Australia’s shame

 

By Margaret Reynolds and Alison Broinowski

Oct 15, 2024

Open Letter to Antonio Guterres on the Australian Government’s failure to publicly defend the office of the United Nations Secretary General.

Antonio Guterres,

Secretary General of the United Nations

UN Plaza, NEW YORK USA

Email undesa@un.org

 

Dear Sir,

We write in shame that the Australian Government has failed to join over 100 Member states who have signed an Open Letter to you as Secretary General after you were declared persona non grata by the Foreign Minister of Israel.

We want you to know that the Australian Government’s failure to demonstrate its commitment to your position does not reflect the views of a majority of Australians who value and respect your role and the work of the United Nations to strengthen global understanding and cooperation.

We are distressed that the repeated violations of international law by the government of Israel and its military in Gaza, the Occupied Territories and Lebanon have not been denounced by the Australian Government and some other states.

We welcome the initiative of Chile and all those nations which have clearly articulated their support for you, and we regret that the Australian Government has failed to join them at a time when it is so important for nations to uphold the essential role of the United Nations in advocating for international law to build global peace and security.

Furthermore, we are deeply disturbed that five members of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon have been injured and we will be urging our government to condemn this breach of international law.

Thank you for your continued efforts to provide humanitarian support and a negotiated ceasefire.

Alison Broinowski AM former diplomat, academic and author

Paul Heywood-Smith SC, Australian Friends of Palestine

Ali Kazak, Former Ambassador for Palestine

Mary Kostakidis, International journalist

Sawsan Madina, Former Head of Special Broadcasting Service Television

John Menadue, Publisher, Pearls and Irritations

Stuart Rees, Professor, Sydney Peace Centre

Margaret Reynolds, Former Australian Senator

Greg Barns SC, Barrister, Tasmania

Postscript

This letter is the immediate reaction of distinguished Australians, who hope many more will express their outrage that the State of Israel continues to ignore the United Nations, breach its charter and attack its personnel. 

It is time the Australian Government stood up to Israel to demand a halt to all military violence and offered its full support to the United Nations and the Office of the Secretary General.

https://johnmenadue.com/australias-shame/