WOOMERA, AUSTRALIA: BORDER CAMP Mar 27 - Apr 2 2002

On March 29th protesters at the Woomera border camp broke through the outer two fences guarding the refugee detention centre while detained refugees dismantled other fences from the inside. More then 40 detainees managed to escape, although most of them were recaptured later. Full story | BBC pictures

Over the whole Easter weekend, people have protested the imprisonment of refugees from all over the world at the Woomera detention centre in Southern Australia and have demanded the freedom of movement and freedom from arbitrary imprisonment for everyone. The border camp outside the detention centre had started on Wednesday March 27th with a large demonstration, following massive protests against the restrictive Australian asylum policy in Melbourne and other cities the weekend before. Pictures and videos from the first day of the camp.

Woomera is located in the middle of the desert, 500 kms from the nearest city of Adelaide. Conditions of imprisonment are unbearable and have repeatedly triggered uprisings by imprisoned refugees. Last December, several buildings were set on fire by prisoners. There have been hunger strikes, many prisoners injured themselves or comitted suicide.

Read more about Woomera and the border camp | Woomera 2002 campaign website | Indymedia Melbourne | Indymedia Adelaide | Fence Foto