"I completely agree with New Zealand Maori Party MP Hone Harawira that Prime Minister John Howard, by attacking marginalised Aboriginal communities, is a 'racist bastard'", Aboriginal leader and Socialist Alliance Indigenous spokesperson Sam Watson said in response to Harawira's July 9 comments.
"By stating that 'John Howard is a racist bastard, imposing racist policies on a people who are not in a position to fight back', Harawira shows that people can see the truth from across the Tasman", Watson continued. "Howard's new Tampa, demonising the oppressed to grab votes, clearly won't work."
"Howard has proven himself as a 'racist bastard' every day in government. For more than 10 years, his 'racist bastard' government has cut funding to Indigenous services, smashed Indigenous organisations, stolen Indigenous land and railed against the real history of Aboriginal oppression as 'black armband'", Watson said. "Now, in the lead-up to an election, 'racist bastard' Howard suddenly shows 'compassion' for Aboriginal children by sending troops into their communities and pushing apartheid policies."
Watson continued: "Yes, there is great suffering to be addressed in Aboriginal communities thanks to the 'racist bastard' Howard. Real solutions require schools, hospitals, doctors, housing, jobs and more empowerment of Aboriginal communities. But Howard's plan does the opposite.
"Mutitjulu is crying out for a dialysis machine to deal with kidney disease, yet Howard is sending in shock troops. Police numbers are being boosted days after the acquittal of a police officer who admitted causing the death of an Aboriginal man in custody. Where was John Howard's concern for Indigenous people when Mulrunji had his liver split in two and received no justice?"
"The Maori Party MP was spot on about Howard. We need politicians in Australia who will stand up in parliament and point out the ugly truth about such racist bastards. That's why I'm standing for the Socialist Alliance: we proudly support all those under attack — Aboriginal people, refugees, unionists, students, women and more — and fight against the racist bastards."
[Sam Watson can be contacted on 0401 227 443. For more information on Sam's Senate campaign, phone Paul Benedek on 0410 629 088.]