Stolenwealth Games indigenous protest creates traffic chaos in Southport

INDIGENOUS protesters caused traffic chaos this afternoon, blocking trams and motorists along a major thoroughfare.

INDIGENOUS protesters caused chaos in Southport this afternoon, blocking trams and motorists along a major thoroughfare for about half an hour before storming through a shopping centre.

PROTESTERS VOW TO RETURN AGAIN

Stolenwealth Games protesters sit on tramlines blocking off Scarborough Street, Southport. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

Up to 30 protesters sat across the tram tracks and blocked motorists and trams after starting the protest inside Australia Fair shopping centre at 3.30pm.

Aboriginal protesters crowd around the shops in Australia Fair. Photo: Brianna Morris-Grant

It caused delays of up to 15 minutes to tram services before the protesters moved back in to the shopping centre after 4pm.

A heavy police presence follows Aboriginal protesters through Australia Fair. Photo: Brianna Morris-Grant

Protesters then made their way through Australia Fair with dozens of police following them through the car park and out on to Marine Parade where they awaited buses to return to their camp at the Spit.

Indigenous protesters cause chaos in Southport. Photo: Brianna Morris-Grant

The protest caused major traffic and public transport delays with police negotiators called in to try and end the standoff.

Not Australia Fair #Stolenwealthgames https://t.co/Uz5GZ0elsa

— Stolenwealth Games Protest (@IndigenousX) April 11, 2018

A TransLink spokesman said trams were suspended between Southport and the Surfers Paradise North station 15 minutes with residual delays of up to five minutes are expected.

Stolenwealth Games protesters sit on tramlines blocking off Scarborough Street, Southport. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

Protesters were heard over megaphone saying to gridlocked motorists “we know you want us to move but we are here to stay”.

Protester Samuel Woripa Watson said they only wanted to be heard.

“It was a good chance to show them that we’re fighting, we’re resisting police harassment, poor economic conditions,” he said.

“We protest to set the record straight, to tell the narrative from our side, not let the media have the narrative.”

On the representation of indigenous culture in the Comonwealth Games he said: “You’ll get varying opinions, people are glad to see indigenous artists and athletes being able to seize that opportunity.”

“But there are also people who have an issue with them taking that economic opportunity while it’s not available to all our people.”

Traffic gridlock as Stolenwealth Games protesters block Scarborough Street outside Australia Fair. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

Local business owner Cici Shen was stuck in her car, and said she was disappointed with local government.

“I had no idea about this, it’s not a good behaviour because we’re really in a hurry right now,” she said.

Traffic gridlock as Stolenwealth Games protesters block Scarborough Street outside Australia Fair. Picture: Brianna Morris-Grant

“Obviously I respect it but I’m very disappointed with local government.”

WHAT THEY’RE PROTESTING FOR?

A spokesman at the protest said the group were seeking to establish an Australian Truth Commission.

“Camp Freedom are planning to formally meet later this week with Commonwealth Games Chairman Peter Beattie, and will be requesting his official support for the facilitation of the Australian Historical Truth commission,” the spokeswoman told the crowd that gathered inside the Australia Fair shopping centre.

Aboriginal protesters crowd around the shops in Australia Fair. Photo: Brianna Morris-Grant

“He will be asked to make a statement regarding the commission’s national needs and importance.

“Make a formal recommendation to the Australian Prime Minister and to the heads of Commonwealth Governments at this games on the need for the Australian Historical Truth commission facilitation.

Indigenous protesters cause chaos in Southport. Photo: Brianna Morris-Grant

“It is time for Australia to take its place as an adult on the world stage and to face the ongoing consequences of its birth.

“We will submit a formal request to prime minister to table an agenda to form a Truth Commission.”

WHAT IS A TRUTH COMMISSION?

Professor Roland Bleiker of the University of Queensland’s School of Political Science and International Studies said Truth Commissions have taken place in a number of other countries.

“Usually a society sets up a commission to find out and discuss issues of the past so people can speak up and share with a sense of understanding and how to move on to the future.

“In some cases the United Nations can be involved, these commissions are usually more political in nature as opposed to a legal commission to seek guilt,” he said.

The concept of a truth commission was originally raised as part of the historical Statement from the Heart made by delegates of the Referendum Council at Uluru in May last year.

The Uluru statement sought “A Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.”