| Submit your comments on this article |
| Down Under |
| 'Ashamed' protest leaders sorry |
| 2005-12-14 |
| THE ringleaders of Sunday's protest at Cronulla Beach delivered written apologies to Sydney's Lebanese community yesterday, saying it was meant to be a peaceful protest but spiralled out of control due to alcohol and a lack of leadership. Troy Denenhy formally apologised to the Lebanese community, police, ambulance officers and the Sutherland Shire for his behaviour, which featured prominently in media coverage of Sunday's riot. Mr Denenhy, who has a Japanese wife, emphasised he was "not racist". "It was supposed to be a peaceful protest but turned into a racial war," his letter says. Glenn "Steely" Steele, who was another vocal local early on in Sunday's protest, now says he is "deeply embarrassed and ashamed". He said alcohol played a major part in the escalation of violence and admits to being extremely drunk on Sunday. But while Cronulla local Josh Loney, 21, agreed with the sentiment of the letters, he predicted "it's gonna happen again this weekend". "I'm just sticking up for my place and my mates," he said. Senior lifeguard manager and Cronulla Boardriders Association spokesman Brad Whittaker said Sunday began "as a show of solidarity" against up to seven years of intimidating behaviour by "non-locals on shire beaches that escalated out of control". "The beach is for all to use with everyone to show respect and consideration for each other," Mr Whittaker said. United Muslims of Australia's Faid Kanawati and Azad Houda met the boardriders before publicly accepting the apology. Mr Kanawati said it wasn't just Islamic Lebanese youths at Sunday's riots but Christian Lebanese were also involved. He told the Christians to heed Jesus's message to "do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves"' and the Muslims "to be just is to be closest to piety". Yesterday's meeting followed a similar rapprochement on Tuesday at Maroubra between the "Bra Boys" gang and Islamic leaders. |
| Posted by:ed |