The following Editorial was published in "The Guardian", newspaper
of the Communist Party of Australia in its issue of Wednesday,
November 6th, 2002. Contact address: 65 Campbell Street, Surry Hills.
Sydney. 2010 Australia. Phone: (612) 9212 6855 Fax: (612) 9281 5795.
CPA Central Committee: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
"The Guardian": <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Webpage: http://www.cpa.org.au>
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Editorial: ASIO raids undermine relations with Asian neighbours
The Howard Government is steadily isolating Australia from its
neighbours in Asia and the Pacific. This is again shown by the protests
coming from countries experiencing tourist warnings from Alexander
Downer's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade -Indonesia, Singapore,
Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. All of these countries
have been listed as "high risk" destinations.
The most vehement protests from Indonesia followed the raids made on the
homes of Indonesians living in Australia last week. The raids bear all
the hallmarks of panic by ASIO and the Federal police under government
direction.
The raiders carried machine guns and pistols, wore flack jackets and
balaclavas and at least in one case, carried a sledgehammer. In no case
has any hard evidence been produced nor has anyone been charged for
association with any terrorist organisation. One or two have been
charged with visa violations who have done no more than the tens of
thousands of British backpackers who overstay their visas and work
illegally.
The raids are intended, more likely, to impress the Australian public
with fears of "terrorism" and to stir up racist and anti-Muslim
sentiments. At every opportunity the mass media and government leaders
attempt to connect Jemaah Islamiah with the Bali bombing atrocity
although not a shred of evidence has been produced to substantiate this
allegation.
The zealots in the Australian Government also failed to notify the
Indonesian Government that the homes of some of their nationals were on
the hit list despite this being part of international
government-to-government procedures. This has also become a point of
friction.
While the government leaders may have convinced themselves of the
"terrorist" threat, the Australian public has widely condemned the
raids. Many see the raids as Australia's slide into a police state. This
view is confirmed by new terror legislation to give ASIO sweeping new
powers.
The NSW and Victorian State Labor Governments are also jumping on the
terrorist bandwagon with new laws and the creation of new police and
"special" forces organisations.
As previously noted, the "war on terrorism" requires a continuing stream
of "terrorist" acts whether real or concocted by the authorities. In
this respect the article by famous American writer, Gore Vidal, (page
12) is essential reading. Australia also has its "enemy within" residing
in high places. ASIO's chief, responding to the Government's paranoia,
gave a clue to the future when he remarked (almost as a promise) that
"There will be further terrorist attacks, of that we can be sure".
The Australian Government is attempting to downplay the Asian backlash
despite the fact that the Indonesian Government that has lodged protests
over the raids on Indonesian families. As part of the inevitable
response to Australian high-handedness Indonesia advise its nationals to
leave Australia. The Indonesian media reported and strongly reacted to
the raids on the homes of Indonesians living in Australia.
The threatened US invasion of Iraq and other countries, the whipping up
of the "war on terrorism" and its inherent racism is creating a
worldwide situation of insecurity and anarchy. This is the inevitable
consequence of the policies being implemented by the US, Australian and
British Governments in particular.
Geoffrey Barker writing in the Australian Financial Review (28/10/02)
illustrated the atmosphere being whipped up. Speaking of the allegation
that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons he wrote: "North Korea should
be told there can be no more rewards for self-confessed cheats and liars
in international affairs.
"Pyongyang should be told that diplomatic absolution comes from
unconditional repentance, reform and reconstruction", said Mr Barker,
who went on to charge North Korea with "crude nuclear blackmail".
Geoffrey Barker's outburst follows the visit by a US representative to
North Korea during which the US attempted to stand over North Korea.
"The US is mistaken if it thinks that [its] brigandish attitude would
work on the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea", said a Korean
Government statement.
Geoffrey Barker's rude and arrogant remarks are also not likely to cut
much ice and can only hurt Australia's relations with not only North
Korea but other Asian nations as well.
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