AUSTRALIA'S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
RECONCILIATION DOCUMENT
The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation has launched its draft National Document of Reconciliation.
The Council wants the document adopted by all levels of government and the people of Australia so it may be an uplifting and unifying highlight of the centenary of Federation in 2001.
The Council has embarked on a national tour to gain support for the document.
It is travelling to all cities, towns and communities to talk to people about the document, in particular, the Council is seeking the support of indigenous Australians.
The Council is convening a major national event in May 2000 when it will launch its final proposals for a Document of Reconciliation.
If you want a say, you can contact the Australians for Reconciliation in South Australia on phone 1800 060 270.
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Speaking with one voice, we, the people of Australia, of many origins as we are, make a commitment to go together recognising the gift of one another's presence.
We value the unique status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original owners and custodians of traditional lands and waters.
We respect and recognise continuing customary laws, beliefs and traditions.
And through the land and its first peoples, we may taste this spirituality and rejoice in its grandeur.
We acknowledge this land was colonised without the consent of the original inhabitants.
Our nation must have the courage to own the truth, to heal the wounds of its past so that we can move on together at peace with ourselves.
And so we take this step: as one part of the nation expresses its sorrow and profoundly regrets the injustices of the past, so the other part accepts the apology and forgives.
Our new journey then begins. We must learn our shared history, walk together and grow together to enrich our understanding.
We desire a future where all Australians enjoy equal rights and share opportunities and responsibilities according to their aspirations.
And so, we pledge ourselves to stop injustice, address disadvantage and respect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to determine their own destinies.
Therefore, we stand proud as a united Australia that respects this land of ours, values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, and provides justice and equity for all.
You may wonder why we have included the following article on "Women in Jordan", in our Australian site. The reason is because many aboriginal women are in bondage to their male over-lords. Daily, hundreds of aboriginal women are beaten by their husbands and one of the main reasons is ALCOHOL, and not until aboriginal people, themselves, decide to rid their communities of this addictive drug, will they ever rise to be the dignified people they were before the invasion of the white race. Remember this, that the white-man is to be blamed for introducing alcohol and using this drug to maintain dominance over our indigenous people and to deprive them of their sense of self-esteem. This is nothing less than a perpetuation of the genocide inflicted upon these gentle people from the time of the arrival of the "First Fleet".
Successive Australian governments have taken advantage of their "superiority" and gained revenue from the liberal sale of alcohol to aboriginal communities, and the drug-barons who operate the breweries and wineries must bear much of the responsibility.
THE "HONOUR" KILLING OF INNOCENT RAPE / INCEST VICTIMS IN JORDAN
Jordan is only one of many Islamic countries - Pakistan is another - where the evil practice of "Honour Killing" of women is still performed, but the reason why we have singled out Jordan, in particular, is because in that so-called "civilised" country, with a Royal Family which is held in high esteem world-wide, this diabolical, male chauvinistic custom is legalised !
One of the most dishonourable ways to treat a woman is to rape her but it is utterly abhorrent when that innocent victim is "legally" killed for a crime she did not commit. Not only that, but a girl who is the victim of incest, may be killed by a family member, even the perpetrator of the crime, with impunity, to save the "honour" of that family. In rare cases, the killers may receive a mild sentence - a mere slap on the wrist - but no cases have been recorded where the murderers have received a life-sentence or the death penalty which is imposed for crimes of far less magnitude.
Something has to be done to stop this evil practice which is bringing dishonour to the Islamic faith and Allah, in particular. Incidentally, in the Koran, there is no doctrinal justification for such a practice and other crimes like "Female Genital Mutilation", which also must be stamped out through the campaigns of concerned people. It is ironic that religion, which is meant to uphold justice, truth and the liberation of the oppressed, is being used to enslave women. Sadly, certain forms of "Christianity", particularly of the fundamentalist and Catholic varieties, still denigrate women and confine them to "lesser" and "weaker" roles in society, even in the Ministry of the Church.
What can you do to help liberate women from such crimes against humanity? (1) We suggest that those of you who live in Jordan, should appeal to your Royal Family to save the moral reputation of your nation. (2) Petitions should also be sent to the United Nations whose Members are expected to behave in a civilised, non-discriminatory, just manner. (3) You may also like to contact Islamic theological colleges world-wide, to inform their Mullahs and students that there is no mention of "Honour Killings" and "Female Genital Mutilation" in the Koran. If such customs are allowed to persist, the moral integrity of the Islamic faith will be put at risk. While the Koran does not uphold women with the dignity of equal status with males, at least males are commanded to treat their females with "respect".
Of course, women are ill-treated in other countries, particularly in India, with its daily bride-burnings, dowry-killings and wife-beatings and one of the best ways Indian women may achieve some measure of liberation in a male-dominated society, is to gain leadership roles as "Surpanches" of local village government. That role may be more effective, in the long-run, than gaining positions of MLA / MLC because so many men manipulate their wives in such roles. Of course, ultimately, we should aim for at least 50% female leadership roles in local, state and central parliaments .
Further details are available from
INTERNATIONAL BENEVOLENT SERVICES - CARING FOR INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS
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