Activists say fence cutting protest Morally Right
BAXTER 05 CONVERGENCE
"OPERATION COUNTERSPIN"
MEDIA RELEASE 28.03.05
Five arrested WA activists declare their fence cutting protest at Baxter IDF 'Morally Right'
Press
Conference:
10am - Tuesday 29th March
Parliament
House Gardens
Perth, Western Australia
Five
arrested WA activists declare their fence cutting protest at
Baxter IDF 'Morally Right'
Yesterday we (as the five activists named below) peacefully tore down a small piece of the fence at the Baxter Immigration Detention Facility as a symbolic protest against Australia's policy of mandatory detention.
'We state that the damaging of the fence is non-violence, believing that in fact this fence represents the violence inflicted on innocent human beings by our inhumane policy'.
Our action took place on Easter
Sunday morning. The five of us crossed a small perimeter
fence and then used a nylon rope and small metal hook to
pull off some strands of electrified wire running along the
top of the main fence. We did this away from the main
protest activity and police presence. We then dropped our
equipment and stood with our hands in the air, peacefully
giving ourselves up for arrest as the police arrived. We
remain open and accountable for these actions as we believe
that they are morally right.
We took this action independently but in solidarity with the wider convergence at Baxter which was to peacefully protest against detention policy in this country.
'We are disappointed with any violence against people allegedly perpetrated by protesters, just as we are dismayed by the heavy handed police tactics, in particular the unnecessary brutality we received during our arrests. However, we especially condemn the systemic violence being committed against hundreds of innocent people in Australian detention centres'.
We also want to draw
attention to the hypocrisy of our 'justice' system where we
who have committed a crime are free to travel and enjoy our
comfortable lives, while those who have committed no crime
are imprisoned indefinitely.
'We and other activists will continue to protest vigorously and non-violently until every detention centre is closed and refugees are welcomed here'.
Tonja Boyd, Nathan Harris, Dave Morris, Mike
Quinn, Khristo Newall
Phone contact: 0421 063 266 (or
0408 951 375)
[Currently traveling back from SA by coach but will respond when in range]
Press Conference:
10am - Tuesday 29th March
Parliament House
Gardens
Perth, Western Australia
Alternative Perth
contact: Allan Boyd 0402 573
580
.