CJC probes police violence in Ipswich

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE -- The Queensland Criminal Justice Commission has begun investigations into allegations of police violence against Aboriginal youth during arrests made outside a nightclub in the Ipswich Mall on the early morning of March 22.

The events -- dubbed "Ipswich's Rodney King bashing" -- were captured on security video and shown on TV, and later on the US CNN network.

Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Ian Dearden on April 11 praised the CJC's prompt action and said it would be one of the watchdog's most important probes.

"We believe the actions of the police shown on this particular video raise such widespread concern about police behaviour -- including, most importantly, their training and supervision", Dearden said.

US military authorities have launched their own investigation into the involvement of US Marine military police in the violence against Aborigines in Ipswich.

US officials denied claims by Queensland Police Commissioner Jim O'Sullivan of an "ongoing battle" in Ipswich between Aboriginal youth and off-duty US servicemen.

Ipswich Aboriginal Legal Service president Pat Thompson said on April 6: "What I am really angry with is the force that was used in arresting people. There should be disciplinary action against police involved -- they are not above the law."

She said that the excessive violence that was used to arrest people, and was clearly evident in the video, was "absolutely appalling."

This article was posted on the Green Left Weekly Home Page.
For further details regarding subscriptions and
correspondence please contact glw@greenleft.org.au

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page