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

Have fun!

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

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[2] Asylum seekers meet extreme right
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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)

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[3] Fraternity event with prominent guests
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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)

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[4] Everybody against Islam
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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)

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[5] Haider's suggestions
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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)

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[6] Calling for observation
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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)

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[7] Flunked!
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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)

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[8] Consistent economizing
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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)

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[9] "Integration" backdated
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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)

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[10] Carinthia as an experimental laboratory
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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.

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

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[12] Homophobe statement
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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)

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[13] Consistent electoral defeat
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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)

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[14] Scandals a la Austrian
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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)

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[15] An Austrian token....
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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)

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EPILOGUE
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NO PEACE WITH AUSTRIA!!!