statement zum unterstützten woomera ausbruch - statement from latest woomera breakout

Woomera, Australien, 05.02.2003

All of the escapees have now been recaptured and a number of people arrested. here is the statement that was transmitted to melbourne indymedia via video:

Statement from those involved with the latest Woomera breakout by your fact checkin cuz 1:34pm Wed Feb 5 03 (Modified on 9:48pm Wed Feb 5 03)

There are international laws that are in place to fight for these peoples rights.

The Australian govt has chosen to ignore this and we are choosing to ignore the Australian government's law.

Earlier this morning a melbourne indymedia collective member was handed a video statement proportedly made by those who assisted with Sunday night breakout.

This is the transcription of the statement. The video showed a tight shot of a masked face reading the statement. All the audio available to us is presented here, and hopefully we will be able to post the video shortly.

"...this latest mistreatment of refugees, especially since the fires late last year, has worried and alarmed many good hearted Australian citizens.

The physical and psychological abuses that has been occurring in these detention centres has led ordinary Australians, like us, to take extreme measures.

These abuses are in total breach of any international law and regulations in regard to the abuse of human rights. Millions of people around the world know of the abhorrence of the Australian Immigration policy and this has led many people just like us to to undertake desperate measures.

We are now calling on the Australian community to support our action and condemn the Howard government.

Abuse of refugees inside the centres includes physical and emotional abuse of the detainees causing permanent damage to their bodies and minds of men, women, and yes, children.

Anyone who condones this brutality is Unaustralinan. The iron fisted approach of the Australian govt to oppress public opinion on this issue will not succeed in preventing future actions such as this latest breakout.

People that believe Ruddock's rhetoric regarding false claims by detainees need to look at international procedure which determine who is a genuine asylum seeker.

The perverting of the justice system in this country which prevents court appeals highlights the unlawfulness of the Australian governments decision making process.

Take a look at the 1951 UN refugee convention; the men women and children in these centres are not criminals.

They do not deserve to be locked up. The abuses they face in these centres is sometimes worse than in the countries they have come from. People just like me and people inside these centres cannot stand this treatment any longer. We will not tolerate it.

There are international laws that are in place to fight for these peoples rights. The Australian govt has chosen to ignore this and we are choosing to ignore the Australian governments law.

This is bought to you by your local.. beeep"

indymedia Melbourne