justiceaction3

Craig Sproule
A/g Administration Manager Office of Public Affairs - ATSIC
10 February 2000

ATSIC Commissioner Gatjil Djerrkura today expressed his shock and immense sorrow at the death of a fifteen year old Aboriginal boy who was being detained in Darwin under the Territory's mandatory sentencing laws.

"Only last week ATSIC warned of the possibility that this could happen to our young people under the NT's mandatory sentencing regime," Commissioner Djerrkura said.

"I feel very angry about this. This boy's death was an unnecessary and avoidable tragedy.

ATSIC wants these unjust and discriminatory laws repealed immediately. The NT government says the aim of mandatory sentencing is to send a clear message to the community that even minor offences will not be tolerated. But what kind of message does this boy's death send?

He was locked up for a very trivial offence. If it were not for mandatory sentencing he may well still be alive today. Further, the community and
family could have undertaken appropriate action under customary law.

Again, ATSIC calls on the NT government to immediately repeal mandatory sentencing laws - laws that are morally abhorrent."

Mr Djerrkura is an elected representative for the ATSIC Miwatj Region which includes Groote Eylandt - the boy's home. He is also Commissioner for the NT Northern Zone.

For further information: Francine Chinn (08) 8944 5558 or 0419 819 025

ATSIC's submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee's Inquiry into the Human Rights (Mandatory Sentencing of Juvenile Offenders) Bill 1999 is available at: atsic.gov.au

Craig Sproule
A/g Administration Manager Office of Public Affairs - ATSIC
Ph: 02 6121 4952 Fax: 02 6282 2854 E-mail: Craig.Sproule@atsic.gov.au

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Deaths In Custody Watch Committee - dicwc@omen.net.au

"In Germany, they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then, they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist, then they came for the Protestants and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time, there was no one left to speak up."
Pastor Martin Niemoller,
when arrested by the Gestapo in the late 1930s

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