and showed us how to play and when we watched it we were so excited." The Safi family arrived at Ashmore Reef, between Indonesia and Western Australia's northwest coast, in December, 2000. They were placed in detention but eventually were granted a temporary protection visa. The family does not yet know what will happen when that visa expires next year. However, Mohammed has firm plans to study at Adelaide High School. SACA is writing the budding future cricketer a reference for the school, which has a specialist sports program. Violent clashes in Baxter protest The Advertiser By RACHEL HANCOCK in Port Augusta 19apr03 SIX protesters were arrested during fiery clashes with police just kilometres from the Baxter Detention Centre, near Port Augusta, yesterday. STAR Group, mounted police and officers armed with riot gear charged into the 500-strong protest crowd, just after 4pm, dismantling their tents which they had set up just moments earlier. Protesters attempted to fend off police by forming rings around their property. Several times, police pushed into the crowd forcing them back along Old Whyalla Rd, which leads to the centre. Despite claims by police they had reached a mutual agreement with protesters to set up camp near the western end of the roadblock, the protesters fought to hold their ground. Several buses from New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland arrived in Port Augusta about 10am yesterday, converging on Gladstone Square park in the heart of Port Augusta. About four hours later, protesters converged at the western roadblock, about 3km from the detention centre gates. More than 40 police formed a human fence across the roadway. Tempers flared as protesters were informed placards, flagpoles and banners would be banned. No One Is Illegal spokesperson Camille Barbagallo said protesters were unhappy with the "ridiculous" roadblock and campsite and said police had been unrealistic about the situation. "People are really determined to get as close to the detention centre as they can and that's what we intend to do," she said. "People have clearly showed they are here for one reason and that is to highlight the atrocities going on in the Baxter Detention Centre." The protesters were eventually allowed to set up camp 200m from the western roadblock and had confiscated items returned. The first three arrests involved a Burra woman, 38, who was charged with using offensive language. A Napperby man, 41, and a man, 46, from Maidstone in Victoria, were arrested for loitering. All were bailed to appear at Port Augusta Magistrates Court on June 2. Police said some protesters also were carrying studded leather wristbands, face masks and bamboo poles, all of which were confiscated. Another three people were arrested during clashes late in the afternoon. Assistant Commissioner of Northern Operations Services Graham Brown said he was happy with how police had handled the situation. "We are managing it as best we can at this stage," he said. He said police had expected a greater protester turnout but believed many had stayed away because detainees had expressed concern about the weekend. Greens national spokesperson for refugees Pamela Curr slammed the conditions at Baxter, claiming "not even the highest security prison in Australia has electric fencing". She hoped the weekend's protest would bring attention to the plight of refugees. "A lot of us have done some soul searching about coming here because there were reprisals from Woomera for three weeks after," she said. "But we have asked them (the detainees) if they want us to come and they answered `yes, if you do not come nobody will know we are here or know our story'." Dust and froth of protest clash The Australian By Thea Williams and Rebecca DiGirolamo April 19, 2003 THE police horses were agitated, frothing at the mouth. But they pressed ahead amid the clouds of red dust, pushing through the protesters' camp site, trampling tents in their path. Horseflesh proved a powerful force against the hardcore group of protesters trying to push forward to the Baxter detention facility. So some protesters hit out at the line of eight horses, hurling whatever they could find. Rocks, pillows, hands and insults were thrown at the South Australian mounted police and 200 Star Force special police dressed in riot gear wielding batons and shields. The police prevailed in what was clearly a new, aggressive tactic to tackle the activists head-on, keeping them outside the 2km cordon around Baxter. Behind one line, about 500 protesters chanted against the detention of refugees, calling for their freedom. From behind the line of horses, a number of officers filmed the first day of protest. Two people were arrested during the melee and another earlier in the day for alleged abusive behaviour. The confrontation occurred after protesters breached a roadblock about 2km west of the Baxter facility as part of a three-day protest against mandatory detention. The protest yesterday was not as dramatic as the first day of action outside the Woomera detention centre this time last year when activists helped more than 50 detainees escape. No One Is Illegal spokeswoman Camille Barbagallo said protesters were determined to camp as close to Baxter as possible so that detainees could hear their protests and a planned "Rock Against Racism" concert planned for today. Ms Barbagallo said the protest had been "incredibly peaceful". "This protest for the last three weeks in the media has been billed as a supposedly violent demonstration, yet people have clearly shown here today that they are here for one reason and that is to highlight the atrocities going on in the Baxter detention centre," she said. Assistant Commissioner Graham Brown said police felt in control of the situation. Good Friday and police violence Good Friday April 18th 2003 by Allan Nield I want to write this while it’s fresh in my mind. This is a memorable Good Friday. At an ecumenical service this morning we sang... "Jesus Christ is healing, healing in the street; Curing those who suffer, touching those he greets, Listen, Lord Jesus, I have pity too, Let my care be active, healing just like you". In the afternoon I went to Port Augusta to meet some of the people converging there over Easter. What a great lot of people of all ages! Precisely because it was ‘grass roots’ there were no overall leaders, just busy people who had tried to co-ordinate some of the basic things like water and camping. Decision making was complicated by the demands of police who insisted that the camp-site be behind their road block which was perhaps 3 kilometres from Baxter. The police however allowed people to CARRY (not drive) their camping equipment through the roadblock and set up tents about 1 km closer to Baxter. I walked through with no problem while carrying things for some campers. After perhaps an hour or two the impressive line up of foot and mounted police told campers they had to go back to the first site and advanced, the mounted police beginning to trample tents and camping gear (possibly people) which were not removed. I was rudely shoved from behind by another line of police which I had not noticed moving. It was shocking to witness. Dust being stirred up, people disappearing from view in front of the horses. It just seemed so senseless and brutal. It seemed to me that the campers were in no way violent and showed quite a bit of restraint. What was "frightening" was the lack of personal conscience of the police. Little regard for peoples possessions and rights, let alone their humanity. It seemed that they would have trampled a baby if it happened to be in the way. What for? Was it just for the pride of the police boss? I don’t think it was to insist that police be respected and obeyed. They lost a lot of respect and credibility today. To my knowledge there was no violence from the campers, only the police. A wise onlooker said that the only "renta-crowd" was the police force. Whose police? Lyn, please tell your boss that he is looking more like a thug in a suit whenever he gets on his law and order high horse. I’m surprised by his vehemence, for instance against protesters. How much is he responsible for today’s violence? The people I observed today were intelligent, with a social conscience, just like your and my children. I can easily imagine my daughter being there and I am angry with Mike Rann and his superior attitude and inflammatory statements. This morning we sang about "active" service and this afternoon that was literally being done by hundreds of the finest people in Australia. It seems so ironic that they have gathered to try to change the institutionalised violence of Federal mandatory detention and they have been attacked with the institutionalised violence of the South Australian police. It’s no wonder that justice in Australia is becoming a mere memory. (Thank goodness that if I get Alzheimers I’ll lose my recent memory first!) I have complained to the ABC about their misleading reporting. I wonder if they even bothered to go to Port Augusta. It sounds like the script was already written. I think there should be an enquiry into today’s brutality. Perhaps too into the ABC. Allan Nield 20 Charles Avenue Whyalla 5600 Phone (08) 8645-4397 Three arrests in Baxter protest April 19 2003 By Penelope Debelle Three protesters were arrested on the outskirts of the Baxter detention centre last night as a confrontation between South Australian police and about 350 anti-detention demonstrators turned violent. In scenes reminiscent of last year's Easter protest at Woomera, which ended in a mass breakout of detainees, busloads of demonstrators arrived at Australia's largest detention centre from around the country for a national protest against the Federal Government's policy of mandatory detention. The violence began about 4pm when a phalanx of police - some on horses - forced protesters back from their positions. The front line of demonstrators, trying to set up camp within sight of the Baxter centre, about 12 kilometres from Port Augusta near the El Alamein army camp, were knocked into the scrub. But unlike last year, when about 1200 protesters broke down a fence and helped 50 detainees to escape - six have not been recaptured - the confrontation this year was well away from the detention centre, which is surrounded by two large security fences, one of them electrified. SA Assistant Commissioner of Northern Operations, Graham Brown, said last night that there were fewer protesters than anticipated and the 300 police brought in to maintain security were firmly in control. "We are managing it with the resources we have, given the numbers here at the moment," he said. A man, 46, from Maidstone, in Victoria, and a man, 41, from the Port Augusta area were arrested for loitering. A woman, 33, from Burra in SA, was arrested for offensive language. All three were bailed on condition that they leave the Baxter area. Tension rose during the afternoon as demonstrators gathered at a roadblock more than two kilometres from Baxter, on the Whyalla road leading into Port Augusta. To avoid a repeat of last year's escape, in which vans were used to remove escaped detainees, no vehicles were allowed within four kilometres of the centre. Police attempts to persuade protesters to set up camp outside the roadblocks were ignored as demonstrators, calling themselves the Easter Convergence, flouted warnings against taking camping equipment beyond the designated point. But once inside the first roadblock, they faced a wall of police, some wearing full riot equipment. Some protesters arrived with buckets of split tennis balls in which messages of support had been inserted. They had hoped to throw the balls over the detention centre walls. "We are intending to communicate through noise as well," said Camille Barbagallo, a spokeswoman for No One is Illegal. She said the protests would continue until detention camps were closed. "Certainly there is very strong sentiment here that these camps should not exist and we are here to dismantle them in every way we can," she said. With the closure on Thursday of the Woomera detention centre, Baxter, with 300 detainees, has become Australia's largest detention centre. As part of a security clampdown, the Immigration Department on Thursday moved five detainees whom they considered to be potential trouble-makers to other detention centres. Phone calls into the centre have ceased as have normal visits, although religious visitors will be allowed into Baxter on Easter Sunday. Human rights head in battle on powers Sydney Morning Herald By Cynthia Banham April 19 2003 The departing president of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC )has vowed to "fight to the death" the Federal Government's attempts to curb the commission's influence in the court system. In legislation before Parliament that would streamline the commission's structure, the Government has included a provision that would strip the commission of its independent right to intervene in court cases. But the president, Professor Alice Tay, who finishes in May after five years in the job, claims the commission is united in its resistance to the clause. The commission has intervened in 35 cases since it was established in 1986, and in many - such as the High Court Tampa case, and the IVF for single women case - it has argued the opposite position to the Government's. The new laws would mean it would have to get the Attorney-General's permission before it could intervene. Professor Tay said that if the legislation got through Parliament, "I will be passing on to the next president a very much inferior set of responsibilities". She argues the laws would create a conflict of interest for the Government. "The Commonwealth very often is a party to human rights action. How can it then be also the body who decides whether we as a human rights institution should get its approval?" The Attorney-General, Daryl Williams, argued last month that making the commission seek his permission would ensure "the intervention function is only exercised after the broader interest of the community have been taken into account". His spokeswoman said on Thursday: "The Attorney-General is specially placed to make decisions about whether an intervention will be in the best interests of the human rights of the community as a whole." But the Victorian Attorney-General, Rob Hulls, said "all that will be taken into account are the interests of Daryl Williams". "This is a gross and, in my view, improper political interference with our national human rights watchdog," Mr Hulls said. Mr Hulls precipitated Mr Williams storming out of a meeting of all attorneys-general a week ago when he brought up the topic of the commission reforms. There is speculation about why the Government wants to impose this new requirement on the commission, and it is not the first time it has tried it. Similar laws proposed in 1998 were withdrawn after a Senate committee - including Liberals - said the amendments threatened the commission's independence. "I don't know what they're thinking is different in the landscape," the president of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, Simon Rice, said of the renewed attempt at the changes. Professor Tay said: "It's not for me to read the minds of the Government, the cabinet, the Attorney-General and the Department of the Attorney-General, but there's no doubt that intervention in the last couple of years on detention issues have been an irritant to the Government." The president of the Australian Council for Civil Liberties, Terry O'Gorman, said: "You can see a direct cause and effect between HREOC's intervention in Tampa and this particular move." |
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