Inders in Berrimah

Rob Inder-Smith was all smiles today when Karen, John, Jurgen and Fi braved the fascist fortress that is Berrimah Prison to visit him on his sixth day of incarceration.

Dressed in the mandatory green t-shirt, shorts and too-small, plastic sandals, Rob was obviously very pleased to see some familiar, friendly faces.

He stood up to greet us and we went to sit at an empty table.

“You have to sit at table 10!” one of the prison guards barked before we’d taken two steps.

Seems that since our last visit – when Stuart Highway was there in early 2006 – a new rule's been introduced.

Our prison visitor ID badges were marked with a designated table number, as was the prisoner’s (Rob) similar ID tag.

Ours all had “10” so at table 10 we had to sit.

This “just happened” to be the table closest to the guards, right under their noses. When we saw Stui we could sit where we wanted – this time we sat where they wanted, and it appeared they wanted us within ear-shot.

Inders was in good spirits. He was impressed with the inmates' tolerance of the degrading treatment they received in such miserable surroundings.

“They have guitars and were singing and playing, they’re amazing really, it’s bloody awful in here.” Rob said.

“I’ve only got to be here a month but these guys will be in here for four or five years! I haven’t met anyone who’s got to be here for a really long time like 10 years or more but even four years in this hell?” he shook his head in wonder.

Rob was sentenced to a six month prison term, suspended after serving one month, after Justice Southwood agreed that the original sentence was too harsh and upheld Rob's appeal, reducing his sentence.

Spare a thought for Rob, stuck in Berrimah for exercising his right to protest but also spare a thought for all the other victims of the war on drugs/human rights who are languishing in prisons everywhere.