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| Some call Pinochet a ‘reluctant hero’, says Peter Phelps | Some call Pinochet a ‘reluctant hero’, says Peter Phelps |
| (5 days later) | |
| There are calls for the NSW government's upper house whip, Peter Phelps, to be sacked after he defended a brutal military dictatorship. | There are calls for the NSW government's upper house whip, Peter Phelps, to be sacked after he defended a brutal military dictatorship. |
| Phelps spoke in NSW parliament to mark the 40th anniversary of Augusto Pinochet's overthrow of Chilean president Salvador Allende. | Phelps spoke in NSW parliament to mark the 40th anniversary of Augusto Pinochet's overthrow of Chilean president Salvador Allende. |
| "There are many who believe that General Pinochet was a reluctant hero, a morally courageous man," he said. "We have to accept that sometimes it's necessary to do bad things to prevent terrible things." The Pinochet regime left more than 3,200 dead and about 38,000 people tortured. | "There are many who believe that General Pinochet was a reluctant hero, a morally courageous man," he said. "We have to accept that sometimes it's necessary to do bad things to prevent terrible things." The Pinochet regime left more than 3,200 dead and about 38,000 people tortured. |
| Phelps conceded that Pinochet killed many people. But he added: "If you know of any way to overthrow a government other than military force then let me hear about it … | Phelps conceded that Pinochet killed many people. But he added: "If you know of any way to overthrow a government other than military force then let me hear about it … |
| "It's all too easy to say we believe we should never sanction dictatorship or that we should have no truck with evil, but such principles are foolish and self-defeating in the real world." | "It's all too easy to say we believe we should never sanction dictatorship or that we should have no truck with evil, but such principles are foolish and self-defeating in the real world." |
| Greens MP John Kaye has called on the premier, Barry O'Farrell, to sack Phelps as government whip over his "highly offensive" comments. | Greens MP John Kaye has called on the premier, Barry O'Farrell, to sack Phelps as government whip over his "highly offensive" comments. |
| "It is extraordinary that a senior government position holder is justifying the very worst kind of terrorism," he said. | "It is extraordinary that a senior government position holder is justifying the very worst kind of terrorism," he said. |
| O'Farrell told News Corp the comments were insensitive and that he should have found a better example "than a murderous, military dictator" to highlight the excesses of communism. | O'Farrell told News Corp the comments were insensitive and that he should have found a better example "than a murderous, military dictator" to highlight the excesses of communism. |
| In 2011, Phelps described traffic lights as "a Bolshevist menace" and said they should be ripped up, adding that "roundabouts represent freedom and democracy at its finest". | In 2011, Phelps described traffic lights as "a Bolshevist menace" and said they should be ripped up, adding that "roundabouts represent freedom and democracy at its finest". |
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