Antinuclear

Aboriginals’ peaceful protest against extinguishment of native title in Western Australia

The deal, which the government hopes to conclude by the end of the year, would extinguish all future native title claims for the area

Ms Mackay said Mr Barnett was “a coward for running away from us”. “We are never violent. We come and we are loud, but we are peacefully loud,” she said. 

Protestors surround Barnett after ‘$1 billion native title whitewash’, SMH February 8, 2012 – Angry Aboriginal protesters have confronted West Australian Premier Colin Barnett in Perth, leading security officers to rush him to the safety of a waiting car.

The protesters delayed the premier’s departure from Fraser’s Restaurant in Kings Park on Wednesday after he addressed Noongar elders about a proposed $1 billion deal to settle native title claims in WA’s southwest.
In a scene reminiscent of the Aboriginal protest in Canberra on Australia Day, around 70 protesters waving placards and Aboriginal flags surrounded Fraser’s, demanding Mr Barnett come out and not hide inside….

No one was hurt in the jostling and police said no arrests were made.

Protesters carried a small tent labelled “Noongar Tent Embassy” which
they planned to set up at state parliament on Wednesday afternoon.
nside the venue, the premier had outlined to about 200 Noongar elders
his government’s proposed $1 billion deal for a final settlement of
native title claims in Perth and WA’s southwest with land transfers
and cash injections.

The deal, which the government hopes to conclude by the end of the
year, would extinguish all future native title claims for the area but
benefit an estimated 35,000 Noongar descendants…..

Noongar elder Richard Wilkes said he thought the deal would be illegal
and SWALSC was falsely representing Swan River people who didn’t agree
with it.

“This land up here belongs to the Swan River people and we speak for it.

“This is a whitewash with a billion dollars,” he said.

Mr Wilkes said his people would not give the land away for “chicken
feed” and would look at taking legal action against the deal….
Aboriginal activist Marianne Mackay was at Wednesday’s protest after
playing a prominent role in the Australia Day protest in Canberra in
which Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott
had to be rushed to safety from a restaurant.

Ms Mackay said Mr Barnett was “a coward for running away from us”.

“We are never violent. We come and we are loud, but we are peacefully
loud,” she said. : http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/protestors-surround-barnett-after-1-billion-native-title-whitewash-20120208-1rc8p.html#ixzz1lufTYBbn

February 9, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | aboriginal issues, Western Australia