An Indymedia photographer was allegedly assaulted at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra and his equipment smashed in front of numerous witnesses. The incident happened on the night of 27 January 2012, that is, following Invasion Day.
The Perth based Indymedia photographer travelled at his own expenses to Canberra in order to document the 40th Anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.
In the past, the photographer covered numerous Aboriginal events and protests, including Sorry Day, NAIDOC, Deaths in Custody, John Pat’s Memorial Day and an extensive campaign for Mr Ward – an Aboriginal Elder who was “cooked to death” while being under Western Australia Police’s (WAPOL’s) custody. The photographer is supportive of the Swan Valley Nyungah Community (SVNC) -- an Aboriginal Community of WA whose land had been invaded and stolen. Since 2003, the SVNC has been living as homeless people in Western Australia, with two of its members dying on the streets.
The photographer had recently documented a 10-week Walk Against Uranium Mining in WA; and, also the funeral of an Aboriginal Elder whose hearse was ‘kidnapped’ for a while by WAPOL.
Therefore, prior to travelling to Canberra, the photographer contacted the Embassy in writing. In fact, Michael Anderson -- a surviving member of a group of four young Aboriginal activists who set up the Embassy in 1972 -- publishes extensively and regularly onto Indymedia. Thus, special permission was granted to the photographer soon after his arrival at the Embassy on Tuesday, 24 February 2012.
On Friday, 27 January 2012, the photographer was invited to take the pictures of people who were helping at the Embassy’s kitchen (see photos).
It was, at that moment, that, an individual who was unknown to the photographer intervened. The individual in question wanted his picture to be taken. The photographer took his picture and showed it to him. Then, the photographer engaged himself in a friendly conversation with some kitchen-hands. He requested and obtained their verbal permission.
However, the individual in question intervened again and alluded to the photographer being a ‘terrorist.’ He ordered, “Give me your camera.” He held the photographer’s arm and forcibly removed the equipment from the photographer’s hands. He fiddled with it pretending to locate the camera functions. Then, he threw the camera (equipped with flash) over his shoulders and moved away – without anyone doing anything!
For the record, prior to ‘Invasion Day,’ Indymedia had published a media statement from Michael Anderson concerning alleged threats made to his life and to the Embassy. Also, on the eve of Invasion day, two individuals had allegedly issued verbal ‘warning’ against the members of the Embassy.
At this stage, it is not yet known whether or not the individual who smashed Indymedia photographer’s equipment acted alone or on behalf of any particular group.
The photographic equipment worth about A$ 9,000 was not insured.
Comments
Hope you have your stuff returned by the individual
sorry to hear that desiree, hope you have your stuff returned by the individual, whoever he is ? he should know better !
The best Survival Day at The Tent Embassy I have ever been to
I have only just heard the full story about the incident, last week (start of March), being off duty/asleep from the The Chai Tent kitchen, when the it happened,(possible because we had so many volunteers, like the Chai Tent's early days 31 years ago). The Chai Tent is a community Service funded by the sale of Chai, Cake and Food, and Volunteers.
I got up to commence the Night Shift (cleaning and food prep) and heard a vague mention about (..the scuffle with a camera), but as these Chai Tent core crew folk were tired and heading off to sleep, I never really understood what had happened.
Last week, Julia and I managed to get to get together by chance for a coffee, and I finally learnt about who and what ... ! I am shocked !
I had been wishing I had got more of a contact for Desiree, ('tho I had asked his name and where he was from [Indymedia]) ....my internet connection has been down due to floods when we got back from Canberra, and then a thunderstorm ?? for most of February, so I have not had the online time to get much done.
I shall now be able to email Desiree personally, thanks to the photo credits in here. To thank him for the incredible job he appeared to be doing .... I would love to see his pictorial coverage of the 3 day Corroboree, as I missed most of what happened being a chai tent co-ordinator/supervisor .....flat out from the second I arrived on the Wednesday morning.
Got out of the van and walked into a partially set up Kitchen and was serving and attempting to find things for other people asap, hehe that's the way the Chai Tent flowingly works.
And I would love to see any, and all photos of the volunteers working in the Chai Tent Kitchen, as we had the most Volunteers ever in the history of the Chai Tent and I cannot remember/know all the names let alone the faces of them all. Thank you to everyone who came and offered their time and energy and fast learning skills. We could not have coped without you.
More importantly I would like to publicly thank Shahnaz, Julia des Brosses, and Binnah Powell, who really 'Held 'the Fort/Tent ' for much of the time, co-ordinating the many volunteers, when Michael Jack was busy elsewhere, and Liffy and I were resting, (age and hospital recovery)
The Chai tent also received some 'unpleasant unwelcomed rude behavior' after the event.
At an event like a 3 Day Coroboree, it take a few days to get set up beforehand. Likewise it takes a few days to clean up and pack it all up. We had, at a rough estimate, 11 or 12 different work stations in the kitchen !
Also, after an event like that, the Chai Tent continues to prepare food for those still there on 'the day after', others working on clean up day, those packing up their camps etc and is still in a working set up .... albeit at a more relaxed pace, and with various clean up processes in process.
It can't just, 'click the fingers', and vanish! We need a 'bit' of rest before commencing the massive job of 'pack up'.
Late afternoon on the Sunday, we had a very irate young man picking up anything he could find, on the outskirts of the marquees, and angrily throwing them in towards us, with the implication that we weren't packing up fast enough!
I let him vent his anger, until he threw stuff right beside my 82 year old mother Liffy! I followed him with some cups and bowls from one of the 'chat' tables, to our wash up area, and asked for a bit of Respect.
At his response, I flicked the water from one of the cups I was holding, and splashed him with some cold water, to 'cool him down' ...... he raised his fist threatening, "D'you wanna hit??" .... "No" says I, opening my one arm not filled with clearing up things, ... " I want a hug" ...
He asked again... I replied the same, and he walked off.
Apparently he found an old soft orange on the ground on his way, 40 metres out, he turned, and unbeknownst to me, aimed it at my head.
I saw the faces of three women near me, and turned and raised my hand just as an orange appeared, and was deflected off the side of my palm !
"I 'Know' how to 'Deflect' ", I called out, ....... and 'tho he continued behaving rudely, he wasn't as blatant as before.
This was not the only incident I witnessed toward me(?), The Chai Tent(?) or 'the whiteys' (?) , with the feeling " What are you still doing here?"
All I can say is we were there by invitation, to enable approx. 1500 meals a day to be served. To do the behind the scenes stuff, so that the (ab)Originees could get on with the 'Important Stuff'. Which is by and large what was able to happen.
Despite a couple of 'incidents' (particularly the 'Great Shoe Interruption", the 3 Day Corroboree, was the best Survival Day at The Tent Embassy I have ever been to !!
The amount of cross-country Networking that was possible, was uplifting to be witness to. (As seen from behind the servery).
I congratulate the organisers for doing a fabulous job.
And just putting it out there...... if anyone knows anyone with money to donate to worthy causes ??? ..... The 'Original' Rainbow Chai Tent, is desperately in need of large support.
It is and has been, currently funded by Michael Jack's hard work, blood, sweat and tears, and a small support crew of family and friends.
'Tears of Frustration', that the small box trailer that he has, needs a Jigsaw-like packing to fit everything in, and that he had to leave out a vital piece of equipment as it wouldn't fit in. (Luckily Liffy and I were able to include a 4 hour drive to collect it before heading down to Canberra, after a phone call from Michael)
He has designed a more efficient and practical sized set up, but with today's rising costs, it is way beyond his non-existent bank balance.
Our Community Rainbow Tent, is nearly 26 years old, the canvas is wearing out and is not very waterproof anymore. So we also need a new one made, (this is being discussed with a local canvas worker, but I am unsure what it will cost in today's prices.)
The Chai Tent, since it's inception 31 years ago has been a community service, with people paying a small amount to kick off the 'float' to fund the purchase of ingredients, in return for food and chai during the event. They worked, setting up cooking , serving, washing up, packing up.... etc etc.
It has survived over the years, attending and serving lovingly made food and drinks at many community events and festivals, for both white and black communities.
We inspired so many other people to make chai tents/kithchens, that for many years up in the Northern Rivers,NSW where we are now based, we have rarely been invited to 'do ' the Chai at so many 'gigs', missing out on the much needed financial profit, so needed, to grow, and keep well maintained.
So please have a think, and if you know someone wishing to financially support a very worthy, endangered community facility , please get in touch via michael@rainbowchaitent.com