Western Mining present eviction notice to Arabunna

Western Mining present eviction notice to Arabunna

ADELAIDE — Western Mining Corporation has handed an eviction notice
to Arabunna traditional landowners camped near Lake Eyre in protest at
the company's uranium mining operations on their land.

The June 15 notice is WMC's second attempt to evict the Arabunna Going
Home camp and states that the company “considers that your activities could
not amount to 'following the traditional pursuits of the Aboriginal people'.”

In reply, the Arabunna's legal adviser Leonard Lindon noted that the
Lake Eyre camp was taking place at the invitation of Arabunna elder Kevin
Buzzacott, and that WMC had itself been served with notice to quit by the
traditional owners of its land.

WMC's eviction notice preempts a hearing due to take place in the High
Court on August 4 on whether the company's actions constitute genocide
against the Arabunna people.

Buzzacott said “WMC and the federal and state governments need to be
charged with theft and genocide. These people have no jurisdiction under
Arabunna law. Their way of operating is part of the continued war on the
indigenous people of this country for the past 212 years.”

Five days earlier, Buzzacott and other elders had commenced a long walk,
carrying a sacred peace fire from Lake Eyre South to Sydney for the Olympic
Games.

Activists say they will maintain the camp at Lake Eyre South despite
the threats from WMC.

From GLW issue 409