Man ‘cooked’ to death in Australian prison van

SYDNEY (AFP) — The family of an Australian Aboriginal elder who died after being “cooked” in the back of a scorching hot prison van may sue after a coroner branded his treatment inhumane.

A coroner Friday described the treatment of the 46-year-old man as a “disgrace” and inhumane, saying he would ask prosecutors to consider criminal charges over his death from heatstroke in Western Australia in January 2008.

His shirt here reading "Zen - Awakening - Mind", and looking like a terrible menace, we can all rest easier that the evil Mr. Ward was dispatched promptly by our overlords

The elder, known only as Mr Ward as his first name was withheld for cultural reasons, was transported 360 kilometres (225 miles) to jail in temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122 F) in a van with faulty air conditioning.

Ward, who was arrested a day earlier for drink driving, spent four hours in the searing heat between the mining towns of Laverton and Kalgoorlie, suffering third-degree burns where his body touched the metal floor, the inquest heard.

Western Australia Coroner Alastair Hope found that Ward was effectively “cooked” to death and heavily criticised the state prisons department, the private security firm that operated the van and the two guards who escorted Ward.

“It is a disgrace that a prisoner in the 21st century, particularly a prisoner who has not been convicted of any crime, was transported for a long distance in high temperatures in this pod,” Hope said.

The hearing was told that when Ward eventually arrived unconscious at hospital in Kalgoorlie, his body was so hot that staff were unable to cool him down. After an ice bath, which failed to save him, he had a body temperature of 41.7 degrees Celsius as opposed to a normal temperature of 37 degrees Celsius.

Mr. Coroner Alastair Hope has it wrong, of course. The disgrace is that the uniformed gangsters roaming the countryside being paid with money stolen from innocents and kidnapping people, throwing them in chains and metal boxes in order to take them to larger cages made of concrete and steel where they’ll be kept like animals, all without said kidnap victims having harmed anyone, don’t wake up one fine morning to find their severed heads mounted on pikes along the palisades of the free cities.

But, oh, geez, I forgot. That wouldn’t be “civilized”, now, would it?

I’m sure it’s a great relief for the people of Occupied Australia that the two outsourced thugs from G4S aka Group 4 Securicor contracted for prisoner kidnap victim transport, “have now been suspended,” a year and a half later.

From Free Keene:

Adam Mueller – Disorderly Conduct and Disobeying an Officer
Pete Eyre – Possession of a Beer in a Dry County
Jason Talley – Disorderly Conduct, Disobeying, and Resisting Arrest

From elsewhere:

Pete Eyre – also charged with a Federal firearms offense

From Dan Patrick in the comments there:

May 14, 2009 @ 5:19 pm

Just spoke with “Stacy” at the jail.

Bail has been set as follows:

$1000 each– Pete possession of beer in dry county, Adam disorderly conduct, disobeying

$1500 – Jason Possession firearm, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest

Additionally they will have to pay a towing fee to get MARV out of lockup. She did not have information on where MARV was towed, but said that you’d have to call general dispatch to get that info.

From Allison Gibbs aka Allison Zayne, just landed in Mississippi and trying to get bail together for them and provide other coordination on-scene, via Twitter:

Here is an update: $1000 pete, $1500 jason. Adam is on hold with ATF. we have to have cash. Western union is the only way. I need a car!

Western union option #1 food tiger, 615 hill st ellisville ms 29437emai

Option 1 closes at 8pm. Email me if u do it. We have to havew cash

Option 2: piggly wiggly 321 n 16th ave laurel ms 39440. Close 7.

From Jim Davidson, via Twitter:

Send Western Union to Allison GIBBS (not Zayne!) at food tiger, 615 hill st ellisville ms 29437. E-mail her with MTCN.

UPDATE 6:04pm local time from Allison:

Need cash within 30 minutes…let’s at least gete pete out….

Countdown for the night. Wothout a car this is all I can do for the night. Stopping by western union, then the jail… email me with con …

UPDATE 6:05pm local time from Jim Davidson, via Facebook:

Thanks Mike.  See my recent status update for sending bail money by Western Union.

Western union to Allison Gibbs Food Tiger, 615 hill st ellisville ms 39437. Closes at 8 p.m. tonite so if you are sending Western Union, let me know. I’ll get MTCN to Allison, or you can.

UPDATE 6:09pm local time from Allison:

30 min to send to tiger mart in ellisville!! I have $400 on me… let’s get 1 out at least

UPDATE: 6:17pm local time from Allison Gibbs:

$300 more bucks and 1 gets out! Western union to allison gibbs: food tiger in ellisville ms, 29437! Confirm it allisonzayne@gmail.com

UPDATE: 6:30pm local time:

Old new thread at Free Keene: http://freekeene.com/2009/05/14/update-on-the-mhd-crews-imprisonment/

Best you read there instead of here. Also, search for “planetaryjim OR allisonzayne OR mhd” at twitter.com to keep up that way.

Going to sleep. Godspeed, you guys…

/1380/free-janine-and-all-political-prisoners/
Referrer: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+janine+&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=
Hostname: wdcsun37.usdoj.gov

Someone at the DOJ is looking for Janine, maybe to free her, but more likely to get a hold of the latest Earl Miller photo shoot before she went to prison.

/1789/steal-this-number-595-12-5274/
Referrer: http://www.reddit.com/r/Anarchism/comments/8he5s/steal_this_number_595125274/
Hostname: emma.dhcp.fnal.gov

Anarchists at Fermilab, gotta love ‘em!

/1789/steal-this-number-595-12-5274/
Referrer: http://www.reddit.com/new/?count=25&after=t3_8i2vx
Hostname: gate4-norfolk.nmci.navy.mil

The US Navy, you say?

/1789/steal-this-number-595-12-5274/
Referrer: http://lonestartimes.com/2009/05/05/tuesday-open-comments-103/
Hostname: host.jsc.nasa.gov

Someone at the Johnson Space Center is a real “patriot”… or something.

/
Referrer: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=nostate&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=
Hostname: 205-156-36-13.ssmcnet.noaa.gov

What the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration wants with me is a mystery… Isn’t that the branch that controls the orbital mind control lasers?

/1789/steal-this-number-595-12-5274/
Referrer: Direct hit
Hostname: washingtoncitypaper.com

Ok, this one’s not the FedGov, but still. Hmmm… Wanna interview me?

I started the site, really, as my own soapbox, primarily intended to be a platform for publicity around my renunciation of US citizenship. Early on I did a lot more writing than I have been lately. Looking back in the archives will show up to 3 posts per day, back in the day, a lot of it reaction to current events. These days my level of engagement with the news has fallen to roughly zero, as it tends to every few years. Now, three posts in a week is a busy time around here. What the future holds is unclear, though I will make one promise: later this year, probably in the summer, there will be a semi-dramatic, fully-anarchist event starring — who else? — me, captured on video and posted here. Stay tuned!

What I did not expect when I joined the blogosphere was to become so much more engaged as a libertarian and anarchist. I did not expect to meet, make the acquaintance and even become friends with so many worthwhile, interesting people. This, truly, is a greater reward than I ever imagined. Thanks to all of you!!!

Significantly, nostate.com became (barely) self-funding in March 2009.

Some statistics, aggregating a year’s worth of data from Google Analytics and other data sources:

Unique visits: 64,381
Pageviews: 103,868
Visitors: 52,749
RSS subscribers: at least 120, counting only those using web-based readers

Top 5 countries, by number of visits:
United States: 45,149
Canada: 4,436
United Kingdom: 3,981
Slovakia: 1,334
Germany: 998

Top content, view count and top referrers thereto:

US government announces new logo: 24,288 (StumbleUpon)
The clown suit defense, and the excuses of symbols: 8,424 (StumbleUpon)
A declaration of separation: 4,141 (whatreallyhappened.com, davidicke.com)
I surrendered my US passport today: 3,872 (reddit, Digg, StumbleUpon)
The penalty is always death: 2,488 (StumbleUpon)
Press release: 2,267 (various)
Fuck the troops!: 2,034 (various)
An anarchist’s declaration: 1,911 (various)
Free Janine! And all political prisoners!: 1,878 (reddit)
Lèse majesté: 1,755 (StumbleUpon)

Just sixteen, a pickup truck
Out of money, out of luck
I got no where to call my own
Hit the gas and here I go!

I’m running free yeah, I’m running free
I’m running free yeah, I’m running free

I spend the night, a night in jail
Listen to the sirens wail
They ain’t got a thing on me
I’m running wild, I’m running free

I’m running free yeah, I’m running free
I’m running free yeah, I’m running free

Get out my way!

I’m running free yeah, I’m running free
I’m running free yeah, I’m running free

Free!

Pulled her at the bottle top
Whiskey dancing, disco hop
Now all the boys are after me
And that’s the way it’s gotta be

I’m running free yeah, I’m running free
I’m running free yeah, I’m running free

Oh…

I’m running free yeah, I’m running free
I’m running free yeah, I’m running free

I’m runnin’…

Bhumibol, usually referred to as “revered” by the Thai people, seems to be in the habit of pardoning foreigners convicted of lèse majesté, as he did in the case a few years back of a Swiss man sentenced to ten years for spray-painting over posters of the King’s face while drunk. Not so lucky, it seems, are native Thais, who for uttering a few words or putting together a series of images or any number of other otherwise innocuous acts can find themselves in prison for three to fifteen years under some of the most horrible conditions imaginable. Hang in there, Harry.

Fuck kings, and fuck Bhumibol. There, I said it. Further, the images here should make me persona non grata in Thailand so long as the idiotic lèse majesté law survives. Placing images of other people above that of the King: verboten. Juxtaposition of King with feet: offensive. Thirteen feet: unlucky.

Now I gotta think up some way to insult Turkishness…

Australian writer Harry Nicolaides in a detention cell at Bangkok's Criminal Court, 19 January 2009

13-foot mandala for King Bhumibol

How can you sleep at night?

Merry Christmas, you fucking tool.

From the Stanwood/Camano News, Camano Island, Washington:

Troubles brew for island coffee stand

16 September 2008

They say “no man is an island,” but on Camano Island, at least one man has claimed himself sovereign. Randy Harless has declared sovereignty by renouncing his citizenship and claims his status prevents him from being held accountable for laws of a government he is no longer a part of.

“Privileges are not to be granted by the government,” said Harless. “Our government has overstepped its bounds extremely.”

Now, big troubles are brewing.

Sovereign Coffee: The Randy Lee Harless espresso stand

When Harless bought Log Cabin Espresso, located on SR 532 near Good Road, earlier this year, and renamed the establishment Randy Lee Harless, he put his declaration of sovereignty to the test. At the end of July, Harless was notified by Island County Public Health of the suspension of his 2008 food service establishment permit. Failing to respond to notification of continued violations of health codes, Harless was notified he must immediately cease all food service operations.

“It’s my right to own a business,” said Harless. “I don’t need permission.”

However, when the permit was revoked, Harless was advised that he could not request a new permit to operate a food service establishment in Island County for a minimum of six months. Nonetheless, the stand remains open for business, offering coffee, espresso and other drinks, along with muffins, homemade donuts, croissants and bagels.

“I think Roger Case is grasping at straws,” said Harless. “He has no legal standing here.” According to Harless, his actions are a stand against tyranny. “Nobody stands up for their rights anymore,” he said. “The health department comes along, and they want to have power to control every move of what goes on here.” Harless said he has taken back that control over his establishment. “Under my sovereignty, I have granted myself a health permit,” he said. The sovereign espresso stand owner said he is ready for a legal challenge. “I’m expecting it,” said Harless.

Dr. Roger Case, Island County health officer, disputes the validity of Harless’s sovereignty claim. “He’s in violation of public health code,” said Case. According to Case, anyone operating a business in Island County has to follow the law. “The place needs to be closed,” he said. “It’s not safe for people to eat there.”Case said that the matter could have easily been cleared up months ago. “We’ve been trying to work with him for some time,” said case. “He has not been willing to comply with code.” Harless’s failure to comply with the order to cease food service operations will result in Superior Court action, said Case.

(my comment left at the newspaper’s website)

Leaving aside the inanity and delusion that is democracy along with the hysteria from the annoying county bureaucrat, bravo for Mr. Harless. He’s a real agorist (agorism.info) revolutionary. He’s going to suffer from a poor choice of tactics, though, as one of the prime criteria for the US government to accept a renunciation of citizenship is that there be no demonstrated intent on the part of the renunciant to live inside the territory claimed by said government.

I’m kinda doing the same thing, though without the coffee stand and the same class of tactical error. I hope Mr. Harless manages to stay out of prison, but this doesn’t look good for the man.

More on how to actually renounce your US citizenship here: http://www.nostate.com/

Oh BTW: the fact that the name “Mike” appears in this song is sheer coincidence. Just like the massive military/civilian drills for multiple simultaneous terrorist airline hijackings were on 9/11.

Sometimes I try to do things and it just doesn’t work out the way I wanted to.
I get real frustrated and I try hard to do it and I take my time and it doesn’t work out the way I wanted to.
It’s like I concentrate real hard and it doesn’t work out
Everything I do and everything I try never turns out
It’s like I need time to figure these things out
But there’s always someone there going

Hey Mike:
You know we’ve been noticing you’ve been having a lot of problems lately.
You know, maybe you should get away and maybe you should talk about it, maybe you’ll feel a lot better

And I go:
No it’s okay, you know I’ll figure it out, just leave me alone I’ll figure it out. You know I’ll just work by myself.

And they go:
Well you know if you want to talk about it I’ll be here you know and you’ll probably feel a lot better if you talk about it.

And I go:
No I don’t want to I’m okay, I’ll figure it out myself and they just keep bugging me and they just keep bugging me and it builds up inside and it builds up inside.

So you’re gonna be institutionalized
You’ll come out brainwashed with bloodshot eyes
You won’t have any say
They’ll brainwash you until you see their way.

[Chorus:]
I’m not crazy – in an institution
You’re the one who’s crazy – in an institution
You’re driving me crazy – in an institution

They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself

I was in my room and I was just like staring at the wall thinking about everything
But then again I was thinking about nothing
And then my mom came in and I didn’t even know she was there she called my name
And I didn’t even hear it, and then she started screaming: MIKE! MIKE!
And I go:
What, what’s the matter
And she goes:
What’s the matter with you?
I go:
There’s nothing-wrong mom.
And she goes:
Don’t tell me that, you’re on drugs!
And I go:
No mom I’m not on drugs I’m okay, I was just thinking you know, why don’t you get me a Pepsi.
And she goes:
NO you’re on drugs!
I go:
Mom I’m okay, I’m just thinking.
She goes:
No you’re not thinking, you’re on drugs! Normal people don’t act that way!
I go:
Mom just give me a Pepsi please
All I want is a Pepsi, and she wouldn’t give it to me
All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, and she wouldn’t give it to me.
Just a Pepsi.

They give you a white shirt with long sleeves
Tied around you’re back, you’re treated like thieves
Drug you up because they’re lazy
It’s too much work to help a crazy

[Chorus]

They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself

I was sitting in my room and my mom and my dad came in and they pulled up a chair and they sat down, they go:
Mike, we need to talk to you
And I go:
Okay what’s the matter
They go:
Me and your mom have been noticing lately that you’ve been having a lot of problems,
You’ve been going off for no reason and we’re afraid you’re gonna hurt somebody,
We’re afraid you’re gonna hurt yourself.
So we decided that it would be in your interest if we put you somewhere
Where you could get the help that you need.
And I go:
Wait, what do you mean, what are you talking about, we decided!?
My best interest?! How can you know what’s my best interest is?
How can you say what my best interest is? What are you trying to say, I’m crazy?
When I went to your schools, I went to your churches,
I went to your institutional learning facilities?! So how can you say I’m crazy.

They say they’re gonna fix my brain
Alleviate my suffering and my pain
But by the time they fix my head
Mentally I’ll be dead

[Chorus]

They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself

It doesn’t matter I’ll probably get hit by a car anyway

Do you see how the agony of moral corruption can be transferred from one person to another?

– Stefan Molyneux, On Truth: The Tyranny of Illusion

Yeah. Ouch.