Murrumu Walubara Yidindji, Saint Murrumu of Walubara (born 1974), also known by his former western name Jeremy Geia, is a Yidindji man, former journalist, and Australian Aboriginal activist. He is the foreign affairs minister of the Sovereign Yidindji Government micronation, having renounced his Australian citizenship in 2014.[1]
Saint Murrumu of Walubara | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Foreign Affairs Minister of the Sovereign Yidindji Government | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Minister | Gudju-Gudju Gimuybara | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade Minister of the Sovereign Yidindji Government | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief Minister | Gudju-Gudju Gimuybara | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Jeremy Geia 1974 (age 49–50) Cairns, Queensland, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Citizenship | Australian (until 2014) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Yidindji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Journalist, Activist | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Early life
editGeia was born in Cairns in 1974 to an Aboriginal mother and Croatian Jewish father.[2] In 1999, he won the NAIDOC Youth of the Year award.[3] In 2001 Geia, as self-appointed President, symbolically declared the "Peoples Democratic Republic of Palm Island" independent from Australia.[4]
Journalism Career
editGeia was an NITV and SBS journalist,[5] who was part of the Canberra Press Gallery.[6] In 2012 he became the first western journalist to obtain an interview with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.[7] He left his job when he renounced Australian citizenship.
Sovereign Yidindji Government
editMurrumu has served as the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Trade Minster of the Sovereign Yidindji Government for about 10 years, he additionally serves in the portfolios of Communications & Broadband, Renewable Energy, and Financial Technology.[8]
Murrumu was charged by police in May 2015 after being caught driving a car with a license and registration plates issued by the Yidindji government.[6]
References
edit- ^ Howden, Saffron (2 November 2015). "Murrumu Walubara Yidindji renounces citizenship to reclaim Australia". The Age. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ Albeck-Ripka, Livia (13 September 2019). "The Indigenous Man Who Declared His Own Country". New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Award Winners 1999". Koori Mail. 28 July 1999. Retrieved 5 November 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Eyers, Patrick; D'Souza, Carl (2001). "Recent Happenings". Indigenous Law Bulletin. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ "Jeremy Geia". SBS. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ a b Uhr, Grace (28 May 2015). "Former journalist who renounced Australian citizenship charged". Cairns Post. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ Daley, Paul (26 August 2014). "The man who renounced Australia". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
- ^ "TREATIES & TECHNOLOGY". Intertribal Foreign Affairs Council Forum. Retrieved 18 October 2024.