Canberra, Dec 30 (Agency) The old parliament building in Australia’s capital Canberra was on Thursday set ablaze by protesters during a demonstration for Aboriginal sovereignty, police said. No causalities have been caused by the incident. The indigenous people have been staging protest for past 14 days in the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of the formation of Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the old Parliament’s front lawns.
According to BBC report, the tent embassy was a protest occupation site that launched national discussion about indigenous land rights. Condemning the violence, Prime Minister of the country Scott Morrison said, “This is not how Australia works. I am disgusted and appalled by behaviour that would see Australians come and set fire to such a symbol of democracy in this country.” “Setting fire to a building is not a lawful protest, it is a crime and a serious one,” tweeted the deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce.