Aboriginal protest fire
re-lit fourth time
The Aboriginal protesters
outside Government House in Adelaide have re-lit a ceremonial fire extinguished
by police last night, and say it's time the Prime Minister became directly
involved in the matter.
The protest action, which has been going on for
the past 20 days, is over the Arabunna people's claim of genocide by the mining
company WMC Resources.
This afternoon, Kaurna descendant Joseph Williams
re-lit a fire that's been put out by authorities at least three times so
far.
Mr Willams says the City Council and police handling of the
protestors is doing serious damage to the reconciliation process, and it's time
for the leader of the nation to step in.
"Putting out the fires is
damaging the reconciliation process (and) it's damaging my civil liberties as an
Aboriginal person," Mr Williams said.
"I've got a right to
light this fire on Crown land, when it is a cultural activity," he
said.
"Basically, what I'd like to be able to try to achieve is a
direct communication line with the Prime Minister of Australia in regards to
native title," Mr Williams said
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