Action Alert - Jabiluka/Mirrar Women Jailed

Peace Movement Aotearoa

From : Global Sisterhood Network.

Dear sisters,
Below is the Global Sisterhood Network protest letter to the Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer regarding the unjust and unjustifiable imprisonment of our indigenous sisters, Jacqui Katona and Christine Christopherson. We are asking your urgent assistance to forward the letter bearing your signature to Mr. Fischer in support of our demand that the federal government intervene to facilitate the immediate release of Jacqui Katona and Christine Christopherson from Darwin's Berrimah prison, and the halt of uranium mining operations in their homeland Jabiluka. Please feel free to modify the letter as you see fit, , and to make appropriate changes to indicate whether you are responding on behalf of yourself [*I*] or  a group or organization [*we*]. For maximum impact in Canberra, we ask that you email the letter [Subject:  Release of Jacqui Katona and Christine Christopherson from Darwin's Berrimah prison, and cease uranium mining in Jabiluka] to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Fischer, and direct carbon copies [Cc] to the federal ministers and senators indicated below, with blind carbon copies [Bcc] directed to the Global Sisterhood Network and the Mirrar Community at the email addresses which are also provided below. We ask too that you circulate the letter with these instructions to your own networks seeking further support for this initiative undertaken on behalf of our indigenous sisters and their families. In sisterhood, and with appreciation, Lynette.

Dr. Lynette J. Dumble,
Co-ordinator, Global Sisterhood Network email: l.dumble@hps.unimelb.edu.au http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/GSN http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/GSN email: GSN@onelist.com http://home.vicnet.net.au/~globalsn/

To: Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Tim.Fischer.MP@aph.gov.au

From: sender's email address

Subject: Release of Jacqui Katona and Christine Christopherson from Darwin's Berrimah prison, and cease uranium mining in Jabiluka.

Cc: optional, but suggestions include:
The Chief Minister of the Northern Territory Mr. Denis Burke Leader of the Australian Federal Opposition Senator Margaret Reynolds , Senator Bob Brown , Senator Meg Lees , Senator Dee Margetts , Senator Natasha Stott Despoja , Senator John Woodley

Bcc: Global Sisterhood Network , Gundjehmi Corporation

Dear Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Tim Fischer,

Since the Prime Minister, Mr. John Howard, has distanced himself from the public by making himself unavailable for email messages, we are writing to you to protest, in the strongest possible terms, the imprisonment of Jacqui Katona and Christine Christopherson in Darwin's Berrimah prison.

We are outraged that two Mirrar women, including the senior traditional owner of Jabiluka, Yvonne Margarula, and the spokeswoman for the Jabiluka mine site's traditional owners were convicted of trespass on Mirrar land, the title being held by the Mirrar under the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act.

Furthermore, we are incensed that a 12 day jail sentence has been imposed upon Jacqui and Christine for their refusal to pay what is a totally unjust and unjustifiable $500 trespass fine. By imposing a prison sentence on Jacqui and Christine, the Northern Territory Government, and by implication the Australian Government, have wrongfully relegated two Mirrar women to the rank of common criminal. The arrest, conviction, and now imprisonment of Jacqui Katona and Christine Christopherson is a national disgrace, exposing the anti-indigenous colours of both the Northern Territory and Australian Governments to the entire world; an arrogant snubbing of human and indigenous rights, and a preoccupation with mining profits which sees one of Australia's world acclaimed natural heritages exchanged for uranium dollars.

We condemn the blatant intimidation of the courageous traditional owners, predominately women, from Jabiluka, and demand the immediate release of Jacqui Katona and Christine from Darwin's Berrimah prison. Equally, we demand that all uranium mining operations be ceased in Jabiluka, and that the future of this world heritage region be returned to its rightful owners, the Mirrar.
Yours faithfully,

Return to Stop Mining at Jabiluka.

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