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As comrades will know, the Australian right wing - Tories and right ing Labour — have denounced the claim by the Indonesians to sovoreignty over West Irian (so-called Dutch New Guinea),Sokacrno has been compared to Hitler and very angry noises wore made when the Indonesians said they would invade West Irian, The following report, shortened from International, Australian journal of the Fourth International, throws an interesting light on their attitudes
New legislation passed in Port Moresby has granted New Guinea natives the right to form trade unions — but before colebrating this event it is . wrth ..:’ noti ng two foatures in particular of these unions:
34 They are under the control of the Governnont's Labour Department.
2) All industrial claims are to be prepared by tho Government's
Public Solicitor,
These features suggest, not independent workers! organisations, but the Government—controlled Labour Front of Hitlor Germeny. hey reflect the Common= wealth Government's absolute hostility to any self-development of the New Guinea people, to any initiative, any tendency to take steps which are not rigidly control— led by the Administration at every stsge, This hostility has shown itself as the most consistent clement in Administration policy, despite all the pious words of Hasluck and lionzies about the need to work towrds self-determination, "better socner than later", etc, It was primarily for his encouragement of native initiative in a co-operative that Brian Cooper was "framed"...on a phoney ‘sedition! chargo.ovs it was the independent stand of the of the ..native-—formed welfare body that brought the savage retribu tion handed out to the Buka Islanders...(a total of 135 years gaol} |