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MP3 Audio - Federal Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson forced to retreat:

Students at Edith Cowan Uni's Mt Lawley campus have defended their actions during a rally in which the Brendan Nelson was forced to run for cover...

Below: Perth Indymedia Radio interview with Alexis from NUS - 4 Mins 1.58 MB

MP3 AUDIO FILE HERE: http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/indy_alexis_nus_july72005.mp3



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BACKGROUND:

Brendan Nelson runs for cover at ECU
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=11547

Dr Nelson Lashes Out At Perth Student Protesters
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=11591

Perth Indy FEATURE: Police attack students with horses at ECU: July 1 2005: nelson at ecu jun 30 "Police attacked us with horses" - from the newswire...

Students at Edith Cowan Uni's Mt Lawley campus defend their actions during a rally in which the Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson was forced to run for cover. According to corporate news reports, one student was arrested and two police officers being injured. Students from around the country had gathered at ECU for an NUS conference to protest Dr Nelson's VSU - Voluntary Student Unionism. As Dr Nelson left the building, a group of about 50 students closed in on him, forcing him to retreat inside.

As Nelson tried to leave, flanked by security officers and police on horseback, a crowd of protesters who were gathered outside refused to let him through. Tussles broke out and Dr Nelson retreated back inside the building.

University student guild spokesman Brother Steve says he was surprised at the level of force used against the students. "The people actually held off their protest to allow the children to do their performance and for the Aboriginal peoples inside to have their cultural moment," he said.

"Yet it seems the police and the minister were quite happy to go at the students with horses and as it would be, arrest one of our people." Protester Ricky Hendon says the students had organised a peaceful protest. "We were here in respect also of people who were in this Indigenous centre trying to open their centre," he said.

"We decided amongst ourselves that we would not disrupt the opening of the centre, that we would remain quiet and we did that out of respect and this is the way this has turned out, which is so very unfortunate."
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MP3 - Perth Indymedia Radio interview with Alexis from NUS - 4 Mins 1.58 MB
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=11591

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