Statement by the Central Committee Secretariat of the Communist Party of
Australia
The Communist Party of Australia expresses its shock and horror at the
coordinated and devastating attack on major civilian targets in the US.
We share the grief of the thousands of relatives and friends who have lost
their loved ones. We convey our sincerest condolences.
Those responsible for this terrible act have yet to be identified and
should, if identified, be brought to justice.
However there are some politicians who are using this incident to whip up
racist and religious intolerance and to attack the very democratic rights
that they pretend to be upholding.
The talk of war and that "America is under attack" is being used by US
leaders, NATO and the Australian Prime Minister to justify restrictive
measures that can only be regarded as preparations for war against any
country that dares to challenge the policies of the Bush - Blair - Howard
Governments.
"War", "revenge" and "retaliation" and the killing of more innocent people
in other countries, will not solve the problems of the millions of
unemployed people, the homeless, those suffering ill-health, or those who
have no clean water or educational opportunities. These are the causes of
frustration and despair which lead to desperate terrorist acts.
What has happened to the people of New York and Washington is little
different to the suffering of the people of Iraq, Yugoslavia, Panama,
Libya, Sudan, Somalia, Vietnam, Korea - all countries that have been the
victims of US bombing. The US has a long history of violence against many
countries.
It is the foreign policy of the US, its military occupation of a number of
countries, its worldwide network of military bases, the behaviour of its
troops, the arrogance of the US leadership and its pretentions to be a
superior race that have contributed to hostility and anger directed against
the US in many countries.
While the media and western politicians have been quick to lay blame
without any evidence it should be recalled, when considering who might be
responsible, that it was Americans who assassinated President Kennedy and
then his brother, Robert Kennedy.
It was an American army veteran - Timothy McVeigh -- who bombed the US
Government building in Oklahoma in 1995 - a fact that was revealed only
after many blamed Islamic terrorists.
It is US agencies that have made numerous attempts to assassinate Fidel
Castro. The list of US initiated outrages is a long one.
The Bush administration is using the current crisis to justify the
expansion of the Pentagon's war budget, to attack the democratic rights of
the American people and to whip up a racist, anti-Islamic war fervour.
In total disregard of the United Nations, the situation is being used to
justify the possible military occupation of Afghanistan and perhaps other
countries as steps towards the objective of world domination by the US. But
the lesson is that violence begets violence.
In this dangerous situation we call on the labour and peace movements and
all left and progressive organisations to resist the racist and war
hysteria, the attacks on democratic rights and the attempt to justify
military attacks on other countries. An urgent meeting of the UN Security
Council should be called to bring under control a rapidly developing war
situation.
(SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2001)
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