Natan Rivera Eviction

Sometimes in the first half of the 90's the Council embarked on a virulent attack on the Kinglake remaining squats.

One was the flat above Joe's. It had been originally occupied by "South African Alan" and "Desperate Dave" but after the former abandonment and the latter death the flat after some time of vagarious occupancy was repossessed by the Council and a tenant put in place.

It had become again vacant relatively recently and Natan Rivera, probably a Puerto Rican, occupied the place with Joe help.

This time the Council under the leadership of the infamous housing officer David Packham would not have it. Illegally they orchestrated a surprise eviction.

The squatting community in Kinglake mobilised and the situation spiralled out of control.

The Council could return and evict Natan only after several hours and a large police protection.

Natan was eventually taken to Court for the resistance to the re-possession of the flat (after the event) but finally months later lost on appeal.

Police in cahoot with the Council behaved abominably openly falsifying their depositions and documentation.

Natan unfortunately was not able to organise the case appropriately (or manage the involvement of the community). Joe and I attended the several Court hearings as witnesses for the defence.

Natan eventually left the Country and ended up in Holland were he died in a road accident two or three years later.