Jabiluka activists protest prison conditions
By Rebecca Meckelburg
Activists from Darwin and the Jabiluka uranium mine site blockade held a vigil outside Berrimah Prison on July 21. More than 60 people stood outside the prison's gates demanding the repeal of mandatory sentencing laws and better prison conditions.
Current prison conditions include: appointments to visit prisoners must be made between 8.30am and 3pm; visits can only be made between 8.50am and 3.10pm; each prisoner is entitled to only one one-hour visit per week; and a maximum of four people can visit at once. Any exception to these rules must be organised in advance with the prison manager.
As well, no personal reading material is permitted, but there is a prison library and prisoners are allowed to buy books. Visitors are strip-searched before they leave if they are seen touching prisoners. Money can be deposited into prisoners' prison bank account and they can apply for permission to purchase things. Letters written by prisoners are read by officials before posting and any references to prison conditions, guards or other prisoners are censored.
A vigil will be held every Tuesday at 12noon outside correctional services minister Eric Paul's office. Prison authorities said that prisoners would be "locked down" for the rest of the day if more protests were held outside the jail.
In another action by anti-Jabiluka campaigners, 150 people gathered outside the mines and energy department office on July 24 to condemn uranium mining. The department manages the lease agreements with companies wanting to mine uranium and can withdraw permission for mines.
The protesters asked to speak to department representatives but were refused. Sixty-eight per cent of Australians oppose the Jabiluka project and uranium mining.