WA ’TENT EMBASSY' REMAINS DEFIANT

Cortlan Bennett February 19, 2012 - 8:19PM Advertisement Protesters at an Aboriginal "tent embassy" in Perth have vowed to defy authorities following an early morning police raid that led to angry scenes when vehicles and tents were removed. Police have warned they will return in force to the Heirisson Island site, on the central Swan River, if the protesters continue to camp there in breach of council by-laws. About 50 armed officers enforced a City of Perth notice on Sunday morning, ordering the removal of tents and cars from the public reserve. However, some protesters said they would re-erect their tents on the site, which they claim is sacred Aboriginal land. The "tent embassy" was set up earlier in the week in protest at the WA government's proposed $1 billion native title settlement deal with the Noongar people of the state's southwest. While the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, which officially represents traditional owners in the region, has agreed to the deal, some local Aboriginal groups have rejected it, saying they were not consulted. Police on Sunday claimed a "moral win" for their operation, which ended without violence, arrests or any charges. However, there were angry scenes when flatbed trucks arrived to load up protesters' cars and two columns of police marched in. Men, women and children protesters confronted the officers and hurled abuse, before eventually driving off. Inspector Bill Munnee later told reporters the protest "may escalate, it may not, but we are prepared to go back again". "What we didn't want was to have a tent embassy there for the next 40 years like in Canberra - that was never going to happen," he said. Insp Munnee said police were not trying to intimidate the protesters and had not sought a confrontation. "Our intent was always to let the City of Perth do their job and look for a peaceful resolution," he said. "We achieved that and we're very grateful. We respect everyone's right to protest peacefully." After the raid, about 60 protesters defiantly remained and declared they would stay at the site until the native title deal had been resolved. "This embassy will remain here," said Greg Martin, a spokesman for the protesters. "We have legal counsel, constitutional lawyers working on this case so we can assert our right to our land." Mr Martin said the protesters would be seeking an injunction this week to prevent further police and council action. "Our only means of expressing our objection (to the native title deal) is to get in people's faces and tell them this is our land," he said. City of Perth chief executive Frank Edwards said he was satisfied with the outcome of the operation but disappointed the protesters had not cooperated earlier. He said the protest was a matter outside the council's authority. This story was found at: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/wa-tent-embassy-remains-defiant-20120219-1tgr3.html