Protest against children in Immigration detention at Broadmeadows

MITA demonstration- 3 refugees break out, 2 activists capsicum sprayed, 1 arrested.

A march and rally in support of the 140+ young refugees being held in long term detention at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA )in Broadmeadows was held on Saturday April 3. Despite poor weather 200-250 people gathered thanks to a good promotional effort from protest organisers Refugee Action Collective (RAC). After gathering in a car park on the corner of Sydney Road at 1pm the crowd marched down Camp Road to the entrance of MITA where speeches from a variety of refugee advocates, former detainees and others condemned the overcrowded conditions in the camp as well as the practice of locking up children in general.

Later in the gathering, some protesters began rocking back and forth on the gates to the entrance of the compound. Those running the stage requested they desist arguing that the rally and RAC had brought together a coalition of different groups together on the basis that such action would not occur. A small number of protesters left at this point.

Most of the crowd (including this writer) were unaware that those at the fence had spotted young refugees running within the grounds of the compound. The first time many realized that a break out had occurred was when the young man clambered over a side fence cutting himself on barbed wire in the process. Two other teenage refugees who had escaped further down Camp Road then came running into the crowd looking for help.

Unfortunately no one appeared to have planned for this. The possibility that those inside the camp would take action should have been considered and prepared for, especially given the recent spate of refugee uprisings around the country. On the other hand a rumour had spread earlier that all the boys had been taken on an excursion for the day and at least some present were unaware that anyone was still inside.

Reactions to the escape were varied. A large section of the protest helped the exhausted and injured boys to a spot by a wall and then surrounded them to prevent any attempt at recapture by the police or security. Things became somewhat confused. Amongst the crowd some felt that if the boys wanted to leave then the protest should surround them and march off while the police were outnumbered. Others were concerned that in lieu of adequate support networks the boys would eventually have to return to custody and that leaving the site would affect their ability to claim asylum. For the boys’ part they seemed bewildered with many different people talking to them. As one of the boys had been cut by the barbed wire while scaling the fence an ambulance was called.

In the meantime those on stage did not address what had occurred and failed to suggest that the crowd surround and protect the boys. Their decision to continue with speeches as if nothing had happened was surreal given that three vulnerable refugees who had just freed themselves were sitting metres away. Whether those running the stage did this because they were worried about losing control of the protest (which had happened as soon as the boys broke out), because they were worried at enflaming the situation or because they didn’t know what else to do was unclear. However their response was at the very least inadequate and only added to the overall confusion.

In the midst of all this the small number of police who had earlier sealed off the entry road, as well as those stationed inside the gates, remained stationary. A small number of extra police were brought in, but made no move towards the protest. Whether anyone was negotiating with the police was unclear and once more in lieu of information from the stage, or anywhere else for that matter, rumours began to circulate.

After some musicians on stage failed to get anyone to join in on percussion and the speeches wound up the MC announced that the rally was over and that people would soon be marching off. No update on the boys’ situation was given and no explanation offered as to who would remain to assist them. Some of the protesters began firming up to leave while the rest remained with the boys. Around this time the paramedics arrived to check on their condition.

In the meantime some protesters dressed in orange overalls reading “Australia’s Guantanamo” attempted to take direct action. One made it through the fence via a fire equipment cupboard and began scaling a second, inner fence before being arrested. Two others attempted to lock on to the gates and shut the centre down. Before they were able to do so they were assaulted by police who sprayed them in the face with capsicum spray. Some protesters immediately went to their aid pouring water on their faces to alleviate the extreme pain they were suffering.
The paramedics announced shortly after that as the boys had not sustained major injuries they would not remove them from the site. They did not assist the people who had been capsicum sprayed although it’s possible they did not know that it had happened. The ambulance then entered MITA. What may have occurred inside the centre to require this remained unknown.

By this time some of the protesters had begun negotiating for the boys to be allowed to return inside so long as they would not be victimized or face major repercussions. Although MITA management were yet to respond and it remained unclear as to what the boys wanted to do or what their fate might entail, half of the remaining demonstrators chose to march off at this point with red flags aflying.

The 50 or 60 people who remained to support the escapees and injured protesters remained on site for up to an hour until an agreement was reached. Although MITA would not allow the boys to be accompanied on site by a lawyer and/or supporters they agreed that the only punishment would be a week’s suspension for excursions and that supporters would be allowed to check on their situation in the coming days.
No doubt the boy’s escape and the police violence, as well as activists’ reactions to these events, will be hotly debated in the weeks to come.

What happened was unfortunate and predictable. We argued against the protest being held at Broadmeadows for exactly these reasons. We did not want to see teenagers used in a political protest because of the consequences for them. One of those boys is 14 yrs- what does he understand of the consequences of jumping the fence? Also the idiots who suggested that they run away- probably do not remember what happened to the Baktiyari family because of the same action. How is a 14 yr old going to survive on the run?

The responsibility for indefinite mandatory detention is in the hands of the politicians- its implementation is with DIAC. These should be the targets for protests. Do not endanger the kids.

Everytime the refugee issue heats up, fringe groups gather to exploit the issue for their own ends. Where are they during the hard slog when no one wants to know? Violent protests do not change minds and hearts- they just polarise. In a country where there is abysmal ignorance of human rights, this sort of action just divides further.

The work of the REAL REFUGEE RIGHTS people who gathered on Saturday was undone by those who show up when the media gather for their own self gratification.

I don't disagree that taking the kids away would have been stupid, but the only violence was when the cops sprayed people in the face with capsicum spray and wrestled the boys to the ground. Some people shouted at the police in response, but no one laid a finger on them. Let's also not forget that the rally and the ensuing media attention has meant that many people in Melbourne now know that children are being locked up in Broadmeadows- something they didn't know before. There was a story on the the ABC news on Saturday night and a ten minute discussion on Jon Faine this morning.

The main lesson would seem to be that RAC needs to plan protests more carefully to have first aid and a contingency plan for unexpected events like this.

The direct action crew locking themselves to the gate could have been a good part of the stunt, but this needs to be communicated with the main protest organisers, not sprung as a surprise. And likewise, while not necessarily endorsing the DA, the protest organisers ought to organise to support people who get capsicum sprayed.

I don't know if taking the kids away would have been a good idea, but people jumping the fence has happened before and it shouldn't come as a surprise.

Having the Socialist Alternative Red Bloc leave en masse at a critical point is just as bad as the MC not doing anything to hellp, and they should know better and stay around to support in such a difficult situation.

Well done for organising it, but I hope the next one is thought through more carefully.

I have always wanted to make a difference n our communities and feel very bad for the refugees who are locked away. Can someone please send me an email of when the next protest will be? I really want to help! Even if there is volenteer work with refugees, can someone please let me know A.S.A.P

The Police should of used live rounds and shot every one there in the head.
The things you see when you don't have a pump action shot gun !

You can also get involved in the Refugee Action Collective http://www.rac-vic.org/

on socialist alternative... lest we forget that these wankers called for the refugees who escaped from woomera in a mass break out in 2002 to be handed back to ACM after we had a 'victory march' to the front gates. for shame. it astonishes me that anyone works with these irrelevant losers. as for the dsp...they called for a condemnation of people who were involved in a direct action at woomera detention centre(including myself) while we were in prison awaiting trial where most were acquitted. This is despite the fact that we were receiving active support from local christians, alp members, various trade unions and senior lawyers. If you want to achieve nothing keep working in broad alliances with these social pariahs - that's advice for moderates and radicals alike

If those three guys were children then we need to review the common definition of who is a minor. One looked around 17 but the remaining two looked in their 20s. So are they all 20s and 30s in the centre? I have heard that only one or two are under 18 years old and the rest are 20s, 30s and even 40 years old. Very misleading and a waste of our resource. If these detainees are not minors than ARC and the rest of protesting groups aren't you just ruining their chances? Is your cause is unjustified? Just a thought. Then again if they are not children they should all be in a more security facility. Also, please remember that social justice and change come with responsibility so be more responsibile in your action guys.

Everyone in the centre is under 18, it's for youth only.

I saw the guy in the photo running towards the fence on TV and if he is under 20 I will eat the birth certificate or any other original ID he arrived with or he ever produces. What's that?...to be processed as a child and placed in a detention centre amongst children he hasn't had to produce any ID at all even though he looks over 20. This process and our hard earned taxes with it, are being total scammed by these illegal que-jumpers. I have 3 World Vision children, two Muslim, and on the governaments own figures for the billion we are flushing down the toilet on these enhancement seekers Australia could have sponsored 5.5 million World Vision kids. From what I know the families of my three sponsored children could no more raise the 15,000 dollars to pay a people smuggler than fly to the moon. I don't blame them from rorting the system, the fault lies with those that allow them to do it and even worse those such as lawyers and others who live off or profit from this rort.

As mentioned elsewhere on this site, the boys in question expressly requested that their photos should not be published, not on their own account, but out of concern for possible - or likely - reprisals against their families. For this reason it is unfortunate perhaps that footage and photos have been released, but it is obviously too late to do anything about that. On the other hand, identifying them by name and place of birth if anyone were tempted to take the bait offered would be inexcusable.

What rubbish and how convenient. most of these illegals destroy their documents (and for sure these two adults posing as children did) because making up a story is obviously better then the truth, but then authorities can't check their stories because it might endanger their family. Please tell me why would authorities in say Afghanistan care a hoot that someone has left the country and has caught a boat to Australia. With I am sure a few genuine exceptions (like any Christian who could possibly raise the money to flee outrageous genuine persecution in Pakistan*, Iraq or Afghanistan...anybody hear of even one of them???) this is just a colossal scam allowed because of believers of false and illogical nonsense or by the many people who profit from it!

There are way more poor and disadvantaged Christian people (especially single mothers or battered divorced wives and their family) in the Solomon Islands or New Guinea than most if not all of these boat people (i.e. they could not raise $10-15,000 in a lifetime) who would love to have a new better life in Australia, but if they get on a boat they are they sent back immediately and yet Muslim illegals, 'rich' enough to pay this amount of money and with values and beliefs way different from our own, get accepted as genuine refugees at well over 90% and even those proven as frauds not sent back.

Yes we can have economic immigrants, and yes a mix of these should be Muslim, Buddist whatever, but we should choose them for what they offer Australia. Humanitarian migrants should come form the may more deserving destitute in our Pacific neighbourhood first.

Finally let me ask a question...I have seen quite a few burka wearing ladies in my local suburb and likewise with the wives at the trial of the Muslim terrorists who plotted to blow up the Australian Army barracks were wearing burkas (now that wouldn't go together much would it?). How does anyone who makes his wife wear a burka or any woman who accepts this share "Australian Values"?

*Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan 'for blasphemy'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8120142/Christian-woman-sentenc...

Pakistan cleric offers reward to kill Christian woman

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/117908/pakistan-cleric-offers-reward...

There are some very important debates that need to take place following from the action at Broadmeadows and there are some lingering and new issues that people have with the direction that certain groups or individuals are trying to take. I would encourage anyone wanting to know more about what is going on or to contribute to these debates to come along to a meeting and film screening tonight at Trades Hall. details are on facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=200173023356396&index=1

or 6:30pm Trades Hall a film of the action will be shown as well as time for discussion on what happened and future actions