by ray jackson, president, indigenous social justice association
a couple of evenings ago i had the distinct pleasure of having a long conversation with rex snr. and being informed of the travails that the family has been put through and that they have faced so courageously.
their struggle for justice from both the wa government and their police has been a bitter one as the government has scuttled for cover as the police have been manufacturing their usual skulduggery and lies.
some two and a half years ago, when young rex jnr was walking home at night he was struck by a police 4 wheel drive at speed with its lights out and driving on the wrong side of the dark street. his dreams of becoming a soccer star ended that night as his leg was badly shattered by the impact of the reckless driving by the police.
even whilst rex jnr. was being transported to hospital the police began the fabrication. their version has them driving on the right side of the road and with their lights on and somehow or other young rex jnr deliberately threw himself into the front of the vehicle that was not being driven at speed.
this diatribe of cover-up quickly falls to pieces when one sees the injuries caused to his legs. the police also claimed to be 'on an operation' and that statement only clarifies their lies. the circumstances as described by eye-witnesses with rex jnr on the evening are normal procedure for an operational raid on a house or other building.
over the previous 2 1/2 years we need to ask what has the wa aboriginal legal service been doing to assist the family to obtain their rightful justice and compensation? have they structured a legal argument seeking relief for the family in the wa court system? have they sought pro bono representation on behalf of the family? have they pressured the wa government for satisfaction to the family problems?
the answers to these questions, as i am informed, is that the als has done nothing positive and again we must ask why is this so? the wa als is inadequately funded and probably under-resourced as is every als in australia but surely more could have been done. due to the circumstances described previously, over time there has been built up over the years from aborigines in gaol, and out of it, a mistrust towards the als and this is a tragic situation because it allows state and territory governments to be let off the hook of what they should be really doing.
howard slashed and slashed the als budgets and even attempted to mainstream these services but the white legal system was not interested in picking up this poisoned chalice as they saw that they would lose too many cases and legal firms only want the cases that they believe they at least have a chance of winning. it looks better on their legal cv. not happy, john slashed again!
the wa police and their insurer apparently have offered compensation of a level of only 70% and not the full 100% compensatable rate. now, why would this be? simple really, this rate allows the police to continue their cover-up and their innate bastardry towards the bellotti family. it would allow the police to state, with all the honesty that they can muster, that young rex contributed to his accident. this is a barefaced lie; he did not.
it also allows the wa police to continue to thumb their nose at the family and sneering that they had stopped full payment being made. why such a petty attitude?
police around australia will never apologise and they must be seen to hold the power of control. that is their bastard culture in full flight and it is that culture that ultimately must be smashed at all costs. i believe that can be done by the bellotti family remaining strong as must all the dic families and their supporters of which i am only one.
stay strong rex snr, liza, rex jnr and your siblings. together we can and we will beat the police forces of this country and make the police a service to all of the population and not just the governments and the establishment.
in the twenty plus years i have been involved in aboriginal issues i have yet to come to terms with the lust for justice of the families of those who have been killed and/or injured. whatever the costs. i have seen families crushed by the loss of a loved one but they have never lost their lust for justice.
even when the doors have been firmly shut against them.
the bellotti family continue on in that same brave fashion against all the barricades that are placed before them. but they also need our help and our empathy in their fight for justice. if possible please contact the family and the support group (links provided) and do all that you can.
isja01@internode.on.net
(m) 0450 651 063
(p) 02 9318 0947
address 1303/200 pitt street waterloo 2017
we live and work on the stolen lands of the gadigal people.
sovereignty treaty social justice
From: "Shilo Harrison" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20-_Onp1HFM
Sincerely and in Solidarity,
Shilo Harrison
Project Coordinator Bellotti Support Group
justiceforrex@rocketmail.com
http://www.bellottisupportgroup.org/
