MEDIA
RELEASE
Kuradji
Tent Embassy under Firebomb Attack.
http://www.sandon-point.org.au
On
Sunday, 19 September 2004. at 4am, The Kuradji, Aboriginal Tent Embassy, Mc
Corley’s Beach between Thirroul and Bulli, North Wollongong, was fire
bombed. Residence of the embassy awoke to the heat from the bomb and evacuated
other residence. The fire first hit the South West of the embassy outside
of any fireplaces.
The
Kuradji Embassy was established three years and eight months ago, as direct
opposition to injustices to the local indigenous people. On a known burial
site, which dates back 6,000 years, the Department of Sustainability and Environment
have granted permission to Stockman’s Developers to establish a residential
development, Sandon Point. The Government body, DSE, has ignored its obligation
to Indigenous people and culture to protect the burial site under documents
outlines the governments commitment of ‘protection and preservation
of heritage’. Dootch a resident of the Kuradji embassy questions the
government’s role in implementing such legislation that has been blatantly
disregarded in protecting the burial site.
The night before the fire bomb attack, there was a benefit event held to raise
money for the Kuradji to aid in the legal battle over the burial site development.
The attack on Sunday morning is the forth attack on Aboriginal Tent Embassies
in the last 12 months. The other three have been attacks on the Canberra
tent embassy, which have destroyed the cultural centre
and personal tents. All of these attacks have happened in the cover of night,
when individuals have been sleeping… These attacks can only be seen
as attempted murder on Indigenous Australians.
Unlike the fire bomb attacks on the Canberra Embassy, the Kuradji Embassy
was totally destroyed, burning, court documents and paper work, history books,
peoples personal belongings, bedding, food, furniture and other resources.
Fortunately all residence escaped with their lives. Police investigators conceded
that the fire was suspicious due to the fact that it didn’t originate
from one of the fireplaces.
For
more information contact;
0413 736 742
(03) 426 81398
aboriginaltentembassy@planet-save.com
