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A request for an independent inspection team to examine the 75-cell HRMU at Goulburn Jail - to assess the nature and conditions in the unit and compare them to the social alternative. At the very least reassure the public that conditions in the HRMU are humane.
The proposed inspection team consists of specialist doctors, jurists, members of the Corrections Health Service Consumer Council and prisoners’ representatives.
Saturday, 15 May 2004 JA took a delegation of concerned citizens to Goulburn jail to demand the inspection go ahead.
Click here to read the media release from 14 May 2004
RIOT ACT READ AGAINST INSPECTION TEAM
Report:
Inspection of Terror Unit, the HRMU, on Saturday May 15.
The secrecy of the unit holding several people charged with terrorist
offences here in Australia was confirmed during an attempted community
inspection by a delegation from Justice Action. The delegation comprised
four women and two men.
Abusive treatment of prisoners in the unit has been reported over a long
time, and is consistent with the behaviour to prisoners held in Iraq and
Guantanamo Bay.
The gates into the HRMU were blocked by over twenty five armed police. The
Inspectors in charge, Greg Jago and Alan Whitten said access to the
institution was being denied.
We read out the statements of Senator Kerry Nettle of the Australian Greens
and Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans of the Australian Democrats over a loud
hailer, carrying the messages into the prison.
We asked the Corrective Services representative "Steve" who wouldn't give
his surname or rank to take a message into the prisoners, expressing our
concerns. He refused. He said that he was concerned for the safety of
visitors' children, although all visitors congratulated us for our effort,
and took our leaflets.
The police then moved into us trying to pull down our banners. They read a
declaration commonly called the "Riot Act" which entitled them to "disperse"
us if we were causing "unlawful physical violence to persons or unlawful
damage to property." We were doing nothing like that and had expressed our
solidarity with the police to prevent the violence happening inside the
prison.
We left and were stopped outside the city for a "random" breath test by an unmarked police car with two cops in riot gear.
• Letter of Solidarity from Greens Senator Kerry Nettle
• Letter of Support from Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MP and
the Australian Democrats
For background information please click on the links below.
 Letter in support from Lee Rhiannon
Letter in support from Aden Ridgeway
Letter in support from Kerry Nettle
PDF's
INSPECTION PROPOSAL
OFFER TO MINISTER
Archie Roach performs for the High Risk Management Campaign's 'Shine A Light' party. Please click on pics to access JA Gallery.
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