15:35 AEDST Tue 29 Jan 2002 Tensions increase at coat-of-arms standoff
Members of the Aboriginal tent embassy have lodged a writ in the High Court seeking an end to the use of the kangaroo and emu on Australia's coat-of-arms. The move came as tensions at the 30-year-old tent embassy increased over the removal of a brass coat-of-arms from Old Parliament House, across the road from the camp, at the weekend. Tent embassy personnel believe the two native animals on the crest are sacred to them and have been used without permission from Aborigines. The brass crest remained in the hands of Aboriginal protesters while police stood nearby. Barrister for the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Len Lindon, said the writ sought an injunction against the use of the kangaroo and emu in the coat of arms. Copies of the writ were delivered to the Australian government solicitor, the ACT government and the Australian Federal Police. "We're seeking an order from the court that the Commonwealth of Australia stop using the kangaroo and the emu," Mr Lindon said. Wadjularbinna Nulyarimma from the Gungalidda people in Queensland's Gulf country, and a signatory to the writ, said that within the Aboriginal kinship system, the symbols were connected to the people, through religion and law. "It's about time we set the record straight so that we can all live together in this country, respecting each other's differences, recognising people's rights and we all walk together in harmony." Some tent embassy representatives hurled abuse at journalists at an impromptu press conference, with elder Kevin Buzzacott angered over press coverage. Mr Buzzacott criticised one newspaper of quoting police saying they would take action, and warned journalists to do what he called the right thing. "They (police) have not talked to anyone down here," he told reporters. "It's like I said, they're letting the media know before us. So, we don't want people flaming things up, we want a lot of common sense there. He called on Prime Minister John Howard and Indigenous Affairs Minister Philip Ruddock to come to the tent embassy to talk about the issue. "Let's get the rightful people to sit down and talk about it," Mr Buzzacott said. He said campers were worried they had only heard of a possible raid today through a newspaper report. "We are sort of worried they might move in with batons and bash us like they did 30 years ago," he said. One reporter said she felt physically threatened by the crowd. "Are you dumb? You are thick-headed," a protester told her. "You are banned from being on any of our land - all over Australia." İAAP 2001 http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/story_16791.aspre -- ------------------------------------------------------------ "The power of accurate observation is commonly call cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/ until 11 March, 2001 and Recoznettwo is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznettwo%40green.net.au/ from that date. 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."
