Violence on Palm Island

- PC -

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Thread starter #1
Interesting to read the reports about the riot that occurred on Palm Island and how the indigenous population is treated when in custody.

From Newsonline

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200411/s1252786.htm

Commissioner Atkinson says he is standing by his officers over the row.

He says the autopsy results are consistent with police accounts of events.

"The police version is that after the deceased person was arrested, when they got back to the police station, as he exited from the police vehicle he punched the police officer in the head, there was a scuffle between the two and they fell to the ground on some concrete steps," Commissioner Atkinson said.


Now whether you believe those events, or (as I do) there was some boots laid in..the question for me is why werent any injuries diagnosed and what is the procedure for those injuries to be treated. I have great concern that the police have been exonerated not only on the suspiciousness of the events surrounding the death but also their lack of treatment of the wounded prisoner.

Red,white black or blue a fall of that nature should be looked at, especially across concrete steps. Police have been professionally trained to deal with drunken fighters and should be able to remain calm or at least maintain a semblance of control.

While I dont excuse the violence that erupted after I think not only in Queensland but also the rest of Australia deaths in custody need not be swept under the carpet , and a greater onus of reporting be put on the police.
 

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campbell

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#2
Goodness me.

The gentleman who died was resisting arrest,he was hitting the cop in the head.No time for you supposed jackboot mentality.Out of cop car, being hit,struggle,fall on steps,cop gets control and inside.

By the way there was no bruising from you supposed jackboots.

Thats offensive for that cop and his family.Did you know he was a respected member of that community,that he had even been on message stick saying how misunderstood these people were, that only a few had problems in the community.

its a damned shame its that few who he had to deal with on a normal basis of his job, and its a damned shame that those few threatened to kill the other cops.Burned down the courthouse,copshop,post office.Cut the water .

Extremely well planned rioit,for a spur of the moment thing.

Pathetic group of individuals.Black or white you don't behave like this.You don't plan to kill people.You don't scare witless the children of your community.

Mind you the gentleman that died seems to have had a real alcohol problem.
 

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#3
Last Thursday two Kooris were picked up on Smith St Fitzroy, neither were drunk or causing a disturbance and taken to Glenroy Police Station about 25km away, questioned for ten minutes and then told to walk home.

A week earlier I assisted a Koori in court who was charged with a number of serious offences. Even listening to the Police evidence and looking at the security tape, it was obvious he was being 'bricked' and should not have been charged. It was clear that the man on the tape was not my client but someone else.

Another client arrested a week ago for being drunk has a contact card due to illness on him if he is picked up. This was ignored by the Police who placed him in the cells whereupon client suffered a number of fits resulting in injuries.

I have witnessed Police harrassing Kooris in the street here in Melb, thier classic greeting is "Hey You! come here,' as they pull up in the car.

I am not suprised that there are not more riots as has happened in Redfern and Palm Island. There is a reason why Micheal Long is undertaking his walk to Canberra

I should note here that personally I have a good working relationship with the Police and most are pretty good people, but I know for a fact that are some whose behaviour toward Kooris could be easily described as bigoted.
 

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Thread starter #4
campbell said:
Goodness me.

The gentleman who died was resisting arrest,he was hitting the cop in the head.No time for you supposed jackboot mentality.Out of cop car, being hit,struggle,fall on steps,cop gets control and inside.
Yes I can imagine him headbutting the policemans fist time and time again

By the way there was no bruising from you supposed jackboots.

Thats offensive for that cop and his family.Did you know he was a respected member of that community,that he had even been on message stick saying how misunderstood these people were, that only a few had problems in the community.

its a damned shame its that few who he had to deal with on a normal basis of his job, and its a damned shame that those few threatened to kill the other cops.Burned down the courthouse,copshop,post office.Cut the water .

Extremely well planned rioit,for a spur of the moment thing.

Pathetic group of individuals.Black or white you don't behave like this.You don't plan to kill people.You don't scare witless the children of your community.

Mind you the gentleman that died seems to have had a real alcohol problem.
If he finds my comments offensive he has every right of reply either on here or through the court system. Knowing him as well as you do you may wish to pass on my details.

I agree what happened AFTER wasnt the right response...but do you truly believe it was one simple fall? In Victoria there is a bouncer been charged over a punch...well it was only one punch but it was the ''fall'' that killed David Hookes.. This bouncer has been made responsible for his actions , all I am saying is why isnt there more accountability for the Police Service?

Police deal with alcoholics on a daily basis..drunk or sober they are taught how to deal with them. Using the excuse he had a real drinking problem only shows to me the polices attitude towards this was ''hes just a drunk boong let him sleep it off , hes faking hes hurt''
 

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#6
1988 Guiness Book of Records names Palm Island the most violent place on the planet outside a combat Zone, so the place does have some form.

An all Koori population that has rightly or wrongly has a very bad reputation, as you could imagine it is not where the best and brightest cops get sent either.
 

jmerino

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I have worked in the past in Northern Queensland.The whole region has inherant problems that people who live in large southern cities have not a clue about.

It is extremely hard to work in aboriginal missions.This cop apparently has not had any problems before.he has an exemplery record.he also has worked on this isalnd for years and has supported the community.

To find him guilty until the whole story comes out is a disgrace from you guys.

I suppose siting behind a keyboard makes it ok to bag a persons intergrity.
 

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Thread starter #8
jmerino said:
I have worked in the past in Northern Queensland.The whole region has inherant problems that people who live in large southern cities have not a clue about.

It is extremely hard to work in aboriginal missions.This cop apparently has not had any problems before.he has an exemplery record.he also has worked on this isalnd for years and has supported the community.

To find him guilty until the whole story comes out is a disgrace from you guys.

I suppose siting behind a keyboard makes it ok to bag a persons intergrity.
There are many exemplary citizens in jail for that one off incident. I havent found him guilty all I was saying was that deaths in custody seem to be glossed over more than any other deaths. If the incident happened as reported fine.. but I just find the injuries reported not consistent with a ''fall''
Maybe Worksafe can visit the island and recommend changes to the pathways and the installation of rubber steps?

Whether sitting behind a keyboard or sitting in a work lunchroom the topic will be raised... just because he wears a uniform doesnt raise him above the law.
 

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#9
BlueMark said:
Last Thursday two Kooris were picked up on Smith St Fitzroy, neither were drunk or causing a disturbance and taken to Glenroy Police Station about 25km away, questioned for ten minutes and then told to walk home.

A week earlier I assisted a Koori in court who was charged with a number of serious offences. Even listening to the Police evidence and looking at the security tape, it was obvious he was being 'bricked' and should not have been charged. It was clear that the man on the tape was not my client but someone else.

Another client arrested a week ago for being drunk has a contact card due to illness on him if he is picked up. This was ignored by the Police who placed him in the cells whereupon client suffered a number of fits resulting in injuries.

I have witnessed Police harrassing Kooris in the street here in Melb, thier classic greeting is "Hey You! come here,' as they pull up in the car.

I am not suprised that there are not more riots as has happened in Redfern and Palm Island. There is a reason why Micheal Long is undertaking his walk to Canberra

I should note here that personally I have a good working relationship with the Police and most are pretty good people, but I know for a fact that are some whose behaviour toward Kooris could be easily described as bigoted.
quite amazing.
 

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#13
I can tell who really know how to stage a riot and that is the Sth Koreas. Thiers are rippers with tear gas, molotov cocktails, water cannon, the works.
 

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#14
PerthCrow said:
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=23243

A new autopsy hs been ordered


Hopefully whatever findings there are the people of Palm Island accept them.
If anything further needs to happen let it do so without further rioting
It will probably not determine whether he fell on the stairs, or was sat on or bashed. I doubt it will solve anything.
 

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#15
Just when things are hopefully calming down, enter Mr Yanner....................

Payback warning targets police
November 30, 2004 - 3:36PM


An indigenous leader has issued a chilling warning of "payback" against police and an eruption of violence across Australia if charges against those arrested for rioting on Palm Island are not dropped.

Eighteen men yesterday faced a north Queensland court charged with offences ranging from arson to serious assault on police following last Friday's violent riots, sparked by the death in custody of a local man.

The island community erupted in anger after an initial autopsy revealed Cameron Doomadgee sustained four broken ribs and a ruptured spleen and liver during a scuffle with a police officer during his arrest on November 19.

"If we're not going to get it through white law, we will take it through our own means, through Aboriginal law which has payback," Aboriginal activist Murrandoo Yanner warned today.

"When someone's killed, someone must be killed in return.

"If this policeman isn't punished, jailed or charged with murder, under the law, if you can't get one policeman you get another."


All but one of the 18 charged over the riots - during which the island's police station, court house and barracks were torched - were denied bail.

Most will re-appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.

Mr Yanner warned of deadly repercussions if the Queensland government did not drop the charges as "a gesture of goodwill and reconciliation".

"There will be great trouble right across Aboriginal Australia," he said.

"I'm hoping to avoid that, that's why I'm calling on the government to immediately release them and withdraw charges, otherwise we're going to fight and resist it.

"I can certainly guarantee in my neck of the woods, the lower Gulf of Carpentaria, we will up the ante on the police, we will have a lot more civil disobedience, we will do the Ghandi/Martin Luther thing, we'll just totally be non-cooperative with police to an amazing degree they have never encountered before.

"We'll have people turn a blind eye ... the police will have no assistance whatsoever in our communities, and if in fact they'll be lucky not to be assaulted and other things."

Premier Peter Beattie has ruled out community-based punishment for the 18 accused Aboriginal rioters despite a traditional court on the island. He said they should face Queensland's court system.

Mr Yanner will attend Mr Doomadgee's funeral, which was expected to be held next week following a second autopsy.

He said Aboriginal Australia was looking at Palm Island with great pride and satisfaction.

"We look around at Palm Island, Redfern, and go bloody good on ya, one for us. I can't wait until I have my go," Mr Yanner said.

"Aboriginal Australia loves those moments.

"They're moments to be extremely proud of."




http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Payback-warning-targets-police/2004/11/30/1101577471802.html
 

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#17
skipper kelly said:
beauty. looks like time to dust off the white sheets.
Don't worry its North Queensland, Townsville is the capital, they think the Nationals are communists and the Qld Police force is renound for thier understanding and sensitivity (they only used thier tasers three of four times).
 

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#18
Qsaint said:
"When someone's killed, someone must be killed in return.

"If this policeman isn't punished, jailed or charged with murder, under the law, if you can't get one policeman you get another."

"I can certainly guarantee in my neck of the woods, the lower Gulf of Carpentaria, we will up the ante on the police, we will have a lot more civil disobedience, we will do the Ghandi/Martin Luther thing, we'll just totally be non-cooperative with police to an amazing degree they have never encountered before."
Perhaps I missed something, but I don't remember either Gandhi or Martin Luther King advocating payback and violence (I assume he's not talking about the original Martin Luther). This guy has a lot to learn about diplomacy.

This is the sort of attitude that sets things back twenty years and gets the likes of Pauline Hanson sympathy in the community.
 

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Mr Q said:
Perhaps I missed something, but I don't remember either Gandhi or Martin Luther King advocating payback and violence (I assume he's not talking about the original Martin Luther). This guy has a lot to learn about diplomacy.

This is the sort of attitude that sets things back twenty years and gets the likes of Pauline Hanson sympathy in the community.
Don't know if you here of this guy over in the west, but he has been saying stuff like this for the last ten years. He was head of one of the land councils, not sure if he still is, he has been pretty quiet for the last couple of years. He advocates payback PNG style.
 

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Thread starter #22
Qsaint said:
"When someone's killed, someone must be killed in return.

"If this policeman isn't punished, jailed or charged with murder, under the law, if you can't get one policeman you get another."


All but one of the 18 charged over the riots - during which the island's police station, court house and barracks were torched - were denied bail.

Most will re-appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Monday.

Mr Yanner warned of deadly repercussions if the Queensland government did not drop the charges as "a gesture of goodwill and reconciliation".

"There will be great trouble right across Aboriginal Australia," he said.
Sounds like hate speech to me? Let all those who wanted to keep the Swedish pastor in jail now take up the fight to arrest this man.His incitement to riot and kill legal representatives of our judicial system should be investigated.

Once again it shows the hypocrisy of people when an Aborigine is involved versus a member of a religion.
 

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#23
Could 4 broken ribs and a punctured liver be grounds for excessive force being used.

You can bet your bottom dollar that when Long meets Howard, this will come up.
 

Homer Jnr

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#24
The gentleman who dies was involved in a car accident 2 days prior to his death, in this accident apparently he broke those ribs.

The riot was very well planned,they made their bombs a head of time.They shipped in resources and extra people to start the riot.How is that acceptable behaviour in our society.
 

campbell

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#25
Tragic all round.

If its true as reported in the paper about the prior car crash and the injury being sustained a few days prior to his death, how is the policeman responsible????

I think that you have a lot of proffessional agitators on Palm at the moment.I think its not really about the family of the man or the mans death anymore.These agitators and rioters are making use this poor mans death to bring forward their own agendas.

It all very nasty.I sure as hell would not want to be a nurse at that hospital or a teacher at the school.The locals could turn on them next.This cop prior to the incident was well respected by the locals, a normal knockabout guy.To think that he has been accused of murdering someone is awful.Innocent until proven guilty.

Tnis is 2004.
 
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