Hi Friends,
As some of you would be aware, we successfully defended the
right of prisoners to vote here in Australia a few weeks ago.
We are now locked in a battle to extend that right into the more
important one of political and community involvement.
We are demanding that there be community access to noticeboards
in all prison wings. We have formally offered to donate completed
boards and glue for every wing in every jail. All has been
refused. They say that prisoners can ask for policy documents.
But the onus shouldn't be on prisoners to know and request, and it
ignores the politicians' right to express their policies to
part of their electorate. What are they afraid of?
There is a NSW state election in seven days.
So the government under challenge, just before an election,
is refusing open access to information to its citizens.
URGENT ACTION is needed to ensure the democratic process and
the human right of information is not blocked by the NSW
Department of Corrective Services.
Please fax Prisons Minister Bob Debus 612 9281 1115 or email
him: [EMAIL PROTECTED] a letter of outrage.
Also send us a copy. We need support in this next week to get
it through and have the continuing benefits of efficient
communication. Who would like to talk with prisoners themselves
all together? What would you like to say? Even a Christmas
message might be appreciated?
Here is our media release 19
March 1999
Eligible Voters Denied How-To-Votes
The NSW Department of Corrective Services has refused
political parties access to prisoner noticeboards to present
their policies and how-to-votes for the upcoming state election.
The Commissioner, Dr Leo Keliher, rejected any political
information directed to prisoners for their vote as
"not appropriate", and rejected the donation of new
noticeboards for prisoner-community communication open for
general dialogue as "not needed". The Minister for Corrective
Services, Mr Debus has not responded.
"Whilst suicides and bashings are endemic to his system, it is
surprising that Dr Keliher feels sufficiently confident of his
position to continue to deny the democratic right of citizens
to be involved in political dialogue. It is time to replace
his violence, bars and guns with respect for the basic human
right of information and community interaction," said Brett
Collins, a Justice Action spokesperson.
"The Department is trying to deny prisoners' humanity and
development. They fear that by accepting prisoners' legal
and human status their own powers of life and death will be
diminished," said Justice Action's Kilty O'Gorman.
"Almost half the prisoners in NSW are eligible to vote in
the March 28 election. However, they will even be denied
ready access to basic how-to-vote cards. How contemptuous
of the democratic process! We call upon the Parliament,
the Supreme Court and the State Electoral Commission to
tell their head screw to respect the political rights of
the citizens under his control," said Mr Collins.
For comment call Brett Collins or Kilty O'Gorman on 9281 5407
justice
ACTION
PO Box K365 Sydney, NSW 2000 Ph: 612 9281 5100
Fx: 612 9281 5303
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Brett Collins
Breakout Design & Print (coordinator)
Justice Action (a spokesperson)
391 Sussex St, Haymarket NSW 2000, Australia
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
voice: 0011-61-2-9281-5100 fax: 9281-5303
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