'Justice for Mulrunji' actions planned

October 6, 2006
Issue 

Around 50 people — including the brother of Mulrunji, who died at the hands of police in the Palm Island watch-house in November 2004, many other Murris and representatives from Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation, the Greens, the Democrats and the Socialist Alliance — gathered on October 5 at Jagera Hall to plan a march on state parliament on October 10 to demand justice for Mulrunji.

"We will be presenting petitions from people in Townsville, Palm Island, Doomadgee, Cairns, Rockhampton and Mount Isa, and have people from all those places coming down for October 10", the first sitting day of the newly elected state parliament, Murri activist Sam Watson told the meeting.

Mulrunji's brother, Alec Doomadgee, who was accompanied by his two young daughters, urged everyone at the meeting to "bring your cousin, your mother, your friend. Next time it could be you or your family member who is killed." Doomadgee said, "My brother was fit when he went in [to the police station] that day. If you are human and have a heart, whatever your colour, you know that this man was killed. It's time to stand up and be counted."

Watson told the meeting that Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, the officer found responsible for Mulrunji's death in the state coroner's report, would have been sacked or suspended if he was any other public servant in the same situation. Instead, "Hurley has been promoted and transferred to a cushy position on the Gold Coast. We pay taxes every day and I get no peace knowing that he is still drawing a salary on our sweat and blood."

The petition demands that the Queensland parliament "instruct the Police Commissioner to terminate the employment of Senior Sergeant Hurley forthwith and provide every support and assistance to the Director of Public Prosecutions to finalise her assessment of the Coroner's findings so that criminal charges may be brought against certain parties who were responsible for the unlawful killing of Mulrunji."

The Brisbane rally will begin at 10am at Queens Park, then march to state parliament to deliver the petitions. For more information, phone Sam Watson on 0401 227 443. Support vigils will also be held outside Queensland tourism offices in other major cities. Contact the Activist Centre in your city (details below) for details.

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