Protesters hear passionate Mr Ward plea
AAP July 11, 2010
A HEARTBROKEN cousin of an Aboriginal elder who died in custody made a passionate plea for criminal charges to be laid, declaring "we are all human beings''.
They gathered in Perth today to protest the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision not to lay charges against anyone in relation to the death of Mr Ward in 2008.
Mr Ward, whose full name cannot be used for cultural reasons, died from heat stroke in the back of a prison van on the way from Laverton to Kalgoorlie in January 2008.
His cousin, Tjuparntarri Daisy Ward, travelled more than 1,500km from Warburton, in Western Australia's far east, to address the public rally.
Since hearing the news that the DPP would not lay charges, Ms Ward said the family was ``broken-hearted, really sad, crying, screaming for help''.
``We are human beings and should be treated like human beings!''
A broken air conditioner forced Mr Ward to endure temperatures above 50 degrees Celsius during the four-hour non-stop journey to face a drink-driving charge in court.
Ms Ward said there were so many mistakes made in the transportation of Mr Ward and that the two drivers didn't care.
``They had a duty of care. They were responsible for taking my brother, my cousin to Kalgoorlie prison,'' she told the rally.
``All the way they didn't stop. He's not an animal; you wouldn't want an animal in there.
``He's a human being!''
The crowd called for justice and held handwritten placards saying ``WA-The Racist State'' and ``DPP cover up''.
Nyoongar elder Ben Taylor, who led the protest march through the Perth CBD on Sunday, called for the broken justice system to be fixed.
Mr Taylor, who was also part of a march last year which triggered a parliamentary inquiry into the transportation of people in custody, said it ``clearly is not enough''.
``The fight must go on and you people must carry it,'' he said.
``Us elders are getting old, we're getting weary.''
Chairman of the WA Deaths in Custody Watch Committee, Marc Newhouse, has issued Premier Colin Barnett with a list of key demands, including the reopening of the coronial inquest into Mr Ward's death.
Mr Newhouse said the committee was demanding an independent review of the DPP's decision and the tabling in parliament of the evidence and advice it used to make its decision.
The committee is also calling for an independent public inquiry into institutionalised racism in the WA criminal justice system.
The government has 14 days to respond or the committee will continue with its protest program.
Source: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/protesters-hear-ward-c...
