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Letters of 300-400 words are preferred.

Letters to the Editor:

Schools in need

I have written this letter to expose the unreasonable manner 
in which Duncraig Senior High School's funding is being 
spent.

The students at the school have to study in a dirty environment 
riddled with bent chairs, vandalised tables — on some of which 
the tops are removed — and faulty science equipment. 

Our school is covered in graffiti, not only in the bathrooms, but 
also on the tables, chairs, and in some cases, on the carpeting. 
The computers we have to use are obsolete, and have outdated 
software.

Between 50 classrooms, we have 5 DVD players — a ratio of 1:10 -
- and the others have VCR's with small TV's which are difficult 
to see from the back of the room.

Although most of these issues are difficult to prevent, they can 
be repaired, and this leads to my motive in writing this letter. 
These problems are not being resolved, even though the canteen 
prices are rising faster than the sun at dawn.

For example, the price of Supashakes has crept from $1.70 to 
$2.40 over a four-year period, an increase of 41 percent.

This additional 70c per sale could easily fund school 
maintenance, yet no change has been seen. Instead, many teachers 
carry laptops, and three new offices are being added to the 
administration block. The society and environment block has also 
undergone internal renovations, the benefits of these, however, 
stopping at the staff.

Comrades, I am not implying that the staff are to blame, rather I 
am trying to prove that the students should have an input via a 
few representatives, towards the financial situation, rather than 
the decisions be made by the elite few.

Michael Sarich
Perth, WA

The Cyprus reconciliation process is moving forward as the 
Cyprus Republic government continues to provide measures to 
support the development of contacts and economic relations with 
Turkish Cypriots. Despite the obstacles, contacts between the two 
communities are increasing and efforts to promote a solution are 
continuing encouraged by the Cyprus Government's actions towards 
Turkish Cypriots.

The Cyprus Government has announced a series of new measures 
regarding the movement of goods and public-use vehicles of 
Turkish Cypriots to the government controlled areas. The package 
of measures will exempt Turkish Cypriots from registering or 
paying VAT when they sell their merchandise in the southern part 
of the Republic and also grant, free of charge, a temporary 
driving licence to Turkish Cypriots, as well as temporary road 
service to vehicles, which will be valid for one year.

"With the application of these measures, the economic and trade 
relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots will be developed, 
which is one of the goals of the government of the Republic of 
Cyprus", the Minister of Commerce George Lillikas said.

In a recent statement the Cyprus Government spokesman Mr Kypros 
Chrysostomides said, "the Greek Cypriot side had proven its 
intentions for a solution to the Cyprus problem and reunification 
of Cyprus by its policy to reduce military tensions and implement 
measures for collaborating and working together with the Turkish 
Cypriots".

The government spokesman also stressed that the Greek Cypriot 
side was willing to show flexibility in efforts for a solution, 
but it could not backtrack from the ultimate goal, which was the 
overturning of the existing situation and the attainment of a 
"wise and just" settlement to the Cyprus problem.

The government spokesman further pointed out that the measures 
for Turkish Cypriots aimed at facilitating a settlement through 
the economic integration of the island and not at creating 
conditions for crystallising the division.

Cyprus Chargi d'affaires to the UN Andreas Hadjichrysanthou in a 
letter to the UN General Assembly stressed that though technical 
in nature these measures, "still have valuable political 
ramifications, in that they are in line with and contribute to 
the successful implementation of the EU policy to facilitate the 
reunification of the island by encouraging economic integration 
and the improvement of contacts between the two communities".

The EU reaction to the new measures has been encouraging and 
positive. These measures are in addition to other existing 
support procedures already in place that mostly serve Turkish 
Cypriots, but also assist the aims of bringing together the two 
communities and to improve co-operation.

Like many others I hope these heartening initiatives continue to 
grow and deepen the trust and unity of the people of Cyprus.

The success of which will serve the common objective of the 
reunification of the country.

Steven Katsineris
Hurstbridge. Vic

Today I received a letter from Amanda Vanstone.

She says, "We should not allow the debate about failed asylum 
seekers who arrived unauthorised by boats to detract from 
Australia's generous and compassionate refugee program".

Amanda, if you use solitary confinement, indefinite detention, 
intimate body searches, tear gas as part of the way we treat 
asylum seekers, then of course it will take a little of the gloss 
off any good things we do!!!

Are we helping Sudanese in order to atone for what we do to 
Afghans?

Elaine Smith
West Haven, NSW