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Uneasy calm at aborigine funeral

By Phil Mercer

11 December 2004 - (BBC UK) - The funeral has taken place of an aboriginal man in northern Australia whose death last month in police custody sparked violent disturbances.

Palm Island locals claimed 36-year-old Cameron Doomadgee was beaten by police before he died and had warned officers to stay away from the funeral.

His coffin was covered in the black, red and gold aboriginal flag as it was carried into church.

The funeral on Palm Island was watched by hundreds of mourners.

More than three weeks after Cameron Doomadgee was found dead in a police cell there is still anger and frustration on Palm Island.

Indigenous anger:

Despite the tension, calls by indigenous elders for residents to remain calm during the funeral appear to have been heeded.

They had warned that any large police presence would be seen as provocative and officers have kept their distance.

Islanders have claimed that Mr Doomadgee was attacked by the police before he died.

Senior officers, however, have insisted that he was hurt accidentally in a scuffle when he was being arrested.

The island's police station and court house were destroyed in the unrest that followed.

Earlier this week, 19 aboriginal men accused of taking part in the disturbances were granted bail.

Under conditions set down by a magistrate, the men were not allowed to attend the funeral on Palm Island.

An aboriginal activist could also face charges for comments he allegedly made advocating violence against the police.

Murandoo Yanner was attending a march on Friday in the Queensland city of Townsville in which demonstrators voiced their anger at the treatment of black Australians.

In Brisbane, several hundred people have gathered at a rally as part of a day of action to highlight indigenous disadvantage.

Source: BBC, UK

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