Dear Chilliwops,
Apathy. A dreadful word that means lack of interest. A word that you should never be associated with.
In my letters I generally attempt to give thought-provoking messages. Many of my letters aim to reveal my thinking on a range of issues. My intention has always been to encourage you to think carefully about important life issues and matters that you are capable of impacting by your actions.
Action. The opposite of apathy.
Throughout life we are presented with challenges and issues about which you have a choice – you can both be apathetic and take no interest in the matter or you can take action and show an interest, express your attitude and properly deal with the matter.
Now I know most of this letter will be difficult for the youngest of you to understand but with your parents’ help you might grasp its meaning. In any event, one day you will.
Returning to the theme of my letter, I should tell you about the German Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemoller. He wrote one of the most poignant poems you are ever likely to read. Civil rights leaders and people who speak up for others who are being – or may possibly be – disadvantaged or persecuted by those in power, have frequently quoted it.
The poem is a powerful message against apathy. In essence it says, “Stand up and be strong if you see an injustice. Be counted. Do the right thing.”
From general knowledge acquired by talking to your parents, others in your family, friends and by reading history you will be aware that before and during the second world war the German leader, the lunatic Adolf Hitler, had committed some of the most horrendous crimes against humanity. I talk of the murder of millions of people on the basis of their race, religion, skin colour or physical capacity.
This misuse of power combined with apathy amongst many of his fellow countrymen prompted Milton Niemoller to write:
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out –
Because I was not a Socialist.Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out –
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out –
Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”
This poem was a message to the people who remained silent whilst atrocities were conducted in their own country, under their very noses. It aims to make people acknowledge they should stand up for justice and take some responsibility.
What would you do? Would you stand up for justice? I am sure you would.
In the years following the Nazis’ rise to power in Germany and the murderous targeting of different groups many people remained silent. Those who had the capacity to stand up for the targeted groups and individuals stood silent. Apathy.
The German pastor Martin Niemoller expressed his opposition to the dictatorship. Standing up for his fellow citizens he actively resisted Hitler’s inhuman government. He took a stance against persecution. Martin spent many years in a German prison for expressing his views but he had a clear conscience.
I recently recalled Niemoller’s words when I read a true story written by Bill Browder who just a decade ago was the largest foreign investor in Russia. Bill Browder has a conscience. Risking his freedom and even his life he took action against the most powerful people in Russia in a fight for justice. Martin Niemoller would have loved Bill Browder.
Browder’s book describes his experiences in Russia and in large part talks about the theft of shareholder and taxpayers’ money by extremely wealthy businessmen known as “oligarchs” (billionaires). He exposed corrupt and illegal activities by the oligarchs. His activities, in particular the international newspaper publication of the corruption and theft of company assets made him some serious enemies.
The oligarchs had powerful friends. Browder soon discovered that President Vladimir Putin protected the oligarchs and Browder was banned from Russia. His visa was cancelled and the Russian government took action to confiscate (steal) Browder’s company assets (money and property).
But Bill Browder was smart. He had moved his assets from Russia to London where he set up another office to manage his investment fund. He also moved staff and their families out of Russia because he was concerned for their safety. Browder clearly has a social conscience.
Bill Browder’s business suffered badly but he was not about to turn his back on the investors whose money he had managed. He set about to recover their money by investing on their behalf in other countries. His plan succeeded.
Sadly one of his lawyers in Moscow, the capital of Russia, would not accept Browder’s advice to leave the country believing the law and the legal system would protect him. How wrong he was. This young lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky was arrested by Putin’s thugs in the Moscow police, falsely claiming he helped Browder with illegal activities in Russia.
It is a very sad story. Just seven years ago, in 2009, Magnitsky was beaten to death by a group of police officers in a Moscow prison. He had refused to tell a lie. The Russian authorities had demanded he sign a document claiming the oligarchs and the Russian Government officers who had conspired to steal over $230 million were innocent. Magnitsky was a brave and honest man.
Bill Browder fought hard to have his friend’s death investigated. The Russian Government has resisted. To this day Sergei Magnitsky’s death has not been investigated. The Putin Government continues to lie about the brave young lawyer and his friend, Bill Browder.
Browder enlisted the help of many people around the world and started a campaign to have Governments pass laws preventing the Russians who stole the money and were in some way involved in Sergei’s death from entering their country. He produced evidence to prove their guilt and was eventually successful in having the Magnitsky Act passed through the Congress of the United States and signed by President Obama.
That Act names the individuals involved in the conspiracy to steal money and subsequently, directly or indirectly, in the murder of Sergei Magnitsky. They are automatically prohibited from entering the United States of America.
Some opponents of the Putin regime have mysteriously lost their lives, even when not in Russia. Strange indeed. Bill Browder risked his own life to fight for justice, to fight for the truth and to bring those responsible for his friend’s murder to account. Whilst the Magnitsky Act is a powerful tool it doesn’t provide justice – the Russians responsible still walk free with the support of Putin and his cronies.
Governments can do much more to support human rights and justice around the world. Although legislation is in place to prevent people with a criminal record from entering many countries, including Australia, they must first be convicted in their country of origin, Russia for example.
A Magnitsky Act in Australia would prohibit protected “criminals” from obtaining an Australian visa. It would name names. With an election just around the corner, do you think we should be demanding this from all politicians? Bill Browder is a man of conscience and action. Milton Niemoller would support Browder’s campaign and applaud his actions.
Shouldn’t our political leaders be heard on such issues? What can you do? For one thing you shouldn’t be apathetic. What action can you take? To do nothing when there is such injustice in our world is to accept and condone it.
Sergei Magnitsky’s death, Bill Browder’s single-handed efforts, Milton Niemoller’s words should not all be in vain.
*Anton Clever is well into his seventh decade … a former teacher, soldier, farm hand, lawyer and businessman (not in that order). He has travelled extensively for business and for international clients. More recently he has started writing … currently a thriller (which will probably not be worthy of publication, he says) and has written but not published a series of “postcards” from various places (specifically, Victoria, Papua New Guinea, France, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Iran) referring to experiences in those places. He has also written for several magazines on unusual subjects but matters worthy of debate.
