Whispers of welcome

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 16

Whispers of welcome

A. K. GRANT brings a sense of historical perspective to the controversial visit to New’ Zealand by r the leader of the East Timor independence movement.

the Government has “gagged” a leader of the East Timor independence movement who will visit New Zealand this year . . Mr Jose Ramos Horta will be allowed into New Zealand on condition he does not publicise his movement’s claims . . . Mr Horta is a leader of the Fretilin movement fighting against Indonesia’s absorption of East Timor. — News Item. LONDON, October 1938 Czechoslovakian refugees from the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia will be welcome into Britain provided they say noth ig about the German absorption of their homeland, said the British Prime Minister, (Mr Chamberlain), in Parliament. “We welcome these victims of Fascist aggression with open arms, and are happy to offer them a refuge from the storm,” said Mr Chamberlain. “However, Her Majesty's

Government is pursuing a policy of peace and friendship with the German people as led by Herr Hitler, and this is not to be jeopardised through the abuse of hospitality by Czech refugees, accounts of whose experiences can serve no purpose other than to upset the British people and annoy our German friends.” PA Wellington The Government is willing to allow the Dalai Lama to visit New Zealand, says the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, (Mr Adams-Schnei-der), provided he says nothing about the events which caused him to flee Tibet. “We of course recognise the Dalai Lama as a great spiritual leader,” said Mr Adams-Schneider. “But no purpose would be served by allowing him to remind people of the Chinese annexation of his homeland. “New Zealand is forging new ties of trade and friendship with the People’s Re-

public of China. This is not a time to rake over the embers of old controversies. To allow this would be to undo the good done by the visit of our own great spiritual leader, Mr Muldoon, to Peking.” PA Wellington A man who spent 10 years in the jaiL of South Korea as a political prisoner, Mr Hag Lee Park, will be allowed to visit New Zealand provided he says nothing discreditable to the South Korean regime, announced the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, (Mr Adams-Schneider), today. “There is no question of any suppression of the right of free speech being involved in this issue” declared Mr Adams-Schnei-der. “New Zealanders may still speak as freely <».. ever they have done, not that many of them want to. “But it would be unthinkable to allow this man to traduce his country at a time when his fellow-coun-trymen are braving the perils of the deep in our waters, and when our own Prime Minister is the holder of an honorary degree from Seaul University, an institution of higher learning which our own universities could do well to take as a model.’’ PA Wellington The mother of the murdered black African leader, Steve Biko, will be allowed to visit New Zealand, announced the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, today. “We extend our sympathy to Mrs Biko in her recent bereavement,” said Mr Muldoon. “She is free to move about the country, and to show that we are not as other regimes, we are willing for her to speak about conditions in South Africa provided she does so in a low tone to no more than one person at a time. “However, we are taking the precaution of placing Trevor Richards under house arrest during Mrs Biko’s visit. This move is in Richards’s own interests, as it will give him a chance to tidy up his section.”