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Aboriginal call for British responsibility

ENIAR media release

 

'Calling for a treaty', Rikki Shields, Gnarrayarrahe Inmurry Waitaurie, Ponjydflyidu.

March 22 1999 - In Parliament House today MP's, Trade Unions, NGO's and influential speakers will stand in solidarity with Aboriginal people as they call on the British to finally act with responsibility towards them.

"We remind the British Government and citizens that they caused our dispossession from 1788, bestowed independence to the Australian colonies from 1901, and now fail to reconcile by way of reinstating or advocating our human rights including ownership of the lands" quote from ad. appearing in "The Independent" today.

Ponjyflyidu at the Candlelight vigil outide Australia House, evening March 22, 1999.

"It is a shocking indictment on the British Government that Aboriginal people continue to suffer as aresult of our colonial past," says ENIAR spokesperson Sue Mathieson "and that Aboriginal people have been forced to seek international assistance to attain freedom from prejudice and discrimination within their own lands."

"Any doubts that Aboriginal people continue to suffer from discrimination have been firmly dispelled by last weeks UN CERD committee findings, namely that Australia was found to be in breach of Conventions on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in relation to Aboriginal land rights and social justice."

ENIAR strongly endorses the Aboriginal call for British Responsibility and invites the media and public to attend a public meeting House of Commons, Westminster, London. 4.00 pm 22nd March, Committee Room 6 followed by a candlelight vigil outside Australia House, The Strand, London, from 6.30pm

Aboriginal Speakers include:
Les Malezer, Geoff Clark, Ponjyflyidu, Indjidundji Tribal School. and Gnaroayairahe Inmuny Waitaire (on the didjeridu).

They will be joined by:
Professor Germaine Greer, John Pilger, Keith Vaz MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, and representatives from UNISON, TUC, Amnesty International, 1990 Trust, Pilotlight and National Assembly Against Racism

Further reading

• Greer to stay in exile until treaty rights past wrongs
• British Campaign starts for Aboriginal land rights treaty
• Its Time for a Treaty
• New section - british responsibility??

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