Tony Smith
International dilemma in the bush
Cowra belies the stereotype of the sleepy NSW country town. Because of the 1944 break-out of prisoners of war, it has a special Japanese connection. Perhaps because of this, some far-sighted citizens have worked at turning a wartime misfortune into something positive.
For the past three decades, Cowra has held an annual international festival in the autumn. Each year, a "guest nation" is appointed and the town's people, especially schoolchildren, are encouraged to learn about the country concerned. Exposure to other cultures aims to dispel ignorance and promote understanding. The festival activities sow seeds of peace and good will.
Other local projects reflect this theme. Cowra has become the home of Australia's peace bell, and 1988 cherry trees — each from a Japanese donor and tended by a local child — form an avenue of international understanding. These are important symbols of hope.
No doubt with the best of intentions, the Festival Committee has invited South Africa to be 1993 guest nation. Spokespersons for the Aboriginal community have expressed misgivings. The community in Cowra is substantial in numbers and proud and active culturally.
The misgivings are well founded. The repression of black people in South Africa seems to continue unabated. There is reason to fear that the reformist statements of President de Klerk have had little effect at the grassroots level. The Boipatong massacre and accusations by a prominent pathologist are causes for alarm. He has claimed that 90% of the 200 deaths in custody he has investigated — in just two years! — have been caused by police.
Clearly, Aboriginal people have every reason to be concerned about providing a forum to a regime such as that which prevails in South Africa. The ambassador in Australia does promote his country aggressively.
Should the racial difficulties which continue in South Africa be glossed over, or presented as being merely past problems, the language would clearly be debased. This would seriously damage attempts by people of good will to eliminate racism in our own society. Small wonder that Aboriginal people have voiced their concerns.
This dilemma is similar though not identical to that faced by Australian sports people. Is it best to maintain contact in the hope that understanding will be increased? Or if Australians approach South Africa in political neutral — "I'm a footballer, not a politician" — will this mean that dialogue is impossible anyway and that the only influence which occurs can only be of us by them?
The singing of the Afrikaans national anthem by the crowd at the All Blacks test during a one-minute silence requested for those killed in political violence is an alarming development. It suggests that many South Africans have no regret for the racist past, and casts doubts on the potential of the Wallaby tour to achieve anything positive.
It may yet be possible to salvage the Cowra situation. Perhaps the Aboriginal community can cooperate with the festival planners to ensure that the alternative political line is also presented to local people, and that unequivocal messages of concern are presented to the South African ambassador. If not, division seems likely.
In a circumstance such as this, the more important principle must be to allay the fears of Aboriginal people. This may involve a sad choice for those who value the festival's unique opportunities, but it remains a clear one.
[Cowra resident Tony Smith's verse also appears in Green Left when space permits.]