FED: Two arrested at tent embassy protest

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-1999
FED: Two arrested at tent embassy protest

CANBERRA, Feb 15 AAP - Two Aboriginal protesters have been arrested on the lawns outside
Parliament House, the Australian Federal Police said today.

The men were allegedly trying to stop police from removing ceremonial white spears which
the protesters say represent each year of genocide since white settlement.

Police moved in just after 4pm, removing the spears and extinguishing a ceremonial
cleansing fire.

The protesters vowed to relight the fire, which was extinguished in a similar raid last
Wednesday night, and keep it burning until Prime Minister John Howard came out to meet them.

"We want him to come to our ceremony, our fire, the fire for peace and justice, that's what
it's all about," tent embassy spokeswoman Isobel Coe told reporters.

"The fire hasn't been put out, the fire comes from the fire for justice which is burning at
the Aboriginal tent embassy.

"We'll be back, we're not going to give up and go away. We can't, we've got no other
choice."

The Aboriginal leaders said a meeting with Reconciliation Minister Philip Ruddock would not
be useful after the arrests.

"I think today they've just shown us what they're really like, what they're really on
about," Ms Coe said.

"They don't want to talk to us."

The protest began last week following speculation the government planned to clear the tent
embassy from its traditional site opposite Old Parliament House.

AAP sf/mfh/ms/de

KEYWORD: TENT ARRESTS

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