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What They Sow, We Reap!!
February 20, 2001
Sir/Madam,
Time was when the silver haired guru mounted the platforms of the ULF, NATUC and others and preached the message of Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi, according to him.
The words "civil disobedience" slid off his silvery tongue with such rapidity since 1975 almost as often as "parasitic oligarchy" did in later years.
Apparently, as quickly as he has erased the "o" word from his vocabulary, having taken on the role of their finest representative, so too civil disobedience has been redefined in his new credo as an evil to be exorcised by terror.
On Sunday morning, the same civil disobedience which he championed for years was only threatened by his self-confessed supporter and confidant of recent vintage on a radio programme.
Immediately, the chief servant of the most rapacious sections of the oligarchy that is the real power behind his throne, was demanding strong action against "civil disobedience".
His instant move to threats of draconian action to any perceived opposition has become one of the hallmarks of his regime. After all, one could not represent the most brutal sections of the financial oligarchy and not reflect their nature in one's own politics.
Witness the list of legislation passed over the last 5 years making it more difficult to mount demonstrations or even hold public meetings, introducing summary dismissal in the civil service and other incursions into the people's right to actively participate in the politics of protest.
Witness also the terrorist actions against protesting workers. "No work, no pay!" unless you happen to be part of a section that is targeted to be mobilised in support of the rising sun gang. Trade unionists charged for disturbing a Minister's peace and the strongest possible injunction effectively outlawing trade union activity in WASA.
"Take it to the police!" became the new mantra, making every social, political issue a matter of "law and order".
All of this pointed to an even more draconian period of rule following the elections.
The disruption of the unity of the trade union movement, the disarming and buying over of several other organisations with promises and dollars have also been part of the preparation.
Now, "civil disobedience" has become intolerable to one who more than most has popularised it over many years is to be suppressed.
Not that the other gang still fighting to replace the sunrise crew would do anything different. Remember their election promise of militarisation as the way to treat with the effects of social decay among the youth!
This threat was not directed merely against the person who used the words on Sunday.
It is meant as a threat against all those who continue to fight for the interests of their collectives in the society, including the workers, the communities who persist in embarrassing protests for water and other amenities and all other sections of the people who use their numbers to get their point across.
The seeds of terrorist rule have been sown over the last 5 years - the strengthening of repressive legislation, the re-arming of the police and other forces, the sowing of division among the people, disruption of the unity of the trade union movement, the increasing demand for "law and order".
The people must now be on their P's and Q's and defend what is left of their right to secure their own interest.
HOMEPAGE
Copyright © Clyde Weatherhead
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