Corruption
For years I've been trying to get some disgruntled pollie or public servant to blow the whistle on the corruption and criminal activity within Government. Now even Blind Freddy can see what duds our present system is full of. It would appear that almost every Labor and Liberal pollie has been rorting the expense account. A fair number of public servants seem, at the very least, to have been aiding and abetting them.
Seeing as how our pollies go to so much trouble to steal a few thousand dollars, what would happen if someone offered them a bribe? Making a false declaration is stealing. Pull the same stunt on the dole office, for a few thousand dollars, and see how long you stay out of jail.
May be that's why we can't get the Government to do what we want? You don't suppose Multinationals have bribed our pollies to give them open slather into Australia?
Convener, Australian Greens Gold Coast branch
[Abridged.]
Reformism and terrorism
In his first letter criticising my article explaining why Marxists are opposed to terrorist actions, Gerry Harant accused me of therefore rejecting all forms of armed struggle. In reply I repeated the point made in my article that Marxists are "in favour of armed defence by the oppressed masses against the violence of the oppressors". In his latest letter (GLW #292), Harant accuses me of advocating "the sort of defensive strategy" that was pursued by the Austrian Socialist Party and which led to the bloody crushing of the Viennese workers at the hands of the army in February 1934.
While it's gratifying that Harant no longer accuses me of pacifism, his new accusation is just as false.
The Viennese workers' armed resistance to the use of military repression by the right-wing government of Engelbert Dollfuss was "futile" because the SP had not systematically prepared the workers for such an armed confrontation. After a year of steadily mounting repression against the labour movement, on February 11, 1934 Dollfuss ordered the closing down of the SP's press. The SP leaders issued a call for a general strike and for armed resistance to the government's repressive action.
But in the whole period prior to this last-minute call for mass insurrection, these leaders had not only preached to the workers that they should rely on the SP's parliamentary manoeuvres rather than the workers' own extra-parliamentary mass action; they had accepted each of Dollfuss's previous repressive measures and had urged the workers to support the Dollfuss government as the only "realistic" defence against the Austrian Nazis.
The parliamentary reformist strategy of the Austrian social-democrats was just as bankrupt as the orientation of terrorist groups: both substituted the actions of small groups for the revolutionary political education, organisation and mobilisation of the masses.
It's true the capitalist rulers and their ideologues (including the bourgeois professors who write dictionaries) try to define every act of resistance by the masses (whether violent or not) as "terrorism". Language has always been an ideological battleground between the oppressors and the oppressed. That's why it's important for socialists to clearly explain the terms we use.
In my article and previous letter I argued that terrorist acts (defined in the traditional Marxist sense as acts of political terror carried out by isolated individuals or small groups) are an ineffective method of combating social oppression. But whatever we call such acts, the important issue is whether socialists should support or oppose them. Instead of actually debating this issue, Harant has responded with non-sequiturs and red herrings.
Summer Hill NSW
[Abridged.]
Terrorism
Was the bombing of Hiroshima a terrorist act? Why not? The bombing of Nagasaki, Eniwetok, Fangataufa? The murder of Chris Hani, Biko, Machel, Bandaranaika, Martin Luther King? Why not?
Is the placing of a chemical factory in an urban setting a terrorist act? Is the destruction of someone's economy a terrorist act? Is the poisoning of the Irish Sea with Sellafield nuclear bilge a terrorist act?
The British Army has been in Ireland for 900 years. It did not leave in 1922, but set up an Army headquarters, linked with the paramilitary "B" Specials (now RUC), to flog "the Taegs" and "the Fenian Bastards". Their reps in Westminster were/are the Ulster Tories of Tories, who included white racist fascist Enoch Powell.
Imperialism runs on war, on preparing for war, on financing war, on plunder, and on multi-layered propaganda about its own motives, and the evils of its "enemies" (i.e. victims).
Two hundred thousand dead East Timorese were over-powered by superior weapons, by treachery, by USA lies, by a media blackout, and by Australian cooperation in "the kill". All 200,000 are innocent victims, and not one killed in an IRA operation.
No member of the IRA would put a bomb in a bin to knowingly kill a child. But SAS or CIA saboteurs would do it, and do it every day of the year, somewhere. The IRA took the Peace initiative twice. The first time it was rebuffed.
When Castro landed in Cuba, did he say: "We have only twelve left. Cablegram Sydney, ask them if we are a "mass army" or not. Otherwise we'll have to swim back to Mexico, if Suzie Moroney will show the way?"
Let us extol peace, mass action, community involvement, and the hope it brings, but I won't join in the chorus from the Capitalist Press demonising the men and women of "Oglaigh ni Eireann" (the Volunteers for Ireland).
Wentworth Falls, NSW
[Abridged.]
Northern Ireland
It's great to see letters about northern Ireland, the likes of which would be censored from commercial newspapers in this country.
Ken Cotterill (GLW #281) points out that one million people from the loyalist tradition, who consider themselves British and are mostly Protestant, do not want to be part of the (southern) Irish Republic.
This implies their aspirations can never be reconciled with those of the people from the nationalist tradition who consider themselves Irish and are mostly Catholic.
Stalemate? Not if people invest in political process, that explores issues and takes some risks. Unfortunately people from the loyalist tradition do not have a leadership capable of doing this.
It is heartening to see the friction in the old loyalist blocs which for years have focused their political position on just saying "no". Hopefully we are seeing the emergence of new perspectives and political movements that can represent the interests of the people from the loyalist tradition in this changing political landscape.
Where is the space to negotiate? Well, for starters, it is incorrect to assume that people from the nationalist tradition consider their aspirations would be met by just joining the six counties onto the southern Irish Republic.
Support for a truly secular state, for instance, which neither promotes nor inhibits the practice of any religious code, may be strong among many northerners from both traditions.
The politics of nation can't be bypassed in northern Ireland but, especially now with the redefinition of "Britain", it can be transformed.
Nightcliff NT
Bougainville talks
The leader of the PNG Government Mr Skate has stated "His Government will not countenance independence for Bougainville".
While the Skate PNG Government denies the Bougainville Revolutionary Army absolute independence there will be no peace in Bougainville. [If] the second round of talks to begin in New Zealand are to be successful independence must be the chief objective.
The leader of the Bougainville Revolutionary Army Francis Ona did not attend the first round of talks for a very good reason. He was not going to be manoeuvred into a peace movement that did not give the Bougainville people absolute sovereignty over their territory.
Any peace movement that the PNG Government, the Australian authorities and the Bolger New Zealand Government has anything to do with, you can rest assured a plot is afoot to betray the Bougainville Revolutionary Army struggle for independence.
There is only one solution for the Bougainville crisis and that is independence and self-rule for the Bougainville people. There is no other way.
Brisbane
East Timor
I was extremely disturbed to recently read statements made by Jose Ramos Horta in a speech to Jewish students at the Masada college. He told them that he had urged East Timorese fighting for freedom to look to the history of Israel as proof that "with continued efforts, solidarity and the desire for social and cultural justice, the impossible can and will be achieved". He also made the analogy in his speech between the East Timorese and the Jewish people, and made no mention whatsoever of the Palestinian people.
As a supporter of both the East Timorese people and the Palestinian people, I am extremely concerned with Ramos Horta's analogy. The history of Israel is a history of discrimination, killing, dispossession, oppression, aggression, military occupation and the denial of the Palestinian people's human and national rights. Is this what Jose wants the East Timorese fighters to learn from Israel?
Ramos Horta has revealed his true colours; in identifying with Israel he has betrayed the cause of the East Timorese.
Hall ACT
[Abridged.]
One Nation and the ISO
It is about time the International Socialist Organisation (ISO) gave up trying to physically invade or close down Hanson's One Nation meetings. Not only is it a futile tactic given the police protection given to Hanson, but it is also extremely dangerous for the unwitting protesters that happen to be caught in the vicinity.
The ISO didn't bother to allow those present at the rally on October 4 in Brisbane to democratically decide whether it is a good tactic or not. Such a tactic can only involve a few and was not supported by the majority at the rally.
We know that the police were looking for any sort of excuse to bash up a few protesters. They did not hesitate to jump the barricades after somebody threw a punch at a security guard who pushed them off the barricade. It was obvious that the police had targeted a number of people in the crowd, particularly some members of the ISO and were just waiting for the right moment. We do not need to give them further ammunition to beat us with.
Trying to close down Hanson meetings will not build a mass anti-racism movement. This requires a serious, well thought-out approach that involves the largest number of people who democratically decide the strategy and tactics of the movement.
Ipswich Qld
[Abridged.]
Retirement home fees
The recent decision by the federal government to change the rules on entering retirement homes has directly attributed to the deaths of two elderly citizens, one in WA and one in the eastern states.
Their suicide notes stated that they took their lives because they can't afford the fees and would have nowhere to go. This tragedy falls on the conscience of the federal government and those who supported the legislation. It's another form of genocide. When are the decisions makers going to learn, it's economic rationalising at it's worst.
I urge the elderly, sick, disabled and the suppressed to show their rage, to rise above this government to let them know how you feel. All it takes is pen and paper, and if you're not capable there's always an advocate to help. Thank God for free press while we still have it.
Jean Kirk
Jarrahdale WA