Radical students, leftists
unite over Godber issue
are
Radical students planning mass rallies and simultaneous action with left- wing organisations in England to press for the extradition of the former police Chief
Superintendent Peter Godber.
Local student bodies had already reached agreement with six leftist students' and workers' unions in England to take reciprocal action to press for this, Mr Leung Chung kwong of the radical workers' daily bulletin the Daily Fighting Press said yesterday.
"Simply distributing pamphlets, holding debates or launching a signature campaign have proved futile.
"Only by uniting the people here as well as the leftist unions
J
abroad can the people be freed of exploiting said Mr Leung, in a heated debate at Hongkong University yesterday.
The debate organised by the Hongkong Federation of Students carlier invited the Attorney General, Mr Dennis Roberts, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Charles Sutcliff, and the lawyer for Peter Godber.Mr Edmund Chow, to take part in the debate on the extradition problem. All turned down the invitation.
However, there were three community leaders present at yesterday's gathering which was often interrupted by applause and cheers. They were Urban Councillors, Mr Danny Huang and Mrs Elsie
1
Elliott,
Man-fai.
and
Mr Ma
Mrs Elliott charged that the Government officials failure to show up was an abuse of the public's rights.
On
soliciting reciprocal action abroad, Mr Leung said: "Six left-wing bodies in England have so far promised to support us by holding mass rallies or the same day as we take radical action here. The six are: International Marxist Group, Fourth International, International Socialists, Labour Party Young Socialists, Social Labour League and the Solidility.
**In France the League Communist is considering on request and we expect a positive reply.
"The present signature campaign is a step towards the action phase.
"We strongly believe that only with action will the Government bow to our legitimate demand for extraditing Godber," Mr Leung shouted before the passionated audience.
Mrs Elliott also said the Government was using "gimmicks" on the extradition issue.
"If we cannot extradite Godber when he is not charged with bribery, why don't we charge him?" she said.
"There are hundreds of ways
| to bring him back. According to the Blair Kerr's report we can charge him of evasion of income tax as it has been proved he possesses at least $4.3 million, or for not going through the right immigration procedures at the airport when leaving the Colony or even of deserting from police force.
"It is absolutely ridiculous to say we cannot bring Godber back under the present law," she said.
Mr Huang said he was pessimistic over
the
Government's method of
dealing with corruption.
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