Protesters arrive at Baxter detention centre in Australian desert
{{date|March 25, 2005}}
{{missing image|Image:BaxterGate.jpg|180px|right|Protesters at the gates of Baxter|thumb}}
Hundreds of protesters arrived at the Baxter detention centre in the {{w|South Australian}} desert to demonstrate against the incarceration of refugees held there. An additional 300 protesters converged on the home of Immigration Minister {{w|Australian Senate|Senator}} {{w|Amanda Vanstone}}, in the state capital of {{w|Adelaide}}, on their way to Baxter.

{{missing image|Image:BaxterPipe.JPG|180px|left|Protesters near Baxter|thumb}}

People from all over Australia are protesting against the [[Australia]]n Government's policy of {{w|Mandatory detention in Australia|mandatory detention}}. The first protesters arrived by buses in {{w|Port Augusta}} early Friday morning.

Detainees seem split over the protest. ''{{w|The Age}}'' reported Detainee Peter Qasim as saying, "It stops people from visiting us, it stops us receiving any calls. It is a good idea to protest but better somewhere other than here."

However, other detainees have been reported as saying, "It is better in front of Baxter, I believe showing Baxter, protesters will shout about human torture inside detention. Then there would be good publicity about all torture inside Baxter detention."

And, "We welcome all of [the protesters] and we thank [them] all who has seen disgrace of this human torture. Further we thank to you all who come and visit and looking after us all the time, we need it."

Despite fears of violence, there has been no confrontation between the police and the protesters.

== Related news ==

*{{Wikinews|title=Protests continue at Baxter detention centre
|date=March 26, 2005}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Australian immigration detains Aussie flight attendant for 10mths, and maltreats her
|date=February 5, 2004}}

*{{Wikinews|title=Inquiry to be held into Australian immigration detention of Australian woman
|date=February 7, 2004}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://portaugusta.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=local&category=general%20news&story_id=380553&y=2005&m=3
|title=Baxter protests
|author=
|pub=The Transcontinental Port Augusta
|date=Wednesday, 23 March 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1331690.htm
|title=Refugee activists converge on Baxter
|author=
|pub=ABC
|date=Friday, March 25, 2005. 5:00pm (AEDT)}}

*{{source|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12653293-29277,00.html
|title=Protesters march on Vanstone's home
|author=Steve Larkin
|pub=News.com.au
|date=March 25, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1331507.htm
|title=Baxter protesters urged to remain calm
|author=
|pub=ABC
|date=Friday, March 25, 2005. 8:23am (AEDT)}}

*{{source|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200503/s1331378.htm
|title=Rau supporters express whitewash concerns
|author=
|pub=ABC
|date=Thursday, March 24, 2005. 6:44pm (AEDT)}}

*{{source|url=http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,12650236%255E911,00.html
|title=Protesters seek Rau inquiry
|author=
|pub=The Advertiser
|date=25mar05}}

== External links ==
*{{source|url=http://www.baxter05.info/
|title=Baxter05
|author=
|pub=Baxter05
|date=}}

*{{source|url=http://baxter05.info/?action=setnewswire&newswire=0
|title=baxter indymedia
|author=
|pub=Indymedia
|date=}}

*{{source|url=http://baxterwatch.net/
|title=Baxterwatch
|author=
|pub=Baxterwatch
|date=}}

{{publish}}
{{archive}}

[[Category:Oceania]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Immigration]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:South Australia]]
[[Category:Australian immigration policies]]
Hundreds of protesters arrived at the Baxter detention centre in the Australian Senate|Senator Adelaide, on their way to Baxter.

People from all over Australia are protesting against the Australian Government's policy of mandatory detention. The first protesters arrived by buses in  early Friday morning.

Detainees seem split over the protest.  reported Detainee Peter Qasim as saying, "It stops people from visiting us, it stops us receiving any calls. It is a good idea to protest but better somewhere other than here."

However, other detainees have been reported as saying, "It is better in front of Baxter, I believe showing Baxter, protesters will shout about human torture inside detention. Then there would be good publicity about all torture inside Baxter detention."

And, "We welcome all of the protesters and we thank them all who has seen disgrace of this human torture. Further we thank to you all who come and visit and looking after us all the time, we need it."

Despite fears of violence, there has been no confrontation between the police and the protesters.

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Oceania Politics and conflicts Immigration Australia South Australia Australian immigration policies