Keepers of Lake Eyre Court Documents |
| Media Release Friday 21 July, 2000, 12 noon. South Australia |
| WMC COURT BLUFF FAILS |
| ARABUNNA EVICTION CASE AGAINST WMC TO CONTINUE BEFORE HIGH COURT |
| Western Mining Corporation (WMC) have failed in their attempt to bluff the Supreme Court of South Australia into evicting Non-Arabunna people from the Arabunna Going Home Camp, at Lake Eyre South, in the far north of South Australia. |
| In court this morning, before Judge Grey, WMC lawyer, Nicholas Swan, told the court that they did not seek any orders, in-fact they were ending their application for “possession” over the Arabunna Going Home Camp. He told the court that WMC would now seek to lobby the Government and Parliamentary Representatives on the issue. |
Keepers of Lake Eyre, representing “all those likely to be affected” (Burley Decision, June 19, 2000 SCSA 549 of 2000), welcome this decision of WMC:
“WMC have tried to pull the wool over the court’s eyes since they initiated these proceedings, as they have continuously tried to pull the wool over the Australian public’s eyes. But people have woken up, we can see what their game is now and we’re not going to let them get away with it”said Keeper of Lake Eyre William Taylor after court today. “WMC’s game is up- you can’t get land by Genocide and you can’t keep it by Genocide either”added Keeper of Lake Eyre Chris Littlejohn. |
| WMC have continuously attempted to mis-lead the court in relation to the land in question, failing to acknowledge, by omission, the interests of Arabunna people, particularly Arabunna Elder and Peacemaker Kevin Buzzacott, who they would not name. Kevin has been applying to the Supreme Court of SA since March 25, 1999, to have WMC evicted from Arabunna land and to have named individuals charged with Genocide (SCSA 356 of 1999). |
| Kevin had applied for WMC’s eviction case to be removed to the High Court of Australia, to be joined with his case to evict WMC from Arabunna land (SCSA 356 of 1999; A19 of 2000). This was due to be dealt with by the High Court after August 7, 2000. This is no longer likely, however the case to evict WMC will continue to the High Court (A19 of 2000). |
| Keepers of Lake Eyre are considering applying to the court for costs against WMC. |
| For more information contact: Keepers of Lake Eyre |
| The correct URL for this web site is http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/wagtail |
Keepers of Lake Eyre can be contacted at :
|
Piddla Budni (Home Camp) can be contacted at
|
| For information on how to call the camp directly via HF radio, contact Keepers of Lake Eyre (above). |
| Modified: 25th of July 2000 |