Aborigines' fury over topless ban
A row has erupted in Australia over a police ban on a traditional Aboriginal dance featuring topless women.
Aborigines are furious that police told dancers from the remote community of Papunya to stop practising in a public park in the city of Alice Springs.
In response, the women said dancing topless was part of Aboriginal culture dating back thousands of years.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission said it would file a formal complaint over the ban.
If the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is unsuccessful in reconciling the two sides, the Aborigines could file charges in the federal court under Australia's Racial Discrimination Act.
Demand for apology
The Central Land Council, an Aboriginal representative body, said police should immediately apologise for their actions.
"This is part of our culture and thousands and thousands of people around the world have seen Aboriginal ladies dancing without their tops on television, theatres and many public occasions," CLC chairman Kunmanar Breaden said.
But police defended their ban, saying the officers had nothing to apologise for.
"While police are sensitive to cultural issues which arise from time to time, we support the actions of one of our members to move the women on," Acting Commander of Southern Region Trevor Bell said.
Is this an aftershock of the " Janet nipple" phenomena?
Aborigines are furious that police told dancers from the remote community of Papunya to stop practising in a public park in the city of Alice Springs.
In response, the women said dancing topless was part of Aboriginal culture dating back thousands of years.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission said it would file a formal complaint over the ban.
If the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is unsuccessful in reconciling the two sides, the Aborigines could file charges in the federal court under Australia's Racial Discrimination Act.
Demand for apology
The Central Land Council, an Aboriginal representative body, said police should immediately apologise for their actions.
"This is part of our culture and thousands and thousands of people around the world have seen Aboriginal ladies dancing without their tops on television, theatres and many public occasions," CLC chairman Kunmanar Breaden said.
But police defended their ban, saying the officers had nothing to apologise for.
"While police are sensitive to cultural issues which arise from time to time, we support the actions of one of our members to move the women on," Acting Commander of Southern Region Trevor Bell said.
Is this an aftershock of the " Janet nipple" phenomena?
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