Two ways of an Aboriginal protest
Aboriginal Tent Embassy - 06.04.2005 17:48
Two ways of telling an Aboriginal protest story:
The mainstream: AAP: Police remove man from Aboriginal tent embassy
The Aboriginal group: BRUTAL SEIZURE of KEVIN BUZZACOTT from ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY
This is about a court case over the "theft" of a brass kangaroo and emu from a crest at the old Australian parliament building.
AAP: Police remove man from Aboriginal tent embassy
About 15 police armed with a warrant last night forcibly removed a man
from the Aboriginal tent embassy in Canberra during a rowdy
confrontation with about 40 indigenous residents.
Police eventually took the man in a caged vehicle to the police
watchhouse where he was to spend the night.
Kevin Buzzacott, 58, an Aboriginal elder from South Australia, has
been charged with stealing the coat of arms three years ago during a
protest to mark the 30th anniversary of the Aboriginal tent embassy,
situated on the lawns of Old Parliament House.
He attended his ACT Supreme Court trial yesterday morning but failed
to reappear after the lunchtime adjournment.
Justice Terry Connelly issued a warrant for Buzzacott's arrest and
police presented him the document at the tent embassy about 4.30pm.
But Buzzacott refused to co-operate, causing noisy scenes among the
40 or so residents of the tent embassy, who became increasingly
boisterous with some yelling abuse at police.
"ACT policing attempted to co-operatively negotiate over several hours
the execution of the arrest warrant for the wanted man," an Australian
Federal Police spokesman said.
"Unfortunately minimal force had to be used in the end to take the man
into custody."
No arrests were made but police had to remove a resident from under
the police van transporting Buzzacott.
AAP
 http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/04/05/1112489489957.html
MEDIA ALERT 5 APRIL 2005
AFP BRUTAL SEIZURE of KEVIN BUZZACOTT from ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY
on Day Six of the Emu and Kangaroo case [Regina v Buzzacott SCC 72 of 2004]
After leaving the Supreme Court at lunchtime, Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, 57, Arabunna Elder, had returned to the Fire for Peace and Justice at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy for his own healing. He remained at the Fire until he was removed by force.
Uncle Kevin suffering from the effects of ill health was brutally seized in a military style operation involving over thirty Australian Federal Police (AFP) including a number of members of the Tactical Response Group (TRG). After waiting several hours for the cover of darkness, the AFP a executed a bench warrant from Justice Connolly of the ACT Supreme Court, issued at 3pm today after Uncle Kevin was unable to return to the court due to illness.
Australian Federal Police on site stated that Uncle Kevin could be accompanied at all times by a companion from the Embassy, but once in police custody the City Watch House sergent refused to abide by the previous assurance given, disregarding Uncle Kevin's safety and the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Recommendation 144.
Uncle Kevin is being held in a holding cell at the City Watch House until 10am tomorrow, when court proceedings recommence and closing arguments will be heard by the jury.
Contact: 0421 795 639
[For background see below and www.aboriginalgenocide.com.au]
BACKGROUND Emu and Kangaroo case - Regina v Buzzacott [SCC 72 of 2004]
Uncle Kevin Buzzacott is accused of theft of Commonwealth property for
reclaiming the sacred totems of Emu and Kangaroo from the Australian
coat
of arms on 27 January 2002. The charge carries a maximum of seven years
jail.
The trial hinges on the intent behind the removal of the bronze Emu and
Kangaroo from the western pillar outside old Parliament House. In
defence,
Uncle Kevin asserts he reclaims the Emu and Kangaroo to protect his
Peoples’ ancient Law/Lore and cultural obligations from further abuse.
On
the other hand, the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), prosecutor
for
the Queen, the Crown, Mr White, accuses Mr Buzzacott of theft of a
material bronze emblem belonging to the Crown.
During the trial last Friday Mr Lindon, barrister for the defence
called
on the subpoena to the Commonwealth of Australia, c/o Phillip Ruddock,
Attorney-General of Australia, to produce all documents relating to the
consent by Aboriginal Peoples for the Crown to own, manage or use the
Emu
and Kangaroo as well as “any and every document evidencing the express
and
specific informed and uncoerced consent of Arabunna or any original
peoples of geographic Australia to the usurpation of Arabunna law or
the
laws of any original peoples of geographic Australia.”
Prosecutor, Mr White, replied: “Nothing to produce” to all requests,
even
the request for “any document concerning the grant of a “coat of arms”
containing the Kangaroo and Emu.”
Uncle Kevin remarked: “My main concern is when Aboriginal Peoples’
culture will be respected and when will the ‘scene of the crime’, the
Aboriginal Tent Embassy also be respected.”
MEDIA ALERT 5 APRIL 2005
AFP BRUTAL SEIZURE of KEVIN BUZZACOTT from ABORIGINAL TENT EMBASSY
on Day Six of the Emu and Kangaroo case [Regina v Buzzacott SCC 72 of 2004]
After leaving the Supreme Court at lunchtime, Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, 57, Arabunna Elder, had returned to the Fire for Peace and Justice at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy for his own healing. He remained at the Fire until he was removed by force.
Uncle Kevin suffering from the effects of ill health was brutally seized in a military style operation involving over thirty Australian Federal Police (AFP) including a number of members of the Tactical Response Group (TRG). After waiting several hours for the cover of darkness, the AFP a executed a bench warrant from Justice Connolly of the ACT Supreme Court, issued at 3pm today after Uncle Kevin was unable to return to the court due to illness.
Australian Federal Police on site stated that Uncle Kevin could be accompanied at all times by a companion from the Embassy, but once in police custody the City Watch House sergent refused to abide by the previous assurance given, disregarding Uncle Kevin's safety and the Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Recommendation 144.
Uncle Kevin is being held in a holding cell at the City Watch House until 10am tomorrow, when court proceedings recommence and closing arguments will be heard by the jury.
Contact: 0421 795 639
[For background see below and www.aboriginalgenocide.com.au]
BACKGROUND Emu and Kangaroo case - Regina v Buzzacott [SCC 72 of 2004]
Uncle Kevin Buzzacott is accused of theft of Commonwealth property for
reclaiming the sacred totems of Emu and Kangaroo from the Australian
coat
of arms on 27 January 2002. The charge carries a maximum of seven years
jail.
The trial hinges on the intent behind the removal of the bronze Emu and
Kangaroo from the western pillar outside old Parliament House. In
defence,
Uncle Kevin asserts he reclaims the Emu and Kangaroo to protect his
Peoples’ ancient Law/Lore and cultural obligations from further abuse.
On
the other hand, the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), prosecutor
for
the Queen, the Crown, Mr White, accuses Mr Buzzacott of theft of a
material bronze emblem belonging to the Crown.
During the trial last Friday Mr Lindon, barrister for the defence
called
on the subpoena to the Commonwealth of Australia, c/o Phillip Ruddock,
Attorney-General of Australia, to produce all documents relating to the
consent by Aboriginal Peoples for the Crown to own, manage or use the
Emu
and Kangaroo as well as “any and every document evidencing the express
and
specific informed and uncoerced consent of Arabunna or any original
peoples of geographic Australia to the usurpation of Arabunna law or
the
laws of any original peoples of geographic Australia.”
Prosecutor, Mr White, replied: “Nothing to produce” to all requests,
even
the request for “any document concerning the grant of a “coat of arms”
containing the Kangaroo and Emu.”
Uncle Kevin remarked: “My main concern is when Aboriginal Peoples’
culture will be respected and when will the ‘scene of the crime’, the
Aboriginal Tent Embassy also be respected.”
MEDIA CALL:
10am 7 April 2005
by Kevin Buzzacott,
at Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Canberra
Kevin Buzzacott given good behaviour bond
in Emu and Kangaroo case [Regina v Buzzacott SCC 72 of 2004]
Uncle Kevin Buzzacott, Arabunna Elder and traditional owner of Lake Eyre has just returned to the Aboriginal Embassy Fire, where he is continuing his healing after the Tactical Response Group (TRG) brutally removed him last night.
Tonight the jury brought down a guilty verdict and Justice Connolly formally convicted Uncle Kevin, but brought down a minimal sentence of a one year good behaviour bond and refused prosecutor Jonathan White's request for a fine of $5800 to replace the bronze coat of arms. Justice Connolly argued that Uncle Kevin had treated it very carefully and did not have to pay for the replacement.
Justice Connolly stressed that Uncle Kevin was an honorable man and commended his work for his people.
Barrister, Len Lindon, said they will appeal the decision to the High Court.
Contact: 0061 (0) 421 795 639
 E-Mail: savelakecowal@yahoo.com
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