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Indigenous groups accuse Govt of conspiracy at CHOGM

7 March 2002 - Indigenous groups from Commonwealth countries claim the Australian Government has conspired to keep their issues from being discussed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

The Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples says it is happy with the networking opportunity provided during the Sunshine Coast summit.

However, the association's Australian spokesman, Les Malezer, says it is disgusting CHOGM did not place indigenous rights on its agenda even though most world meetings including the UN discuss it.

Mr Malezer says Australia is leading a conspiracy of silence because it is afraid of the consequences of discussing indigenous issues.

"The Anglo-Saxon countries of UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand don't want to have their domestic policies under international standards or scrutiny and that that's were they're trying to resist it.

"I think the strongest resistance will be coming from Australia and I don't think it's going to be very hard for us to get the message across to these other countries that Australia is the real problem here and they have to look specifically at Australia's attitude on it," Mr Malezer said.

Clip from ABC Indigenous news

Indigenous groups say countries conspired to save face

March 7: Indigenous groups today claimed Australia led a push to keep Aboriginal issues off the agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to save it embarrassment.

The Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples' Australian spokesman, Les Malezer, said Australia conspired with Britain, New Zealand and Canada to keep their issues from being discussed with other Commonwealth countries because it was afraid of the consequences.

"The Anglo-Saxon countries of UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand don't want to have their domestic policies under international standards or scrutiny," he told ABC radio.

"I think the strongest resistance will be coming from Australia and I don't think it's going to be very hard for us to get the message across to these other countries that Australia is the real problem here.

"They have to look specifically at Australia's attitude on it."

Mr Malezer said it was disgusting CHOGM did not place indigenous rights on its agenda when it was a topic traditionally debated at world meetings.

Clip from The Age

related links:

• Commonwealth Association for Indigenous Peoples (CAIP)
• Royal apology sought for Australia Tour 2002
• Britain blocks protection for indigenous people
• Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit Memorandum to the Commonwealth Heads of Government attending CHOGM, Brisbane, Australia, 2 -5 March 2002

Further information: human rights issues page - includes news index and external links

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