Re: [Marxism] Australia's new Labour PM

["gary.maclennan@xxxxxxxxx" <gary.maclennan@xxxxxxxxx>]

Well it is a complex matter, Lajany, and Green Left Weekly is probably the
best source to deal with it.  But basically the situation in indigenous
communities is terrible.  I only know two communities well -Cherbourg and
Aurukun.  I have never  been to the Northern Territory.

But my general observation is that the Howard Govt used the abuse of
children etc as an excuse to roll back the land rights gains that the
indigenous people had made through struggle.  When you read of the savage
practices of the Aztecs or the cruelty of the North American indigenous
people towards buffalo then you can be sure that a much more savage savage
has his eye on the indigenous property.  Just so with the articles about
domestic violence and child abuse in indigenous communities.

These enable mining companies much greater freedom when dealing with native
title holders.

Having said that the living conditions of Australia's indigenous people
would put all heaven in a rage. For  a country like Australia with its huge
budget surplus to cut funding for Aboriginal programs,  is little short of
criminal. Yet that is what the Howard Government did.

As for the soldiers I have no objection at all to using the army to *
genuinely* provide people with infrastructure.  Far better to have them
doing that than slaughtering overseas.

best regards

Gary

On Sun, Apr 6, 2008 at 11:29 PM, Lajany Otum <lajany_otum@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Gary,
> I was wondering if you have any observations to share on the Labor
> Government's military intervention in Australia's Northern Territory.
> Thanks,
> Lajany Otum
>
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