A-Infos (en) evil:austria 1001

[Rosa Antifa Wien <raw@raw.at>]

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      A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
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Welcome to the new edition of evil:austria!

This time it doesn't have a topical emphasis but covers a wide range 
of issues. The most important things during the last month for 
Austrian home politics was the attacks against WTC and the respective 
attempts to draw political profit from this.

Once again, for newcomers, an explanation what this newsletter is 
about and why we produce it:

evil:austria is our monthly newsletter providing information about 
the situation in Austria (and regarding the consequences of FPOe/OeVP 
government). We decided to produce this newsletter since we realized 
that knowledge regarding the actual situation in Austria is not very 
widespread abroad. The government, after discussions about 
EU-"sanctions" against Austria were dropped, succeeded in removing 
the daily insanity from the attention of the international public. 
Meanwhile "sanctions" have been lifted, which almost all political 
groups here celebrated as a victory, and the "interest" taken in the 
development in Austria has decreased even more. The "normalisation" 
of the right-wing/right-extreme government continues, and therefore 
information about the aggravation of the situation in Austria is even 
more important. It is therefore highly desired that you spread this 
newsletter as widely as possible, so that as many people as possible 
get to know about the situation in Austria. So please spread, spread, 
spread this. Of course you may also use this material (also in 
excerpts) for magazines and papers, but we would be glad if you sent 
us a short mail in this case.

Any criticism and comments please send to (if possible, please write 
in German and English):

raw@raw.at

Enjoy reading the newsletter!


<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ;begin contents >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

****************************************************************
[1] "Solving problems" a la Austria
****************************************************************
[2] Asylum seekers meet extreme right
****************************************************************
[3] Fraternity event with prominent guests
****************************************************************
[4] Everybody against Islam
****************************************************************
[5] Haider's suggestions
****************************************************************
[6] Calling for observation
****************************************************************
[7] Flunked!
****************************************************************
[8] Consistent economizing
****************************************************************
[9] "Integration" backdated
****************************************************************
[10] Carinthia as an experimental laboratory
****************************************************************
[11] Unexpected obstacles re telephone observation....
****************************************************************
[12] Homophobe statement
****************************************************************
[13] Consistent electoral defeat
****************************************************************
[14] Scandals a la Austrian
****************************************************************
[15] An Austrian token....
****************************************************************

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ;end contents >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


****************************************************************
[1] "Solving problems" a la Austria
****************************************************************
  A prison guard was accused of raping a womyn and of sexual 
harassment of another womyn, both in detention to be deported. The 
guard was spared an occurence in court: both wymyn were not able to 
give evidence as they had been deported meanwhile. Therefore, 
investigations against officer were closed "without result".

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[2] Asylum seekers meet extreme right
****************************************************************

In one of his speeches a la "but we're really nice", Chancellor 
Schuessel assured that every single appeal for asylum was taken 
serious in Austria. Those who know the Austrian government will know 
to which extent this statement is true - zero, nada. This time, 
however, word spread until
Pakistan where Afghan refugees were waiting to leave the area. 
Therefore they gathered in front of the Austrian embassy in Islamabad 
to ask for asylum. At some point in time, the Austrian ambassador, 
Walter Howadt, decided the embassy's security was endangered and had 
the asylum applicants bashed away by Pakistani police. Howadt 
expressed his satisfaction with this police action. Which is small 
wonder, since Howadt is not an unknown: He used to be editor of "Neue 
Freie Zeitung" [New Free Newspaper] which is the party organ of FPOe, 
and thanks to several racist statements, Howadt also made an entry in 
the "Handbook of the Austrian Extreme Right" - quite the appropriate 
person for a job like this....


(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[3] Fraternity event with prominent guests
****************************************************************

The nationalist students' fraternity "Academic Landsmannschaft 
Carinthia in Vienna" invited to an event for their 100th anniversary 
from October 19- 21 to the town of Klagenfurt. One highlight of the 
event is the "festive academy" organised in cooperation with the 
"Verband Freiheitlicher Akademiker Kaernten" [Association of liberal 
university graduates] planned for Saturday. During this event and 
with Otto Scrinzi (editor of extreme right mag "Aula") as a 
chairperson, several persons will speak about "EU region, Volk, 
state" - like Joerg Haider, Josef Feldner (chairperson of Carinthian 
"Heimatdienst"), and Johanna Christian Grund.

Grund is well known in the extreme right scene: in 1989, she was 
elected into European Parliament and was vice chairperson of the 
German Republicans. After some infighting, she left the parliamentary 
party, but remained as an independent MP until 1994. Grund was and is 
published in all central extreme right publications (Aula, 
Eckartbote, Nation & Europa, Staatsbriefe etc.) and repeatedly spoke 
for "Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer demokratische Politik" and "Kulturwerk 
Oesterreich - Landesgruppe Kaernten". Grund positioned herself very 
clearly with writing for NPD party organ "Deutsche Stimme" [German 
Voice].

The speech at the "Kommers" in the evening will be held by the 
minister of social affairs, Herbert Haupt, senior member of the 
inviting fraternity.

(source: http://www.doew.at)

****************************************************************
[4] Everybody against Islam
****************************************************************
  Catholic Bishop Kurt Krenn (town of St. Poelten) thinks that Islam 
in Austria should be "observed more strictly" and believes "Islam is 
not a religious, but a political problem". According to his point of 
view, Christians have "a better measure of humynity" than Islam which 
was marked by "a certain fanatism and nationalism" and was "in 
opposition to human rights".

At the same time, the secretary of FPOe in this federal state, Herr 
Marchat, stirs up hatred against an Alawi cultural centre in St. 
Poelten which he characterizes as a "risk for security".

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[5] Haider's suggestions
****************************************************************

Carinthian head of federal state Joerg Haider (FPOe) wants EU only to 
accept asylum seekers from Europe. He thinks asylum applicants from 
Afghanistan e.g. can be "deposited" in a safe country like Pakistan. 
He also said that asylum applicants turned down and appealing against 
this decision might as well wait for further decisions in a safe 
country.

In this context, Joerg Haider and FPOe chairperson Peter Westenthaler 
attacked Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel (OeVP) because Schuessel 
allegedly held "security interests of the population" in less esteem 
as "applause from the so-called multi-culti society". In a press 
conference, Haider announced later on that "sentenced criminals, 
criminal elements" and persons endangered by capital punishment 
should not be regarded as refugees. According to Haider, the Geneva 
Convention should not be used as a "fig leaf by criminals and 
terrorists".

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[6] Calling for observation
****************************************************************

Vice-Chancellor Susanne Riess-Passer (FPOe) confirmed that asylum 
applicants have their finger prints taken since 1991. She contended 
it was now important to realize a EU data registrar for refugees and 
asylum applicants and, in a second step, to demand finger prints of 
all persons applying for visa or wishing to immigrate.

FPOe General Secretary Westenthaler shows even more consistence and 
demands finger prints from everybody.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[7] Flunked!
****************************************************************

Minister for Education Gehrer (OeVP) plans a "documentation of the 
education system". She wants to use national census data for a 
"person- oriented central evidence of education". Plans mean to 
delete information on individuals obtained while they were in school 
only 60 years (!) after the last entry (e.g. "unsatisfactory 
conduct") was added. These data are planned to be available to 
police, local authorities, job market advisors, and tax offices. 
Further plans intend to link these data via social insurance card 
numbers with all kinds of other information....

(source: http://www.orf.at)

****************************************************************
[8] Consistent economizing
****************************************************************

The federal state of Salzburg cut subsidies for "Asfalter", a 
magazine by homeless persons, by half. This means that this social 
project will most probably close down next year as they don't have 
alternative financial sources.

The government also economizes on state funds for the Refugee 
Commission, while UNHCR demands an increase of contributions by 100%. 
Austria ranks third in wealth in Europe, but in its support for UNHCR 
takes a meagre 26th rank.

The budget of AMS (job market service) will be cut by 20%. This will 
effect councelling of migrants, of persons heavily indebted as well 
as projects for the long-term unemployed. Experts warn that some of 
these projects will be closed down as a consequence.

Another project highly endangered is "Wiener Integrationshaus" 
[Vienna House of Integration] which offers various language and 
job-market courses for asylum applicants and refugees. These projects 
will not receive any further funding and therefore will not be 
offered any longer.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[9] "Integration" backdated
****************************************************************

The government has outlined the planned "integration agreement". 
Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel (OeVP) and Vice Chancellor Susanne 
Riess- Passer (FPOe) announced that this agreement will not only 
apply to future immigrants, but also to immigrants already living in 
Austria but unemployed as well as to employees in key branches and 
their relatives. Also persons applying for permanent stay permits 
will have to do "integration courses". Those failing to meet 
requirements of the courses which are compulsory under the 
"agreement" will face sanctions: fines, refusal of prolongation of 
stay permits or the refusal of permanent stay permits....

Tests will establish the knowledge of German and of Regional Studies 
- if also so-called "Austrians" had to pass this test, the result 
would be very amusing: Austria has a very high rate of functional 
analphabets - with just about knowledge to read (or look at the 
pictures of) a tabloid....

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[10] Carinthia as an experimental laboratory
****************************************************************

In March 2001, the former chemistry teacher Heiner Zechmann was 
appointed president of the Carinthian Board of School Inspectors by 
head of federal state Joerg Haider. Although no member of FPOe, 
Zechmann sees the necessity of emphasizing his "historically existing 
close relationship to the party" (in an interview with Kleine 
Zeitung, dd 3/22/2001).

Former students of his from the town of Villach report Zechmann 
repeatedly made sexist, racist, anti-semitic statements as well as 
statements and jokes playing down the Nazi era. During a boozing 
competition [translators note: fits nicely, as the name "Zechmann" 
can be translated as "Boozeman"], Zechmann is said to have reacted to 
students' reproaches of his being a fascist with a resolute 
"Jawohl!!!", laughing loudly.

Nevertheless, 53-year-old Zechmann enjoys the reputation of an 
excellent teacher, a good chemist and good organizer of international 
events. He has been awarded a silver medal for his merits, is a 
member of several commissions in the Ministry of Education working 
out curricula and he is responsible for decisions re grants for 
talented students in natural sciences.

A look at the website of the school he used to teach at, 
Peraugymnasium (http://www.peraugym.at) shows the environment which 
made Zechmann's statements possible: The entrance under the headline 
"School hystory" clearly seeks to play down the Nazi past.

****************************************************************
[11] Unexpected obstacles re telephone observation....
****************************************************************

... is what the Home Sec ran into: one provider keeps refusing to 
install  the necessary technology. The reason behind this is, of 
course, not a  discussion re basic rights but the fact the provider 
is expected to pay  for installations.

The Home Sec reacted and called the provider to "cooperate in an 
appropriate way to the wellbeing of people in our country" (!), but 
still  the provider refused. Now the provider was threatened with 
par. 111 of the  Law on Telecommunication which means they are 
indirectly being told their  licence may be revoked.

The process has been going on for some time already and every now and 
then  even causes a few smiles: Due to very frequent inquiries about 
phone  numbers by police, the provider installed a "hotline" under a 
0190 phone  number. But there's a problem with that: 0190 phone 
numbers are banned  from calls from all police stations. Reason: 
"Police investigations" at  various 0190 porn hotlines simply got too 
expensive....

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[12] Homophobe statement
****************************************************************

Austrian rightwing extremist Fred Duswald (Danubia fraternity, Aula) 
wrote  a comment for the rightwing Catholic magazine "Der 13." 
dealing with the  refusal of the status of victims to person 
persecuted by the NS regime due  to their sexual orientation: 
According to Duswald, this "keeps political  opponents from the shame 
to be placed on one level with non-political sex  criminals" (Der 
13., no 8-9/2001, p. 22)

Reproducing the stigmatizing NS diction, Duswald claims that 
"detention in  a concentration camp" was only meant to apply to 
"qualified sex  criminals". It was to be seen as a proof for the 
criminal character of  homosexuality "that no less than 86% of the 
queers in the camps had an  according criminal record". The life of 
homosexuals in camps was at stake,  Duswald claims, "because they, 
due to their sexuality being completely  against creational order, 
also are the most vulnerable group in freedom,  and their life 
expectancy thus naturally is only half of that of  heterosexuals".

(source: http://www.doew.at)

****************************************************************
[13] Consistent electoral defeat
****************************************************************

FPOe experienced a definite defeat in elections in Lower Austrian 
capital  St. Poelten. Not only were votes for FPOe cut by half 
compared to the  previous elections, thus ranking only fourth of the 
political parties  participating - they won't even be represented in 
the city council:  Following some infighting in St. Poelten's FPOe, 
all three persons elected  have left the party but will keep their 
mandates and stay in the city  council without party affiliation.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
[14] Scandals a la Austrian
****************************************************************

A year ago, police officer and former FPOe trade unionist Josef 
Kleindienst caused some commotion with his book "I confess". The book 
presented accusations against FPOe functionaries of having illegally 
obtained data from police computers and sparked off the informers' 
affair.  Over the months, this has become a typically Austrian 
"scandal" --- but  the informers' affair - thanks to interventions by 
Minister of inJustice  Boehmdorfer (FPOe) - came to nothing: slowly 
and one by one,  investigations against the accused FPOe members were 
dropped. Now,  investigations against Vienna FPOe chairperson Hilmar 
Kabas have been  dropped regarding "9 of a total of 13 spheres of 
facts".

(source: http://www.orf.at)

****************************************************************
[15] An Austrian token....
****************************************************************

Another biography has been published, on Austrian token scientist 
Konrad  Lorenz, a biologist, behavioural researcher, and Noble prize 
winner.

But time and again, Lorenz experienced accusations of having 
sympathized  with the NS regime - and time and again, he was defended 
from these  accusations. Lorenz himself and previous biographers have 
always dismissed  this as being part of the spirit of the times. Two 
Austrian scientific  journalists now give proof of Lorenz' closeness 
to the Nazis by material found in up to now not known letters, files 
and essays.

"We're all still slightly dizzy from the events of these last 
fortnight  (...) You can't imagine by far the enthusiasm which 
existed and still now  does exist. (...) I believe us Austrians 
actually to be the most sincere  and most convinced National 
Socialists". Lorenz wrote this in March 1938, short time after the 
so-called Austrian "joining".

In 1973, a Lorenz publication dated 1940 got dug out again in which 
Lorenz  propagates the profession of a "racial cultivator" whose task 
was the  "weeding out of ethically inferior persons". Simon 
Wiesenthal then called  upon Lorenz to renounce the Nobel prize. 
Lorenz' reaction was rather pale  on the one hand - he said he had 
only "taken over the Nazis terminology,  not their ideology" -, and 
pretty rude on the other: "Everyone who wants  to place me close to 
the Nazis is throwing dirt." But there was no  definite rejection of 
his old texts and Lorenz even deplored the change in  semantics - one 
couldn't even "use words like "inferior" in connection  with persons 
any longer or get under suspicion of pleading in favour of  gas 
chambers", he complained. Afterwards this story fell victim to the 
usual forgetfulness in Austria and only re-emerged shortly during the 
80ies, when Lorenz became a token in the environmental scene.

(source: http://www.orf.at and http://derstandard.at)

****************************************************************
EPILOGUE
****************************************************************

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So see you again,

NO PEACE WITH AUSTRIA !!!

Rosa Antifa Wien (RAW)


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