Cops extinguish Tent Embassy fire
By Kim Bullimore
and Paul Oboohov
CANBERRA — On February 8, elders and supporters from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy took their protest to the lawns of new Parliament House to coincide with the resumption of parliament. Aboriginal elders from across the nation, including Clarrie Isaacs and Joan Arnold, who was a defender of the original embassy in 1972, attended.
Ceremonial spears, saplings and embers from the "Fires of Justice and Peace", the camp fire that burns constantly at the Tent Embassy, were carried there.
Tent Embassy spokesperson, Isobel Coe, said members of the Tent Embassy went to express concern at the real "eyesore of our country" — the genocide of Aboriginal people, deaths in custody, the stolen generation and legislation which sanctions the dispossession and death of indigenous people. Coe explained that the new parliament building was built on top of an Aboriginal women's sacred site. Embers from the Fire of Justice and Peace were to be used to cleanse the site.
Commonwealth security officers attempted to remove the fire, saying that it was interfering with traffic. Police extinguished the fire at around 11pm that evening. Embassy members re-lit it.
On February 10, at about 8.30pm, 30 Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers again moved against the peaceful assembly. They removed 211 ceremonial sticks (representing 211 years of genocide) and again extinguished the ceremonial fire.
AFP officers said the National Capital Authority had classified the ceremonial sticks and fire as "structures" and that they had to be removed in a "reasonable time". Asked when was a reasonable time, they replied, "now".
Arabunna elder and Carrier of the Fire Dreaming, Kevin Buzzacott, denounced the desecration. "I want the world to know how the Australian government solves problems... I don't see them treating other embassies like this.
"Do they want peace or war? Why can't they come with an open heart and listen to what we are talking about, listen to the earth, listen to the cries and pleas of Aboriginal peoples."
Ray Swan, a member of the Tent Embassy, told Green Left Weekly that "the fire ceremony has called for Howard to come and listen to our deepest concerns regarding the continuing pre-meditated genocide against Aboriginal peoples. Instead Howard chooses to be aggressive ... the prime minister is denying us our basic human rights."
Labor opposition spokesperson for Aboriginal issues, Daryl Melham, met with members of the Tent Embassy on February 11. When asked to sign a treaty with the embassy, he said he did not have the power to sign. Melham called for a "guarantee of existence for the Tent Embassy".
Members of the Tent Embassy will continue their protest and rebuild the ceremonial fires. They have called for assistance from all people who can join them in Canberra. The Tent Embassy can be contacted on (02) 6273 7472 or (02) 6295 0493.