A minutes silence

6 December, 2005 Premier Beattie, Your decision to have the Queensland Parliament observe a minute silence in remembrance of Nguyen Tuong Van is considered offensive, disrespectful and an insult to Australian veterans and Australian families who have lost loved ones in service to Australia and in natural and man made disasters. The Royal Australian Regiment Association (Qld), the largest Army Association in the State, is appalled at your decision. It unanimously directed me to express their disgust to you. Never before have I seen such solidarity of the ex-service community with any one issue. By your act, under the explanation as “a mark of respect for the sanctity of human life�? you have successfully alienated yourself and your Government from the services community. Most people do respect the sanctity of human life and choose to display that in a private and personal way. We will not let you demean the tribute principle of a minutes silence as a mark of respect for those who gave their lives in the service of their country or were victims of natural or man made disasters, by linking it to any convicted criminal. Duty First Lieutenant Colonel Ted Chitham MC (Retd) President

6 December 2005 The Hon Peter Beattie MP Premier of Queensland PO Box 15185 City East QLD 4002 Dear Mr Premier I write on behalf of the Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) members in regards to the minute’s silence that was observed in Queensland Parliament on Friday 2 December on the occasion of the execution of Nguyen Tuong Van. The RSL was deeply offended and strongly opposed to the Parliamentary move to recognise this event through a one-minute silence and we are extremely disappointed in your leadership in this matter. Our vehement opposition is rooted in the apparent disregard for the concept of silence for remembrance of departed comrades, who have sacrificed their lives and health for the sake our nation. Our members strongly believe the decision to move the moment’s silence showed a complete disregard for the origins of remembrance silence, which is attributed to Australian journalist and returned serviceman, Edward Honey. Honey’s appeal for five silent minutes of national remembrance in 1919 was the beginning of what he described as a “very sacred intercession….communion with the Glorious Dead who won us peace…” The concept of remembrance silence remains an essential feature of commemorative services and League functions to this day. No matter how small, members stand in silence for a brief interval to remember their departed comrades. The RSL believes it is totally inappropriate to start using the moment’s silence for any other circumstance. To do so otherwise, is offensive to our veterans, war widows, and all those who have lost loved ones in the service of our nation. The fact that Queensland Parliament publicly bestowed the same honour and mark of respect reserved for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, on one who has been convicted of a criminal offence, was insulting and disrespectful. Furthermore, as Chairman of the ANZAC Day Commemoration Committee (Queensland) Incorporated, we believe you have a responsibility to uphold the objects of the Association, specifically: – the recognition of the gallant courage displayed by the Australian sons and daughters in fighting for the preservation of liberty and civilisation; and – the commemoration of our fallen and the acknowlegement of the suffering of our wounded. We strongly urge you, as Premier of Queensland, to exercise more appropriate discretion in future to preserve the sanctity of the minute’s silence so it remains as it was intended to be – a very sacred intercession. Lest We Forget. Yours truly, GW Mason State President Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch)