St. Vaclav
"Vaclav Havel has been touring the world, trying to sell Czech arms.
Being the sententious faker that he is, Havel feels it necessary to
claim that in contrast to the Communists who previously ran his
country, he will trade only 'with democratic states which respect
human rights.'
He made this remark to a reporter from the Far Eastern Economic
Review while sitting on the terrace of the opulent Oriental Hotel in
Bangkok in 'democratic' Thailand.
Democratic Thailand, which is controlled by the military, has bought
thirty-six Czech-made L39ZA advanced trainers/close support
aircraft. Democratic Philippines may buy eighteen planes from the
picky Havel as well. Democratic Philippines will no doubt use these
machines to shoot 'more peasants fighting for their right to land,
workers striking against business, and activists seeking to fight for
democracy in the urban slums and rural villages of my country
against landlords, warlords and their goons inside and outside of the
"democratic" military.' I quote a Filipino student, who sent me the
F.E.E.R. clip about Havel."
-- From Alexander Cockburn's column, Beat the Devil, in The
Nation magazine, June 6, 1994
Sid Shniad
