Keri James

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am submitting my views on the Northern Territory Emergency Response. My first knowledge of this situation came, as it did for many Australians, through the Television news coverage. I glanced up and saw an Army tank in the desert and Black People running into the sand hills. They seemed very frightened, and so was I. Right from the beginning I did not like the seemingly violent and dictatorial way the situation was handled. Then I learnt that the whole thing was supposedly in response to the information gathered from the "Little children are sacred" report and that the Army was in fact there to help stop abuse. Well, I agree, little children are sacred. However, I hav! e also since been informed that the real reasons for the 'invasion' were not to help stop abuse and poverty and ill-health in general, but as a measure to gain land, mining rights, and even to completely shut down the remoter communities. In fact, to further assimilate Aboriginal people into main-stream, white, 'civilized ' society.

I am in favour of Indigenous peoples living peacefully and in Self-determination on their own lands in their own ways. I am in favour of them having complete Sovereignty and Land Rights over that land. And I am also in favour of people looking after their own kids in their own way and within their own community, and that if they ask for help, then that help be given freely and helpfully, in kindness and gentleness.

There are many children suffering. We need to all remember and do all we can to make it better.