Moscow’s intentions

Press, 14 March 1987, Page 20

Moscow’s intentions

Sir, —Congratulations on your continued exposure of Soviet attempts to pressure this country. We now have Mr Ovchinnikov telling us what we should and should not do. He truly reflects the arrogance of Mr Gorbachev standing on occupied Chinese soil (Vladivostok) and lecturing the peoples of the Pacific on regional affairs. I begin to understand the comments of a good Russian friend after studying reports on the Chernobyl disaster: “Mr Gorbachev could have turned it into the victory of a State leader ... His reputation collapsed literally before our eyes. There remained the naked and unprotected secretary of a provincial obkom and a kind of mind whose breadth and courage corresponded, possibly, to the level of Stavropol problems ... Now, at least, neither the West nor the Soviet people have any doubts as to the person with whom they are dealing.” Mr Ovchinnikov confirms this appreciation of his boss very well. May the peoples of the Soviet Union find freedom from this new generation of tyrants, for all their more sophisticated manners. — Yours, etc., J. S. PALLOT. March 10, 1987.

Sir,—Using J. S. Pallet’s criteria for “Soviet expansionism” (March 9), whites should not occupy America, Australia or Aotearoa, Americans should not occupy or control Hawaii, the Marshalls, the Carolinas or the Marianas and France should not occupy and control New Caledonia and Eastern Polynesia. The Soviet and Afghan armies are killing indiscriminately in Afghanistan — so are the rebels,

with U.S. arms, money, advice. Through their military surrogates, America is preventing democracy in South and Central America, attacking Nicaragua, Angola and Mozambique. Through control of the World Bank and 1.M.F., and training police and military forces, America is oppressing hundreds of millions in the Third World suffering poverty, hunger, disease, brutality and early death. The real difference between Soviet and American influence is, that the Soviets cooperate economically, medically, educationally and in industrial development; capitalist America is exploitative, hurtful to majorities, harmful to countries’ economies and dangerous to stability, democracy and justice. But both suppress opposition, to fulfil those intentions. — Yours, etc., SUSAN TAYLOR. March 9, 1987.