The Most Well Connected Poorman in America: Ampilatwaja continues protest; takes matters into own hands

LEFT: Community members at the Ampilatwaja protest site.

Ampilatwaja continues protest; takes matters into own hands
ISSUE 185. - 04 Sep 2009
By Amy McQuire
ISSUE 185, September 3, 2009: The residents of Ampilatwaja, who walked off their community more than a month ago in disgust over continual government neglect, have taken their fight to a higher power - the United Nations - in an appeal to grant them refugee status.
Ampilatwaja is a small community in the Utopia region, situated only three hours from the bustling tourist centre of Alice Springs, but barely noticeable on the map.
The community made headlines when residents staged a walk-off on July 14 and set up camp near an old bore in a protest against their living conditions, which included inadequate housing and raw sewerage that had seeped into the children's playground.
But more than a month on, there has been barely a peep from the Rudd government - except for a letter from Indigenous affairs minister Jenny Macklin and a scheduled round of intervention consultations.
Community spokesperson Richard Downs told NIT that while the walk-off is still ongoing, it has taken a new turn.
He says that not only were Ampilatwaja residents making the site permanent, but they had also appealed to the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights James Anaya, who was last month touring Australia.
In a letter to Professor Anaya, Mr Downs said that the federal government were restricting the Alyawarra nation's right to religious and cultural freedoms by "forcing them to move off their land", in direct opposition to the Australian Constitution.
The letter calls on the UN to register the Alyawarra nation as refugees under the International Refugee Convention as internally displaced persons and take the Rudd government to task over its human rights obligations under the UN.
"That's the approach we have taken with the UN. It's to bring it back to the government's attention that we are refugees now," Mr Downs told NIT.
"We are classed as refugees living outside our community. We do not want to be under these control measures (under the NT intervention).
"...If they are genuine then they must come to the party and provide us with some sort of [improvement] in living conditions. They need to help us establish a bore and toilets and showers."
But with no sign of this happening soon, the people of Ampilatwaja are taking matters into their own hands.
They are appealing for donations to provide services for their people.
"Mainly our people are living out there with no water. We carry our water ourselves in 20 litre drums," Mr Downs said.
"That's the main thing, we want to get a bore in. Our people want to set up permanent camp away from all this control. That's what we are aiming for."
They are hoping to raise $20,000 for a bore as well as $10,000 to install showers and toilets. The community is also trying to raise money for tents, as well as asking for donations of food.
Mr Downs said that the NT intervention had not achieved anything for his community.
"...Nothing has been established. It's just a standstill for the last two years," Mr Downs said.
"There have been no improvements in communities... We've been shut out of negotiations, discussion and consultations.
"It's just a formality for the government to say we've consulted."
Despite this, the people of Ampilatwaja are staying positive.
"The leaders are happy. Every time they hear news or see different cut outs from magazines it gives them a lot more courage and builds up their hope that people are starting to stand and talk up," Mr Downs said.
"They feel proud because they are able to initiate the walk off and keep it in the limelight."
And there are no signs of quitting.
"Our aim is to continue this walk-off and push to abolish the NT measures," Mr Downs said.
"It's racist. It's discrimination."
* If you would like details on how to donate to the Ampilatwaja walk-off, please contact NIT at news@nit.com.au