The Advertiser Olsen abused in Gum Tree protest By JAMES WAKELIN 29dec99 ABORIGINAL protesters abused Premier John Olsen and draped the Aboriginal flag on the Old Gum Tree at the annual Proclamation Day ceremony at Glenelg yesterday. The group, led by Kevin Buzzacott, also confronted Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith and Holdfast Bay mayor Brian Nadilo and presented Governor Sir Eric Neal with demands during the ceremony. Mr Buzzacott, who has been leading a protest outside Government House on North Tce arrived with about 20 other demonstrators. The group had announced on Monday that it wanted the Governor to direct the Olsen Government to implement a "genocide law" and recognise Aborigines as "sovereign people of (Australia)". Mr Buzzacott spoke to police before the ceremony and approached Mr Nadilo, demanding a chance to give a Statement of Claim to Sir Eric. Mr Nadilo agreed, providing protesters did not disrupt proceedings. Mr Buzzacott then draped the flag over the Old Gum Tree and presented the Statement of Claim to the Governor. "We don't like interrupting this type of thing but there's no other way," he said afterwards. Dr Irene Watson, of the Tanganekald people from the Coorong, read a statement before the ceremony began, calling for the end to colonialism in all states and territories and the birth of decolonisation. The rest of the ceremony went smoothly until Mr Olsen was jeered and abused by the protesters. They accused him of supporting genocide, called on him to introduce genocide legislation to parliament and yelled: "Shame, Olsen, Shame." Mr Nadilo said that although he did not mind the group presenting Sir Eric with its demands, he was disappointed the Premier had been abused. Mr Buzzacott said the group would continue to protest until "we get some satisfaction". Back at North Tce, he relit a fire doused by officials on Sunday when the camp was raided and camping gear confiscated. "We need the fire to light our hearts and our souls," he said. Dr Lomax-Smith said if the council had to keep breaking up the camp it could become an "exercise in futility". She maintained the council was tolerant of protests if they were conducted within the law and suggested the Government needed to do more to reach an agreement with the protesters. Senior council staff will meet today to discuss their next step. The Department of Environment and Heritage, WMC representatives and the protesters also will meet today in an attempt to resolve the situation. ------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
