Queensland police train at secret camp for Games

Press, 21 May 1982, Page 6

Queensland police train at secret camp for Games

NZPA Brisbane A large number of Queensland police officers are undergoing specialist training at a secret bush camp in preparation for the Brisbane Commonwealth Games. The Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner (Mr Les Duffy) confirmed the group of police — known as the emergency squad — was in training but he said he was not prepared to divulge the camp’s location. “It’s in Queensland somewhere,” Mr Duffy said. “And I can assure you there’s been no practising with bayonets or tear-gas as suggested by some black protesters early in the week.” He said the 'emergency squad was being taught techniques in dealingg with sieges and counter-terrorism. “They are learning skills

which the average person would expect police to be learning with a Commonwealth Games coming up and keeping in mind world trends,” -Mr Duffy said. When asked how many police were involved in the emergency squad the Deputy Commissioner’s reply was “a number." “I’m not at liberty to tell you exactly how many but my answer is sufficient.” In Sydney on Tuesday, a North Queensland Land Council member, Mick Miller, said a peaceful demonstration by Aboriginals would be held during the Games which start on September 30 and finish on October 9. Mr Miller said the Queensland police were “gearing up” for 'this, protest by

practising with bayonets and tear-gas.

But at a three-hour meeting between Mr Duffy, senior police officers, the National Aboriginal Conference state chairman (Mr Steve Mam), various Aboriginal representatives, and Church group leaders in Brisbane on Wednesday, Mr Duffy said the police would give protection to Aboriginals during the Games is they asked for it. Mr Mam and Mr Duffy issued a joint statement after the meeting saying neither side was interested in provoking violence during the Games. Mr Mam said that the National Aboriginal Council was the only democratically elected Aboriginal body and its views represented the feelings of the majority of Aboriginals.

He said that although his people supported the spirit of the Games and would not call for a black boycott, the N.A.C. would still stage several peaceful protests during the Brisbane Games.

A split has emerged between the N.A.C. and the Black Protest Committee over Mr Mam’s statements. A Protest Committee spokesman, Les Malezer, said Mr Mam’s remarks were a “surprise to everyone” and did not represent the opinions of his comittee. "We are completely opposed to the Games being held in Queensland. We have told our international contacts that they should maintain their anti-racist stand against the Queensland Government and have no reason to change our position,” Mr Malezer said.