Refugees remanded for another month

BY BRONWEN BEECHEY

ADELAIDE — Refugees on trial for their involvement in August protests at the Woomera Immigration Detention Centre have been remanded in custody for a further month, following a court hearing here on September 22.

After being denied adequate access to his clients, the legal representative for the refugees, Greg Meade, told the court that the process to assure proper representation would be finalised in the next week.

Meade told the court of concerns for the psychological health of the refugees, who continue to be held in isolation at the Adelaide Remand Centre.

They have not had access to fresh air for two weeks, he said, getting only five minutes out of their bare cells each day to walk in a wing of the remand centre. They are denied access to reading material and have been refused pen and paper.

Many of those charged are also suffering from the separation from their families, who are still held in the Woomera detention camp.

The court heard that the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs had blocked a bail order granted on September 15 allowing one of the refugees to return to Woomera to be with his mother, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress. Bail was again granted at the September 22 hearing.

Supporters of refugee rights held a vocal protest outside the court. The organisers of the protest, Resistance and the Democratic Socialist Party, will hold weekly demonstrations, at 11am on Sundays, outside the Adelaide Remand Centre.

A protest rally is also planned at the next court hearings, on October 24-25, outside the Adelaide Magistrate's Court, corner King William Street and Angas St.

From GLW issue 422