There were clashes at the Aboriginal tent embassy in Canberra last night.
Police went to the embassy to arrest one of its representatives who
failed to attend his court case yesterday.
An arrest warrant was issued for Kevin Buzzacott, 58, earlier on Tuesday
afternoon after he failed to turn up to the ACT Supreme Court.
Buzzacott is on trial for taking a coat of arms from Old Parliament
House three years ago.
Police attempted to negotiate with Buzzacott but he refused to leave the
tent embassy, saying he was sick.
After a two-hour stand-off, about 20 police stormed the site and took
Buzzacott to a waiting car.
Several police clashed violently with supporters as they tried to take
Buzzacott away.
On Tuesday morning the jury heard evidence from an Indigenous elder from
the Aboriginal tent embassy.
Neville Williams told the court the emu and the kangaroo represented in
the coat of arms are cultural objects, which have been handed down from
generation to generation.
He said they are not owned by the Commonwealth, but rather Aboriginal
people. |
