A country worth protecting?

Madonna Palmer gives evidence on her son's death.  

A spate of stories in the corporate media about racism in the Australian army have made this Remembrance Day (November 11) a memorable one.

The Australian Army which now promotes itself as 'The Edge' -- in an endeavour to make military discipline and drudgery seem an exciting and challenging career path -- succeeded in pushing an Aboriginal youth over it in 1999 -- after subjecting him to constant racist abuse. An ordeal that began at the Kapooka recruit course and ended at Townsville's Lavarack barracks four months later, but only because nineteen year old Damien Palmer, hanged himself.

Jovial banter

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) photograph taken at Lavarack (a year after Damien's suicide) by a freelance photographer who has worked for the army since Vietnam, was organised by senior officers who "laughed and clapped" as the soldiers posed for this racist tableau. An army investigation into the matter, made it clear how this 'culture of racism' is maintained institutionally, by dismissing the episode as mere "jovial banter".

As Damien's mother stated to a parliamentary committee investigating military justice, "I don't believe the defence force is genuine in its attempt to stamp out discrimination, bullying and bastardisation."

"In fact, you send out a message that it is tolerated by your lack of action, your denial, or your failure to even attempt to answer criticism."

She also informed the committee about an Aboriginal soldier who was locked in a Lavarack army cell with a noose by white soldiers. Many allegations of systemic persecution, including at least one life-threatening act in a combat area, have been made by other victims to the committee.

Culture of racism

With a parliamentary committee investigating military justice, civil suits from victims of army racism being initiated and the adverse publicity these proceedings are generating for the Australian army, we will undoubtedly see the usual cosmetic changes (and spin) the State implements to conceal such institutionalised racism. Real change cannot occur in the Australian army (if only for the obvious reason of co-influence) while a culture of racism persists in the wider Australian society.

Racist taunts

The racist taunt "about the level of government handouts to Aborigines" directed at Damien by an army instructor, has been directed at all Aboriginal people by the, [war criminal], Howard government since it slithered into power. The dismantling of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), its replacement with the "PM's blacks" and the recent police raid on the offices of the National Indigenous Times are symptomatic of a campaign to crush Aboriginal self-determination.

Howard's paternalistic and divisive taunts have been spin-doctored by right wing historian Windschuttle and his ilk, then presented to the Australian public by the corporate press as some sort of intellectual fait accompli. A shameful exercise that absolves white 'Australians' of responsibility for the continuing low social outcomes of Aboriginal people, while managing in Orwellian doublethink style, to blame Aboriginal people for suffering the devastating effects of European invasion and dispossession. Australian army racism is a reflection of wider societal values, not the isolated, institutional aberration, the corporate media would prefer to portray.

In March, Damien's mother told the parliamentary committee that her son had been humiliated in front of other recruits by an instructor who stated that Damien was only in the army "because he was black".

In reality...

...Due to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Career Development Strategy (set up to assist the most socially disadvantaged people in Australia to enter the armed forces) Damien was in the Australian army...

...Despite being black.

Lest we forget

By Mick Lambe posted 15 November 04

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The delay in sacking married couple Simon Thistlethwaite and Lorraine Hollick from the Prison Service was condemned by opposition MPs and the Government's anti-racist watchdog, the Commission for Racial Equality.

The couple were suspended in July 2001 for allegedly intimidating black staff. Their prison quarters backing on to Holloway jail in north London were raided by police who found one room decorated as Hitler's bunker.

The case will cause deep embarrassment for the Home Secretary David Blunkett and his head of correctional services, Martin Narey, who have pledged a zero tolerance policy on racism in Britain's jails.

Senior officials within the Prison Officers Association are known to be deeply uncomfortable about defending Thistlethwaite, who worked at Pentonville jail in north London, and Hollick, a Holloway officer, who face a disciplinary tribunal this year.

Documents show that, in June, prison service staff were making preparations for the couple to return to work, even though Hollick refused to work with black staff.

Notes of a meeting held on 1 June 2004 taken by Prison Service official Steve Hynd and show that the authorities at Pentonville were discussing 'possible career options' with the two officers after the police dropped the criminal case against them. Thistlethwaite and Hollick made it clear that they wanted to retire on medical grounds, but this was not the only course of action open to them.

The notes state: 'Lorraine indicated a lack of trust due to the pressures brought about by all what (sic) has happened. Feels ill at ease and could not work with a black officer.' Despite this overt racism, one of the options discussed by prison staff was a 'return to work plan'.

Hynd indicated that his 'desire was to get both Lorraine and Simon back to full duties if that was practical'. He also confirmed that the area manager was 'content' for Hollick to be offered a post at Pentonville.

In July this year the Home Office ordered an inquiry into the couple, which belatedly concluded that the officers were racist and that it was 'not acceptable for a Prison Officer to keep such items on display in their property'.

The inquiry, carried out by senior investigating officer Ted Butt, recommended that both officers should be charged with serious unprofessional conduct for bringing discredit on the Prison Service.

Butt's report was the result of interviews with Thistlethwaite and Hollick, during which they admitted they owned the racist material, although they continued to deny they were racist.

In his conclusion, Butt wrote: 'There is no doubt at all, that a room (toilet), was used as a room to display German and SS material. It was known by the occupants as "Adolf's Bunker Room".'

During the interview, Thistlethwaite also admitted to being the owner of the 'nigger hunting licences' found by the police, an extreme right-wing magazine called Strike Force and a record by the neo-Nazi band Skrewdriver.

The Commission for Racial Equality has pledged to raise the case at a meeting with the director of the Prison Service, Phil Wheatley.

Prisons Ombudsman is investigating further allegations of racism at Holloway.

Colin Moses, the first black chairman of the Prison Officers Association, said the delay in dealing with Thistlethwaite and Hollick was a disgrace. 'The prison service must now make a point of turning paper policies into real policies,' he said. The Prison Service said it remained committed to rooting out racists among prison officers and had dismissed 15 members of staff since 2001. A spokeswoman said attempts to deal with the case had been hampered by the time taken by the police to decide to drop the criminal case.

By Martin Bright posted 29 September 04

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