No room for violent THE enduring image of the week was surely the Mountie in Ottawa, clothing ablaze, rolling in the snow to extin- guish the flames, A Canadian police officer set alight by a Molotov cock- tail tossed by a Kurdish demonstrator. When Kurdish guerrilla leader Abdullah Ocalan was arrested by Turkish conimian- dos on Monday night, it touched off notous demon- strations around the world by his foliowers. Canada was not immune to the demonstrations trig- gered by events halfa world away. Virtually simultaneous protests broke out in Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal. While Vancouver police officers were lucky to avoid violence in the takeover of the Greek consulate en Hastings Street, their counterparts in Otrawa and Montreal were hot so fortunate. In Montreal, one officer suffered a severely broken cheekbone and will lose an mailbox Small breaks won’t bring tax Dear Editor: As a reader of this newspaper you have been hearing from the provincial government at some length about a 6% cut to personal income tax and an 11% cut to small business income tax. As a member of the busi- ness community J, appreciate the government's efforts to reduce the tax burden. However this is not much of a bonus and is not likely to achieve its goal of encourag- ing investment in our com- munity. I would like to explain Leo Knight crime and punishment eve, courtesy of a rock to the head. Sixteen people were arrested in that outbreak and then, in a stunning display of arrogance, the Kurdish pro- testers took to the streets again the following day to protest the arrest of those who attacked the police. In Oxtawa, protesters threw Molotov cocktails and chunks of ice at the police lines. Officers who, [ might add, were, for the most part, drawn from their desk jobs and ordered into uniform to be put in harm’s way for just this event. In Vancouver, the protest- ers occupied the consulate, and some doused themselves with gasoline threatening se immolation. Now, Pm not suggesting some of these figures and show why we at the Chamber of Commerce question their validity. The government states thar it is reducing the person- al income tax rate by 2% this year for a total of 6% since 1995. The average person read- ing such a statement would believe that the basic provin- cial rate of 52.50% in 1995 must have already dropped to 48.50% and was dropping fur- ther to 46.50% this year. Imagine their surprise to dis- we should be unsympathetic to the plight of the Kurds. Ocalan has led his group, the PKK or the Kurdistan Workers Party, in a shooting war in southern Turkey since 1984. The old adage, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” proves true yet again. But when word of his arrest on Monday, allegedly with the support of the Greek, U.S. and Israeli gov- ernments, spread, Kurds around the world stormed embassies, consulates and diplomatic missions in 22 cities around the world, tak- ing hostages and clashing with police. When Canadian police officers tried to stop the Kurdish expatriates from occupying buildings and tak- ing consular officials hostage, violence crupted against the police on Canadian soil. That is decidedly wrong. Assuming all the protesters are in this country legally — and I would caution against any such leap — they are here secking refuge from the polit- ical turmoil in lands trom cover that the basic provincial rate is still 50.50%. The government — also claims that benveen 1995 and 2000 the small business income tax rate will have dropped by 20%. In reality the rate will have dropped from 10% to 8% — a 2% drop — and even then the rate is still higher than in Alberta, our nearest economic competitor. The maximum annual sav- ings for a business amounts to $4,000. For most businesses that’s not a great deal of money. So although we appre- whence they came. It matters not a whit how upset thev are at the arrest of one of their leaders. If they choose to protest our govern- ment’s response, or lack thereof, to the plight of the Kurds, fair enough, as long as the protest remains peaceful. Once violence erupts, aimed at our police, the line has been crossed. They become criminals and should be treated as such. And please, 1 don't want to hear all about how these people have been veprived of their homeland for centuries. First, it’s not an excuse, and second, the argument does not bear up to historical examination. The Kurds are descended from the ancient Medes. Phe last significant hero was Saladin, who in the 12th cen- tury, defended Jerusalem for the Muslims against the Christian Crusades of Richard the First. They are not so much an incipient nation as much as a collection of nomadic tribes, more like cach other than anvone else. In fet their tribal infight- relief ciate the tax break, what we really need is tay relief. The government needs to take more significant steps to make our economy more competitive. We're still one of the most heavily taxed and regulated provinces in Canada. Spending big money to adver- tise small changes isn’t going to fix thar. Adrian Parker Chairman North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce jains@cofcnorthvan.org, Anti-violence group’s survival threatened Dear Editor: The Nerth Shore Fogether Against Violence Network (TAV) has been informed rhat the North Shore Flealth Region has redeployed its resources and is no fonger able to support TAV with coordination — time, space and equipment. The TAV Network is a high-profile community coali- tion that has created aware- ness around the issue of vio- d oi office lence and mobilized the com- munity to take positive action. One of its su ful initia- tives has been the coordina- tion of six annual Together Against Violence months in November. The efforts of the network have also resulted in numer- ous violence prevention initia- tives in the community. Further, the TAV Network has acted as a clearing-house of violence prevention intor- Li T1998) = 20tg oni Kenna 993-2235 ey Roger & Finencis! 480-171 W. Ea; Latta & Company Ltd. Geogr vestments & PURE Vil JS READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS Cast your vote in today’s paper! mation for the public and organizations and has been able to bring together groups and individuals to share their experience and resources in the common goal of violence prevention. The TAV Network has received recognition locally and nationally and has been used as a model in other com munities in B.C. and else- where. With the loss of the coor- dinater’s position aad other resources, the network in its present form is at risk. Given the uemendous community support to date, the network is seeking funding to continue its efforts, If you would like more information or wish to help, please call 988-7115. Pat Hea! Chairman TAV Network North Vancouver 1 (BS 24," | Ad seraces oo Oil, Lube & Fitter 21 pt. Safety check. 15 minuies - FAST! Includes up to § litres of 10w30 Quakerstate 1362 Marine Drive 9380-9115 [.MorSet 800am-6 00pm. Sun. 9:00am-5 00em Expires Mar. 10/99 Great Years! 30% OFF | S Girders & Beams ' Toy Store LONSDALE Quay 984-9200 Wednesday, February 24, 1999 — North Shore News - 7 ing has been a significant problem in the pursuit of their “national dream.” Asa people, they have been persecuted primarily by the countries who harbour significant Kurdish popula- tiens —- Iraq, Iran, Svria and Turkey. And there's the rub. Getting those ruthless coun- tries fo agree on anything like a homeland for the Kurds — Kurdistan — is next to, if nor totally, impossible. Bur, let’s not forget cither that Kurds joined with Turkey in the pogroms and genocide against the Armenians, anoth- er tragic people, in the early part of this century. They are not without the blood of innocents on their hands. What I'm suggesting is that the Kurdish situation is not a simple one. We should be sympathetic, but not to the exclusion of common sense. And then there’s Svend. Not content with disturb- ing the mores of most of the province by being pictured in newspapers blowing into the ear of his 26-year-old Cuban lover, Max, the irascible NDP MP just had to get into the middle of the action in Ottawa. Now, personally, I could- n't care less whose car Robinson’s tongue is in — as long as it isn’t mine. Frankly, he could engage in a “Roman orgy” with a herd of goats, three cunuchs and Dennis Park Royal South next to the Vanden Bosch S.Laursen & § je we protesters in Canada § Rodman in a rubber nun suit for all I care. Bur, there he was in Ottawa trying to broker a “deal” with the protesters and positioning himself between them and the police. A deal? What the hell for? These people crossed the line. Good Lord, they threw Molotov cocktails at the police lines. They set a cop on fire. What the hell does it take to make people in this coun- try mad enough te stop mol- lycoddling lunatics like these? Deal indeed! What should have hap- pened is more simple. When the rocks, ice blocks and Molotovs started to tly, the police actical troop should have moved jn and arrested those responsible using as much force as necessary to effect those arrests, Period. There is no place tor vio- ient protest in this peaceful country, That includes “White Swan” who should have been dinged for obstruction. Because of his interference, no arrests have been made and none are likely. Apparently, according to Svend, its OK to torch a cop as long as Canadians can be sympathetic to the cause of the discontent. 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