SA Police close Olympic Way as anti-uranium protesters light bonfire in the middle of the road
TENSIONS between protesters and police in the state’s far north reached flashpoint on Sunday amid claims activists were mishandled during a scuffle with officers. WATCH THE VIDEO
TENSIONS between protesters and police in the state’s far north reached flashpoint on Sunday amid claims activists were mishandled during a scuffle with officers.
A video showed protesters being pulled, kicked and prevented from carrying a giant piece of fake uranium as they shut down the main road into Olympic Dam from Roxby Downs.
They have established a temporary camp site along Olympic Way.
On Monday morning, police reopened Olympic Way after extinguishing the bonfire and clearing the road.
The road was closed for about 19 hours and minor damage was caused to the road surface.
The protesters eventually returned to the camp without further incident.
Over the last few days of the protest, police said they had gone to considerable effort to facilitate lawful protest activity and were disappointed with the actions of some protesters.
The fake piece of uranium was seized and rolled away by police, who maintained protesters were warned not to bring it on the road.
Desert Liberation Front spokeswoman Nectaria Calan condemned the police force throughout the three-day event as unnecessary as they wanted a peaceful protest.
“Police have been abusing their power all weekend... they went beyond that, they were reckless,” Ms Calan said.
“They pushed a very heavy prop, which takes 15 people to lift, down a hill into people.
“No one was injured but police were violent.”
Assistant Commissioner Bronwyn Killmier said police had been “extremely patient and tolerant with the protesters” during the event.
“They were told continuously during the protest that no vehicles or props were permitted on the road,” she said.
“The prop was deposited on the road and swiftly removed by police and has been seized.”
She said there had been no arrests or reported injuries.
The potesters earlier set up a bonfire in the middle of the road leading to Olympic Dam, stopping any traffic in or out of the uranium mine.
Police closed Olympic Way, blocking the entrance to the BHP Billiton mine after about 60 protesters started the bonfire at 6am on Sunday.
Protesters were remaining calm, cooking pancakes and baked beans while camped on Olympic Way.
A woman driving a lizard-themed car alongside the road was pulled over by police, but police were yet to say whether she would be fined.
The owner was previously defected for the vehicle on the way to the three-day protest at Roxby Downs.
Desert Liberation Front spokesman Tiago Freire said the event was to highlight the transport of “destructive” uranium materials.
“It starts with yellow cake and it goes through populated areas and industrial areas where all our people are,” Mr Freire said.
“This industry has leaks all the time, they don’t report it, they just monitor it themselves.
“We can’t trust this industry.
“It’s not safe for our people, so we’re saying stop this radio active poison on our roads, no mining, no waste.
“Keep it in the ground.”
Olympic Way was closed on Saturday as about 200 demonstrators undertook a funeral procession, carrying a black coffin and baskets of animal bones to the gates of Olympic Dam.
The road was closed for about 90 minutes during the march.
The Desert Liberation Front opposes toxic waste dumps in Australia and wants BHP Billiton’s uranium mine to be closed within two years.