death in custody – DISACCORDS

Manus Island: protests at detention centre, asylum seeker killed by police

February 17: An asylum seeker was killed and at least 77 injured in the second riot this week at a detention center in Papua New Guinea. 23-year-old Reza Berati, from Iran, was killed by police. One person among the wounded was in a critical condition with a head injury and another sustained gunshot wounds during the clashes on the small island in impoverished Papua New Guinea.

The facility, part of Australia’s tough stance against asylum seekers, has come under fire over human rights concerns. Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the riot began when detainees forced their way out of the center, but refugee advocates said it was triggered when Manus Island residents and police stormed the facility, attacking the asylum seekers.

Sydney: Revenge for TJ

Indymedia: In the early hours of February 14, various anti-police slogans were sprayed across dozens of fences, walls, billboards and bus stops throughout Woolloomooloo, Redfern, Chippendale, Camperdown, Darlington and Newtown.

Later that morning hundreds gathered at the fence line were TJ Hickey was chased to his death by police 10 years ago. For hours his family and supporters marched through the streets of Sydney to Parliament House, chanting against the uniformed murderers of the state, with demonstrators carrying banners such as “JUSTICE FOR TJ” “ABORIGINAL CONTROL OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS” “AVENGE TJ BURN DA COPSHOPS” “ACAB” “COPS PIGS MURDERERS” and “FUCK THE POLICE” Continue reading “Sydney: Revenge for TJ”

Melbourne: video shows Gong Ling Tang left to die outside police station

22 November: Shocking video has been released showing police smirking as a man in their custody writhes in pain, and is then abandoned outside a police station to die.

CCTV footage from inside Dandenong police station shows Gong Ling Tang, 53, crawling from a cell. An interpreter told a coroner he had pleaded with police to be taken to hospital.

The May 2010 footage shows a clearly disoriented Mr Tang writhing in pain in his cell, and shows him later outside, barely able to stand, and then collapsing in a puddle. The Herald Sun successfully applied to the coroner for the public release of the disturbing footage.

The police involved, none of whom has faced any penalty, opposed the release. Their lawyers argued the video would be used to sensationalise the matter, and there was a risk it could inflame relationships between the public and police. Continue reading “Melbourne: video shows Gong Ling Tang left to die outside police station”

Sydney: Villawood detainee dies in hospital window fall

21 April: A Papua New Guinea man has died after plummeting from the fifth floor of a southwest Sydney hospital where he was being treated after attempting to harm himself in an immigration detention centre.

Police spent more than two hours trying to negotiate with the 33-year-old, who they say was trying to throw himself out of the window at Liverpool Hospital.

A police spokesman said the man was believed to be from PNG and was in Australia illegally. An immigration department spokeswoman later said the man had been awaiting deportation. He had been taken to hospital from Sydney’s Villawood detention centre where he had attempted self-harm.

The man fell from a ledge outside the window at around 11.30am (AEST) on Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Broome: Woman dies in lock-up

November 30: An Aboriginal woman has died in custody at the Broome Police Station.

Detectives from the Internal Affairs Unit have been called in to investigate the death of the 44-year-old woman at the Broome Police Station Lockup early this morning.

A Police Media spokesman said the incident was a “reportable death within the meaning of the Coroners Act” and the investigation will lead to a report on the circumstances for the State Coroner”. “Police are unable to comment upon the cause of death in advance of the investigation being completed,” Sgt Gerry Cassidy said.

The name of the deceased will not be released due to cultural reasons.

Sydney: cops shoot man dead in Redfern

23 November: Police have launched an internal investigation after a man was shot dead during a pursuit at Redfern in inner Sydney.

Police have confirmed a senior officer opened fire, sending a stolen truck crashing into a pub in a thoroughfare off Regent Street just before noon (AEDT).

Witnesses said they saw police fire up to four gunshots at the truck before it smashed into the Railz Hotel.

It is thought police were chasing the truck up busy Gibbons Street when it turned into a thoroughfare next to the police station. Continue reading “Sydney: cops shoot man dead in Redfern”

Philippines: 1 killed, 2 hurt in Marikina jail riot

19 November: An inmate died while two others were injured in a riot inside Marikina City Jail, Manila, on Sunday afternoon.

The lone fatality was identified as Roel Diaz, who died from a gunshot wound during the scuffle at around 4:30 p.m. at the jail, located on the 5th floor of the Marikina City Justice Hall.

Police said the riot sparked during the inmates’ protest against some of the jail’s policies, including the requiring of visitors to take off their clothes during inspection. A police report said jail guards responded to the riot by firing rubber bullets. However, Diaz and two other inmates, identified as Jayson Malicdin and John Cariño, sustained gunshot wounds. Continue reading “Philippines: 1 killed, 2 hurt in Marikina jail riot”