Flinders Ranges Environment Action Collective F. R. E. A. C.

PUBLIC STATEMENT 4TH MARCH 2000

STOP THE CONSTRUCTION BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION
ACTION AT BEVERLEY URANIUM MINE

Beverley Uranium Mine - owned by Heathgate Resources, a subsidiary of American owned General Atomics, located in the heart of the Flinders Ranges, on Adnyamathanha Land, has been the subject of a peaceful protest over the last two days. Late yesterday three people were arrested on farcical charges of "ceasing to loiter", "resisting arrest" and "assault". A female Canadian journalist was charged with "assault" when filming the violent arrest of two activists.

The arrests took place after the police requested that the protesters leave the grounds, a request which the protesters immediately began to comply with, when they were thrown to the ground, handcuffed and beaten. The foreign journalist who was filming was tackled, kicked in the legs and her film was then confiscated before she was charged (the police still have this footage in their custody and are refusing to release this copy of the damning evidence). The three arrestees were then taken to Leigh Creek Police Station for processing.

"We arrived at the gates of Beverley on the 2nd of March 2000 and requested a site tour from the foreman. He refused and would not give us any information as to the development of the mine. So we set up camp in order to observe and Bear Witness to the destruction of Adnyamathanha Land." Izzy Brown 3/3/00

'Waco' style tactics were used against the camp that night, Thursday March 2, outside the gates to the mine. The security firm, CHUBB, that Heathgate employs, surrounded the camp with their cars and switched on their high beam lights, spotlights, sirens and offensive music to prevent the protesters from sleeping all night. The next day protesters were exposed to a heat wave exceeding 50 degrees and when they requested cold water and ice from police and security they were refused. Some time after that a female protester collapsed from heat exhaustion and was flown to Port Augusta Hospital by the Flying Doctors. After the young woman was taken away cold water and ice were still refused to the remaining 7 people whose own water supply was near boiling from the heat.

Kelvin Johnson, an elder of the Adnyamathanha People, said today (4/3/00):

"The protesters up at the mine have Adnyamathanha People's permission to be up there protesting. Why are Heathgate using Adnyamathanha People as security guards, because Adnyamathanha People are protesting against the mine. Security guards, especially Aboriginal ones should be trained properly. Heathgate, the Police, the security shouldn't be on that Land anyway, cause it's Sacred Land. Heathgate is only working with some Native Title Claimants, they're not working with the rest of the Adnyamathanha Community. And Adnyamathanha People will keep on protesting till all this is worked out. Adnyamathanha People give full support to the Environmental Protesters. People will be protesting whether the Adnyamathanha People are physically there all the time or not."

For more information, video/stills or support offered please contact:
FLINDERS RANGES ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COLLECTIVE
Phone and fax 08 8675 2242