Indigenous in Oz attack UK

Sydney – Hundreds of activists rallied in Australia yesterday to decry colonial Britain’s destructive impact on indigenous peoples on a public holiday to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Abolish the monarchy” demonstrators gathered in cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, protesting the persecution of indigenous people since the British landed in Australia more than two centuries ago.

In Sydney, scores of people marched through the streets.

“The monarchy needs to be aware that there’s unfinished business happening here in Australia,” said Gwenda Stanley, a 49-year-old activist of the indigenous Gomeroi people.

“The monarch is nothing to mourn about, it is something, if anything, for our people to rejoice,” she said, calling for the return of indigenous lands and restitution for “war crimes”.

“The monarchy needs to be abolished, it should have been many years ago,” said 24-year-old indigenous activist Paul Silva. “First nations people within Australia are still fighting for their traditional lands,” he added.

“We demand that they return those lands to the traditional owners.”

Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley said he recognised the concerns of the continent’s first inhabitants.