THE COMING INDONESIAN EXPLOSION IN AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE

by Eric Butler
The relative ease with which illegal immigrants from Asia have been arriving in Australia highlights the significance of a comment attributed to an Indonesian military leader by former West Australian Independent MP and leader of the Australia First political movement, Graeme Campbell, that in the event of Indonesia being threatened with major civil disorders, Australia could be involved by Indonesians in a Camp of the Saints scenario, the Indonesians arriving, not as a part of a military invasion, but as refugees whom Australians would be loathe to shoot.
Already large numbers of desperate Indonesians have fled to Malaysia, and some to Singapore.

Unless some type of a miracle occurs, the current Indonesian President, B.J. Habibe, will be defeated at the coming elections. The lack of a vote of confidence in a man generally regarded as a transitional leader will create a situation in which the Indonesian armed forces will assume their traditional role as the major Indonesian stable force. As yet it is not clear that the armed forces have a coherent policy under one leader. Disagreement in the armed forces could lead to a major power struggle and widespread civil war, with a worsening economic crisis.

In order to understand what is possible in the future, it is essential to be clear that Indonesia is a type of artificial creation, which emerged following the overthrow of Dutch colonial rule. The break up of the Dutch East Indies Empire took place in a post-Second World War period when the policy makers in the USA aided and abetted the anti-colonial strategy of the Marxist controllers of the Soviet Empire.

Relatively few people in the West had grasped the far-reaching significance of the Stalin thesis on Marxism and the Colonial Question. Even fewer people grasped the relationship between International Finance and International Communism, primarily because of a failure to understand that real history is much more than a series of disconnected episodes.

Occasionally, of course, like a tree falling into a stream, the main flow of events is diverted individuals emerge who resist the stream. One of these was Dr. Salazar, President of Portugal, who arrived on the political stage when secular liberalism was the dominating force in Western Europe. Salazar was a devout Christian of the Roman Catholic faith. He was anathema to the internationalists, not only refusing to participate in the erosion of the concept of the European nations retreating from their colonised possessions, but, even worse, he refused to borrow from the international financiers.

In the Portuguese free colonies of Mozambique and Angola the Portuguese rejected both the South African philosophy of separate development (apartheid) and the Rhodesian philosophy of advancement on merit. The official Portuguese racial philosophy was one of assimilado. The Portuguese attitude played a major role in assisting Rhodesia in its early days of independence. Mozambique was the lifeline for Rhodesian oil supplies. The Rhodesians always had a type of love-hate relationship with South Africa, but while not endorsing the Portuguese policy of "assimilado", Rhodesia never visualised that Portugal would change direction.

I was in the Rhodesian Foreign Office on the morning that the news came through of the coup in Lisbon, which eventually led to the Portuguese major policy change, and the Rhodesians were shocked. The Portuguese change of direction not only had far reaching implications throughout Africa, but also in Timor. The current situation had its roots in the attempted Communist coup in Indonesia, a coup, which helped, increase the Indonesian dislike of their Chinese majority. The Indonesians were aware of Communist sponsored activities in Timor under the Fremlin movement and with the collapse of Portuguese authority were not prepared to allow a Communist inspired government to take over in East Timor. They therefore moved in and, understandably, forcefully annexed East Timor. Australia, under the Whitlam Government, was not equipped in any way, politically, economically or militarily, to make any realistic contribution in the crisis.

East Timor is now the flashpoint of an explosive situation and the central question is whether Australia is any better equipped than it was at the beginning of the developing situation in Indonesia. Now, more than ever, Australia needs a vigorous policy of creative nationalism. This could result in Australia giving realistic leadership.

REFERENDUM IDEA SPREADS

by Jeremy Lee
An article in The Australian (21/5/99) gave details of the shock resignation of the whole of Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok's Cabinet. Whether this will result in a totally new Cabinet or parliamentary elections remains to be seen. The issue, which brought this dramatic resignation, was the failure, by one vote in the upper house, to pass a Bill for the introduction of Citizens' Initiated Referenda. The Bill had been sponsored by the D66 Party, the junior party in the Coalition, which had formed government under Wim Kok.
"... The Bill would have permitted citizens to decide certain economic and social issues, such as whether to join the European Union's common currency... Senior Liberal Party member Hans Wiegel voted against the measure on Wednesday arguing it was flawed because it would give the public too much power over government policy, particularly on issues involving European and inter-national affairs. All other Liberal Party members of the upper chamber voted in favour of the Bill... The crisis comes at an awkward time for The Netherlands, which is a member of NATO and has committed forces to the alliance's air campaign against Yugoslavia..."

There can be no overestimating the arrogance of some elected representatives - at national, state or local level - who believe they have sufficient wisdom to make all decisions without reference to those who elected them. As we now see, this can run as far as giving away the sovereignty of the country in question. We are going to see more and more of this obstructionism against the peoples' will as an increasing number in each country begins to realise the totalitarian nature of global and regional policies being foisted on them. The struggle between people and their governments intensifies daily. But the ever-increasing understanding will one day break through. When it does, the right of citizens to direct their governments by binding referendums will be a prominent part of the democratic armory.

Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged a referendum of the people before Britain accepted a common European currency, at the time of his election. He has not mentioned his election promise since, as the UK maneuvers for entry. (For a devastating exposure of the "regionalisation" programme currently being furtively developed in the UK, see Intelligence Survey for May.)

LONG ARM OF VENGEANCE

Some may not have heard of the infamous case of John Demjanjuk, who was extradited from the US to Israel in the eighties to stand trial as the notorious Ivan the Terrible, a brutal guard at Treblinka concentration camp during World War II. After languishing in an Israeli goal for five years, and being condemned to death on the evidence of eyewitnesses who identified him as the said Ivan, Demjanjuk was only released following the collapse of Communism, when records revealed conclusively that his had been a case of mistaken identity. His trial had been more like a lynch mob. One of his defending attorneys had acid poured over his face. Even after his innocence was proved there were those who believed he should be hanged anyway. It was subsequently shown that the US Justice Department had deliberately suppressed evidence, which might have released Demjanjuk much earlier.

The Australian (2 1/5/99) reported that the US Justice Department is again renewing its 22-year-old campaign to strip the 79-year-old Demjanjuk of his US citizenship and have him deported: "... The Department's Office of Special Investigations, which was criticised by a US appellate court for 'reckless' withholding of evidence that might have cleared Demjanjuk in an earlier case, on Wednesday, filed a new complaint in the US District Court in Cleveland, where the 79-year-old retiree lives... The Government dropped its previous claim that Demjanjuk was a guard known as 'Ivan the Terrible' who operated a gas chamber at Treblinka. Demjanjuk escaped a death penalty in Israel in 1993 when evidence arose of mistaken identity..."

MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Another shipload of illegal immigrants has been caught, this time just off Wollongong. We can only wonder how many have been undetected. The Wollongong incident was followed by another, when two boats containing 32 illegal immigrants were apprehended off Australia's northwest coast.

The Australian (21/5/99) reported: "... Mr. Ruddock revealed the number of people arriving illegally by boat had tripled in the past financial year - 157 people arrived by boat in 1997-98, compared with 534 this financial year. "'This is an increase of more than 240 percent and the year is not yet over,' Mr. Ruddock said. "The number of people illegally infiltrating Australia by air had increased by more than a third, with 2,100 people expected to arrive this financial year compared with 1555 in 1997-98..."

ONE BANK OWNS UP

Finally, one of the "gang-of-four" has conceded some irresponsibility in its closure of banks in rural areas. Mr. Michael Hawker, Westpac's group executive for Business and Consumer Banking, has acknowledged that the rush to close bank branches had been a mistake, breaking the social contract with the community. The Australian (20/5/99) revealed: "…Between 1990 and 1998, 1,306 banks shut their doors across Australia - 408 of them in country areas - while 1,345 agencies were shut, 1,071 outside major cities..."

Apologies notwithstanding, Australians in both city and country have discovered there is something they can do when deserted by the big players. Community branch banking is becoming increasingly popular. It is safe to say that those who have taken this step will not be going back to the gang-of-four.

WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING WITH GOLD?

Reports a week or two back said the Bank of England was selling 415 tonnes of gold, or 60 percent of its reserves. The gold price, which had been threatening to escalate, slumped dramatically, dropping to the lowest level in 20 years. Michael West, in an intriguing article in The Weekend Australian (15-16/5/99) drew attention to a number of instances where Central Banks had announced the imminent sale of gold reserves, depressing the price of gold, but had subsequently not sold. In the case of the Bank of England, it was announced after the price collapse that it would only be selling 125 tonnes by March 2000, and the rest over the course of time - which could mean anything. Private companies, which did what Central Banks appear to be doing, in this case would be charged with market manipulation. Central Banks, it appears, are above the law.

Hong Kong-based forecaster and investment analyst Dr. Marc Faber, writing in The Australian Financial Review (17/5/99), besides forecasting a big rise in the price of gold as economies deteriorate, commented: "... The whole world believes that the central bankers are so smart they can steer the world economy forward and backwards. Nobody can steer any market... It's a paradox in my opinion that at a time when everyone knows the planned economies have failed that there is so much faith in central bankers. I think central bankers will bring the system to the brink..."

As Robert Rubin makes a timely exit from the US Treasury - presumably to return to Goldman Sachs & Co. - and Federal Reserve head Alan Greenspan murmurs about necessary interest-rate increases in the US, we should be looking for lifebelts in the turbulent financial waters ahead.

ASIAN MONETARY FUND

WILL THE DEMOCRATS CRACK?

As we go to press, the future of Mr. Howard's GST swings in the balance. The Democrat Senators upon whom Mr. Howard and Treasurer Costello depend have not yet made their decision. As we see it, there are five options open to the Democrats:
a) Vote against the GST. Just say No.
b) Insist on so many changes that the Prime Minister himself decides to refuse to accommodate the Democrats, ensuring the defeat of the GST legislation.
c) Permit the GST to pass the Senate, getting the best possible 'deal' for the disadvantaged.
d) make no immediate decision, but consult with their membership.
e) Leave each Democrat Senator free to vote on conscience.

Our responsibility as constituents is to let our representative know what we want. The Democrats not only have a party membership to consult, but a voting constituency. It is the voters who pay their salary. But the voters must speak up. That's you and me. If only one Democrat decides to vote against the GST, the legislation fails. Of course, this applies to the Coalition as well: all Coalition Senators should be informed of our requirements. Give them the chance to represent us, rather than the party.

As time passes, it becomes ever clearer that the GST does not have popular support. It becomes ever clearer that Mr. Howard's "mandate" claim is fairytale stuff, designed to appeal to the unthinking sheep who are quite prepared to have their minds made up for them. It makes our task all the more important - speak up now, or hold your peace on the GST. The facsimile numbers of the Democrat Senators in Canberra are as follows. We urge supporters to use them, particularly for Senators in your own State.

The Democrat Senators presently in the Parliament are:
Meg Lees (leader, South Australia): (02) 6277 3996;
Natasha Stott Despoja (S.A.): (02) 6277 3235;
Vicki Bourne (NSW): (02) 6277 3815;
John Woodley (QLD): (02) 6277 3725;
Andrew Bartlett (Qld): (02) 6277 3791;
Lyn Allison (Vic): (02) 6277 3087; and
Andrew Murray (W.A.): (02) 6277 3767.

IN BRIEF

The NSW Drug Summit has provided Premier Bob Carr with the support he needs to liberalise the State's drug laws. One of the measures proposed is to provide supervised "shooting galleries", where addicts can inject themselves 'in safety'. The legalisation of marijuana is also an option on the table. What was not addressed is the inconsistency in approach to drug taking. For example, every effort is made to discourage cigarette smoking as disgusting, a health risk, and socially unacceptable. But is injecting heroin to become socially acceptable? One woman who injected a little reality was Margaret McKay, whose son died of a methadone overdose. "My view is the view of the silent majority out there," she said. "My view is the view of the ordinary people not academics... Some academics make people like me out to be the Gestapo, as if we want all these addicts locked up. The only place I want them locked up is in rehabilitation centres, prison programmes where rehabilitation is the focus, or on farms where they can get their lives together."

* * * * * *

The welcome for the Kossovar refugees who are being offered a "temporary" haven in Australia is typical of the generous, tolerant Australian response to victims of war, famine or disaster. No effort is too great to ensure that these 4,000 refugees will be offered whatever comfort and security is available. But what about the homeless in Australia? Estimates are that in the lucky country we have something like 240,000 homeless people, from run-away children to entire families who share homes with others. This is approximately the same number of Albanian Kossovars who have fled their homes in Yugoslavia. Many of the Australian homeless are victims of the same global power-wielders who are supporting the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. In our case it is financial and economic aggression in the form of the global market. The tactics might be different, but the strategy is the same: make them dependent on international agencies for their survival. When we have finished comforting the Kossovar refugees (who are at least European) can we do something sensible for our own homeless? We don't need to import people to fill homes.

* * * * * *

Perhaps to demonstrate how gullible most of our 'leading' corporate wiz-kids are, the Australian Institute of Management is hosting the "World Masters of Business" seminars just now. Keynote speakers include Mikhail Gorbachev (late of the Soviet Union), General Norman Schwarzkopf and Al "Chainsaw" Dunlap. We just wonder about their personal qualifications for offering advice. Gorbachev presided over the transition from Communism to chaos in the former Soviet Union. As head of the US armed forces, General "Stormin' Norman" Schwarzkopf led the United Nations "Desert Storm" invasion of Kuwait and Iraq, to deal with Saddam Hussein. Schwarzkopf is now 'retired', but Hussein is still very much in control of an Iraq under economic sanctions, which produces the deaths of something like 5,000 Iraqi children per month. Some victory. As for Al Dunlap, the feared corporate "downsizer" was famously "downsized" himself when his services were no longer required in Australia. Their seminar is well attended, although front-row seats at $5,000 each are still available. What do they have in common? All are globalists, and all have served their globalist masters faithfully. To be internationally feted is one of the rewards of having done so!