Newsletter date: 24 March 2014
Contents:
* Perth Indymedia Radio Show: Bella Bropho of the Swan Valley Nyungah Community
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: SWALSC CEO Glen Kelly calls for the return of the Nyungah Community's land
* Greens MLC Robin Chapple: Greens Appalled at Homes Torn Down at Swan Valley Nyungah Community in early morning
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Government racism razes Swan Valley Nyungah Community
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: The community gather, Premier Barnett just say "YES"
* PERTH INDYMEDIA RADIO SHOW: BELLA BROPHO OF THE SWAN VALLEY NYUNGAH COMMUNITY
- Audio Interview
Perth Indymedia Radio Show: Bella Bropho of the Swan Valley Nyungah Community
http://perthindymedia.org/2014/03/10/bella-bropho-of-the-swan-valley-nyu...
10 Mar 14: "We speak with Bella Bropho spokesperson for the Swan Valley Nyungah Community about the forced removal of her people from their community land in Lockridge and their ongoing struggle to reclaim that land."
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: SWALSC CEO GLEN KELLY CALLS FOR THE RETURN OF THE NYUNGAH COMMUNITY'S LAND
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: SWALSC CEO Glen Kelly calls for the return of the Nyungah Community's land
http://thestringer.com.au/swalsc-ceo-glen-kelly-calls-for-the-return-of-...
19 Mar 14: "The (West Australian) South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council’s CEO, Glen Kelly, has this morning met with Elders from the Swan Valley Nyungah Communty. Yesterday their former homes were demolished by contractors sent in by the State Government – 11 residences and all up 23 buildings razed. Mr Kelly said that he supports their connection and other natural rights to the site the former Community stood on. He said it holds sacred sites and graves. Mr Kelly said he supports the return of the land to the Nyungah Community. Mr Kelly said that he will work with the Community to produce a public statement in calling for the return for the land." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* GREENS MLC ROBIN CHAPPLE: GREENS APPALLED AT HOMES TORN DOWN AT SWAN VALLEY NYUNGAH COMMUNITY IN EARLY MORNING
- Media Release
Greens MLC Robin Chapple: Greens Appalled at Homes Torn Down at Swan Valley Nyungah Community in early morning
http://www.robinchapple.com/greens-appalled-homes-torn-down-swan-valley-...
18 Mar 14: "Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Hon Robin Chapple MLC is appalled by the Barnett government’s decision to tear down homes at the Swan Valley Nyungah Community.
‘The tearing down of buildings that were designed and built in a cultural way and on sacred land is absolutely disgusting!’ said Mr Chapple.
‘Not only has the government ignored the concerns of the Nyungah Community, this process initiated in 2003 had made many people homeless by evicting women, children and families from their homes,’ explained Mr Chapple.
‘I have a copy of the title for the land which states it is for the purpose of use and benefit of Aboriginal inhabitants. Today in Parliament I will call upon the Barnett government to explain under what legal grounds this has been allowed to happen,’ advised Mr Chapple. ... "
- Aboriginal Issues
Greens MLC Robin Chapple: Aboriginal Issues
http://www.robinchapple.com/aboriginal-issues
"The Greens (WA) acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as the original inhabitants of this country, have a special cultural and spiritual connection with the land and water. We believe that their rights and obligations as owners and custodians must be respected. We hold that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a right to self-determination and political representation, and must be partners in the development and implementation of public policies, programs and services that affect them. ... "
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: GOVERNMENT RACISM RAZES SWAN VALLEY NYUNGAH COMMUNITY
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Government racism razes Swan Valley Nyungah Community
http://thestringer.com.au/government-racism-razes-swan-valley-nyungah-co...
18 Mar 14: "In breaking news, the Western Australian State Government sent in demolition contractors to raze the vacant residences of the Swan Valley Nyungah Community. Emotions ran high among former residents, many of whom remain homeless. They only learned of the demolition as it was happening such was the clandestine nature of the Government’s underhandedness. Many have been homeless since 2003, and fair to write, the then Geoff Gallop Government evicted en masse all the residents in a knee jerk reaction to what later proved to be unsubstantiated and false information about rife sexual abuse. Natural justice was denied then, it was denied again today – eleven years later." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
* GERRY GEORGATOS, THE STRINGER: THE COMMUNITY GATHER, PREMIER BARNETT JUST SAY "YES"
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: The community gather, Premier Barnett just say "YES"
http://thestringer.com.au/hundreds-gather-but-premier-barnett-says-no/
15 Mar 14: ""Last week, hundreds gathered at the steps of Western Australia’s Parliament to call for the reopening of the 20 acres of Country on which the Swan Valley Nyungah Community’s former residences have stood idly vacant for eleven years. In 2003, the Geoff Gallop led Government closed down the community site after rushing through an Act of Parliament, within two days – evicting en masse the residents. Led by Elders, sister and brother, Bella and Herbert Bropho, the community and supporters called for the reopening of the site, and for the former residents to be allowed to return to their homes. The majority of the residents were made homeless, most of them remain homeless." By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist
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