Self Determination Not Invasion, Get Up Stand Up for Indigenous Rights

On Saturday 20th June supporters of Aboriginal rights in Melbourne will be marking the two-year anniversary of the Northern Territory intervention with a solidarity rally in the CBD, Featuring speakers: Gary Foley, Robbie Thorpe, Aletha Penrith an Alice Springs town camp resident, + others. Performers: local Indigenous hip hop artists Little G, Mr Morgz, Alter Egoz, and Tjimba and the Yung Warriors.

Nathan Lovett-Murray, founder of Payback Records, has organized local Indigenous hip hop artists to perform at the rally. “Little G, Mr Morgz, Alter Egoz, and Tjimba and the Yung Warriors will be at the rally raising their voices against the discriminatory policies of the government, and in support of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory having control over their lives,” said Nathan.

“We have organized the rally in order to show our disgust and opposition to the Rudd Government’s expansion of Howard’s racist intervention policy, and to stand in solidarity with the Indigenous people of this country. We will also be holding a public meeting as an opportunity for people to learn more about the effects of the NT intervention and the direction the Rudd Government is taking it, the meeting will also involve workshops and planning for the campaign. The governments attempt to take Aboriginal land, close homelands, and wind-back hard-won Aboriginal self determination will not be ignored here in Melbourne.

“The Rudd Government’s approach to Indigenous people is dominated by hypocrisy and blackmail! With one hand they sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous people, and with the other they refuse to re-instate the Racial Discrimination Act, instead expanding the policies of the intervention and forcing Indigenous people to give up their land in return for desperately needed housing and services,” said Marisol Salinas from the Melbourne Anti-Intervention Collective

Rallies are also being on the 20th of June @:

Darwin 11am Raintree Park

Sydney 10:30am Belmore Park

Brisbane 11am Queen's Park

Perth 12 noon Wesley Church

Adelaide 12 noon Parliament House

See Also:

rollbacktheintervention.wordpress.com/

stoptheintervention.org/

'Invasion Day' protest ignites flag-burning debate

Tautoko Adam, the more colonial flag wipes go up in flames the better. Kia kaha bro.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre stands by the protester who burnt the Australian flag. (Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre)

A Tasmanian Aborigine has reignited the national debate about flag burning, after an Australia Day protest in Launceston yesterday.

About 100 Aborigines from across Tasmania rallied in Launceston's City Park against what they call "Invasion Day".

After the speeches, Adam Thompson stepped from the crowd and burnt the Australian flag with a cigarette lighter, to cheers from the crowd.

The Australian National Flag Association's Reg Watson has branded the act "despicable", calling on the Federal Government to make it illegal.

"Until it is an offence this type of vandalism will continually happen," he said.

"Those people that burnt our sacred symbol, national symbol, should be prosecuted for that offence.

"It's an outrageous offence and I think it would in anyone's estimation, an act of disgust, and I'm absolutely appalled that they've taken that position."

Mr Thompson says he would not have been deterred by the threat of prosecution.

"I would have done it anyway because it signifies something, and that's for a bigger cause," he said.

"Australians know what it means to Aboriginal people for them to celebrate Invasion Day and they do it anyway, so there's a blatant disregard there for Aboriginal people. And that made us angry enough to do that.

"What else can happen to Aboriginal people? I mean, you've taken our land. What else can you do to us?"

Mr Thompson works for the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre as a land management co-ordinator. The Centre has backed his impromptu flag burning.

Down with the apec fence

Terra Nullius no more

June the 3rd marks the anniversary of Mabo Day, a day that has important ramifications for Australian Society. Mabo Day is a day that is virtually unknown and ignored by most Australians.

On the third of June 1992 the High Court of Australia rejected the ridiculous notion of "Terra Nullius", that this land was not occupied before European colonisation. Eddie Mabo a Torres Strait man born on Mer in the Torres Strait and living in Townsville in Queensland conducted a ten year battle through the courts that led to this historic judgement. The Mabo Judgement states in law that indigenous Australians have by prior occupation, ownership of land where native title has not been extinguished.

June the 3rd, 1992 marks the beginning of a reconciliation process between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians that is based in law, not charity. It opened up a new chapter in the often difficult relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

The Mabo decision is arguable the most important decision that the High Court of Australia has made since Federation. It states Indigenous people have Legal Rights not just Symbolic Rights to all Crown Land in this country, as well as possible rights to pastoral leases. Mabo Day marked the beginning of a new era for Indigenous people. It changed Australian's views of themselves and their rights to this land. It has forced mining companies and the corporate world to take stock of Indigenous peoples' claims. It has radically altered the relationship between Indigenous and non Indigenous people in this country.

On the tenth anniversary, in 2002, Eddie Mabo's widow, Bonita Mabo, called for a national public holiday on the anniversary of the High Court's decision. Mrs Mabo said Eddie Mabo would be singing and dancing in delight over the progress made. "He would be dancing and singing - I can see him doing it," she said. "It's going to be a long time but at least we're starting to get somewhere which is great. Since '92 there was nothing like this around and you know people couldn't say, 'oh this is my land, this is my country, I'm a traditional owner', which makes them so proud of who they are." Mrs Mabo said a national holiday would be the most appropriate way of celebrating Mr Mabo's efforts. "You know we don't have to have the Queen's birthday weekend."

On the eleventh anniversary, in 2003, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) launched a petition to make June 3 an Australian Public Holiday. Eddie Mabo Jnr, for the Mabo family, said:

We believe that a public holiday would be fitting to honour and recognise the contribution to the High Court decision of not only my father and his co-plaintiffs, James Rice, Father Dave Passi, Sam Passi and Celuia Salee, but also to acknowledge all Indigenous Australians who have empowered and inspired each other.

To date we have not had a public holiday that acknowledges Indigenous people and which recognises our contribution, achievements and survival in Australia.

A public holiday would be a celebration all Australians can share in with pride – a celebration of truth that unites Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and a celebration of justice that overturned the legal myth of terra nullius - Mabo symbolises truth and justice and is a cornerstone of Reconciliation.

Mabo Judgement
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/high_ct/175clr1.html

www.takver.com/history/ph_maboday.htm

Walking the Land - for Our Ancient Right For Peace and Healing

john Howard has a nuclear vision for Australia and slave labour support lifting the ban on uranium mining.I will be focused on the peoples whose lands are torn apart from uranium mining and to never forget that nuclear bombs have been "tested" here and elsewhere in the Pacific. Found this old bulletin from Uncle Kevin enjoy.FYI, if ya don't know the pic is Uncle reclaiming the Emu & the kangaroo from the High Court of Australia. Respect. Always Was Always Will be Aboriginal Land !!!!




2 October 2000

In this Bulletin:

Statement to Australia and the world given by Kevin Buzzacott on Friday September 29, near Kirribilli House, Sydney. A copy was handed to a representative of John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia.

WALKING THE LAND - FOR OUR ANCIENT RIGHT, PEACE AND HEALING

From the ancient authority, ancient voices and ancient spirit, this is a message to the world from the place we call Australia, from the ancient government of this land.
We, the black people, the original people of this country, do not recognize John Howard and his government since arriving here 212 years ago from a foreign country named England. You, John Howard, and your government have failed to recognize our human rights issues. You yourself Mr Prime Minister, you can't even say sorry for the crimes your ancestors have done. You couldn't even begin that peace talk that we've invited you to, to come to our peace fire to begin a peace talk. You and your government in 212 years have simply failed.

The Government talks about a treaty. Before it even can talk about a treaty, there needs to be a cease fire. That means lay down your guns and your ammunition and your corrupt legislations.

Before the games finish and other countries participating in the games are going back to their countries, John Howard should lead his people back to their country as well, and leave us in peace. John Howard has failed our invitation to come and make peace.
We are calling on the world to support our statements. We're also calling on international bodies and the United Nations to support us.

On Wednesday 20th September, 2000 we have planted the flag on top of Cook's planting of his flag, and it symbolises we are taking our land back.

I am calling on all black people, leaders and elders to support this ancient request for all peace. The good white people have shown their respect and support to us and made peace. They are free to stay with us and to negotiate or to talk, to begin peace talks and to begin talks of the government, the real government of this country. The Queen, Elizabeth II, should use all her powers to remove her government, the Crown, from this country immediately, and take them all back to her country.

I call on all my brother and sister countries in the world to support me.

I, Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna elder, leader and peacemaker, call on John Howard to resign immediately as Prime Minister of Australia. To dismantle his government immediately.

http://www.lakeeyre.green.net.au/long-walk-updates.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maralinga

Britain actively used Australian soil and people to conduct it's nuclear testing program during the 1950s and 1960s. The 5 areas it conducted the tests are at Monte Bello Islands in north-western Western Australia (just off the mainland, near Monkey Mia); Emu Field in north-western South Australia; the infamous Maralinga in south-western South Australia; Christmas Island and Malden Island, both due south of Hawaii, on either side of the Equator. After the Grapple series of tests, the British lent the site to the US in 1962 for the Dominic series of 25 explosions.

Britain detonated its first nuclear device, Hurricane, on Monte Bello Island on October 3, 1952, followed by tests on May 16 and June 19, 1956. The June blast had a 60 kiloton capacity. At one monitoring point, over 3,200 kilometres to the east, radioactive iodine concentrations increased a hundredfold.

Two further atomic bomb tests, Totem 1 and 2, were carried out at Emu Field on October 15 and 27, 1953. The next series of atomic bomb tests were carried out at Maralinga between September 27, 1956 and October 9, 1957, along with a series of "minor" trials up to 1963. The Grapple series of tests were undertaken at Malden and Christmas Islands May 15, 1957, to September 23, 1958.

During the mainland tests many army personnel were deliberately exposed to the blasts just to see what effect radiation had on troops. Security at the test sites was lax. The testing range boundaries were not properly monitored, allowing people to walk in and out. Any signs were in English, which the local Aboriginal population could not read. Fallout from the ground blasts led to massive contamination of the Australian interior. The fallout from Maralinga even reached Adelaide and Melbourne. Some places are still heavily radioactive due principally to the presence of 20 kg of plutonium, the most toxic element known to humans.

Maralinga is Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal dialect for "Field of Thunder". Aborigines may have been directly affected by the blasts. Compensation is currently being sought in Australian courts.

http://www.sea-us.org.au/thunder/britsbombingus.html

Identity, Justice and Respect: An Honourable Vision for A New Australia

We the peoples, whose voices have been silenced,
We the peoples, of First Nations, of many nations,
We the peoples, the marginalised and privileged children of terra nullius, the asylum children of poverty and war,
We the peoples of Australia seek a better way, a better life and a better nation.

As it stands, Australia is a divided nation, built on invasion and mourning, wealth and poverty.
As it stands, Australia is the bastard child of the British Empire,

So what does Australia stand for?

How can we be a mature nation when the First Nations are denied self-determination, human rights, land justice and voice?
How can we be a mature nation when those seeking the safety of our shores are demonised and imprisoned.
How can we be a mature nation when there is such disparity of wealth and access to services.
How can we be a mature nation when our aspirations are about our hip-pockets and not our values and vision.
As it stands, we are a nation suffering from arrested development – lacking in honour and moral fibre.

A nation’s identity comes from a compassionate inclusion of all of its cultures.
A nation’s identity comes from a willingness to face the truth of the past, the challenges of the present and a willingness to create justice for the future.


Your Voice is a movement/party for the future.
Your Voice stands against policies of exclusion and denial.
Your Voice stands with those who want to create a nation built on justice for the First Nations, treasuring the diversity of our many cultures and respect for the lands and waters of the creator spirits.
Your Voice stands with those who want fairness and rights for all peoples and all individuals.

We therefore put the following policies before the nation based on our themes of identity, justice and honour.

http://www.yourvoice.org.au/

Cameras to tape police interviews

Pity there weren't cameras around back then to film their complicity with Aboriginal genocide.

Police were not neutral in the conflict between settlers and Aboriginal people; instead they provided military reinforcement for the forced expansion of white settlement, thereby presiding over the wholesale destruction of Aboriginal society. The thoroughness of the destruction of Aboriginal life effected with the help of Port Phillip’s police is attested to by the fate of its Native Police Corps. By the early 1850s, less than twenty years after the first police were sent to the district specifically to deal with the ‘Aboriginal problem’, there were so few Aboriginal people left that not only did the corps no longer have a reason to exist it was no longer even a
possibility, there were so few Aboriginal people left (Bridges 1971: 130).

KEEPING THE PEACE OR KEEPING PEOPLE
DOWN? POLICING IN VICTORIA
Dr Jude McCulloch

Dan Oakes
April 20, 2007

INTERVIEWS conducted by detectives at the St Kilda Road police complex will be videoed in a bid to stamp out police brutality and stop frivolous complaints by suspects.

Tenders have been called for the installation of the cameras in all interview rooms used by the crime squads and investigators.

The cameras will start rolling as soon as the door to a room is opened for an interview.

"It reduces the likelihood of any false allegations because you'll be able to just pull out the videotape to see and hear exactly what went on," police spokesman Sergeant David Spencer said yesterday.

"The cameras are going to be overtly mounted. There's nothing secret about it. Both the suspects and the members doing the interview will know it's there."

Unlike footage from cameras already used to record interviews by the homicide and drug squads, footage from the new cameras will not be used as evidence in court.

The new cameras will run continuously, except in certain circumstances. Sergeant Spencer said they could be shut down in cases where confidentiality was required.

The decision to introduce the new cameras also comes in the wake of secret recordings made of disgraced members of the disbanded armed offenders squad beating suspects during interviews.

The Office of Police Integrity made the recordings at the St Kilda Rd complex as part of its investigation into corrupt practices in the squad. It led to dramatic scenes at a public OPI hearing when an unsuspecting detective collapsed in the dock when confronted with a recording of him bashing a suspect.

Police Association secretary Paul Mullett said the union supported the installation of the cameras on the grounds that it protected members from frivolous complaints, but was suspicious about the motivation.

"We're supportive of them. The only criticism we have is that it should have been done sooner rather than later," Mr Mullett said.

"We understand that they had the funding and the equipment some time ago and it should have been installed as it arrived.

"It's a protection in terms of the judicial process for our members … but that equipment was available prior to the (OPI hearings). It was sitting around offices at St Kilda Road. As a matter of principle it should have been installed 18 months ago."

Genocide,Sovereignty,Treaty Parts 1&2

Tears of joy as land struggle comes to end

"Like every state and territory, like the Commonwealth, Victoria grievously wronged the first people of this land. Dispossession was no accident of history, but indeed, as we know, it was a deliberate policy: one of violence, one of suppression, one of intentional estrangement from country … We are complicit in this, unless we find ways to set it right."

THEY call themselves the Fighting Gunditjmara, and the perseverance that they pride themselves on has paid off in spectacular fashion.

The Gunditjmara of south-west Victoria yesterday became the second indigenous group in the state to have native title rights recognised after the Federal Court gave its "big white fellas' stamp" — to use Justice Tony North's words — to an agreement between the Gunditjmara, the state and many stakeholders.

Justice North's determination ended more than a decade of emotional toil. The Gunditjmara, who number about 3000, now enjoy rights over 2000 parcels of Crown land and waters in the Portland region covering 140,000 hectares. This is much bigger than the area covered by the 2005 native title determination in the Wimmera region. The rights of the native title holders, including access, camping and fishing rights, are non-exclusive and do not affect non-indigenous rights and interests.

For elders, the day was an occasion for joyous tears. "I never thought I would see this day," said "Auntie" June Dill, born 77 years ago on her people's land at Lake Condor mission.

Another elder, "Uncle" Johnny Lovett, 59, gestured to the hundreds of Gunditjmara people who gathered at Mount Eccles National Park for the court hearing.

"There are probably a lot of these kids who have never put foot in this area before today," he said. "They know now that they can come back in this country and they are officially home."

The path leading to yesterday's determination was long and tortuous. The case was in the court system for 11 years, involved 155 participants, 75 court dates and an unknown number of mediation dates involving parties ranging from governments and power companies to fishing operators and beekeepers.

The turning point, after nine fruitless years, was possibly a hearing in 2005, when the Federal Court travelled to the claim area to hear evidence from Gunditjmara elders. There, the Gunditjmara's connection to the land became clear: the court heard of the existence of "fish traps" used to catch eels and fish for thousands of years, and the remains of ancient stone huts that marked the Gunditjmara as a group of settlers rather than nomads.

At that time, Justice North said: "In light of what I have seen, and in the view I have formed … of the strength of the (Gunditjmara's) case, I am not prepared to see this case meander on for very much longer."

Intensive mediation followed and the matter was finally resolved through agreement rather than litigation. Many said yesterday that indigenous groups in Western Australia and Victoria's Yorta Yorta had not been so lucky.

"This type of outcome is important as it represents people sitting down together to talk and come to agreement," said Damein Bell, chairman of the Gunditjmara's representative body. Yesterday's hearing involved a mix of Aboriginal and Anglo-Saxon traditions. Painted dancers entered the courtroom, a marquee, and greeted the formally robed lawyers and judge with chants. A possum-skin coat adorned Justice North's bench. When the judge signed his official orders, Australia's 100th native title determination, the crowd applauded.

Justice North described yesterday as a "coming together of two legal systems" that would be remembered "many years hence as to what Aboriginal people can achieve".

After the hearing, state Attorney-General Rob Hulls addressed the gathered hundreds with words reminiscent of former prime minister Paul Keating's Redfern address.

"Like every state and territory, like the Commonwealth, Victoria grievously wronged the first people of this land. Dispossession was no accident of history, but indeed, as we know, it was a deliberate policy: one of violence, one of suppression, one of intentional estrangement from country … We are complicit in this, unless we find ways to set it right."

From Canberra, federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the recognition of the Gunditjmara's rights "highlights what can be achieved when participants in the native title system work together".

Members of the Gunditjmara reflected on their achievement and spoke of the future. "We can now leave a legacy to our children," said Mr Lovett, "and that legacy is Gunditjmara country."

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/tears-of-joy-as-land-struggle-comes-to-end/2007/03/30/1174761754745.html