WGAR News: Bella Bropho on the Police Invasion of Matagarup Refugee Camp: Perth Indymedia

Submitted by WGAR - Working ... on Mon, 22/06/2015 - 11:25am

Newsletter date: 23 June 2015

- Audio Interview

Perth Indymedia: Bella Bropho on the Police Invasion of Matagarup Refugee Camp, SoundCloud
https://soundcloud.com/perth-indymedia/bella
18 Jun 15: "Bella Bropho discusses the latest police invasion of the refugee camp at Matagarup. She is one of the participants in this camp and the interview was recorded at the site. This is a sacred Indigenous site that is serving as a refugee camp for people who are being affected by the closure of Indigenous communities. Once again the police ripped down and stole all of their tents and are also blocking access to the parking lot."

- Photo Essay

Green Left: Photo Essay: Police, council raid Matagarup again
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/59271
19 Jun 15: "Perth City Council and WA Police raided the Nyoongar encampment at Matagarup (Heirisson Island) at 7am on June 18. Tents were seized, move-on notices issued and concrete barricades were erected at the car park entrance to try to deliver a terminal blow to the Matagarup Refugee Camp as the encampment is known. ... As on previous raids, there was no regard for the fact that Matagarup is a recognised and registered heritage site where cultural activities - including camping - are permitted. The welcome extended by the Matagarup community was trampled on by police and council. ... " Alex Bainbridge, Perth

"Please share this meme about the raid to support this campaign."
https://www.facebook.com/SocialistAllianceWA/photos/a.780713892019577.10...

- Bio

Alex Bainbridge - Green Left Weekly
https://www.greenleft.org.au/taxonomy/term/413
"Alex Bainbridge has been a socialist activist since 1990 when he first joined Resistance and then the Democratic Socialist Party. He was a founding member of the Socialist Alliance in 2001. His wide involvement in activist campaigns includes roles as media spokesperson for the 2007 "Stop Bush" protest of the Sydney APEC summit and for the 2011 CHOGM protest in Perth."

- News Analysis

Sydney Morning Herald: Police remove Heirisson Island Aboriginal protesters in dawn raid
http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/police-remove-heirisson-island-aboriginal-...
18 Jun 15: "... In a military-style operation, officers flanked by City of Perth rangers swept the camp site, taking down tents, dumping mattresses and belongings into bins in an attempt to move on protestors who had set up camp in response to the WA Government's plans to close remote communities in the state's north-west. ... Bella Bropho said she was disappointed to see such a beefed-up police presence. "I told Gary Stevenson (City of Perth CEO) this is only going to get worse, because karma always comes to you," she said. "There is always the next day. We will never get off this island. "They can keep coming in and take the tents, but we will stay here." ... " Brendan Foster

- Photo

Heirisson Island Matargarup First Nations Refugee Camp, facebook
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1632751806939151&set=a.139856204...
"Loma said it was like a horror movie with all the vehicles driving in with lights glaring,then lining up. They took everything, including food. The toilets were locked and water cut off."
- Witness to the 5th City of Perth led riot police raid of the Heirisson Island Matargarup First Nations Refugee Camp. 18th of June, 2015.

- Background

WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA (and NT?)
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/08/background-plans-to-close-aboriginal...
(last updated: 21 June 2015)

WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-to-the-aboriginal-so...
(last updated: 20 June 2015)

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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