tasmedia.org

Support swells for Convergence on Canberra against the NT intervention on the opening day of parliament.

MEDIA RELEASE: 31/1/08 for immediate release.

The Convergence on Canberra on Feb 12 against the Northern Territory intervention and for Aboriginal Rights is gaining significant momentum. Recent endorsements include the NSW Reconciliation Council, the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, NSW Teacher's Federation, GetUp! and Amnesty International.

On the day before Kevin Rudd will say "sorry" to the stolen generations, the Convergence will stand against the continuing racism and paternalism underlying policy being rolled out in the NT.

More than 50 people from communities affected by the intervention will travel from the NT to rally with supporters and put their demand on the new government for immediate review of the policy and an end to punitive measures such as welfare quarantining and compulsory land acquisition.

"The Howard Government's intervention was an attack on fundamental human rights", said Greg Eatock from the Aboriginal Rights Coalition, the group who initiated the Convergence.

"On February 13 the Federal government will be saying 'sorry' to the stolen generations. But they are presiding over the implementation of a policy which is causing similar dispossession and suffering across the NT."

"We acknowledge the gesture of an apology as a step in the right direction the Government needs to give substance to its words through appropriate compensation.

"We stand alongside the stolen generations, but Rudd must act now. We don't want to be asking for another apology in twenty years for the people whose communities are being shut down and family lives torn apart by this intervention", concluded Eatock.

Barbara Shaw, from the Mt Nancy town camp in Alice Springs has been organising a bus for community leaders in affected communities to travel to Canberra for the rally. Her welfare is currently being "quarantined" under the intervention legislation.

"Centrelink is never organised to get our food vouchers in on time. We went the long weekend without food, I was lucky to get a donation of cold meet from a journalist".

"People are being forced to work for their food vouchers. That's what Vincent Lingiari walked off the cattle stations for in the 60's. We need that kind of fight again".

"Centrelink is not providing proper services for remote communities, so people are being forced into town. Wallace rock-hole is shutting down, which community will be next?"

"Under Howard we have consistently put up programs, crying out for help, and always been knocked back. Labor must be different. We will travel to Canberra to join with our supporters and demand change".

For further comment and information on the convergence contact:
Greg Eatock: 0432050240
Barb Shaw (NT): 0401291166

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Calling all Aboriginal people and supporters to converge on Canberra:
Stand up for Aboriginal rights on the first day of the new parliament.

Tuesday, February 12 2008
Meet Aboriginal Tent Embassy 11:30am
March to Parliament for 1pm rally

Turn back Howard and Brough's racist legacy!

- Reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act
- Demand immediate review of the NT intervention
- End welfare quarantines, compulsory land acquisition and 'mission manager' powers
- Implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal People
- Aboriginal control of Aboriginal affairs

Endorsements from Aboriginal activists include:
Olga Havnen (Combined Aboriginal Organisations of the NT)
Barbara Shaw (Tangentyere council, Alice Springs)
Lez Malezer (Chairman, Global Indigenous People's Caucus UN,
Foundation Aboriginal Islander Rights Association)
Jaquie Katona (CEO of Lumbu Indigenous Community Foundation, Djok clan)
Michael Mansell (Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre)
Lowjita O'Donaghue
Sam Watson (Brisbane)
Dootch Kennedy (Sandon Point Aboriginal Embassy & Chair of Illawarra
Aboriginal Land Council)
Mitch (Eastern Arrernte/Luritja activist from Alice Springs)
Robbie Thorpe (Melbourne)
Phil Falk (Senior Lecturer School of Law, Griffith Uni, Wiradjuri nation)
Linda Murphy (Lecturer, School of Arts, Griffith Uni)
Sandra Phillips (QUT)
Nicole Watson (Jumbunna, Sydney)
Heidi Norman (UTS)
Victor Hardt (Oodgeroo, QUT)
Shane Phillips (Redfern)
Michael Anderson (co-founder, Aboriginal Tent Embassy)
Pastor Ray Minniecon, Crossroads Aboriginal Ministrises, Redfern.
Marbuk, Charlie Wilson (Barkendjh)
Peta Ridgeway (Newcastle)
Arthur Ridgeway (Newcastle)
Greg Eatock (Coordinator Deaths in Custody Campaign, Sydney)
Pat Eatock (Secretary, First Aboriginal Tent Embassy)
Tiga Bayles(Brisbane Indigenous Media Association )
Victor Hart (Oodgeroo Noonuccal Centre, Queensland Uni of Technology)
Larissa Behrendt (Jumbunna)
Linda Murphy (Lecturer School of Arts Griffith University)
Naomi Myers (CEO Aboriginal Medical Service)
Sol Bellear
Christopher Poulsen (Yuendumu)
Harry Nelson (Yuendumu community council)

Supportive Organisations include:
Women for Wik
Amnesty International
GetUp!
NSW Aboriginal Land Council
The NSW Reconciliation Council
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
Indigenous Social Justice Association
ReconciliACTION
Australians for Native Title and Reconcilliation (ANTaR SA)
The Australian Greens
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU NSW)
NSW Teachers Federation
The Maritime Union of Australia (NSW)
Top End Aboriginal Conservtaion Alliance (TEACA)
Aboriginal Rights Coalition (Sydney)
Intervention Reform Coalition (Darwin)
Intervention Rollback Working Group (Alice Springs)
Alliance for Indigenous Self Determination (Melbourne)
Working Group for Aboriginal Rights (Canberra)
Deaths in Custody Watch Committee (WA)
Australian Peace Committee (SA)

Read updates of Call Out & endorsements here:
http://www.tasmedia.org/node/1656

This item was posted by WGAR (Working Group for Aboriginal Rights). Email: wgar.news@gmail.com