Readers are invited to submit letters to The Guardian.
Letters may be e-mailed to guardian@cpa.org.au.
Letters of 300-400 words are preferred.

Letters to the Editor:

Putting workers in chains

With the diversion being created by the ALP and the Government 
going on about such claptrap as "mentoring boys to provide father 
figures" it may be easy to forget the real agenda of both major 
parties is to put workers and their unions in chains. The ruling 
class hasn't for a second abandoned this goal as the economics 
editor of The Australian newspaper, Alan Wood, made clear 
last week.

In his column Wood took a pot shot at the Melbourne broadsheet 
The Age over its dispute with the Australian Manufacturing 
Workers' Union, which had a picket on the Age's printing plant in 
Melbourne.

Wandering from safe ground to take a stab at creative writing, 
Wood tried to use sarcasm and irony to pour derision on the Age 
staff, calling them a "union-hugging" collective now faced 
with union action (irony, get it?).

This playful thrust and parry at a rival paper seemed rather off 
the subject of the economy, but it transpired that Wood was only 
using it as a springboard to launch an attack on the union 
movement.

He whinged about the "failure" of the police to "enforce the rule 
of law" against unions, and cited what for him was the "most 
notorious example" of union action, the 1998 waterfront dispute 
(which was in fact a Government/employer attempt to destroy the 
Maritime Union).

Outrage fairly pouring from his keyboard, Wood accused waterfront 
workers of using "violence, destruction of property and threats 
to kill". Wood wants Victoria's Labor Government to get behind 
the police to encourage them to attack unionists taking 
industrial action otherwise "corporate Australia might take the 
view the state is returning to the industrial dark ages."

Wood even claims federal Labor intends to scrap the Howard 
Government's anti-union legislation.

This, then, is that dried up old cliche that unions are 
destroying the economy. So much for creative writing, Alan. But 
he, as a mouthpiece for the ruling class, is nonetheless deadly 
serious, as are his masters.

As the economic crisis becomes more entrenched and the class 
contradictions become sharper they will come out more in the open 
with their plans for organised labour. They haven't put all those 
anti-union laws in place for nothing.

Nathan Barnes
Brisbane, Qld

It is a pleasure to pick up a Guardian on Campbell 
Street. There is always much in it that I personally agree with. 
To keep an independent publication going, in the current climate 
of anti-humanitarian parrotry and empty punditry, is no mean 
feat.

We remember Hannah Middleton's invaluable help in past protests, 
when East Timor was under Indonesian military occupation.

We recently lost our convenor, Dr Andrew McNaughtan, a hero of 
our times, admired by many in East Timor.

For years, Timor was his life. Recently he campaigned against the 
"generous" stealing of East Timor's oil. He helped make an 
excellent 18-minute documentary last year, called DON'T STEAL OUR 
FUTURE on the standover tactics which means that Australia is 
getting 60 per cent of the revenue from East Timor's oil.

Typical of this Howard Government to divorce itself from 
international law to decide the seabed boundary issue that makes 
this theft possible.

On the April 21 we are holding a memorial concert for Andy, 
Sydney Town Hall 7-11pm, with proceeds going to the Alola 
Foundation in Timor.

Alola helps the many women traumatised in that country.

Sydney readers, please support it. Like all events organised by 
the indefatigable Jeff Lee, it will be a night to remember.

Stephen Langford

(Secretary Australia East Timor Association, NSW)

and Kate Finsterer, Toni Pollard, John Bell, Jean Lopez, Jeff 
Lee, Gai Smith, Brendan Doyle, Kathleen Riggs

I am writing about the dilemma of all those genuine refugees 
on Australian visas that are temporary. Their life here is 
torment and in the national interest, the torture must end. After 
three years and more, living peacefully among us, we know them as 
good people and good workers who should be allowed to stay.

A 40-year-old Iraqi refugee in my community died last week. The 
death certificate may say "cardiac arrest" but all who knew him 
say he died of a broken heart, his physical and mental health 
broken by four years of intense grief and shame, and the forced 
separation from his beloved family in Iraq who looked to him as 
their provider and protector. His four years in Australia were 
hell on earth, his suffering unbelievable.

The current policy results in many of the nearly 9000 refugees on 
temporary protection visas suffering and being medicated for 
severe anxiety — men, women and children. As well, tens of 
thousands of Australians personally involved with this national 
tragedy are experiencing vicarious trauma, bewildered by the 
continuing inhumane actions of our Government. We share the pain 
of our refugee friends.

May mercy, kindness and compassion be restored, and quickly.

Frederika Steen
Volunteer worker Romero 
Centre,
Brisbane 

We would like to congratulate you on your decision to visit 
Pine Gap. As you visit this military facility, we would like to 
draw some facts to your attention.

Pine Gap was established in secrecy, without the knowledge or 
consent of the Australian people.

It has continued to operate in secrecy, largely without the 
knowledge and consent of this country's parliamentarians.

The Australian Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Treaties 
has complained that MPs are kept in the dark about Pine Gap. 
Although members of the US Congress have visited Pine Gap and 
received classified briefings about its functions, the Treaties 
Committee is "entrusted with less information than can be found 
in a public library".

When Pine Gap was established, the Australian people were told 
that it was for space research. Subsequently it was revealed that 
in fact it was a CIA-run intelligence gathering and surveillance 
— spy — base. Later the CIA was joined by two other United 
States intelligence agencies, the NSA and NRO.

In addition to its surveillance role, it has become clear over 
the years that Pine Gap has important war fighting functions, 
including target identification, missile early warning, 
monitoring communications and troop movements, and photographic 
surveillance.

Pine Gap was a vital element in United States military actions in 
Afghanistan and in the first and second invasions of Iraq.

An important part of your recent statements to the Australian 
people has been the question you ask: "Is it in the interests of 
Australia and Australians?"

We clearly say that Pine Gap is not in Australia's interests. But 
how can the Australian people take a decision on this issue when 
they are not allowed to know anything about Pine Gap.

We call on you to make a commitment to the Australian people 
that, should you become Prime Minister, a full and public enquiry 
will be held into the role of Pine Gap.

Denis Doherty
National Co-ordinator
Australian Anti-
Bases Campaign Coalition