<nettime> Woomera Refugees' Day in Court

[francesca da rimini <gashgirl@systemx.autonomous.org>]

Following the protests at the Woomera Detention Centre over Easter during
which  30 refugees escaped, the first 8 asylum seekers who have been
charged by the Australian Commonwealth Government for being unlawfully at
large under the Immigration Act 197a appeared in Courtroom 3 of the
Adelaide Magistrates Court today. 

The 8 men, 6 from Afghanistan, and 2 from Iran, have spent the last few
weeks detained in Port Headland, Western Australia following their arrest
in South Australia, and were then transported to Woomera (5 hours north of
Adelaide) just prior to today's court hearing.  They were handcuffed and
transported to Adelaide and kept at the Adelaide Watchhouse in an area
that had been rented by ACM (Australian Correctional Management) as a kind
of temporary detention zone (as opposed to a temporary autonomous
zone) for the duration of their stay in Adelaide. This is because they are
actually released on bail in relation to the charges laid by the
Commonwealth Government, and so the South Australian police have no
jurisdiction over the men. Yesterday the refugees' lawyers and
interpreters spent 5 hours with them in at the Adelaide Watchhouse. The
men have not been allowed tea or coffee, or cigarettes, in the watch
house. 

A small group of people who wanted to express solidarity with the refugees
were not able to attend the hearing of the first group as we had been
advised by the Sheriff's Officer that it was a closed hearing. Personally
I think he had been disinformed by powers above as he seemed pretty
cool. We hung about anyway in the foyer of the courthouse exchanging
stories and information. One of the group of supporters had a very joyful
demeanour, as he had been released only 6 days previously on a 3 year
Temporary Protection Visa after spending 14 months in the hell-hole at
Woomera. He was wanting very much to be able to see his friends and for
them to know that he was there for them. I spent some time talking with
him, and with one of the interpreters, who had recently spent 6 months
working at Woomera in relation to her studies in pyschology and
suicide. Before the hearing of the second group of men the refugees'
lawyer emerged from the courtroom and explained to us that it was not a
closed hearing and we were free to attend.  So in we went, to a very small
court room.

The group were represented by a lawyer, and assisted by 2 interpreters,
one speaking Persian Dari (for the Afghanis), and one speaking Persian
(Farsi), for the Iranians. The defending lawyer explained via the the
interpreters that they were awaiting a legal decision on people who
escaped last year. As the outcome of that decision will affect the trial
of the refugees' matters the refugees had agreed to a postponement of
their trial. The refugees have bail on these charges so they are not being
held by the Commonwealth or the Police in relation to those charges. They
are still in immigration detention. If they are released from the
Detention Centre they will not be detained on the charges of being
unlawfully at large, however they will have to face those charges in
court. The bail conditions have been changed so that the refugees can
remain in South Australia so they can give instructions to their lawyer
which was virtually impossible whilst they were being held in WA. They
will be kept at Woomera until at least 22 June. After that date they may
go back to WA or stay in SA, depending on the court's ruling.

The prosecutor confirmed these details, adding that the men were remanded
on bail until August 29.

The magistrate set the date of their next court appearance as 10am on 29
August. He instructed the men that it was important that they keep in
touch with their lawyer so that she can assist them with their case.

The men smiled and waved as best they could considering the handcuffs at
the group of supporters as they were escorted from the courtroom. The
recently released refugee and I accompanied the lawyer and one of the
translators back to the Adelaide Watchhouse who were returning for
post-trial conference with the refugees.

We heard afterwards that the refugees were very appreciative of the
presence of supporters in the court. The next hearing will be at 9.30am on
Friday June 5 at the  Adelaide Magistrates Court (Cnr King William and
Angas Streets) and it would be fantastic to have more people there again
in solidarity with the refugees. To remain silent and invisible is to be
complicit with the Power. So c'mon Adelaide, this shameful and cruel
treatment of refugees is happening in our own backyard, show that you
care! 

PS. International messages of solidarity via adelaide indymedia (or email
dollyoko) will be passed on to the refugees in Woomera




-- 
all women are ghosts and should rightly be feared
http://sysx.org/gashgirl


GASHGIRL'S PICK OF US DEFENSE CONTRACTS FROM APRIL 2002

NORTHROP GRUMMAN Ship Systems, Ingalls Operations, Pascagoula,
Miss., is being awarded a $1,369,507,077 modification to a
previously awarded contract (N00024-00-C-2217) for the detail
design and construction of the LHD 8 multi-purpose amphibious
assault ship.

The contract modification also provides for
technical manuals, crew familiarization, coordinated shipboard
allowance list material, major shore based spares and related
engineering and technical services.  Work will be performed in
Pascagoula, Miss. (76 percent), and various other subcontractor
facilities (24 percent) and is expected to be completed by July
2007.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current
fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C.,
is the contracting activity.


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