U\__lVTeg derby
THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 21 #48 TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2007 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
H I N G E D
F O R
Y O U R
C O N V E N I E N C E
Local filmmaker held by troops Hans Lovejoy Filmmaker Leilani Gaze, 21, of Byron Bay, became enbroiled in political and civil unrest in East Timor last week. On the same day after arriving in the country, Ms Gaze was with her host family at their home when she was arrested along with three other Timorese men by the Australian Army. Ms Gaze told The Echo from her mobile phone in East Timor she spent around five hours being interrogated before being released uncharged. ‘They arrested me and three innocent civilians and treated us like criminals,’ she said. ‘They barged into the front of the house, knocking
over children to get to us. We were all taken in a van, blindfolded and told not to talk. We were then isolated and our bags searched. ‘I was arrested because of possibly being linked to [fugitive rebel leader] Alfredo Reinado,’ Ms Gaze said. So why is Alfredo Reinado a wanted man? Major Reinado was jailed for leading a mutiny with nearly 600 soldiers and deserting East Timor’s armed forces in May, 2006. He escaped from prison in September that year along with 50 other inmates. He has alleged in his defection from the East Timorese Army that it had acted illegally in firing on
unarmed protesters. Another local filmmaker, Chris McIlrath, agrees. Having just returned from interviewing top level politicians and rebel leaders in East Timor, Mr McIlrath worked with Ms Gaze on Conflicting Conspiracies – a soon to be
Underwater fest makes a splash
Underwater naturalist Neville Coleman (in blue) returns with a dive team laden with cameras from a Sundive outing at Julian Rocks on Friday morning.
Story & photo Lou Beaumont Byron held its first Underwater Festival (UF07) over the weekend. From Thursday through until Sunday the Bay was awash with events, exhibitions and presentations of the underwater variety.
Highlights included The Marine Visions Underwater Art Exhibition and the Photo Shootout Competition. The art exhibition, organised by Retrospect Galleries and held at Mary Ryan’s bookstore until the end of this
week, had over 100 exhibitors, mostly locals, who put in a ‘huge amount of effort’ according to Wendy Hochgrebe of Planula Divers Retreat, organisers of UF07. The Photo Shootout continued on page 2
.%7 3()0-%.4 *534 !22)6%$
page 32
Whale action day
released documentary. ‘Their requests for better conditions were ignored by the President,’ Mr McIlrath said. ‘Normally the soldiers would have weekend leave, but eventually they didn’t come back and set up a base camp called Ermera, and went to town protesting. They then became known as the Petitioners. After he witnessed other soldiers killing protesters, Alfredo and his men retreated and hid out in the hills. That’s when I met him in July.’ Mr McIlrath claims that the current government is undemocratically elected and some factions are rife with corruption. ‘We have video evidence of priests, members of parliament, and other officials stating that members within the ruling Fretilin party are corrupt. The Australian government and army is supporting an undemocratically elected government that is terrorising its people.’ Ms Gaze also echos those sentiments. ‘Yes, the Australian forces are acting out of ignorance,’ she said. As for the assertions by Mr McIlrath that oil companies benefit from a government in disarray, Ms Gaze is more sceptical. ‘I am personally not seeing the connection. On the ground it’s not as relevant. The Petitioners are protesting for equal rights, and against the discrimination they have endured. ‘Although having a destabilised country helps the corruption within the government, it’s not everyone within the government who is corrupt.’ Ms Gaze was in the country to make a second documentary. ‘This film is more of a personal approach – how they are living and coping on
Howie Cooke’s colourfully painted tipi was part of the action on Main Beach. Photo Jeff ‘Blowhard’ Dawson
The National Day of Action for Whales and Dolphins was celebrated at the Whale tipi on Main Beach, Saturday midday. A circle of people, including Mayor Jan Barham, marked a minute’s silence for imperilled whales worldwide and welcomed Yumbalehla, Byron Bay’s icon whale and the northbound humpbacks. Twenty other coastal communities were also welcoming their ‘adopted’ humpbacks in participation with the Humpback Whale Migration Icon project supported by Surfers for Cetaceans, IFAW and Oceania Project. NDA coordinator Howie Cooke would like to thank Baysail Yacht Charters for continued on page 2 donating two whale watch
trips that were won by Andrew and Karl, and Byron Bay Dive Centre for two snorkelling trips on Julian Rocks that went to Shenteh and Jasmin for their part in creating wonderful sand cetacean sculptures near the Whale tipi. In the final week of May the International Whaling Commission (IWC59) will meet in Anchorage, Alaska. Howie Cooke and Dean Jefferys from the www.flightofthehumpback.org project are seeking $6,000 in sponsorship to speak and act at the IWC. For more information contact Howie Cooke on 6680 1179 or Dean Jefferys 6684 0002. â– The dark heart of whaling, page 20
6[\aXfX 4ag\dhXf 9hea\gheX 6he\bf
F!:!4! J[b_XfT_X
-ECCA #ENTRE #ENTENNIAL #IRCUIT "YRON "AY !RTS )NDUSTRY %STATE