PRESS CALL PRESS CALL PRESS CALL PRESS CALL 3 JULY 2001
Aboriginal peace-makers stop work at Commonwealth Place, which is under
construction for Centenary of Federation Celebrations
Time: 11.30, 3 July 2001
Place: Commonwealth Place, between Questecon and the High Court, Canberra
The bulldozers and earth moving equipment became silent as a delegation
from the Aboriginal Tent Embasy and the Sovereign Union,lead by Ngunawal
Wiradjuri, Janet Phillips and Neville Williams, broke through the wire
fence; explained to contractors that they intended to halt any further
destruction; erected the Aboriginal Land Rights flag and carried the Fire
for Peace and Justice to the shores of the Molongolo River, which was
dammed to form lake Burley Griffin.
Late last night at least four tents were erected as peacemakers settled in
for a cold night.
Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna Elder, explained: "The time has come for the
authorities to meet with us to show good faith in the so-called
reconciliation process. We say this could be the break through for peace
in this land. The time is right. The Old Spirit is talking."
The slogans: 'Centennary of Federation celebrates genocide' and 'No
reconciliation without justice' express the overwhelming opposition
grass-roots Aboriginal communities have to:
1. the refusal of Commonwealth government to recognise and respect
Aboriginal sovereignty
2. the Australian celebration of Federation, which reveres a Constitution
which permits the making of racially discriminatory laws, including the
Native Title act which attempts to extinguish Aboriginal peoples' inherited
rights to land.
3. The 'shoot to kill, no questions asked, ... in the Commonwealth
Interest' 2000 amendment to the Defence Act, brought in just before the
Olympics.
4. Minister Ruddock's statement in question time on 28 June 2001 that
Aboriginal Peoples will not be compensated, nor will there be any
reparation for crimes against humanity, instead there will be
Reconciliation Place, a $5.5 million monument between the Tent Embassy and
Commonwealth Place...adding insult to injury.
The peace-making camp continues.
"Defiant we stand, together we win." is the consensus around the Fire.
Contact: Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Kevin Buzzacott 0401 835053
Sovereign Union. 0408 331239
--
Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/
Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop
Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink
Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
