KConnor56
08-02-2002, 09:27 AM
MEDIA RELEASE August 2, 2002
Test case: prisonersı right to political communication
The Australian constitutional right of prisoners to receive communication about political matters will be raised in the District Court in Newcastle NSW today by Malcolm Ramage QC before Judge Coolahan.
This case arose from an incident at Cessnock Corrective Centre on July 30, 2000 during the Drug War Freedom Ride before the Olympic Games.
The Freedom Ride against the Drug War was launched in Toronto Canada using the spirit of the World Peace Flame on the same day (10/5/00) as the Olympic Flame was lit, and went around the world accumulating testimonies of the
victims of the drug war. During July and August it toured most NSW prisons speaking with prisoners, visitors and the general public ending in Sydney at the Olympic Games.
Two Cessnock prison visitors including a 15 year old almost-blind girl were attempting to talk with prisoners about the need to change the drug laws. Five prison officers surrounded the man. Three or four prison officers held him, forced his face into the ground, put their legs on top of his chest,
with arms handcuffed pulled up behind his back until the police arrived. The girl said he was attacked without warning and she was abused and threatened.
This is an opportunity to reassert the communityıs right to involve prisoners in hearing and discussing material which affects their freedom, and their constitutional right as voters to receive information. Currently departmental practice attempts to severely restrict prisoner access to
information. This was highlighted recently by the decision to ban the magazine FRAMED in all NSW prisons. Prison authoritiesı responsibility for security does not allow them to restrict public debate. The Government Plan of Action for the Drug Summit 1999 accepted the important role of
communities in dealing with the drug issue. (Section 8.1)
Contact: Eric or Anna 9281 5100 or Brett on 0438 705003
Justice Action
19 Buckland St, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia
P.O. Box 386, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
email: brett@justiceaction.org.au
voice: 61-2-9281-5100 fax: 9281-5303
Test case: prisonersı right to political communication
The Australian constitutional right of prisoners to receive communication about political matters will be raised in the District Court in Newcastle NSW today by Malcolm Ramage QC before Judge Coolahan.
This case arose from an incident at Cessnock Corrective Centre on July 30, 2000 during the Drug War Freedom Ride before the Olympic Games.
The Freedom Ride against the Drug War was launched in Toronto Canada using the spirit of the World Peace Flame on the same day (10/5/00) as the Olympic Flame was lit, and went around the world accumulating testimonies of the
victims of the drug war. During July and August it toured most NSW prisons speaking with prisoners, visitors and the general public ending in Sydney at the Olympic Games.
Two Cessnock prison visitors including a 15 year old almost-blind girl were attempting to talk with prisoners about the need to change the drug laws. Five prison officers surrounded the man. Three or four prison officers held him, forced his face into the ground, put their legs on top of his chest,
with arms handcuffed pulled up behind his back until the police arrived. The girl said he was attacked without warning and she was abused and threatened.
This is an opportunity to reassert the communityıs right to involve prisoners in hearing and discussing material which affects their freedom, and their constitutional right as voters to receive information. Currently departmental practice attempts to severely restrict prisoner access to
information. This was highlighted recently by the decision to ban the magazine FRAMED in all NSW prisons. Prison authoritiesı responsibility for security does not allow them to restrict public debate. The Government Plan of Action for the Drug Summit 1999 accepted the important role of
communities in dealing with the drug issue. (Section 8.1)
Contact: Eric or Anna 9281 5100 or Brett on 0438 705003
Justice Action
19 Buckland St, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia
P.O. Box 386, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
email: brett@justiceaction.org.au
voice: 61-2-9281-5100 fax: 9281-5303