Moneer
Member
Fairfield, Australia -- Angry members of the Assyrian community are calling on Fairfield Council to be 'sacked' after The Assyrian ANZAC's/Levies Memorial was blocked from being reconstructed at last night's Fairfield Council meeting in Sydney, Australia.
The Council voted to have the Memorial plaque go to public consultation after community members allegedly made complaints about the wording used on the plaque.
The Memorial was vandalised twice before with the first attack in 2010 shortly after it was officially unveiled and in recent months when vandals removed and stole the plaque and damaged the stone structure.
More than 50 people attended the council meeting, with more than a dozen who remained outside the chambers to protest.
Assyrian Labor Councillor Albert Moshi stood to speak against the Memorial, which upset many who came in support of restoring the plaque as it had been approved two years ago. Councillor Lawrence White was also labelled a 'coward' by protesters, for mocking the Memorial and calling it an embarrassment to the Sir Stanley George Savige family.
In an online statement the Assyrian Levies Association leader Gaby Kiwarkis said, 'Councillor Moshi told one lie after another to cover up for his anti Assyrian activities'.
It's believed Fairfield Council want to re-word the plaque to not mention Turkey, Ottoman or the genocide, something the ALA (Assyrian Levies Association) and Assyrian community are strongly against.
A protester who identified himself only as Michael said, 'The council cannot hide facts and history, and cannot change a plaque that was approved by them two years ago'.
Bernadette 23, said, 'Its sad to see a council that has no respect for the the Australian war hero and victims of genocide claim to represent the people'.
It's the second time the community has protested against the Council in regards to this particular memorial. In early 2010 more than 300 people stormed out of the council meeting in protest after a motion was blocked by Labor Councillors.
Although this time protest attendance wasn't as expected, protesters stated the fight was not over. It's believed protesters will hold a meeting in the next week to decide a plan of action, for the next council meeting.
The memorial will be placed for public consultation for 4 weeks until the next council meeting for the final vote on whether to restore the memorial and plaque as before or to re-name it or remove the memorial completely.
www.theassyrian.com.au
The Council voted to have the Memorial plaque go to public consultation after community members allegedly made complaints about the wording used on the plaque.
The Memorial was vandalised twice before with the first attack in 2010 shortly after it was officially unveiled and in recent months when vandals removed and stole the plaque and damaged the stone structure.
More than 50 people attended the council meeting, with more than a dozen who remained outside the chambers to protest.
Assyrian Labor Councillor Albert Moshi stood to speak against the Memorial, which upset many who came in support of restoring the plaque as it had been approved two years ago. Councillor Lawrence White was also labelled a 'coward' by protesters, for mocking the Memorial and calling it an embarrassment to the Sir Stanley George Savige family.
In an online statement the Assyrian Levies Association leader Gaby Kiwarkis said, 'Councillor Moshi told one lie after another to cover up for his anti Assyrian activities'.
It's believed Fairfield Council want to re-word the plaque to not mention Turkey, Ottoman or the genocide, something the ALA (Assyrian Levies Association) and Assyrian community are strongly against.
A protester who identified himself only as Michael said, 'The council cannot hide facts and history, and cannot change a plaque that was approved by them two years ago'.
Bernadette 23, said, 'Its sad to see a council that has no respect for the the Australian war hero and victims of genocide claim to represent the people'.
It's the second time the community has protested against the Council in regards to this particular memorial. In early 2010 more than 300 people stormed out of the council meeting in protest after a motion was blocked by Labor Councillors.
Although this time protest attendance wasn't as expected, protesters stated the fight was not over. It's believed protesters will hold a meeting in the next week to decide a plan of action, for the next council meeting.
The memorial will be placed for public consultation for 4 weeks until the next council meeting for the final vote on whether to restore the memorial and plaque as before or to re-name it or remove the memorial completely.
www.theassyrian.com.au
