The Truth Behind the Baxter Fires

(courtesy of Pamela Curr)

*Since DIMIA have gone silent, we have collected the following
information and reports from witnesses. The facts are*

* No Asylum Seeker was involved in lighting the fires.
* Asylum seekers suffered loss of personal possessions and effects.
* One man, an artist with pictures in readiness for an exhibition in
Port Augusta lost his entire collection’.
* Some Chinese men lost their dearest possessions-photos of their
families.

*FACT: Three criminal deportees were involved in lighting the fires. *

This highlights an ongoing problem at Baxter where men transferred from
the prison system and awaiting deportation are placed throughout the
asylum seeker compounds.

There is no good reason to do this when there are nine compounds at
Baxter, a number of which remain unoccupied. Asylum seekers have always
expressed concern and fear that ex-prisoners were placed in their
compounds because they saw this as DIMIA attempting to confuse the
Australian people by mixing asylum seekers and ex-prisoners to present
asylum seekers as criminals.

While some ex-prisoners present few problems, others are angry and
violent after many years in the prison system and frighten asylum
seekers who have fled violence in their own countries. Asylum seekers
report being afraid to come out of their rooms when ex-prisoners are on
the rampage. They say that the ex-prisoners bait the guards poisoning
the atmosphere for everyone.

These are two different groups with very different needs. DIMIA should
immediately separate them. They have the space and facilities available
and should do so without delay.