Racism ingrained in Oz: UN envoy

A United Nations envoy slammed Australia’s military-led intervention in remote Aboriginal communities and said racism was “entrenched” in the country, in a damning assessment on Thursday.

James Anaya said the  intervention policy, where thousands of troops and  police were sent to help  curb alcohol-fuelled sexual abuse and violence, was discriminatory.

“There is entrenched racism in Australia,” he added. “These measures overtly discriminate against Aboriginal peoples, infringe their right of self-determination and stigmatise already stigmatised communities.”

Under the intervention, the government of ex-prime minister John Howard slapped restrictions on welfare payments, alcohol and pornography in 73 townships and introduced measures to boost school attendance.

The controversial move has met with fierce objections from Aborigines, with one group this week calling on the UN to declare them refugees in their own country, claiming the government action had left them powerless.

Prime minister Kevin Rudd has refused to scrap the policy since taking office in late 2007, disappointing many Aboriginal leaders.