[IPSM] Australia: Aboriginal Tent Embassy Under-Threat from Government Attacks

[Stefan Christoff]

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Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2005 22:15:59 -0800 (PST)
From: sustainablesnail at riseup.net


Liberals move to divide Aboriginal Community
to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy

by Belle b Saturday February 19, 2005 at 04:48 PM

The Liberal government is seeking to divide the Aboriginal community to 
persue its agenda to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Now more than 
ever we need the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as the grassroots platform for 
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.

The Liberal government announced its plans to attempt to use members of 
the Aboriginal Community in Canberra to legitimise their longstanding 
agenda to get rid of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. And it wouldnt be the 
first time that the Liberal party had sought to divide the Aboriginal 
community to carry out its own agenda. Quoting Senator Gary Humphries, 
Liberal Party Senator "The embassy as it stands is doing more harm than 
good to the reconciliation process. It has gone beyond the role an embassy 
serves, becoming an unattractive and intimidating camping ground. This is 
not appropriate for the Parliamentary Triangle".

But what could be more appropriate then a constant vigil that for many 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia the 
reconciliation process has not brought peace from the genocidal war which 
started when Captain Cook illegally claimed Australia to be Commonwealth 
Land. For many the reconciliation process was just a white wash, a feel 
good exercise in PR - and did little to better the lives of Aboriginal and 
Torres Strait Islander peoples.

If the Aboriginal Tent Embassy may not attractive enough for the 
parliamentary triangle perhaps though it is a constant reminder to 
politicans and senior bureaucrats in Canberra of the living conditions of 
Aboriginal people everywhere. Its these living conditions that the Liberal 
party should be addressing, its the disproportionate rate of Aboriginal 
and Torres Strait Islander people in custody and deaths in custody, its 
the apartheid style living conditions for Aboriginal people in Port 
Augusta, the poor health conditions and the low life expectancy of 
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, these are the issues that 
the Liberal party should be seeking input from the Aboriginal and Torres 
Strait Islander Community about.

The Liberal government is whittling away our rights, and the final blow 
will be to abolish the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra. Now more than 
ever we need the Aboriginal Tent Embassy as the grassroots platform for 
the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices for Land rights and 
sovereignty, an end to black deaths in custody, an end to the genocidal 
war against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for peace and 
for JUSTICE.

Write to Sen Gary Humphries info at canberraliberals.org.au to show your
support to the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.

Below is his media release

> Date : Tue, 15 Feb 2005 Subject : COMMUNITY
> INPUT SOUGHT ON TENT EMBASSY Author : Sen.
> Gary Humphries ACT Liberal Senator Gary
> Humphries is seeking the input of local residents over
> the future of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
> Senator Humphries said a consultation process with Aboriginal leaders
> would commence shortly under the auspices of Territories Minister Jim
> Lloyd.
> "It is appropriate that Aboriginal leaders largely determine the future
> of the embassy but I am also interested in hearing the views of the wider
> community," Senator Humphries said.
> "Consequently I will soon be commencing my own consultation exercise with
> the broader ACT community.
> "The embassy as it stands is doing more harm than good to the
> reconciliation process. It has gone beyond the role an embassy serves,
> becoming an unattractive and intimidating camping ground. This is not
> appropriate for the Parliamentary Triangle.
> "When it makes news today, it is usually for the wrong reasons. Rather
> than aiding the reconciliation process, it now hinders it.
> "The Territories Minister would like an educational interpretative centre
> on the site. There is some merit in this. A modern, well resourced
> interpretive centre with amenities would do a much better job conveying
> the history and struggle of the Aboriginal people.
> "But what do other people think?
> "Resolving the Tent Embassy issue is a high priority for the Territories
> Minister. I believe a successful outcome is more likely to be reached if
> he and indigenous leaders have as much community input in this as
> possible," Senator Humphries said.
> ACT residents can express their view on this issue by emailing Senator
> Humphries at senator.humphries at aph.gov.au
>

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