Australia's John Howard is Out

By Jeralyn, Section Foreign Affairs
Posted on Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 02:31:37 PM EST
Tags: John Howard, Schapelle Corby (all tags)

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Australian Prime Minister John Howard is out, suffering a humiliating re-election defeat after four terms in office.

I only wish his refusal to support Schapelle Corby as she rots in an Indonesian prison for 20 years following her conviction for importing 4 kilos of pot in a boogie board played a part.

During the trial, Corby wrote to Prime Minister of Australia John Howard, saying in part:
“ As a father and as a leader, I plead for your help. I did not do this. I beg for justice. I don't know how much longer I can do this. Please bring me home. ”
Howard was quoted as saying in response:
“ I feel for her. I understand why there's a lot of public sympathy for her; I would simply say that I hope justice is done and it's a fair and true verdict...I would ask the rhetorical question: My fellow Australians, if a foreigner were to come to Australia and a foreign government were to start telling us how we should handle (it), we would react very angrily to that."

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Same for his refusal to intervene in Singapore's execution of 25 year old Nguyen Tuong Van.

He failed to stand up for Australia's citizens who desperately needed his intervention. He didn't deserve their vote.

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Australia's John Howard is Out | 5 comments (5 topical)

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Howard's Support for Iraq War (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by john horse on Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 07:36:40 PM EST

I'm sure Howard's support for Bush's invasion and occupation of Iraq played a part in his defeat. The new Labour Party PM Kevin Rudd has already said that he plans on pulling Australia's troops from Iraq.

: Not To Mention (none / 0) (#3)
by squeaky on Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 07:49:54 PM EST

His miserable stance on the environment and global warming.

maybe they (none / 0) (#1)
by cpinva on Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 02:33:06 PM EST

got tired of another useless pinhead in office?

Where's Labor on drug policy? (none / 0) (#4)
by Ben Masel on Sat Nov 24, 2007 at 10:22:23 PM EST

Mixed, no doubt, but where's the plurality?

Injustice for the poor. (none / 0) (#5)
by Welsh Dog on Thu May 01, 2008 at 02:48:25 AM EST

Had Schapelle Corby been one of the rich and famous, she may well have had more support from the government. As it is she was effectively called poor white trash and her reputation was ripped to shreds in the media despite none of her or her family's history having a bearing on her case.

The government left her to fight the wolves whilst the media howled alongside her! Was it a cause celebre that resulted in Howard's downfall? Probably not by itself.

However his continued and celebrated abandonment of Schapelle along with other Australians in trouble abroad undoubtedly did. If we can't trust our government to help us in times of trouble who can we turn to?

No doubt David Hicks had a similar problem. Held illegally by forces with which he had no prior contact. Charged and convicted of crimes that didn't even exist prior to his detention. Hauled up before a kangaroo court that was created with the specific intention of finding him guilty... and with minimal support from his government? What else was he to do but plead guilty just to escape continued incarceration!.

Was this in any country but the USA the entire episode would have aroused intense international approbation. As it was it was all bar ignored everywhere except Australia. And here the lick-spittle attitude of our Prime Minister was duly noted. David Hicks was guilty in John Howard's eyes with or without a fair trial.

With this in mind when I went to the polls there was no way I would re-elect John Howard.