A letter from Deni Langman, a traditional owner of Uluru, to the politicians of Australia about the Stronger Futures legislation being discussed in the Senate and read out in full tonight at the onset.
Palya Everyone, I never thought I would be so affected by this statement from Rosalie and Djiniyini. It is like having everything I dreamed of disappearing from my sight.
I am so upset at this happening to us and after all the hard work we have put into trying to stop the Stolen Futures Legislation getting passed in Parliament and becoming Law.
I don't know yet if it has been voted on in the Senate, but when I think of politicians in Canberra, who never bothered to get to know First Nations People or understand our Culture and simply don't care that we are human beings as they are, it makes me very sad and my heart aches for all those who have never known freedom in their lives and the deaths of the children who saw nothing but despair in their future lives and ended it with a rope or other form of suicide, I can only cry from the pain they felt and the hopelessness they looked forward to.
I can only ask those politicians who don't care for their fellow human beings;
"Do you feel good about what you are doing to the First Nations People today?"
"Does this power you have over our lives make you a better person?"
But most importantly, "Will you tell your grandchildren, what you did to the First Nations People this day and how you destroyed the lives of so many First Nations People and caused their deaths prematurely?"
"Will you have the guts to admit what you have done, to your granchildren, or will you hide this truth from them when they ask you, that question of curiosity".
"Who were the First Australians in this Land?"
"Will you feel the shame of Generations of First Nations People being trampled underfoot by your political policy of Racism and Discrimination and greed and how you used your power to keep them forcibly shackled to a yard or fenced in area away from their Country and Communities, all because you wanted their wealth in their Land ownership?"
That wealth you will never know!
I wonder how you will tell your grandchildren these atrocities you did to the First Nations People.
If you will tell the truth to them.
If you will finally say you are sorry for what you did and mean it.
If you will shed a tear for the People who only wanted to live their old age in freedom on their Traditional Lands and teach THEIR grandchildren the wealth of knowledge they had.
These beautiful People are no longer with us now. They died of broken hearts and Stolen Dreams by politicians who never cared to treat us like human beings.
You will have to look into your grandchild's eyes and see the emptiness they feel of losing such a wonderful Heritage and Culture forever, for your greed.
DENI Langman
Traditional Owner of Uluru
Stronger Futures is a “war on democracy”: Gondarra
A respected Yolngu leader has slammed both major parties for passing the Stronger Futures laws, stating they have both “stolen the authority and responsibility of Aboriginal people” and started a “war on democracy”.
The Stronger Futures laws, which extend and expand many aspects of the NT intervention, were passed in the Senate early this morning, following a marathon debate surrounding the asylum seeker crisis.
The laws have been subject to strong opposition campaign from civil, human rights and Aboriginal organisations.
The Greens were the only party to oppose the legislation.
The laws were amended to reduce the review period from seven to three years. But attempts to cut the sunset clause from 10 years to five were defeated.
Stronger Futures was passed despite calls for the government to refer it to a parliamentary committee on human rights to scrutinize whether it complied with Australia’s international rights obligations.
Yolngu leader Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra today slammed the government and opposition, stating both could not be trusted.
He has labeled it a “war on democracy”.
“In this country we have a very poor understanding of democracy. Government is supposed to belong to the people and be for the people. But Aboriginal people will always be seen as second class citizens in this country,” Rev Gondarra told Tracker.
“The government has stolen the authority and responsibility from us. They’ve taken it from us without properly sitting down with us.
“They’ve taken away the leadership and responsibility just in the same way as at the time of invasion, when they stole our sovereignty.”
Rev Gondarra says today is a day of mourning and that both parties have lost the trust of Aboriginal people.
“There will be a lot of angry people, and not just Aboriginal people, but those who have fought for justice,” Rev Gondarra said.
“Aboriginal people will always oppose anything that comes from these two parties. We will not listen to them. Aboriginal people will not take and enter into negotiations with these two parties… we will only work with the independents and the Greens.”
Rev Gondarra said the Greens should be congratulated for standing up for the rights of Aboriginal people.
He says the fight will continue.
“I want to say thank you to the many Australians, black and white, those from the different sectors in government and in the church as well as the individuals that have walked with us.
“In my heart I say thank you for being with us. I encourage them to continue to fight with us, not to give up.
“Because this is very important. Democracy in this country must be seen as an authority. It must be practiced for all people, regardless fo whetehr we are black or white.”
The laws have also been condemned by the Executive Director of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, Sydney Archdiocese Graeme Mundine.
“This is a sad day for all Aboriginal people in Australia and it is a sad day for democracy,” Mr Mundine said.
“The Stronger Futures legislation has now passed through both Houses of Parliament despite comprehensive opposition from Northern Territory Aboriginal Nations, community groups, Churches, welfare groups and others.
“More than 43,000 people have signed a petition and more than 450 submissions were made to the Senate inquiry. International Human Rights bodies have criticized the legislation and countless letters have been sent to Parliamentarians.
“Most importantly, Aboriginal people have made it clear that issues can be better addressed through respectful partnerships rather than through racist and discriminatory legislation.
“Civil society has played its part in our democratic process, but Government and Opposition Parliamentarians have failed in their responsibilities.
“They have ignored the voice of the people and pushed their own ill-informed and racist agenda.
Amnesty International says the laws show the Gillard government’s “blatant disregard” for its human rights obligations.
“Rather than genuinely listening to and working with the communities affected, the government has simply pushed through laws that extend some of the punitive aspects of the Intervention, such as linking school attendance with welfare payments,” Monica Morgan, Manager of Amnesty International’s Indigenous Rights Program said.
“It is difficult to imagine how these policies can work when there are such strong feelings of continued mistrust amongst the affected communities.
“Aboriginal Peoples in remote communities deserve the same respect, safety and protection as does any Australian – but this will not be achieved in a sustained manner under Stronger Futures.
“By not subjecting the Bills to scrutiny under the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, the government has missed its opportunity to respect the rights of Aboriginal Peoples in the NT, leaving the people who will bear the brunt of these policies under continued Government control for the next decade.”