{"id":1173878,"date":"2021-12-30T21:34:38","date_gmt":"2021-12-31T02:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1173878"},"modified":"2021-12-30T21:34:41","modified_gmt":"2021-12-31T02:34:41","slug":"australia-protesters-shout-let-it-burn-as-old-parliament-house-goes-up-in-flames","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/australia-protesters-shout-let-it-burn-as-old-parliament-house-goes-up-in-flames\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia: Protesters Shout &#039;Let It Burn&#039; as Old Parliament House Goes Up in Flames"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Faustralia-protesters-shout-let-it-burn-as-old-parliament-house-goes-up-in-flames%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1173878&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/Old_Parliament_House_Canberra_front_entrance-640x335-1.png\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" alt=\"image\" \/><\/div>\n<p class=\"subheading\">An unspecified array of anti-government protesters chanted \u201clet it burn\u201d as the front door of Australia\u2019s Old Parliament House was set aflame on Thursday, reportedly confronting authorities trying to extinguish it.<\/p>\n<p>The Old Parliament House in Canberra, as its name suggests, served as the meeting place for the Australian Parliament from 1927 to 1988. It has since been reformed into a museum and the area around it has recently attracted anti-government protesters of all stripes, from some protesting Australia\u2019s draconian coronavirus laws to indigenous rights protesters. Multiple reports suggested that the fire erupted as growing numbers of protesters convened at the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nma.gov.au\/defining-moments\/resources\/aboriginal-tent-embassy\">Aboriginal Tent Embassy<\/a>, a protest spot established in 1972 by indigenous protesters demanding the Australian government return the land taken from indigenous Australians to found the countrty.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"D-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B1\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"gmxrevmore\" class=\"H\"><\/figure>\n<p>The fire on Thursday was the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2021-12-30\/act-protesters-set-old-parliament-house-on-fire\/100731444\">second<\/a> such incident in two weeks. Australian news sources noted that the protesters had consistently \u201cceremonial\u201d fires near the building since the ongoing protest movement \u2013 making several unclear demands that range from more freedom from police repression to giving sovereignty over Australia back to the people who were there before Anglo-Australians.<\/p>\n<p>An eyewitness quoted in New Zealand\u2019s Stuff.co.nz said that the fire appeared to precede the intentional burning of a smaller one near the building.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sics-component__html-injector sics-component__story__paragraph\">\u201cI saw a little fire, I guess akin to a ceremony or something, then eventually it kind of went up in flames, the whole front door,\u201d Cameron Duschka, the eyewitness, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuff.co.nz\/world\/australia\/300488408\/old-parliament-house-in-canberra-on-fire-as-protesters-swarm-site\">said<\/a>.&nbsp;\u201cThere was a lot of arguing, shouting. I can\u2019t remember if the police came before the fire or after but I think they came to move them on, they [police] got forced back into the building and then not long after that the fire came up.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B2\" class=\"a8d\"><\/figure>\n<p>Videos of this week\u2019s fire appear to show substantial damage to the front door of the building, an original artifact to the building installed in 1927. Chants of \u201clet it burn!\u201d can be heard in several videos of the fire, as well as assorted celebratory slogans condemning alleged \u201cgenocide\u201d and \u201ccolonialism.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned=\"\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tv\/CYFnaaLJriH\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<\/blockquote>\n[embedded content]\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">One of Australia&#8217;s most cherished buildings \u2013 Old Parliament House in Canberra \u2013 has been set on fire by protesters.<\/p>\n<p>The original doors, from 1927, were badly damaged after clashes erupted during a smoking ceremony. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rachbaxter9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@rachbaxter9<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/9News?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#9News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Wn86QyslQu\">pic.twitter.com\/Wn86QyslQu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/9NewsMelb\/status\/1476451519667089409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">More footage of people watching as a fire consumes the front entrance to Old Parliament House in Canberra. Police and other agencies will have lots of footage to work with as they investigate. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xwbhlpB5zM\">pic.twitter.com\/xwbhlpB5zM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Siobhan Heanue (@siobhanheanue) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/siobhanheanue\/status\/1476372405631082497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Australian news sources <a href=\"https:\/\/www.3aw.com.au\/fire-at-old-parliament-house-in-canberra\/\">reported<\/a> that it only took about 15 minutes to extinguish the fire and the building itself remains intact. The fire caused substantial damage to the entrance, however, and the door, which authorities have said they are at press time uncertain if they will be able to salvage.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"M-ROS-B3\" class=\"a8d adSo\"><\/figure>\n<p>Police have not confirmed if the fire was intentional or an accident as a result of a \u201cceremonial\u201d fire. The&nbsp;<em>Sydney Morning Herald<\/em> observed that some witnesses reported that protesters used paint to disable security cameras before the fire began, however, and reporters on the scene documented tense confrontations between journalists and protesters who apparently did not want their protest movement to get news coverage.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Aggravated demonstrators are confronting media outside Old Parliament House <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@abcnews<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7z6PJLqQXQ\">pic.twitter.com\/7z6PJLqQXQ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Harry Frost (@HMFrost) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HMFrost\/status\/1476361710852132864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 30, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The<em>&nbsp;Morning Herald<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/national\/act\/protesters-set-fire-to-old-parliament-house-20211230-p59kwi.html\">attempted<\/a> to connect the fires to anti-vaccine mandate and forced camp quarantine protesters, though <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stuff.co.nz\/world\/australia\/300488408\/old-parliament-house-in-canberra-on-fire-as-protesters-swarm-site\">reports<\/a> from the ground on Thursday documented protest chants related to indigenous people and calling for the return of land to Aboriginal Australians. The leaders of the ceaseless protest presence at the \u201cAboriginal Tent Embassy\u201d immediately attempted to distance themselves from the violence and expressed concerns that the general public would blame them for the destruction.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlthough we support the concept of non-violent direct action, we do not condone the destruction of public and private property,\u201d the \u201cTent Embassy\u201d leaders said in a statement following the fire.&nbsp;\u201cThe actions of such protesters conducting a \u2018smoking ceremony\u2019 was done so without the knowledge, consent or mandate of the Embassy Council and Traditional Owners responsible for the regulation of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While claiming that \u201cwell-known influencers from the \u2018freedom movement\u2019 who oppose vaccine mandates\u201d had been protesting in the area recently, the&nbsp;<em>Morning Herald<\/em> conceded that the presence of pro-indigenous protesters at the \u201cAboriginal Tent Embassy\u201d had \u201cswelled\u201d recently.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJanuary marks the 50th anniversary of the Tent Embassy. Its council has planned a three-day event towards the end of the month,\u201d the newspaper observed.<\/p>\n<p>Among those celebrating \u2013 also suggesting little relation between the anti-coronavirus repression movement and the fire \u2013 was indigenous Greens senator Lidia Thorpe, though she reportedly deleted her post on Twitter reading, \u201cSeems like the colonial system is burning down. Happy New Year everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"_1HzXw\"><em>Follow Frances Martel on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/francesimartel\/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1640951623891000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3V8zelEvAzvsAN7RbmkeaG\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener external\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/twitter.com\/francesmartel&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1640951623891000&amp;usg=AOvVaw33WJegbzaUY4XtAlWLBWsR\">Twitter.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An unspecified array of anti-government protesters chanted \u201clet it burn\u201d as the front door of Australia\u2019s Old Parliament House was set aflame on Thursday, reportedly confronting authorities trying to extinguish &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2315279,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1173878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1173878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1173878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2315279"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1173878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1173878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1173878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}