Thousands of refugees' rights supporters from around the country are set to converge over the Easter weekend on the Australian government's latest concentration camp — the Baxter detention centre, near Port Augusta in South Australia. Many of those detained in Baxter fled to Australia to escape Saddam Hussein's regime.

A March 12 Sydney public meeting to promote Baxter2003, attended by 90 people, was addressed by Canberra Refugee Action Collective member Tanya McConville, who is in regular contact with Baxter detainees. She described the incredible human spirit of the asylum seekers in one of the centre's nine separate compounds, who bravely protested on March 5 of the right for all the detainees to gather together.

A March 9 media release from the Baxter2003 Sydney organising group said: “People locked up in Baxter have been punished and put into isolation just for asking to see their friends. If visits are ever allowed, they have to be approved in writing and people are then subjected to humiliating strip searches. Right now is the Muslim month of Muharram — one of the most important times of the year for Shia Muslims. Paying visits to each other during this month is a part of their religion.”

While the protesters faced harsh punishment, McConville explained that they won the right for the detainees to gather together.

On March 9, two Iranian detainees managed to escape from Baxter, which is supposed to be impossible to escape from, with its cameras, electric fences and microwave movement detection systems.

Baxter currently holds the largest number of asylum seekers of any detention facility on Australian territory — 239, including 42 children.

On March 12, immigration minister Philip Ruddock announced that the Woomera detention centre would be “mothballed” by mid-April, with its 77 prisoners to be moved to Baxter.

Activists organising Baxter2003 say the protest will highlight the cruel and arbitrary punishment of refugees at the maximum security centre. Most people imprisoned in Baxter have no idea how long they will be locked up for. Many have requested to go back to their homelands but are being obstructed by the immigration department.

The convergence will take place from Friday, April 18, through to Sunday, April 20. Contact organisers in your nearest city for transport details, or to get involved in organising the protest.

Adelaide: Phone Elicia 0428 847 532 or Nat 0410 158 596.

Brisbane: Baxter convergence collective, phone Gillian 0409 267 040 or Justin 0408 066 496.

Canberra: Phone Cathy (02) 6249 1020 or email <catho@funnelwebinternet.com>.

Melbourne: Baxter Network meets Tuesdays, 7pm, Trades Hall, cnr Lygon and Victoria sts, Carlton. Phone RAC (03) 9659 3505, Simon 0402 413 914, Jody on 0438 191 768 or email <refugeeaction@mail.com>.

Newcastle: Baxter organising group meets every second Thurs, 5.30pm. 401 Hunter St, Newcastle. Phone Peter 0408 702 996 or Vanessa (02) 4968 1281.

Perth: Baxter network meets Saturdays, 1pm. Upstairs, Cinema Paradiso, 164 James St, Northbridge. Phone Bec Schumack 0401 390 179 or Grant 0418 012 957.

Sydney: Baxter organising committee meets Wednesdays, 6pm. University of Technology Sydney. Phone Mark 0422 078 376 or Ashleigh 0402 008 408.

From Green Left Weekly, March 19, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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