(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ Asia Pacific Office press release, followed by a joint IFJ and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance protest letter to Prime Minister John Howard: 29 January 2002 Journalist arrested at Woomera Detention Centre Australian and international media covering a hunger strike at the Woomera Detention Centre, South Australia, […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ Asia Pacific Office press release, followed by a joint IFJ and the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance protest letter to Prime Minister John Howard:
29 January 2002
Journalist arrested at Woomera Detention Centre
Australian and international media covering a hunger strike at the Woomera Detention Centre, South Australia, have been forced behind a perimeter fence out of sight from the compound, and ABC Radio journalist Natalie Larkins was arrested on Saturday, January 26 for failing to leave commonwealth land outside the centre.
The Alliance, in conjunction with the IFJ, has written to Prime Minister Howard, Federal Immigration Minister Phillip Ruddock, and Attorney General Daryl Williams expressing deep concern over the restriction on media coverage and urging the government to drop the charges against Ms. Larkins and reverse the restrictions against the media.
The media contingent had been reporting from the detention centre for over a week in a designated media area outside the front gate of the compound, which allowed them an uninterrupted view of the centre. On Saturday evening, Australian Protective Services (APS) officers forced the journalists behind a perimeter fence a further 200m away from the compound.
The action by the Commonwealth Government to use the Crimes Act and trespass against the media contingent reporting from Woomera is an unprecedented display of censorship and, as such, a direct attack on the freedom of the press in Australia.
Alliance Federal Secretary and IFJ President Christopher Warren was appalled by the unprecedented action taken against the media, arguing that the freedom of the media has been seriously curtailed. “It’s frankly unbelievable that in this century the government would be resorting to these sorts of laws to prevent public reporting and debate on such an important issue,” he told ABC Radio. “The government is clearly getting in the way of the public knowing what’s going on.”
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, in conjunction with the International Federation of Journalists has protested to the Australian Government in the following letter:
29 January 2002
The Hon. John Howard MP
Prime Minister of Australia
Suite MG 8
Parliament House
Canberra
VIA FACSIMILE: 02 9816 1349
Dear Prime Minister Howard,
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, in conjunction with the International Federation of Journalists, are deeply concerned over the recent harassment of journalists reporting on the detainee crisis at the Woomera Detention centre.
We are particularly concerned at the unilateral decision to move journalists further away from the centre – too far for filming – and the subsequent arrest of ABC Radio journalist Natalie Larkins, on Saturday, 26 January 2002.
After reporting from a particular place for over a week, journalists were forced by Australian Protective Services officers to move 200-300m away from their original position behind the perimeter of the detention centre. At the time, the journalists were given no reason for the move. APS staff subsequently arrested Ms. Larkins when she failed to move behind the newly established perimeter.
The action by the Commonwealth Government to use the Crimes Act and trespass against the media contingent reporting from Woomera is an unprecedented display of censorship and, as such, a direct attack on the freedom of the press in Australia.
We urge you to intervene to see that the charges against Ms. Larkins are withdrawn, and to reverse the restrictions placed on the media reporting from the Woomera Detention Centre.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Warren
Federal Secretary, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
President, International Federation of Journalists
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– expressing concern over the harassment of journalists covering the detainee crisis at the Woomera Detention Centre
– urging the Australian government to withdraw the charges against Larkins
– calling on them to reverse the restrictions placed on the media reporting on the Woomera Detention Centre
Appeals To
The Hon. John Howard MP
Prime Minister of Australia
Suite MG 8
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT 2600
Australia
Fax: +61 2 9816 1349
The Hon. Phillip Ruddock MP
Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Suite MF40
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT 2600
Australia
Fax: +61 2 6273 4144
The Hon. Daryl Williams
Attorney General
Suite MF 19
Parliament House
Canberra, ACT 2600
Australia
Fax: +61 2 6273 4102
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
