This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6285665.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Australia flag 'ban' sparks anger Australia flag 'ban' sparks anger
(about 2 hours later)
There has been outrage in Australia over reports that people have been banned from taking the national flag to a pop concert. A request for fans not to bring the national flag to a major rock concert in Australia has provoked outrage.
Organisers of the Big Day Out were said to have taken the action fearing race riots like those in Sydney in 2005. Organisers of the Big Day Out said they feared a repeat of "racism disguised as patriotism" at last year's event, which came weeks after race riots in Sydney.
They have now clarified that they will permit the flag, but have strongly discouraged people from bringing it. Politicians and veteran groups have strongly condemned the move.
Politicians and veteran groups have strongly condemned any move to prevent the use of the national flag. PM John Howard said the "proposition" that the display of the flag should ever be banned "is offensive and it will be to millions of Australians".
"The proposition that the display of the Australian flag should ever be banned anywhere in Australia is offensive, and it will be to millions of Australians," Prime Minister John Howard told reporters.
Angry veterans
The Big Day Out is Australia's biggest outdoor rock concert, held in Sydney and other major cities around the country.The Big Day Out is Australia's biggest outdoor rock concert, held in Sydney and other major cities around the country.
It often features some of the world's most well-known bands, and tickets for this year's concert sold out in a matter of hours.It often features some of the world's most well-known bands, and tickets for this year's concert sold out in a matter of hours.
But the concert has been hit by a blaze of publicity after organisers were reported to have said that any flag or headscarf featuring the national symbol would be confiscated at the gates of concert venues. Angry veterans
They have since clarified their position, saying flags were never banned, but that they were simply trying to discourage people from bringing them to the event. In a statement on the Big Day Out website, organisers said, in recent times, there had been an "increased incidence of flags brandished aggressively and this has led to increased tension.
Event producer Ken West said he was disturbed by clashes at last week's Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne between ethnic Croatian and Serbian fans. "With all this in mind and the aim to create a happy, peaceful, musical event, organisers would like to request that fans please leave their flags at home."
He also said he was concerned by race riots on Sydney's Cronulla Beach just over a year ago, in which some of the rioters were draped in Australian flags. The concert has already been brought forward 24 hours, to take place on Thursday, the eve of Australia's national day, to avoid any nationalistic overtones.
"The Australian flag was being used as gang colours," he said. Event producer Ken West said he was concerned by the use of the flag by white mobs during race riots on Sydney's Cronulla Beach in December 2005, and by some fans at the Big Day Out concert a month later.
The Big Day Out has already been brought forward 24 hours, to take place on Thursday, the eve of Australia's national day, to avoid any nationalistic overtones. "The Australian flag was being used as gang colours," he was quoted by The Daily Telegraph newspaper as saying. "It was racism disguised as patriotism and I'm not going to tolerate it."
He also said he was disturbed by clashes at last week's Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne between ethnic Croatian and Serbian fans.
The saga has prompted protests across the political spectrum - and especially from Australian war veterans, who say the flag is a symbol of national unity rather than division.The saga has prompted protests across the political spectrum - and especially from Australian war veterans, who say the flag is a symbol of national unity rather than division.
Don Rowe, president of a veterans group in New South Wales state, said the event organisers were trying to bar a symbol which had served through two world wars.Don Rowe, president of a veterans group in New South Wales state, said the event organisers were trying to bar a symbol which had served through two world wars.
Prime Minister John Howard added: "The event organisers should not ram their peculiar political views down the throats of young Australians who are only interested in a good day out."Prime Minister John Howard added: "The event organisers should not ram their peculiar political views down the throats of young Australians who are only interested in a good day out."