BY ARUN PRADHAN

WOOMERA — “Today's brutal crackdown is the reality of Australia's bipartisan approach to refugees. This hell hole cost $25 million to develop, and is one of the most isolated prisons in the world”, Kathy Newnam told Green Left Weekly on September 22, moments after police withdrew a tank housing a water cannon from the Woomera detention centre.

Newnam was one of more than 200 protestors from three cities who travelled to Woomera detention centre in an historic “freedom ride” organised by refugee action collectives. Camping within sight of the detainees, protestors brought the desert to life with music, enthusiastic chants, kites and massive banners.

When detainees responded with banners of their own, police swarmed into the detention centre using water cannons and tear gas. The protestors were held back hundreds of metres from the attack.

Police claimed that detainees were attempting to cut the fence. After the attack some banners were set alight in the centre. Four detainees escaped during the attack, one of whom was captured soon afterwards.

Newnam rejected media claims that protestors “incited a riot”. She told GLW, “this crackdown isn’t the first at Woomera, but it is the first that was witnessed by hundreds of people. We remain committed to stand by the detainees in fighting the racist laws that really cause such violence.”

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