Thursday, September 15, 2016

A political funding scandal in Australia exposes the true hypocricy of America

Here’s a report on a political funding scandal in Australia which exposes the true hypocricy of America.

Australia – September 2016

Last week Australian Labor senator Sam Dastyari's resigned from the opposition frontbench following revelations he asked a Chinese businessman to pay a AUD$1,670 (US$1,250) travel bill after he exceeded his parliamentary entitlement for travel. This has led to howls of protest from departing US ambassador to Australia, John Berry. Read the story here. This is what US Ambassador Berry said:

In our country it’s illegal. It would be against the law for any foreign donation to be accepted by any level of government or member of government

We cannot conceive of a case where a foreign donation from any government, friend or foe, would be considered legitimate in terms of that democracy

Hong Kong – October 2014

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is funded by the US Government. Two years ago, in October 2014 Louisa Coan Greve of the NED admitted in an interview the US Government had been funding Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan for years. Read the VOA story here. Here are highlights from her interview:

NED has been funding democracy-promotion programs in Hong Kong for about two decades with grants totaling several million dollars.

Lee Cheuk-yan is one such activist. He leads the Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU) and serves in the Legislative Council as a lawmaker for the Labor Party.

Solidarity Center (an NED affiliate) has given the bulk of its funds to HKCTU

NED's support to Solidarity Center, and Solidarity Center support to HKCTU is completely separate from Lee Cheuk-yan's political work [as a lawmaker], which is a separate role that he plays, and the money doesn't mix between the two

Comment

So it’s OK for the US Government to corruptly fund politicians in Hong Kong, wrong for a Chinese businessman to fund an Australian politician and it’s illegal for a foreigner to fund a politician in America.

Isn’t it about time we had similar laws in Hong Kong – actually we would have, if the American Government hadn’t paid LEE Cheuk-yan to organize the Article 23 protests.

Supporting information

Departing US ambassador to Australia, John Berry
commenting on political funding in Australia


Louisa Coan Greve, who boasted about channeling US Government funds
to Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan


Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan, who received
milllions of Hong Kong dollars from the US Government
during his time as a legislator


VOA article, in which Louisa Coan Greve boasted about channeling US Government funds
to Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan


LEE Cheuk-yan admits to receiving
milllions of Hong Kong dollars from the US Government,
but claims its not connected to his political work


Louisa Coan Greve claims the US Government funds given to Hong Kong politician LEE Cheuk-yan,
were totally separate from his political work. 

References


VOA Exclusive: US Democracy Group Rebuts Hong Kong Meddling Allegations. 23 October 2014. Link: http://www.voanews.com/content/voa-exclusive-us-democracy-group-rebuts-hong-kong-meddling-allegations/2493257.html

See also:

US ‘surprised’ at Chinese influence-buying in Australia. Link: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2016/09/14/us-surprised-at-chinese-influence-buying-in-australia/



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