Keepers of Lake Eyre Update
Friday July 21, 2000
Adelaide, South Australia
** RED ALERT**
People needed to help keep the
Arabunna Going Home Camp
and Peace Fire.
**HELP**
Legal skills needed for ongoing court actions.
** In this update:
1. WMC back down from camp eviction case.
-Today=92s media releases.
2. Walk update- the new route.
______________________________
Keepers of Lake Eyre
Walking the Land- for Our Ancient Right
_____________________________________
120 Wakefield St, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel. (08) 8340 4401 Fax. (08) 8232 2490
Email. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web. www.come.to/lakeeyre
Media Release
Friday 21 July, 2000, 12 noon.
South Australia
WMC COURT BLUFF FAILS
_________________________________
ARABUNNA EVICTION CASE AGAINST WMC TO CONTINUE BEFORE HIGH COURT
Western Mining Corporation (WMC) have failed in their attempt to bluff the
Supreme Court of South Australia into evicting Non-Arabunna people from the
Arabunna Going Home Camp, at Lake Eyre South, in the far north of South
Australia.
In court this morning, before Judge Grey, WMC lawyer, Nicholas Swan, told
the court that they did not seek any orders, in-fact they were ending their
application for "possession" over the Arabunna Going Home Camp. He told
the court that WMC would now seek to lobby the Government and Parliamentary
Representatives on the issue.
Keepers of Lake Eyre, representing "all those likely to be affected"
(Burley Decision, June 19, 2000 SCSA 549 of 2000), welcome this decision of
WMC:
"WMC have tried to pull the wool over the court's eyes since they initiated
these proceedings, as they have continuously tried to pull the wool over
the Australian public's eyes. But people have woken up, we can see what
their game is now and we're not going to let them get away with it," said
Keeper of Lake Eyre William Taylor after court today.
"WMC's game is up - you can't get land by Genocide and you can't keep it by
Genocide either," added Keeper of Lake Eyre Chris Littlejohn.
WMC have continuously attempted to mis-lead the court in relation to the
land in question, failing to acknowledge, by omission, the interests of
Arabunna people, particularly Arabunna Elder and Peacemaker Kevin
Buzzacott, who they would not name. Kevin has been applying to the Supreme
Court of SA since March 25, 1999, to have WMC evicted from Arabunna land
and to have named individuals charged with Genocide (SCSA 356 of 1999).
Kevin had applied for WMC's eviction case to be removed to the High Court
of Australia, to be joined with his case to evict WMC from Arabunna land
(SCSA 356 of 1999; A19 of 2000). This was due to be dealt with by the
High Court after August 7, 2000. This is no longer likely, however the
case to evict WMC will continue to the High Court (A19 of 2000).
Keepers of Lake Eyre are considering applying to the court for costs
against WMC.
Walking the Land- for Our Ancient Right is now in Bourke, northern New
South Wales. The Walk, carrying the Fire for Peace to the Sydney Olympics,
has covered 1200km since leaving the Arabunna Going Home Camp on June 10, 2000.
For more information contact:
Keepers of Lake Eyre: 0419 812 788 / (08) 8340 4401
Walking the Land- For Our Ancient Right: 0417 838 906
_________________________________________________
Keepers of Lake Eyre
Walking the Land- for Our Ancient Right
_______________________________________________
120 Wakefield St, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000
Tel. (08) 8340 4401 Fax. (08) 8232 2490
Email. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web. www.come.to/lakeeyre
Media Release
Friday 21 July, 2000, 8am
South Australia
WMC=92s NEW RACIAL PREJUDICE-
ARRESTING WHITE OVER BLACK
Today, at 10:15 am, Western Mining Corporation (WMC) will,
for the third time in the Supreme Court, try to evict
all Non-Arabunna persons at the Arabunna Going Home Camp.
This is an Aboriginal camp set up by the Arabunna People with
the assistance of the Keepers Of Lake Eyre. The camp is situated
in the far north of South Australia, on the shores of Lake Eyre South.
WMC are struggling to identify any persons at the Lake Eyre
camp and as yet have not produced any names of individuals to be
defendants in court. The Keepers Of Lake Eyre are representing
all those people likely to be affected by a court order to evict people
from Arabunna Land. Arabunna People have come forward with
their statements of claim over the camp and identified themselves
to the court and WMC. WMC does not seem to want to act legally
against any Arabunna people at the camp, they only seem interested
in having anyone who is =91Non-Arabunna=92 forcibly removed
and arrested with criminal trespass.
The Keepers of Lake Eyre have the full permission of Arabunna
elders to be at the camp. WMC have been issued time and time
again with eviction notices from the Arabunna Nation. Arabunna
have never agreed to allow WMC on to their land, nor has permission
ever been
sought for by WMC.
=93What this case shows is the ongoing Genocide of a people by the
Colonial giants. This time it=92s a massive multi-national company
trying to once again displace an Indigenous people by forcibly removing
homes, friends and family. The Keepers are invited onto Arabunna
country with the intention of assisting the Arabunna to return to the
heart of their own country, their home, which has been stolen away
from them over the last 150 years.=94 Said Keeper of Lake Eyre,
Chris Littlejohn today.
=93We have reached peace with the Arabunna people, that camp
is a potent place for Reconciliation in this country. So much has
happened up there over the last 2 years, to have it stripped away
for the second time while Arabunna Elders are on a Peace March
to the Sydney Olympics is just disgraceful. It was only after
the Elders left that WMC began court proceedings to have anyone
remaining and =91keeping=92 the camp arrested and taken away. =94
Said Keeper of Lake Eyre, William Taylor today.
Arabunna Elders and peace marchers have passed their first 1200km,
on foot and are currently in Bourke, New South Wales. =91Walking The
Land- For Our Ancient Right=92 is on it=92s way to Canberra and then up to=
Sydney for the Olympic Games to tell the world what=92s really going
on in Australia=92s backyard.
For more information contact:
Keepers of Lake Eyre: 0419 812 788 / (08) 8340 4401
Walking the Land- For Our Ancient Right: 0417 838 906
________________________________________________________
2. Walk update- the new route.
The walk is now in Bourke, in north western New South Wales.
>From there they will walk to Brewarrina- Walgett- Collarenebri-
Moree- Coonabarabran- Gilgandra- Wellington- Molong- Canowin-
Canowindra- Cowra- Boorowa- CANBERRA (By 25 August)-
SYDNEY OLYMPIC GAMES 2000.
THIS MESSAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
________________________________________________________
Keepers of Lake Eyre, in South Australia:
Web: www.come.to/lakeeyre Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Tel: (08) 8340 4401 / Fax. (08) 8232 2490
Post: C/- Conservation Council, 120 Wakefield St, Adelaide, S.A. 5000
________________________________________________________
***you are on the Keepers of Lake Eyre email list. To get off the list-
write us a note at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Do you want to be added to the list? Write to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
________________________________________________________
--
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html
Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop
Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink
Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
