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> Subscription rates on request.
****************************** 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. **************************************************************************** -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:leftlink@;vicnet.net.au Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Sub: mailto:majordomo@;vicnet.net.au?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsub: mailto:majordomo@;vicnet.net.au?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink