harrassment at Jaara Going Home Camp
by Jaara Going Home Camp Friday June 25, 2004 at 06:26 PM

Overt opposition to the Jaara Going Home Camp is increasing. Australian flags tied to revving utes, verbal abuse and threats of violence becoming more serious. We need safety in numbers. Get your butts up to Franklinford, show rednecks we have more fun.

MEDIA RELEASE
25TH JUNE 2004

DISGRUNTLED LOCALS HARRASS JAARA GOING HOME CAMP

"We're tired of being under this white law system, we're tired of our people dying, tired of the violence and the breakdown in our own law system and our land being destroyed, we're tired of being homeless in our own Country, that is why we're going home" Susan Rankin 2004.

Jaara descendant Susan Rankin has reclaimed her traditional sovereign rights to land. On Sorry Say, the 26th May 2004, a new Jaara 'Going Home' camp was established at the Franklinford Community Centre to highlight 'unfinished business' between the Australian governments and Aboriginal people. Franklinford (outside of Daylesford, Central Victoria) is part of the original Aboriginal Protectorate of the mid 1800s (see: http://www.country-liberal-party.com/pages/Jaara-Goin-Home-Camp.htm).

Like other Indigenous elders Australia wide, Susan Rankin is now asking the governments of today to fully recognise Jaara sovereignty or produce the formal written documents of consent to occupy Jaara Lands. The Department of Sustainability and Environment has already stated that they are not "in possession of any such documents, if indeed they exist".

It is this continual failure of Australian Governments to give proper and adequate recognition of Aboriginal Sovereignty that has meant Aboriginal people must take their own steps to ensure they can establish their own economic base and have access to their land, culture and places of spiritual importance. Franklinford is highly significant in all these aspects.

Despite the camp's continual reiteration that the issues raised are between Aboriginal people and Australian Governments, several locals have taken it upon themselves to try and close the camp through intimidation. Verbal abuse directed at camp residents, threats of violence and excessive drive-by surveillance have increased markedly in the last few days. The latest threat expressed today by an extremely agitated man was that 2000 "bikers" could be bought to the camp to have a "party".

The camp would like to emphasis that this is a peaceful non-violent direct action and the issues raised are of national and international significance. Aggressive actions by opposing individuals are being documented and add fuel to the camp's argument that a lot of education is needed to break down misunderstanding and racism between white and black communities. It is only thrugh actions such as the Jaara camp that these issues will be raised and addressed, so as to bring an end to divisive and bigoted attitudes and behaviour.

CONTACT

Susan Rankin
0431 143 065
malgoonanga@riseup.net

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