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Salient. Official Newspaper of Victoria University of Wellington Students Association. Vol 40 No. 20. August 8 1977

"The Third America"

"The Third America"

Dear David,

I and doubtless many others would like to congratulate Sef Townsend on his dramatic production "The Third America", which was staged in the University Memorial Theatre on Thursday 27th July.

Besides being very enlightening about the opinions of reactionary elements around the world and about the present military Junta in Chile, the performance was a brilliant piece of acting by Mr Townsend. He portrayed a generally bewildered, down trodden, depressed Chilean peasants, a fictitious [I hope] New Zealand Varsity lecturer, a "mickey mouse" American tourist trade lackey, a general in the Chilean army and his wife ; all with startling ability which convinced all present.

The play showed up several important points about the present military regime in Chile. Firstly, it showed the present regime's power was maintained through vicious atrocities on it's own native peasant, worker, artistic and intellectual populations. The beatings of mothers till they abort, electric shocks administered to the genitals of dissidents; the assassination of liberal musicians, dramatists and academics and censorship of their work the banning of all Trade Unions and allowing only supporters of the regime to study at Universities ; all these are only examples of the kind of shit Chileans are getting.

Another point the play made was that the Chilean junta came into power largely because of the support of the American CIA in overthrowing he democratic government of Salvador Allende, and also was maintained by the money made out of fuckwitted tourists who probably would think be native Indians enjoy selling souvenirs in order to prevent themselves from starving. They rarely managed to prevent starvation anyway.

It is notable to observe the facts that despite what has happened in Chile, New Zealanders' are still able (and many willing), to go there by way of 'Air New Zealand', and 'Lan Chile' airways. Also note that despite Chile being condemned by the majority of delegates in the United Nations General Assembly for its atrocities against its people. New Zealand's position on the whole affair has been typically reactionary. We still maintain diplomatic ties with the regime in Chile, and did not condemn the actions of that regime. It is only too clear that "Dimples" Muldoon and his government is acting true to heart, considering we also have ties with other fascist pricks like the South Africans, Thais : plus-colonialists like the Indonesian Government.

I would like to express my support for any moves to alienate the present regime in Chile, and the struggles of those exiled from Chile as a result of Allende's overthrow. It's about time the NZ government and its supporters gave a stuff about something other than balance of payments, deficits and rugby, and denounced the Junta's vicious activities, and broke diplomatic ties with Chile.

[Yours (in hope),

Ben Goddard.