PRESS STATEMENT
In a statement from Bonn, Germany, Michael Anderson Aboriginal
Political Activist and Claimant for the Lightning Ridge Native Title Claim,
expressed grave concern for Human Rights in Australia under the current
Howard Government.
Comments made in the 7.30 Report last week by the Foreign Affairs
Minister, Alexander Downer that "we are not going to cop it any longer"
when referring to the United Nations Human Rights Committee's scrutiny
of Human rights complaints from individuals and or organisations in
Australia was alarming indeed he said.
Surely in this modern world peoples have a right to have protections
against tyrannical governments. Michael Anderson said that if Australia
has a human rights record second to none then what do they have to
fear from international scrutiny.
Michael Anderson who will be attending the United Nations Working
Group on Indigenous Peoples next week in Geneva, will be dealing with
issues such as the right of self-determination, cultural, religious and
political freedoms as well as individual matters such as the continuing
mandatory sentencing laws in the Northern Territory and Western
Australia.
Another matter that will be raised is the corrupt activities being promoted
by State and Territory Governments in Australia, under the banner of
'Indigenous Land Use Agreements', he said. Land use agreements are
being used to deny Aboriginal people a legal recognition of their 'Land
title' he said.
One of the major attractions for Aboriginal people to enter into the land
use agreement, is the offering of money up front, and the fact that the
negotiators both black and white are coercing the people by stating that
if they go to court and wait, they may loose, and that this will then
remove any future hope of them ever reclaiming or having access to their
lands forever.
Anderson said that, if this were to happen in the normal course of legal
contract negotiations, it would be struck down by the court for illegal
coercion. Most Aboriginal people would not be aware of this. Just look
at the Ranger Agreement he said.
As for the Cabinets proposal to deny individual complaints to the United
Nations against Human Rights violations, Anderson says, that the
Australian Government is so far out of step from the rest of the world
and that if they persist in their condemnation of the UN's Human Rights
Organs, then Australia should seriously consider withdrawing from the
United Nations altogether. He said they can not have their cake and eat it
to.
Michael Anderson said that no matter what Cabinet does, don't
underestimate the resolve of Aboriginal people to fight.
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