Welcome to the new edition of evil:austria!

We thought this issue would be very short indeed, due to the political life in Austria being more or less on the low side during the xmas season. The governing parties, however, have managed to produce a lot of material despite the festive season....

Soon (on February 4, to be precise) the government will have been in power for one year. Therefore, a massive demonstration is planned for February 3 in Vienna, plus an internation Day of Action against the Austrian government for the same day for which we have already sent out an info.
So: DO SOMETHING (please).

And now, for the newcomers, an explanation why we produce this newsletter:

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

Have fun!

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[1] Asylum politics cost another life
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[2] Haider intents to give orders to heads of schools
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[3] Repression against oppositional persons (1)
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[4] Repression against oppositional persons (2)
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[5] Language used by FPOe
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[6] The most important changes effected by the new Minister for infrastructure
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[7] Neonazis in Vienna
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[8] Beyond satire
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[9] Haupt against wymyn
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[10] Eva 2000
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[11] The FPOe-M.D. and the heroin
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[12] FPOe vs. judges and public prosecutors
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[13] Suspensions confirmed
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[14] Immunita cancelled
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[15] Minister of Justice vs. Public Prosecutors?
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[16] Charges dropped
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[1] Asylum politics cost another life
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At the end of September, Joerg Haider threatened OeVP Minister of Interior Strasser to "place refugees right in front of Traiskirchen". Haider thought that taking care of 48 Kosovar refugees was too much for Carinthia to cope with and therefore intended to send them to Lower Austrian refugee camp Traiskirchen. A typical Haider power play - humyn beings as a pawn for political machinations.

Which cost the life of a baby on November 28. A family went to Carinthian Traiskirchen (having received train tickets from Carinthian authorities) - once arrived, they were told that Traiskirchen was overcrowded already and were sent back. Waiting in the cold, a journey in a cold car, and a medical doctor who didn't bother about a baby spitting blood... The baby consequently died of pneumonia.

Once again, this proves the extent to which refugees are made a pawn for the racist interest of the different authorities. Nobody feels responsible and nobody is willing to take care of the refugees. Especially medical treatment is being neglected.

Criticism presented by Caritas or UNHCR isn't even being ignored, as an Austrian proverb puts it. When humyn beings die in a country which takes 8th rank among the rich countries, this is highly welcomed by some persons - especially since Haider demanded the "consistent elimination" of foreigners (cf. evil:austria 1100).

P.S.:
The extent of contempt shown by the government has been proved by its following actions: right after the burial of the child, the family was ordered to show up at the foreigners' police, the father was taken into deportation custody and the deportation of the entire family was being prepared.

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[2] Haider means to give orders to heads of schools
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Last October, Carinthian head of government Joerg Haider sent a letter to the parents of the more than 50,000 pupils in this federal state. The letter provided information about spending cuts allegedly necessary in the education budget.

The headmasters of some schools, however, were not prepared to act as postmyn for Haider and put the letters into the dustbin. Therefore, Haider ordered to have the unruly headmasters observed. There are already disciplinary actions against some of them who sent their own letters to parents.

So that's what's it like in Carinthia. If you aren't obedient to Haider, you'll just be punished.

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[3] Repression against oppositional persons (1)
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Using the term "resistance" is a criminal offence! At least in Austria: at a rally for OeVP election campaign (in which Bavarian Prime Minister Stoiber took part, too), a group of young persons protested, holding up pickets and shouting slogans. The activists were fought off and abused by the police. Police also prevented the documentation of these scenes. All 14 protesters now have been presented with a fine of a total of 75,600 Shillings (approx 5,700 EURO).

The reason given: "You have insulted public decency by shouting 'resistance, Stoiber is a racist, Stoiber is a fascist'Resistance is expensive in the land of the "industrious and decent" (favourite FPOe slogan).

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[4] Repression against oppositional persons (2)
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The Minister of Interior (OeVP) has announced a stricter course against protesters for this year. The regular Thursdays' demonstrations against the government is of course something the government does not like at all. Therefore Strasser announced: "These demonstration blocking the traffic must be stopped." We are apparently supposed to protest on the pavement in future, and to take to the streets will be a mere phrase. The streets seem to be reserved for cars (cf. evil:austria 1200). These measures of course only apply to persons opposed to the government - but the Czech borders most probably will still be blocked with the support of government and Haider-fans to protest against Czech nuclear power plant Temelin).

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[5] Language used by FPOe
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The language used by FPOe members at times leads to difficult situations. Although President Klestil did not do anything when Vienna FPOe chairman Hilmar Kabas called him a "Lump, Hump or probably Dump [lump = rogue] (cf. evil:austria 0600), Salzburg FPOe chairperson Schnell will not get off that easy. Since he called Klestil a rogue (cf. evil:austria 1200), he now faces juridical consequences after Klestil now having given his consent for according action.

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[6] Most important changes effected by new Minister for Infrastructure
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New Minister for Infrastructure Ms Forstinger (FPOe) started her term in offfice full of energy. Within only a few days, she initiated a few measures to improve national infrastructure: With immediate effect, employees in the Ministry are supposed to use "Arial" script only for all correspondence, and only 12-point size. Furthermore, employees may not use abbreviations so that Ms Forstinger will be in a position to understand everything. Female employees may not wear short skirts, and high heels have been prohibited, too. Ms Forstinger definitely started he job with full dedication!

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[7] Neonazis in Vienna
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Due to FPOe's government participation, rightwing extreme views become more and more socially accepted. Therefore, it is no wonder that founder and leader of Neonazi "Volkstreue Ausserparlamentarische Opposition VAPO" [Genuine People's Non-Parlamentarian Opposition] is active again. Gottfried Kuessel had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for Neonazi activities, but released on parole in summer 1999. In November, a meeting of approx 50 Nazis was busted by the police. Kuessel and his former vice president Gerd Endres were participating, too. Officers confiscated Nazi materials. It will be for the State Police to decide whether Kuessel violated his parole regulations by participating in this meeting. Media did not report this incident.

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[8] Beyond Satire
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FPOe-MP Eduard Mainoni reported to have spotted a graffiti on a pavement: "Vienna must become Pjoengjang". He was outraged: "This is an attempted comparison to the Vietnam war!" Ah so. FPOe not only re-writes hystory, but also geography ;-))))

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[9] Haupt against wymyn
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"Mr Wymyn's Minister" Haupt (FPOe) cut subventions for Independent Women's Forum UFF to a mere 20% of its former budget. Therefore Women's Forum will have to close its bureau. It is symptomatic for the government to punish dedicated feminist politics, creating a new form of Mutterkreuz politics [Third Reich awarded Mother's crosses to wymyn with many children] instead.

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[10] Eva 2000
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A nice example for this new Mother's Cross politics: in December, Joerg Haider honoured "Eva 2000", a womyn with 8 children. She received a golden ring and a Volkswagen Lupo as a reward.
Joerg Haider thus clarifies his views already expressed in a book published in 1993, titled "The Freedom I mean": "Feminist illusions of self-determination of career women and mothers have turned out to be a fatal mistake. ... We must encourage women to return to their foremost task of caring for their children and watching them grow up and become an efficient person".

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[11] The FPOe-M.D. and heroin
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Since years, FPOe demands a more restrictive drug policy ("No mercy for drug dealers"...). During a debate in Austrian parliament, FPOe spokesman on health now suggested to cut down the limit of drugs which is assumed to be the addict's personal use. In order to present according proof for the amount allowed now is way too much, he mentioned the amount he, as a medical doctor, gives a person suffering from cancer for pain therapy. Another MP then informed the FPOe spokesperson on health that doctors are not allowed to give patients heroin and put in a parliamentary inquiry to the spokesperson: "Where do you obtain the heroin you give your patients? Do you import it illegally?"

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[12] FPOe vs judges and public prosecutors
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1,300 judges and public prosecutors (more than 2/3 of a total of 1,800) protested against permanent attacks by FPOe in an "Open Letter for an Independent Justice". This was caused by FPOe-politician Westenthaler's demand to dismiss the public prosecutors and judge responsible for investigations in the so-called informer's affair. Westenthaler does not care about this letter at all and goes on like before. Barbara Helige, President of the Judges' Association, now commented, Westenthaler apparently did not get the message.

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[13] Suspension confirmed
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The suspensions of 8 police officers (members of FPOe Union AUF) during investigations in the informers' affair were confirmed. In another case, investigations are continued. FPOe, as could be expected, is outraged and calls this a "political tribunal".

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[14] Immunity cancelled
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The parliament of federal state Salzburg decided to cancel the parliamentary immunity of 3 FPOe-MPs, among them the chairperson of Salzburg FPOe. An according initiative was presented by a court of justice in Salzburg in connections with the informers' affair. Now, charges may be presented.....

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[15] Minister of Justice vs. Public Prosecutors?
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General prosecutors in Vienna have postponed charges against Minister of Justice Boehmdorfer (cf. evil:austria 1200). No witnesses have been questioned, no evidence has been evaluated. Charges were brought forward regarding the illegal use of protected data taken from a police computer which Boehmdorfer used in a civil action.
The Minister of Justice has the right to give binding instructions to public prosecutors.

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[16] Charges dropped
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Sounds like a headline much welcomed by FPOe right now. But alas, it isn't. The charges having been dropped were those against a Carinthian mayor - SPOe member - who was reported for illegally having obtained data by head of federal state Joerg Haider. Even a faked red herring is a useful red herring.

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EPILOGUE
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See you again next month,

NO PEACE WITH AUSTRIA!!!