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from
 http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8872080%255E1702,00.html

Rioters to march on Parliament

AAP - March 4, 2004

MEMBERS of Sydney's Redfern Aboriginal community will march on NSW parliament later this month to express their concerns in the wake of Thomas "TJ" Hickey's death and the riot which broke out as a result.

A predominantly non-indigenous crowd gathered at the South Sydney Leagues Club tonight for a public meeting organised by the Socialist Alliance called "justice for TJ, stop racism and police violence."

TJ's mother Gail was among the handful of Redfern community members at the meeting which was addressed by Aboriginal leader Lyall Munro.

Mr Munro said the Aboriginal community would take their concerns to Parliament House on March 24 after a rally at The Block.

"The police force needs to be scrutinised," he told the crowd of about 50 people.
[i counted twice: 85 and 95 with some people leaving earlier and others coming later, so it must have been clearly over 100.]

"There needs to be an inquiry, but it's got to be independent from governments and police departments.

"These inquiries have got to come as soon as possible because unless there is some constructive to come out of this, you will see more black kids throughout this state that will take up the same form of resistance to the police oppression."

Mr Munro said Aboriginal leaders would in the next month travel to Parliament House in Canberra to put their point across to Prime Minister John Howard.

TJ Hickey died on February 15 after he became impaled on a metal fence in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern.

His family and friends maintain he had been chased by police to his death but authorities deny the accusations.
[there are quite some EYEwitnesses about TWO(!) cop cars chasing TJ (one with sirene + lights on.]

A violent riot broke out the night after teenager died, with youths throwing bricks, rocks and molotov cocktails at police. Fifty officers were injured in the clash.
[Cops ATTACKED The Block + Aboriginal youths DEFENDED it in an impressively organised way - so no "riot broke out" here.]

Police have now arrested a total of 15 people in relation to the riot.
[amongst them some family members!]

AAP

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[ From Today's Terrorgraph ]

Future riots: fate is sealed

By MARTIN WALLACE - March 6, 2004

PAVING stones at the Block have been tarmacked over in a bid to deprive agitators of ammunition during any repeat of the Redfern riots.

Forty police officers were injured in the violence three weeks ago after rioters ripped up paving stones and used them as missiles.

An area spanning several hundred metres at the top of Eveleigh St – which was turned into the front line between rioters and police – has been covered over this week.

The outside veranda of a derelict building used as a homeless squat has also been removed after bits of it were smashed up and used as weapons.

During the nine-hour confrontation rioters prised up the paving stones and hurled them at a thin blue line of police who tried to contain the violence.

Now that ready-made supply of ammunition has gone.
[..]

Police have, unofficially, confirmed the rioting prompted this week's work in Eveleigh St.

A spokesman said: "It was the council who tarmacked the area, so we can't really comment. But it's interesting timing."

Sydney City Council administrator Tony Pooley said: "The work has been done to seal up the road. and make it safer. It means that nothing can be dug out and thrown at someone and people won't trip in the gaps and hurt themselves."

[.. More terror on -->
 http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1260&storyid=998212
]

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STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY

As representatives of socialist parties from around the world, we were appalled to read in the international media, and see on our TV screens, the reports on the death of Thomas Hickey, We were outraged at the evidence of ongoing police and state racism and harassment of indigenous people in Sydney.

But we were also encouraged to see how the Black population of Redfern understandably fought back against institutionalised police violence and racism.

We extend our support and solidarity to Thomas Hickey's family, to the Black population of Sydney, and to the original inhabitants of Australia as they continue to resist and overcome more than two centuries of racism, violence and dispossession.

Heloise Helene Senator, Brazilian Parliament
Jose Martinez Cruz PRT (Mexico)
Salvatore Camino Rifondazione Comuniste (Italy)
Greg Tucker ISG (Britain)
Jon Anderson Socialist Democracy (Ireland)
Ranath Kumarasinghe NSSP (Sri Lanka)
Yamuna Bandara journalist (UK)
Daniel Berger RSB (Germany)
Boris Jezec Sozialistische Alternative (Austria)
Josip Antonas Espacio Alternativo (Spanish state)
Jose Ramon Castanos Zutik (Pais Vasco - Euskadi Espana)
Per Inge Mathisen Foreningen Internasionalen (Norway)
Anders Svenson Socialist Party (Sweden)
Liliane Guahile LCR (France)
Monica Casanova LCR (France)
Murray Smith LCR (France)
Patrick Augide LCR (France)
Paul Mepschen SAP (Netherlands)
Alain Montaufray LCR (France)
Panzyiotis Sitogiorgakis OKDE-Spartakos (Greece)
Thadeus Pato RSB (Germany)
Susan Caldwell Gauche Socialiste (Quebec)
Thoas Eisler SAP (Denmark)
Daniel Liebman Parti Ouvrier Socialiste (Belgium)
G Buster Espacio Alternative (Spanish state)
Pedro Montes Cuadernos Internacionale (Spanish state)
Wilfried Internationale Sozialistische Linke (Germany)
Alister Black Scottish Socialist Party
Jost Kircz SAP (Holland) member Amsterdam Council
Kenji Kunitomi JRCL (Japan)
Frank Jost La Gauche (Luxembourg)
Eric Toussaint Belgium
Jean Mpele Congo
Francois Vercammen SAP (Belgium)
Guillaume LCR PB (France)
A Follicini LCR PB (France)
Joanna Misnik Solidarity (USA)
Flavia Dáupeli Rifondazione Comunista (Italy)
Harry Tribongkonwa Revolutionary Workers Party Mindanao (Philippines)
Jan Malewski Editor Inprecor (France)
Brian Ashley AIDC (South Africa)
International Committee, Fourth International