First Nations activists have been arrested or prevented from handing an International Criminal Court notice of complicity in First People’s genocide to “King” Charles III during his visit to Ngunnawal/Canberra and Gadigal Country/Sydney.
Aboriginal Sovereign Embassy activist Uncle Wayne “Coco” Wharton was arrested on October 21 at the War Memorial in Ngunnawal at a peaceful protest to “Unwelcome the King”.
Uncle Coco, together with activist Lana Stoker, was trying to serve an arrest warrant for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
However, Uncle Coco was arrested on a public disorder charge, with a senior police officer saying she was concerned about an “escalation”, if he entered the War Memorial and expressed contrary views.
“I have been instructed to come here with the permission of the Ngunnawal people, and the authorisation of Ngunnawal people to do it,” Uncle Coco said. He was released at around 2pm.
Wharton also helped establish a peaceful protest camp in Victoria Park, a significant site of culture and resistance for First Nations communities, in Gadigal Country on October 18.
Aboriginal, Palestinian and West Papua flags were erected and discussions held between sovereign representatives, including from Kanaky.
Activists chanted “Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land” and “Not our king”, and held up banners saying “Empire built on genocide” and “Decolonise” on October 21, as Charles III was on his way to church.
Meanwhile, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe was prevented on October 21 from handing Charles III an International Criminal Court notice of complicity in First People’s genocide.
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She was removed from the parliamentary reception, after pointing out that the Crown stole from First Peoples.
Robert Thorpe, the Senator’s uncle, issued the same notice to the International Criminal Court on October 13, requesting Charles be charged and prosecuted for genocide.
Thorpe said: “The visit by the so-called King should be an occasion of Truth-telling about the true history of this country.
“Today I was silenced and removed from the parliamentary reception when pointing out that the Crown stole from First Peoples.”
“The truth is, this colony is built on stolen land, stolen wealth and stolen lives.”
She said she was threatened with arrest at the War Memorial for wearing a t-shirt that said “Stolen Land, Stolen Lives, Stolen Wealth”.
“The British Crown committed heinous crimes against the First Peoples of this country. These crimes include war crimes, crimes against humanity and failure to prevent genocide. There has been no justice for these crimes. The Crown must be held accountable.”