Afghan asylum seekers
Today, July 11, nine Afghan asylum seekers held on Nauru were threatened with forced deportation unless they go home "voluntarily". They have until 5pm to sign. A "deadline", they think. One detainee writes: "No-one would sign their death warrant; no-one would jump off a cliff." In Australia, as we hear about the continued danger and lack of any protection in Afghanistan, we wonder why our government is threatening these people. They have reached the end of their endurance.
Is our government hoping they will fly into the arms of danger to end the years of fear and anxiety in detention? What is the purpose of threatening them once again?
After Petro Georgiou's negotiations with the PM, it is a shame there was nothing to help those held on that godforsaken island, Nauru.
Elaine Smith
West Haven, NSW
German Left Party
Having attended several meetings leading up to the foundation of the new Electoral Alternative for Jobs and Social Justice (WASG) myself, and having followed the development of the joint left party WASG/Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) for the upcoming early elections, I doubt that Germany's new Left Party is a major gain for the global social justice movement.
Instead of challenging their steady growing membership and their possible voters by focusing on the creation of an active and organised mass of people opposing the government's neoliberal policies, the WASG has focused on being successful in the upcoming elections. Therefore, reformist leading figures like SPD dropout Oskar Lafontaine and PDS drop-out Gregor Gysi were very welcome on board for helping to poll the necessary votes.
Eleven per cent of Germans intend to vote for the WASG-PDS in September. But all these millions of Germans need to be won over to the idea to be active and concerned about their society and politics more often than once every four years on election day.
History may repeat itself as the WASG-PDS keeps on winning votes, when it finally turns from opposition to being in government in coalition with another party and then starts to make concessions to neoliberal agendas, as we saw before with the Greens in the federal government, and with the PDS in a state government.
Silke Stockle
Freiburg, Germany
Africa
Why are some people trying to minimise the responsibility the West has towards impoverished Africans? African despots have always been the problem, we are repeatedly told. However, if colonial powers had left Africa in better shape there would have been fewer post-colonial tyrants.
Western nations have given military aid to many authoritarian regimes. Political philosopher Thomas Pogge argues that the West's willingness to act as a customer for autocratic leaders as they sell off their countries' natural resources has helped repressive governments stay in power, and allowed them to ignore the need to develop other aspects of the economy.
Even if the West had never had anything to do with Africa, more fortunate people have a duty to help less fortunate people. And given the move towards democratisation in several African nations in recent years, the assertion that the West is unable to help dictator-riddled Africa is increasingly disreputable.
Brent Howard
Rydalmere, NSW
Expelled Socialist MSPs
"Aye ya can, Rosie Kane", and I would add that those who elected you would expect no less! Proper representation by the Scottish Socialist Party in the correct forum, how else do important issues see the light of day? The four SSP MSPs deserve to be supported for their roles on the barricades while, simultaneously taking the left debate forward on the floor of the Scottish Parliament.
R.E. Fuge
Cootamundra, NSW
London bombings I
Our leaders tell us we are at war; why then should we be surprised at being bombed? Do governments really think we can "shock and awe" the 7.4 million Baghdadis and, from the comfort of our homes watching TV, enjoy the "fireworks" of missiles demolishing cars, houses, water treatment works, electricity supply stations with impunity? We are all electoral conscripts, even the politically apathetic, and so we are all complicit in the crimes carried out in our name, even if personally we are vehemently against the illegal invasion of Iraq. As usual, innocent and guilty suffer.
Churches, synagogues and mosques all claim Samson was a hero when he pulled away the Temple of Dagon's pillars, killing himself and 3000 Philistines. Is this different from suicide bombing?
The young men who bombed London are considered by Kim Beazley to be "sub-human filth who must be eliminated", but are in fact considered heroes in the same tradition that we celebrate. They gave their lives for God and country just like our young did at Gallipoli.
How many more will have to die or be crippled because of the evil doers we elected in Britain, America and Australia and who remain at large and dangerous: Blair, Bush and Howard?
Gareth Smith
Byron Bay, NSW [Abridged]
London bombings II
As the prime minister, the leader of the opposition and the rest of the pack so roundly condemn the "cowardly" attacks on London by a group of "sub-human filth", I am sure they will not hesitate in doing their utmost in bringing to justice any of these "sub-human" terrorists.
To this end I look forward to their immediate demand that George Bush hands over for prosecution a terrorist who has pleaded guilty to the bombing of a number of hotels and restaurant and has been strongly implicated in the bombing of a passenger airliner. Or do Luis Posada Carriles' acts of terrorism not count because he is an ex-CIA operative and the attacks weren't committed in London, New York or Sydney?
Daniel Laws
Mapleton, Qld
Palmer Inquiry
"We can't say anything, we're waiting to see what Mr Palmer comes up with". So goes the chorus of John Howard and his trusty cohort, Amanda Vanstone, when questioned on the legitimacy of a non-judicial, behind doors inquiry into their immigration department's increasingly damning conduct in relation to mentally disturbed Australian citizens.
Some of us will recall that in the lore of schooldays, the symbolic Mr Palmer (he of the five fingers and palm) was said to be the handy cure for smutty frustrations. Rest assured that any semblance of accountability in this Howard government will always be in the hands of a Mr Palmer.
Keith Mobbs
Lane Cove, NSW
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, July 20, 2005.
Visit the