The Sydney Morning Herald
Letters: Moralists, hypocrites, heroes and the UN
Date: 01/09/2000
The hypocrisy of the accusers in this lamentable charade is absolutely
bloody mind-boggling!In the Herald (August 30), UN Human
Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson tells us that "Australia, up to now,
has had a very good record" and a Mr Palitha Kohona, head of
the UN's treaty division, admits that "Australia is one of the better
countries on human rights."
So what exactly is their problem?
As head of the whole shebang, Ms Robinson should be pointing out to the
self righteous moralists from China and Cuba and, indeed
from Ireland and other countries with similar human rights records, that
Australia does have a very good record, and concentrate their
efforts where they are most needed.
John Howard and his government are to be congratulated on defending our
integrity to the world. Enough is enough.
The hypocrisy of the accusers in this lamentable charade is absolutely
bloody mind-boggling!
Ron Elphick,
Buff Point, August 30.
Federal Cabinet ministers on the one hand reject NGO criticism of
government performance on human rights issues and yet at the same
time encourage NGOs to partner government in the provision of essential
services, such as health care, education and social services.
The Ministers criticism of NGOs reminds me of the reflections of the
Brazilian Archbishop Dom Helder Camara, who fought for
indigenous, migrant and human rights in Brazil. The Archbishop said:
"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask
why the poor have no food, they call me a communist."
Surely the government would be better advised to address the real
problems of social inequity where they exist, rather than shooting the
messenger.
Simon Moran
Bronte, August 30.
It's about time a world leader of stature put those UN busybodies in
their place. It makes me proud to be an Australian to see our PM
finally taking such a statesmanlike position on a vital matter of
principle for the region.
Now at last we are truly showing the other major standard bearers of
progressive thinking on human rights in our region that we are at
one with them. At last we have proven that we totally support the values
espoused by our friends and neighbours such as Malaysia and
China. We can stand tall again in such important company.
Congratulations, Prime Minister.
John Sexton,
Randwick, August 29.
The Federal Cabinet decision to withdraw from United Nations committees
yesterday comes at a time when Australia is without a
Human Rights Commissioner, as Chris Sidoti finished his commendable term
of office last week.
Who will speak for the disadvantaged in Australia now? No applicants
please.
Australia's privileged few will decide what's best, without consultation
with outsiders - or insiders for that matter.
Karen Horder,
Mortdale Heights, August 30.
"It will send the wrong message" has been John Howard's kneejerk
response whenever called upon to consider progressive reforms of
any kind, e.g. legal injecting rooms - a classic example. What, in
heaven's name is the kind of message he believes he and his government
are now sending to the despotic regimes of the world in adopting their
new hardline policy of rejecting our commitments to United
Nations on human rights issues ? In one fell swoop, the Australian
Government has given comfort and amused delight to the tyrants of
Iraq, Burma and Malaysia and many others. Good one, John! What else can
you come up with in the run-up to the next Federal election
to compound the shame I feel to be an Australian?
Vic Cohen
Mosman, August 29.
The Attorney-General, Mr Williams is right in that Australia doesn't
have arbitrary arrest and detention, and doesn't chop off the arms of
some people. Australia has mandatory sentencing, and it only chops off
years of life from most Aborigines. There is nothing heartless
about this for we are a cultured and democratic society and this means
we are beyond criticism on human rights.
Vincent Scoppa,
Leichhardt, August 30.
The most efficiently prepared Olympic Games yet, mandatory sentencing,
introduction of harsher treatment of refugees, downgrading of
participation in international human rights, troops to be used to
control civilians, rejection of the proposal to eliminate discrimination
against women, federal government intervention in IVF programs.
What place is this ?
Sydney 2000 or Berlin 1936 ?
John Pollard
Surry Hills, August 30.
Bravo to the Government, and especially to Andrew Thomson, for
forthright defence of Australia against abuse of the UN human rights
system.
ATSIC submissions, in particular, to the UN have reached outrageous
heights of misrepresentation and abuse of government funding.
What makes this worse is that ATSIC is not merely an NGO seeking to
circumvent democratic processes--it is a fully taxpayer-funded
body.
ATSIC's use of taxpayer funds to promote the political agenda of bodies
such as chairman Geoff Clark's "Aboriginal Provisional
Government" is gross abuse of the generous resources ($2.3 billion this
financial year) so ineffectually applied to Aboriginal disadvantage
year after year.
ATSIC should be disbanded. Racist Aboriginal policy is the last official
racism remaining in Australia, is deeply offensive to most
Australians, is not working as intended, and should be abolished.
The appropriate way to redress disadvantage is to remove this last stain
of racist policy, and to target need, not race, in our multiracial,
pluralist society.
G. A. Thompson
Canberra (ACT), August 30.
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