Letters: If we sign a treaty we must abide by it Date: 01/04/00 The Government's response to the UN's CERD report is chilling. I remember when Australia used to sneer at South Africa and China for lamely arguing that the UN should butt out of their "domestic political issues". Alexander Downer last night claimed that the UN should only act against "egregious" human rights violations. The implication was that Australia should be able to commit some human rights violations and not be held accountable. It is a disgusting position for any "civilised" nation to hold. The Government seems singularly incapable of understanding that we are not being told what to do. Australia, by signing various human rights treaties, has told the world that we will abide by certain fundamental principles. The UN's role is to notify us of when we have not acted in accordance with that contract. If we want to renege on that contract, then we must do so publicly and thereby join the ranks of the world's pariah states. It is a measure of this Government's appalling lack of morality that it holds Australia's commercial contracts sacrosanct but our social contracts utterly dispensable. This morning I cried for my country. I never thought I would be ashamed to be Australian. Brendan Jones, Leichhardt I have an uneasy feeling of deja vu. A UN committee criticises a government on social justice issues. The government protests "but we are a liberal democracy, we can't be guilty of these unfair accusations". The government announces it will investigate the UN committee's operations. Now I remember! South Africa, circa 1970. Those who live dangerously, die dangerously. Good luck, Howard Government. Ian De Saxe, Macquarie Park The Howard Government's decision to review its co-operation with the UN treaty process comes as a surprise, but it is a necessary step in the right direction that One Nation has been advocating for a long time. We elect our own parliamentarians to make our laws, we don't need UN officials, who we have no say in choosing, from countries like Cuba and Communist China, to tell us what to do. The move should win the Government a few votes, and let's face it, with the GST coming, they'll need every vote they can get. Bob Vinnicombe, Sefton I woke to hear the news that Australia will review its reporting to the UN on racial treaties. I momentarily thought there had been an overnight coup with One Nation taking over the government of Australia. G. Mortensen, Goulburn When I was young, there was a saying attributed to a doting mother watching children march: "They're all out of step except my Johnny." Now Mr Howard claims United Nations committee findings lack credibility in the eyes of the Australian people and the world community, I'm inclined to think he's well named! Gai Smith, Redfern International obligations deriving from treaties signed by Australia under the auspices of the UN are designed to protect human rights and freedoms and combat the spread of prejudice and oppression. Our government refuses to recognise these obligations, denigrates the tribunals and committees who deal with them and seeks to white-ant the treaties which created these obligations, while preaching the domestic sovereignty of our States and Territories. International obligations deriving from treaties signed by Australia under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation are designed to protect corporate powers and privileges and combat the spread of regulations and policies that might conflict with their profit-making. Our government slavishly accedes to these obligations, brooks no criticism of the secretive and unaccountable tribunal which enforces them and seeks to strengthen and extend the WTO's hold over government policy both here and in other countries, while ignoring the domestic sovereignty of our States and Territories, and, more importantly, the Australian people. It is heartening that we should be granted such insight as to whom our government serves. Robert Cook, Bondi The Howard Government has a mandate to govern for three years only. It therefore has absolutely no mandate to turn against the United Nations and the principles of human rights to which this country is rightly committed. To put perceived political advantage ahead of the basic principles of universal human rights is disgusting and deeply shameful. I have never been as embarrassed for this country as I am now. The government must either start acting like a modern, democratic and civilised government or call an election. Also isn't it time the Liberal Party changed its name? It clearly does not uphold principles of liberalism any more. Max Phillips, Marrickville Gee, luckily the UN did not look into our tax reform. We could all be branded crooks. B.A. Dean, Herberton -- _________________________________ Truth is a pathless land. --- Krishnamurti ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
