Press Release From The Parliament O

[kurd-l at burn.ucsd.edu]

From: Arm The Spirit <ats at locust.cic.net>
Subject: Press Release From The Parliament Of Kurdistan In Exile

Press Release From The Parliament Of Kurdistan In Exile

The Parliament Of Kurdistan In Exile Holds Its Meeting In Oslo,
Norway As Australian Bureaucrats Persist With Toadying And
Servile Demeanour! 

     Members of the Parliament of Kurdistan in Exile held their
latest quarterly meeting in Oslo where they were warmly welcomed
by many Norwegian parliamentarians, human rights activists, civic
and community leaders as well as ordinary citizens. Since its
formation in April 1995, the Parliament has met in Vienna,
Moscow, Copenhagen and Rome where caring people have expressed
their support for the Parliament's primary mission to find a
peaceful solution to the senseless persecution of the Kurds by
brutally repressive regimes controlling Kurdistan.
     The Turkish foreign ministry protested the gathering in Oslo
and hinted at adverse impacts on trade between Norway and Turkey.
In response, the Norwegian foreign ministry spokesman in polite
but no uncertain terms said, "We have freedom of expression and
assembly in our country." That was enough to shut up the Turkish
foreign ministry officials.
     In a dramatic contrast to this development, the Australian
bureaucrats in Paris shamelessly exhibited their toadying and
servile demeanour towards the likes of Saddam Hussein and the
murderous gang of Turkish generals by refusing a visa to the
Deputy Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament to attend a conference
at Deakin University in Melbourne. Efforts to find out why has so
far produced some bureaucratic gobbledygook to the effect that
his presence in Australia might prejudice Australia's relations
with a foreign country.
     The attitudes of the Australian bureaucrats in Paris and the
Norwegian spokesman perhaps reflect the two countries' respective
histories. These days the mention of Scandinavia brings to mind
glamorous blondes rather than fierce Vikings. Yet, the
Scandinavians are, of course, the descendants of the Vikings who
did not nurture a culture of kissing shoes to get what they
wanted! In the penal colony of Australia, on the other hand,
cringing became a survival technique when standing up for what
was right and just brought swift and painful punishment. Quite
likely, this is what the late Australian historian Mr. Manning
Clark had in mind when, in a gross generalisation, he described
Australians as "cretins".
     It is foolish, of course, to suggest that all or even the
majority of Australians approve of toadying and servile demeanour
so shamelessly exhibited by the Australian bureaucrats in Paris.
These bureaucrats prefer to keep the Australians in the dark by
preventing a Kurdish leader from coming to Australia to inform
interested Australians of what is really happening in the Middle
East. Apologists for the likes of Saddam Hussein and the Turkish
generals have, of course, no trouble with entering and leaving
Australia as they please.
     We live in the hope that what makes the Australian
Ambassador in Paris, Mr. R. Hilman, and the Principal Migration
officer, Ms. Julia Niblett, choose to be partners in crimes with
Saddam Hussein and the Turkish generals against the Kurdish
people will some day come to light - and be dealt with at once by
all fair-minded fellow Australians!

November 26, 1996

For further info please contact:

Ms. Ajda Yurdakul
Assistant to the Hon. E. Bawermend
Parliament of Kurdistan in Exile

----
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2623 Connecticut Avenue NW #1
Washington, DC 20008-1522

Tel: (202) 483-6444
Fax: (202) 483-6476
E-mail: akin at kurdish.org
Home Page: http://www.kurdistan.org
----

The American Kurdish Information Network (AKIN) provides a public
service to foster Kurdish-American understanding and friendship.

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