A different view.

[Jocasta]

We all know Australia, the kangaroos, the outback, the Great Barrier Reef but half way through this travel show following the Tropic of Capricorn we get to see a side of the continent I and I expect many others, have never seen.
I knew about the problems faced by the indigenous people but I was shocked to see how they're expected to live just a few hundred meters from the famous Uluru landmark and the rich tourists who visit.

Watch the programme (available for the next 6 days only) here on bbc iplayer.

If you want information on Mutitjulu don't bother with wikipedia, this is the laughable entry;

"Much of the economy of Mutitjulu comes from tourism at Uluru and nearby Yulara, a proportion of which is funnelled back to the local economy. As a result, Mutitjulu is much wealthier than most other Indigenous Australian communities."

No mention of the incredible child abuse allegations or the terrible poverty.

[MSFixR]

The program can't be viewed outside of the UK, Jocasta.
http://iplayersupport.external.bbc.c...php?p_faqid=28

[Jocasta]

Originally Posted by MSFixR

The program can't be viewed outside of the UK, Jocasta.

Ok thanks Fixr, that's a shame. It's worth looking out for the episode if you can.

[Jocasta]

You could read this report on the military intervention instead then, if you want.


Mutitjulu leaders question need for 'occupation'.

June 25, 2007

The remote town set to receive the first police and troops under the federal government's radical Northern Territory indigenous abuse plan has questioned the need for the "military occupation".

Mutitjulu community leaders Bob and Dorothea Randall today issued a statement in which they also said the women and children of their community were frightened of being forced to undergo medical checks.

The government last week seized control of 60 NT Aboriginal communities, including Mutitjulu, as Prime Minister John Howard declared the problem of child abuse a "national emergency".

The intervention, which involves bans on alcohol and hardcore pornography, welfare restrictions, increases in police numbers and compulsory health checks for Aboriginal children, followed the release of a damning report on the abuse of youngsters in the region.

The government hopes police, sourced from states and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), will be on the ground, supported logistically by the military, within a week.

Mutitjulu is expected to be one of the first communities police enter.

The Randalls said police and military intervention was fine for logistics and coordination but healthcare, youth services, education and basic housing were more essential.

"Where is the money for all the essential services?" they asked.

"We need long term financial and political commitment to provide the infrastructure and planning for our community.

"There is an urgent need for tens of millions of dollars to do what needs to be done.

"Will (Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal) Mr Brough give us a commitment beyond the police and military?

"The commonwealth needs to work with us to put health and social services, housing and education in place rather than treating Mutitjulu as a political football."

The Randalls said trust had to be built with the community before people were forced to undergo medical examinations.

"Even the doctors say they are reluctant to examine a young child without a parent's permission," they said.

"Of course any child that is vulnerable or at risk should be immediately protected but a wholesale intrusion into our women and children's privacy is a violation of our human and sacred rights."

The Randalls also questioned why it had taken so long for drastic action when the community had been in dire need of help for years.

They asked the government to clarify how it proposed to enforce an alcohol ban when there was a five star hotel 20 minutes from the town.

"We have been begging for an alcohol counsellor and a rehabilitation worker so that we can help alcoholics and substance abusers but those pleas have been ignored," they said.

"What will happen to alcoholics when this ban is introduced?

"How will the government keep the grog runners out of our community without a permit system?"

They said the community had gone backwards in terms of services since Mr Brough became minister.

Community member Mario Giuseppe said police officers were scheduled to hold a meeting at Mutitjulu on Wednesday.

"This community is in terror. I thought the government was here to protect the women and children and they are scaring the living daylights out of them," he told the ABC.

"This is bringing back a lot of memories and opening a lot of scars for these old people here; they are running to the hills and hiding."

Women feared that police were being sent to the community to take away their children, he said.

"They think the army is coming to grab their kids and the police are coming to help them," Mr Giuseppe said.

"The women and the kids are scared and they are running to the sand hills."

Mutitjulu elder Vince Forrester said he was worried for the safety of the women and children during the cold desert nights.

"You don't bring an army into a community. This is intimidation of the Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory," he said.

Source.

[MSFixR]

Is this an election year in Australia?

[Jocasta]

You cynic. I have no idea.

[MSFixR]

Politicians all come from the same mold.

[MissyO]

Originally Posted by MSFixR

Is this an election year in Australia?

Yep. That story was written just before last years election. Well spotted, Fixr.

[Jocasta]

So we should dismiss the whole thing? Very cynical.

[Captain Beefheart]

Indigenous people are marginalized in pretty much any part of the world. In America("native americans"), in latin/South america "indios", have pretty much either been exterminated literally or marginalized beyond public light. Hell mexicans are probably the most unnasuming when it comes to their roots and heritage, and it's a historical fact they are mixed, yet most would deny it. I think that since education is predominantly controlled in some way or another by the Catholic Church (in South America anyways), they try to find a way to downplay all the horrors they put most indigenous people went through, and the way they do this is by almost portraying the Indians as uncivilized peoples, and presumably that line of stereotype has been handed down from generations on end

Only country I can think of where they have a voice is Bolivia, that's about it.

[Jocasta]

Indigenous people are marginalized in pretty much any part of the world.

Yes, very true to differing degrees, (what's surprising is to see it continuing). Celts would concur with that in Britain's case too.

[Captain Beefheart]

When all of Europe's "empires"(England, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Belgian) have colonized, eradicated, polarised half of the world, would you expect less? In the three largest countries with immigrants primarily from Europe, the majority of "argentineans" are not decended from Spain, the majority of "brazilians" are not decended from Portugal, and the majority of North Americans are not decended from England. Still, that small oligarchy from each of those respective countries are running the show, and have been for centuries, and have violated all types of human rights to maintain that control. They have managed somehow to convince people that they should be proud of their heritage and the color of their skin, when in fact most of them are actually mestizo or mulato, mixed(it's particularly true in countries where openly admitting to having African or Indigenous blood carries an ugly stigma, Peru and Ecuador are good examples) and they get a rude awakening and reception when they reach Europe or the United States.

As for Australia's case, I suspect a large part plays in their isolation in regards to the rest of the globe.

[Jocasta]

India makes an interesting case; it's indigenous people are still it's majority and it's leaders, as far as I'm aware but maybe I'm not going back far enough?

[Captain Beefheart]

Because the british empire was the not only the fairest of them all but also due to their geographical postion, the hardest territory to fight and conquer(if Philip wasn't such a moron you'd be addressing me as sir today, but you already call me Don so that's alright too)

Question and I don't mean to disrespect because i'm probably not as versed in Australian history as you are. Do the brits consider Australia a "pawn" in their expansionist empire?

[Jocasta]

(if Philip wasn't such a moron you'd be addressing me as sir today, but you already call me Don so that's alright too)

You know it, but not The Don.

Do the brits consider Australia a "pawn" in their expansionist empire?

You mean did they, there's not expanding these days. And was that as a nation or as a government? I guess so back then, in the days of the empire, yes.