ACF Media Release 14th May 2000

Call to release Police "specific operations order" for Beverley uranium protests

The Australian Conservation Foundation are formally requesting the SA Police
to publicly release their "specific operations order" for the Beverley
uranium mine protest on Tuesday the 9th that led to extensive police
violence against a peaceful protest. Some 100 uranium protesters returned
to blockade the mine site yesterday amidst a heavy police presence.

"Police have to be called to account for their systematic and unprovoked use of violence against protesters at the Beverley mine site" said David Noonan, ACF Campaign Officer.

"These special instructions from senior police must be made public for there
to be public confidence in investigations of the conduct of police at the
uranium mine protest."

Senior police have confirmed to the ACF the existence of the "specific
operations order" for the Beverley protest, in addition to their "standing
general orders" for protests. ACF are lodging a notice under the Freedom of
Information Act for release of the Police order.

The Police Complaints Authority is investigating police actions at the
Beverley protests.

General Atomics of the USA is preparing for construction of a commercial
uranium extraction plant at Beverley. Just as at the proposed Jabiluka
mine, the only way the company can proceed with work at Beverley is in the
presence of extensive police forces.

"Young Australians are exercising their civil rights to oppose this
extension of the nuclear industry, as General Atomics seek to exercise an
assumed right to deliberately pollute groundwater with all the wastes from
the operations of the proposed Beverley mine."

"There is a clear choose in values here" said David Noonan, "is it to be a nuclear free or a radioactive future? Young Australians have made their choice and are leading society at the Beverley protests, now we must see to it that the Beverley mine does not proceed."

Contact: David Noonan, ACF Campaign Officer 0408821058;
Dave Sweeney, ACF Co-ordinator Nuclear Issues 03-99266708 or 0408317812

PHOTOS OF POLICE CHEMICAL WARFARE AGAINST PROTESTORS
MAY 2000

In May 2000, nonviolent protests at the Beverley mine were brutally suppressed by the SA police and special 'Star Force' paramilitaries. Click on the image above to see your tax dollars at work protecting the American nuclear industry.