WGAR News: WA police dismantle tents at Heirisson Island Aboriginal protest: ABC NewsRadio's Tracey Holmes speaks to activist Gerry Georgatos

Newsletter date: 4 May 2015

Contents:

* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Perth City Council fob off Matargarup homeless & say they cannot help homeless

* News Analysis & Video: Rewa Harriman, Maori Television: Nyungah people remain steadfast despite police raids

* Audio Interview: ABC NewsRadio's Tracey Holmes speaks to activist Gerry Georgatis: WA police dismantle tents at Heirisson Island Aboriginal protest
* Video: 9 News Perth, YouTube: Show of Force
* Video & News Analysis: Deborah Dupre, Examiner: Australia apartheid: Secret war on Aborigines prompts global May Day protests
* News Analysis: ABC News: Arrests as police remove tents at Perth's Heirisson Island Aboriginal protest
* News Analysis: Steve Holland, SMH: Arrests as Indigenous protests continue on Heirisson Island
* News Analysis: Online News Team, Maori Television: Perth Police attempt to close down tent embassy on Heirisson Island
* News Analysis: NITV News: Protesters arrested as police close down Heirisson Island protest camp
* News Analysis: Eru Rerekura, Radio New Zealand News: Global Aboriginal rights protests
* Updates: The Stringer, facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheStringerNews

* Video: Jennifer Kaeshagen, facebook: "Elder Herbert Bropho today delivering a moving speech on the steps of WA Parliament at the rally to protect the Homelands."

* News Analysis: Chris Mason, The Stringer: Matargarup

* Analysis / Opinion: Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Beware the 'framing' of the conversation - 'consultation' is a dirty word - Don’t close any Homelands - end of story

* WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA
* WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement

WGAR News Public Google Group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en-GB#!forum/wgar-news
WGAR News - Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Perth City Council fob off Matargarup homeless & say they cannot help homeless
http://thestringer.com.au/perth-city-council-fob-off-matargarup-homeless...
3 May 15: " ... the Lord Mayor of the City of Perth will cut the red ribbon in Forrest Chase - in the heart of the CBD - and drop in a speech of how much more needs to be done for the homeless. Pretty rich for the City of Perth who do near next-to-nothing for the homeless. In fact some of us are of the view that they may do more damage. Recently, the City of Perth smashed a homeless friendly precinct, a safe space of 41 tents - moving on the homeless back to the congested alleyways, condemned squats, lonely outskirts of the city centre - exposing the homeless once again to not only the elements but vulnerable to all forms of violence. ... " By Gerry Georgatos

" - Declaration of impartiality conflict of interest - Gerry Georgatos, the writer of this article, and Jennifer Kaeshagen, producer and editor of The Stringer have been supporting the Matargarup refugee camp for the homeless. They have both met with Mr  Stevenson to discuss the ways forward for the Matargarup camp. Both are heavily involved in homelessness issues."

- News Analysis & Video

Maori Television: Nyungah people remain steadfast despite police raids
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/nyungah-people-remain-stead...
3 May 15: "Despite aggressive police raids on the Tent Embassy at Matagarup in Perth over the last few days, the Nyungah people are determined to stay on their land to protest against the planned closure of remote Aboriginal communities across Western Australia. Three arrests were made during the raids including elder Bella Bropho who has been at the camp from the beginning. ... Taniera Hawke is one of many who is helping the Nyungah people bring in donations from the Maori community but she says they're in desperate need of basic essentials ... " By Rewa Harriman

Rewa Harriman - Maori Television
http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/reporters/rewa-harriman
" ... After 7 years on the circuit and travelling to over 30 countries, she decided she was ready for the challenge of learning te reo Maori. She spent two years under Te Ataarangi which lead to her first job in Maori journalism at Radio Waatea in 2004. Rewa joined Te Kaea in 2010, firstly as a general reporter, ... "

- Audio Interview

ABC NewsRadio: WA police dismantle tents at Heirisson Island Aboriginal protest
http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/content/s4227198.htm
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/newsradio/audio/201504/r1419516_20399601.mp3
30 Apr 15: "Dozens of riot police and City of Perth rangers have dismantled an Aboriginal camp at Heirisson Island made up mostly of homeless people. Officers began dismantling the camp just after 11:00 am, pulling down tents and confiscating them as well as residents belongings. Move on notices have also been issued. ABC NewsRadio's Tracey Holmes speaks to activist Gerry Georgatis, who is a suicide prevention researcher and was at the camp when police arrived."

- Video

9 News Perth, YouTube: Show of Force
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Aup-Yg7jlo
30 Apr 15: "Another show of force on Heirisson island today as dozens of police again moved in to break up the protestors camp. Amid the angry clashes and arrests, accusations some officers were being heavy handed."

- Video & News Analysis

Examiner: Australia apartheid: Secret war on Aborigines prompts global May Day protests
http://www.examiner.com/article/australia-apartheid-secret-war-on-aborig...
1 May 15: "Hours before "SOSBlackAustralian" the start of global May Day protests to stop Australian governments' forced removals of Aborigines from hundreds of communities, police brutality fueled the already planned demonstrations. An early morning police raid shut down a community and arrested its three elders, a preview of Australia government's latest apartheid attack that is being condemned around the world as racial injustice. ... " Deborah Dupre, Human Rights Examiner

Deborah Dupre - Human Rights Examiner
http://www.examiner.com/human-rights-in-national/deborah-dupre
"Author, columnist and rights defender Deborah Dupre' holds American and Australian science and education graduate degrees plus thirty years human rights, environmental and peace activism. Ms. Dupré has led Indigenous Pacific Islander and Australian Aborigine research; has consulted for the UN and other NGOs, holds the pivotal role in 'FUEL'; and has authored over 50 print publications. ... "

- News Analysis

ABC News: Arrests as police remove tents at Perth's Heirisson Island Aboriginal protest
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-30/arrests-as-police-remove-tents-at-...
30 Apr 15: " ... Aboriginal elder Mingli Wanjurri Nungala said she was pushed hard by police. "We saw the police coming, there seemed to be 100 or more, all the vans came, and they came in riot stuff ... and they went to pull the tents down," she said. "One police woman was trying to push me away, and then suddenly, this big policeman came like a bull and grabbed me by my shoulder. "They're the violent ones, they are the criminals. "I don't want our people hurt, it's wrong. "This is our land - when I was a young girl I used to come prawning along here." ... "

- News Analysis

SMH: Arrests as Indigenous protests continue on Heirisson Island
http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/arrests-as-indigenous-protests-continue-on...
30 Apr 15: "Labor Senator Sue Lines said she noticed a heavy police presence at the island as she was driving past and decided to stop and take a closer look. "What I saw today was a massive number of police vehicles on Heirisson Island and as I was driving past I saw police walking and following some old people along the banks of the Swan River," she said. She said in a matter of minutes she witnessed police issue move on notices. "And they had arrested old people for not moving on," Ms Lines said. "Now that is a blatant misuse, in my view, of the intent of move on orders." ... " Steve Holland

- News Analysis

Maori Television: Perth Police attempt to close down tent embassy on Heirisson Island
https://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/perth-police-attempt-close...
1 May 15: "The occupants of the Tent Embassy on Heirisson Island were confronted by Police yesterday in a heated exchange which led to claims of excessive force used against one of the protestors. According to reports, 3 people were arrested in the encounter which included two elders and Police dismantled tents and removed equipment from the area. Occupants at the Tent Embassy have been there for months attempting to deal with their own land rights issues as well as protesting the closure of hundreds of remote Aboriginal Communities in Western Australia. ... " By Online News Team; Our Online News Team reports on the latest news stories at local, national and international levels.

- News Analysis

SBS News: Protesters arrested as police close down Heirisson Island protest camp
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/04/30/protesters-arrested-police...
30 Apr 15: " ... City of Perth chief executive Gary Stevenson claimed the Nyoongar protesters left the island some time ago and the remaining people are not associated with them. ... This was contradicted by activist Gerry Georgatos who told the ABC there were 100 people on the island including families. "This is an indictment on the city of Perth," he said. "Heirisson Island was a homeless friendly safe space. "There were 41 tents pitched there, there were a lot of large families who would otherwise be vulnerable on the streets." ... " By Source: NITV News

- News Analysis

Radio New Zealand News: Global Aboriginal rights protests
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/272595/global-aboriginal-ri...
1 May 15: "However, in Western Australia the scene wasn't as peaceful. Aboriginal rights campaigners clashed with police on Heirisson Island as officers moved in on a protest camp to issue eviction notices and arrested three Aboriginal elders. Among the hundreds at that protest camp were also a number of white Australians who accused the police of being heavy-handed. Protests have also been held in New Zealand, with around 100 people gathering in Dunedin this afternoon. ... " Eru Rerekura, Te Manu Korihi

- Updates

The Stringer, facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheStringerNews

- Video

Jennifer Kaeshagen, facebook
https://www.facebook.com/jenny.kaeshagen.9/videos/1617713411776324/
2 May 15: "Elder Herbert Bropho today delivering a moving speech on the steps of WA Parliament at the rally to protect the Homelands."

- News Analysis

The Stringer: Matargarup
http://thestringer.com.au/matargarup-10176
26 Apr 15: "The day is overcast and grey, the air humid and oppressive. The smell of smoke mixes with the thick air, making the atmosphere even heavier. The Noongar Elders gather around the fire they have built among the gum trees and talk. Some are "painted-up" in white, so that they appear ghost-like. The fire is the centre-point of a clearing surrounded by tents, Aboriginal flags and banners, camp chairs, tables and other camping equipment. It is the morning of Friday, March 13, 2015. The fire is sacred; ... " By Chris Mason

- Analysis / Opinion

The Stringer: Beware the 'framing' of the conversation - 'consultation' is a dirty word - Don’t close any Homelands - end of story
http://thestringer.com.au/beware-the-framing-of-the-conversation-consult...
26 Apr 15: "Far too many politicians, ‘leaders’ and commentators are carrying on about Governments needing to ‘consult’ with the ‘remote communities’ rather than just stating as it should be - ‘do not close any communities’. Throwing around the ‘consultation’ is dangerous because it buys into an argument that some Homelands and their communities should be closed. There should be no buy-in to this. ... " By Gerry Georgatos, a life-long human rights and social justice campaigner, a multi-award winning investigative journalist

- Background

WGAR Background: Plans to close Aboriginal homelands / remote communities in WA and SA
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/08/background-plans-to-close-aboriginal...
(last updated: 3 May 2015)

- Background

WGAR Background to the Aboriginal Sovereignty Movement
https://indymedia.org.au/2014/12/24/wgar-background-to-the-aboriginal-so...
(last updated: 2 May 2015)

- - -

WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)

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WGAR: Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Australia)