12 APRIL 1, <strong>2019</strong> Viewlink Christchurch Massacre Jordanian Prince praises New Zealand leadership The English Fortnightly (Since November 1999) ISSUE 412 | APRIL1, <strong>2019</strong> We should continue as One Community, One People The death of fifty innocent men, women and children in Christchurch Mosques on Friday, March 15, <strong>2019</strong> and the fifty other people injured have touched the heart of New Zealanders. We are a caring nation, and there is no evidence of any root of terrorism amongst us. We are a tolerant society, home to more than 200 ethnicities speaking 160 languages and there has never been any sign of intended harm; we may have occasionally felt a tinge of racism here and there, but never to a scale that would lead to massacre. We live in a corner of the world, untouched by terrorists. Until March 15, <strong>2019</strong>. And until that day, we thought that much of terrorism in the world is inflicted only by a group of people. Innocence gone But hatred, terrorism and a penchant for mass murder apparently exists elsewhere. The mindless shooting of Muslims in Christchurch has taken away the innocence to which New Zealand was once famous. It has also brought us all closer together. We have begun to speak, in one tone, that there should be no room for such terrorists on our soil. As Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Parliament on Tuesday, March 19, <strong>2019</strong>, “That quiet Friday afternoon has become our darkest of days. But for the families, it was more than that. It was the day that the simple act of prayer – of practising their Muslim faith and religion – led to the loss of their loved ones lives. Those loved ones, were brothers, daughters, fathers and children. They were New Zealanders. They are us. And because they are us, we, as a nation, mourn them.” As New Zealand was coping with the unprecedented tragedy, The British Royal Family and world leaders have expressed their sympathy and solidarity to the Governor General and Prime Minister of this country. The plight of Islamic Women The Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand (IWCNZ), which is marking its 30th anniversary this year, said that it has been concerned, in recent times, the increasing pressure on our communities from rising levels of discrimination in this country, and the social issues that came with that. “The issues we were seeing were too much for our community to resolve on a volunteer basis. More than this, the solutions were systemic and required investment by government in programmes and human resources.” About five years ago, the Council wrote a comprehensive report of the problems that Islamic women were facing and sent it to the Ministry of Social Development. Its officials pushed, but as far as they are concerned, nothing concrete was done with that report. Reaffirming support As Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said, this is the time to reaffirm our support for a multicultural and multifaith nation and City. Our goal as a City is to be inclusive, to treat as equals and to treat with respect all people regardless of race, colour and creed. Security agencies have come under pressure to explain why they appear to treat Muslims as more of a threat than the alt-right and white supremacists. IWCNZ has said it told the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet at a January 2017 meeting of the ‘extreme urgency’ of its concerns about rising racism and the alt-right, and also told this to the SIS. We believe that diversity enriches and should not divide us. Equally, it is a time to assert zero tolerance for racism. When people abuse, demean and ridicule Muslims or any other faith or ethnicity, we cannot be passive observers on the side lines. <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> is published by <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> Limited from its offices located at Level 1, Number 166, Harris Road, East Tamaki, Auckland 2013 and printed at Horton Media Limited, Auckland. All material appearing here and on our web editions are the copyright of <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> and reproduction in full or part in any medium is prohibited. <strong>Indian</strong> <strong>Newslink</strong> and its management and staff do not accept any responsibility for the claims made in advertisements. Managing Director & Publisher: Jacob Mannothra Editor & General Manager: Venkat Raman; Production Manager: Mahes Perera; Financial Controller: Uma Venkatram CA; Phone: (09) 5336377 Email: info@indiannewslink.co.nz Websites: www.indiannewslink.co.nz; www.inliba.com; www.inlisa.com There has been a markedly different response to the events of last fortnight by the Jordanian Prince, than a nearby leader. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not only used footage taken by Friday’s lone gunman as part of his campaign, but also criticised the Anzacs for their role in Gallipoli and threatened to send New Zealanders and Australians who came to his country with anti-Islam sentiment, back in a casket. Mr Erdogan later wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, praising her leadership. No Extremism in New Zealand Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, who is in New Zealand and plans to visit Christchurch tomorrow, has made it clear that populism and extremism are not characteristic of this country. “I think that that should shine through,” he told RNZ. “I hope you will not be caught in a trap of the war of words, that is a war of polarity and of hatred. I hope you will live up always to conviviality, ‘Beware the Ides of March,’ a harbinger of impending doom Peter Dunne In school, we all learnt the phrase, “Beware the Ides of March” courtesy of Shakespeare’s Play, ‘Julius Caesar.’ The soothsayer’s warning to Caesar was brushed aside and Caesar was assassinated a little later in the day. For the last nearly 420 years since Shakespeare wrote the phrase, it has become a harbinger of impending doom. Friday, March 15, <strong>2019</strong>, the day of the Mosque shootings in Christchurch, marked the ‘Ides of March’ for <strong>2019</strong>. In many ways, it was our equivalent of the 9/11 attacks in New York, so dramatic was its impact. The attacks in the US As events around 9/11 were unfolding, (the then US) President George W Bush was visiting a school in Florida. Photographers have recorded his being advised by aides whispering in his ear of what was happening, and all the while he had to sit quietly and stonefaced through a students’ performance, gathering his thoughts, before his hurried departure. His subsequent public addresses helped - indeed had to - quell the shock, grief, anger and horror of the American people, while at the same time having to come to grips with what had happened, or might be about to yet happen, and working out the National response. The photograph showing him addressing the people, megaphone in hand, from the rubble of the World Trade Centre, quickly became a metaphoric and iconic symbol of defiance and determination. Jacinda Ardern’s sincerity Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan (AFP Photo) of compassion and of respect to the other.” Prince Hassan said in Jordan they commemorated Anzac Day victims and also commemorated the Turkish soldiers fallen. “And, so in the spirit of Gallipoli, we shall continue to do that. And I don’t want to say anything more about current politics.” Country sets an example The Prince praised New Zealand for its response to the terror that struck it last Friday. “It is simply impossible not to take heed of the goodness, of the kotahitanga, of New Zealanders,” he said. “And I think that a world at war with itself can only find serenity in the example of the compassion and the love that New Zealanders have shown.” He said that in Jordan there was a feeling of “dullness and anguish” that even in a country so far away, in a beautiful paradise that many escaping wars and strife in their home countries are now blessed to call home, that evil should be purveyed. “It was a feeling again of anger, that once again core believers should be targeted. It was a very mature reaction, but a very sad one, particularly for the families of the bereaved who’ve flown out,” he said. Solidarity and Opportunity On the changes to gun laws announced by the Prime Minister yesterday, Prince Hassan said that New Zealand has a voice, which he predicts could find solidarity with many other countries and peoples. He hopes an opportunity like this one will not be wasted. “Bigger, stronger, weaker, poorer - it doesn’t matter. The main thing is to work on the right to respect, as we once worked on the right to protect.” would have faced similar circumstances and emotions as last Friday afternoon’s tragedies began to unfold. Like President Bush, she would have had limited time to process the information being received, and deal with her own inevitable emotions and reactions, before being expected to address the Nation, both to offer information about what had happened; comfort to the distraught and bereaved, and reassurance to the country about the national response. Her subsequent now iconic photograph at the Canterbury Refugee Resettlement and Resource Centre with the Christchurch Muslim community was, like President Bush’s all those years ago, a classic example of a picture being worth a thousand words. The image of a pained Prime Minister wearing a hijab, like that of a President in windbreaker and speaking into a megaphone, conveyed all the appropriate emotions - empathy, determination, resolution, and even the fear that both leaders must have felt about the path their countries may now had begun to travel down. Above all, they were images of their humanity, something we often forget about our political leaders. They too have feelings like the rest of us about the evil, injustice or whatever of the events, but they also have the responsibility of laying those to one side, and representing the Nation as a whole, as they deal with what has happened. Warm glow of support Both President Bush and Prime Minister (Ardern) gained the warm glow of popular support for their measured responses to the appalling tragedies which, undoubtedly, coupled no doubt with massive bursts of adrenalin, helped sustain them during the dark days. Sadly, as we know from the case of President Bush, mistakes and errors of judgement are likely to occur as time passes, and the immediate wave of public sympathy wanes. That is not a politically loaded observation, nor a judgement call. It is simply a statement of fact. They are both human beings, after all, and no human being is ever perfect. Above Partisan fray The essential point is that Prime Minister (Ardern), like President Bush before her, is genuinely trying to her best, as she sees it, by the country in these unprecedented circumstances. Her efforts deserve the tolerance of our support, whatever our political allegiances. Normal political hostilities will resume over time, but, for now, the situation is one that should be above the partisan fray. Many words have been spoken and written about the victims and their families since last Friday. No matter how eloquent, how undoubtedly wellmeant and sincere, or how compassionate, they are inadequate compensation for the lives so needlessly lost, but they are the best human beings can do in such circumstances. May all of us in our daily lives stand resolutely with those who have suffered and been so pained, and may we determine to never let hatred and intolerance take firm hold in our land. Kia Kaha. Tusahibuk Alsalama Peter Dunne was a Minister of the Crown in the Labour and National-led governments from 1999 to 2017. He established the UnitedFuture Party and wound it up on retirement from Parliament. He lives in Wellington.
APRIL 1, <strong>2019</strong> Businesslink 13
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