media release
DEATHS IN CUSTODY WATCH COMMITTEE (WA) Inc.
119 Mathieson Rd Ascot WA 6104
Tel: 61 (0)8 9277 1533 Fax: 61 (0)8 9478 4204
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
URL: http://www.omen.net.au/~dicwc
Friday, 5 March 1999
Human Rights Commissioner to investigate WA prison lockdown.
The Deaths In Custody Watch Committee today welcomed Mr Chris
Sidoti's announcement that he will investigate the 23-hour lockdown
imposed on prisoners in several WA prisons following the Christmas
Day riot.
The Watch Committee claimed last week that the lockdown and the
punitive regime accompanying it breached UN Human Rights
Conventions.
"We welcome Mr Sidoti's decision to scrutinise the regime which has
been imposed on prisoners being held at Casuarina, Canning Vale
and Albany prisons since Christmas Day." Said Kath Mallott,
Executive Officer of the Watch Committee.
"The regime imposed on these prisoners, and many others from time
to time, is degrading and inhuman and has clearly been a
contributing factor to an increase in the incidence of self- harm."
"The fact that such a punitive regime has been imposed on prisoners
who have not been charged, or found guilty of any wrong-doing, is a
clear breach of the UN Convention's "Standard Minimum Rules for the
Treatment of Prisoners".
"The Standard Minimum Rules states that "No prisoner shall be
punished unless he has been informed of the offence alleged against
him and given a proper opportunity of presenting his defence."
"The regime also breaches the Australian Medical Association's
Position Statement on 'Health Care of Prisoners and Detainees'
because the majority of prisoners held on a 23 hour lockdown are
being held in solitary confinement."
"We will be contacting Mr Sidoti's office today in order to pass on
any information which we have relating to degrading and inhuman
treatment of prisoners in this State."
Media contact:
Kath Mallott, work: 08 92771533, mobile: 0419930375,
|\/\/\/| ****** Jim Duffield GMT+08 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ********
| o o|
C _) "In Germany, they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up
| ,____| because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and
| / I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then, they came for
| | the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a
trade unionist, then they came for the Protestants and I didn't
speak up because I wasn't a Protestant. Then they came for me,
and by that time, there was no one left to speak up."
Pastor Martin Niemoller,when arrested by the Nazi Gestapo in the late 1930s:
******* http://www.omen.net.au/~staffy/ **************
* 12 Hurrey Place BEECHBORO WA 6063 AUSTRALIA *
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