The Premier, Wherever.
Sir,Perhaps some rear-view vision may help you when considering the laws now being proposed regarding arbitrary detention. It is somewhat gratifying that international treaties are belatedly being cited as reasons to oppose this slide into dictatorship, but it is odd that no-one seems to remember what underpins our personal freedom here and the whole of our legal system.In 1225 in England, the royal seal was affixed to what is generally seen as the definitive version of Magna Carta by the clerks of King John, a somewhat controversial monarch, as is his namesake, our current de facto one.
Chapter 39 is now regarded as perhaps the main clause of that document. It states that "no freeman can be arrested, imprisoned, deprived of his property, outlawed, exiled or "in any way destroyed" except by "legal judgment of his peers or by the law of the land." It forgot to mention the ladies. It is clear that the law of the land was not meant to be amendable so as to negate the intent of that chapter.
You are in the process of assenting to laws that will negate the intent of that clause, arguably the most important in the legal system that is ancestral to our own. What do you think you are doing?If you assent, you will be seen by history as the exact opposite of the men who opposed arbitrary power at Runnymede, and posterity will not think much of you. Many of us in Australia have lately come to expect the worst from that weird campsite behind Lake George. The worry in this matter is the apparent consent of you lot, the
state premiers and territory chief ministers.Magna Carta in its final draft came just under 160 years after the Norman invasion of England, to a country plagued perhaps since the withdrawal of the Roman legions, by strife, invasion and civil unrest. Through the turmoil of several civil wars and much unrest since, it has never been revoked, though it has often been neglected for a time.
Mr Blair, who apparently believes he derives his authority from an authoritarian antique sky god, rather than from the customs of his country, is the latest challenger. I suggest, on historic and statistical grounds, that he is unlikely to find long-term favour with either his appointed boss or the future citizenry of Britain. For the present population of Britain, Magna Carta is apparently too far back, the nightly TV dosage of
"Plod is my Shepherd" having reset people's brains towards a craving for
authoritarianism.
The revocation of Magna Carta's core provision is now being proposed in Australia, a bit over 200 years after the invasion of Australia by the British, to a country that seems remakably peaceful
once you turn off the TV and the radio. As we are all (detained refugees and other state serfs excluded), now free men and woman in Australia, why are you now proposing to add a
new category of citizen, the
disappeared, to our ranks?
At the time of Magna Carta, as a trivial aside, by family legend my lot were on the side of the dictatorship, seizing other folks' property for the king. We are not proud of it. We did a bit better under South Africa's apartheid and opposed that, though ineffectually. In the end, though, 20 million people there said enough. So the laws you are now apparently about to assent to here are unthinkable in South Africa at present.
So here we go again. The language and provisions and likely outcomes of this new anti-terrorist bill are all very familiar, from apartheid days in South Africa. There, arbitrary detention was used as a cover to murder many folk.
I knew some of the people who were found guilty. They did not seem remarkably different from their counterparts in the overt and covert police here. They were dedicated people, doing what they felt was right for their community.
A few were even likeable. But hundreds were still tortured and murdered under cover of that arbitrary detention. We already have
arbitrary detention, in our refugee camps, here and on once pacific and hospitable islands and it has been disastrous in its implementation. Also, in the self-interest stakes,
Australia is on the nose internationally because of it. Why do you suppose this will be any different?
The reason for the present wave of fear re terrorism is, as everyone with two neurons to rub together knows, the invasion of Iraq,
almost certainly illegal in international law and hence also (curiously),
illegal in Australian law. As a people we seem hell-bent on what is now legally serial murder. New Zealand is not threatened by Islamic terrorists; their last problem was with the French. Can we as a community still not see the connection?
If you wish to protect the people of your state from indiscriminate terrorism, several things have to be done.
First, the Prime Minister has to be stripped of his power to send Australians to war without community assent. Then Australia might be on it's way to becoming a genuine democracy. At present it is, I suggest, best described as a brown-bag party dictatorship, badly out of control.
Australia's remarkable historic belligerence probably harks back to the wish for preferment and wealth through foreign campaigns, of the naval and military officers stationed here in the early days of British settlement. This was a dead-end posting, so all foreign campaigns were welcomed by the establishment, military and civil. That set the pattern and we have hence missed very few opportunities to attack faraway folk, since the Maori wars.
This must stop, if not for reasons of common decency, then because attacked faraway folk and their militant supporters, aka what the bunyip from behind Lake George defines as terrorists, are getting slightly disgruntled. There is nothing wrong with that definition except that it excludes our own government-sponsored killers.
Wars should not be launched without the consent of the people in a referendum. Without that, this will never be a real democracy and in the end our colonisation of this continent will probably fail in consequence. We will eventually be overrun by an enemy we need never have made, while being abandoned by our hoped-for bully-boy protector for its own domestic reasons. We are inevitably a third-rate power, apparently in the incurable habit of attacking other third-rate, second-rate and occasionally even first-rate ones. This seems to be a sort of national death-wish.
We should switch to building a genuine defence force
[ or a Humanitarian Aid Group that can also Defend the Nation,] that would make Australia unassailable. We should not be a spare
attack-puppy for whoever is the
current international rotweiler, such as we are now.
Then we should be scrupulously neutral. Our armed forces should become in their offshore capacity,
wholly and solely international disaster-relief forces. We could lead the world in that.
Our recent effort as a nation in helping after the big tsunami, was a far better way to go in winning friends and long-term security, than our recent attacks on the people of the Middle East, or our habit of forever celebrating our past killing of Turkish people in their homeland.
That way, the ordinary people of the world might eventually come to like and appreciate us rather than our wallets. As we are going now, proposing for instance to train very unpopular government forces in the southern Philippines, we will merely make ever more enemies, all with long memories.
I have met farmers in the backveld in South Africa who are still very bitter about Australia helping the British with its war, concentration camps for women and farm-burning there, in 1899-1902. Those are the ones who don't play cricket. Live by the sword ...?You will not bring this country security by throwing away the core provision of Magna Carta. You will though, if you can persuade it to stop attacking faraway folk and blowing their kids arms off with airforce bombs and assault rifles. Our heroic government pilots and SAS soldiers in the Middle East, of whose exploits we curiously hear so little, are other people's deeply-hated terrorists.
We are waging an illegal war on people who have never troubled us and we then pretend to be surprised that they retaliate by killing our citizens and other ordinary folk in nightclubs and the like.
[However, the Indonesia Bali bombings were actually assisted by the CIA who were fear-mongering an Australian 'call to arms' to bolster support for the Coalition of the Killing's illegal and degrading resource wars in the Middle East.
The occupation and genocide of the Iraqi and Afghanistani people was moved along and assisted by marching in puppet government's to control the masses.]I suggest that your personal duty re this terrorism legislation is very clear. Shirk it, and history almost certainly will regard you and you fellow premiers and chief ministers as either spineless or very poorly informed. I hope this letter will help remove the second excuse. It is an open document and copies have gone to all the other premiers and chief ministers.I have the honour to be, Sir,
In no way yours, or your admirer regarding you conduct on this matter to date.
Peter Ravenscroft.By Peter Ravenscroft posted 4 November 05Bush, God and TransnationalsThe tragedy (for the entire world) is not that Bush is delusional, mentally unstable and intellectually challenged - that is well known. Rather, it is that he remains as commander in chief of the USA - placed in that position by commercial and other financial interests.
Related:Australia's 'Anti-Terrorism' Bill: the framework for a police state Over the past month, Prime Minister John Howard and the six Australian state premiers and two territory chief ministers have joined hands to draft draconian new laws that will erect the juridical scaffolding for a police-state. The Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005 is unprecedented in both its content and in the conspiratorial methods that have been employed to push it through the state and federal parliaments.
ASIO settle wrongful detention case out of courtOn the first of November ASIO and the federal Government of Australia settled out of court with a couple whose house had been raided a couple weeks after the [US false flag] September 11 2001 attacks against the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers in the USA.
The race that doesn't stop the nationCANBERRA: And welcome to Canberra on the first Tuesday in November for the race that doesn't stop the nation. The Anti-Terrorism Cup. The final horses are being brought into the barriers, and we are almost ready for the start.
Constitution: Defending Against State Terror and DespotsAustralia has no major laws that are not derivatives of English Law and all of our major laws rely on British court precedents for interpretation and implementation. These laws and our Constitutional Monarchy system create a situation where, even if Howard and all State Premiers vote unanimously on the Anti-Terrorist laws, and every ALP/Dem/Lib/Nat/Green party hack also votes unanimously on their laws, and even if such laws are given Royal Assent, those laws are still void.
Open Letter to Australian SenateEvery West Australian needs to take note of the proposed terror legislation that will be debated in the Senate next Tuesday. Our own Premier has sold us out, and the time has come for some serious and organised protest in WA to protect our democracy and civil liberties. Write to the Senate, to the papers, and to every political party. This is a fundamental issue that affects the future of our society.
$145,000 for false arrest in NSWThe lawyer - who has represented almost all Sydney's high-profile accused
[alleged] terrorists,
[scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killing's resource wars in the Middle East] including Mamdouh Habib - who was kidnapped and tortured and who successfully sued the state for wrongful arrest, malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.
Preventive Detention: A Shield or A Sword?There is a consensus among educated Australians that Preventive Detention is inimical to the democratic evolution of our country. Many are those who argue that given the standards of our time preventive detention is an unnecessary evil.
What's the Difference Between CHINA and AUSTRALIA?If John Howard's terror law comes into effect, what is the difference between China, and Australia? No rifle executions? I think it is time to approach the Governor General, to dissolve Parliament on the basis that the present Government is attempting to achieve Dictatorial Powers.
Cracks in terror solidarityIn remarks that are at odds with the Premier, Morris Iemma's determined support for the legislation, Mr Debus said yesterday: "I think I share the concern about the legislation with plenty of other people. I don't query that we need to have very tough responses to the threat of terrorism [actually though, the community do query it because the actual threat of terrorism is coming from the Government] and I don't query that the premiers have signed off on a framework last month.
Australian Prime Meanster 'tells' States?Prime meanster john hoWARd's original pact with the states seems to have fallen into disarray because his new anti-liberty laws breach human rights obligations and the commonwealth constitution.
Anti-Terrorism Bill details draconian police-state plansFirst and foremost, the legislation provides for extensive detention without charge or trial, on the flimsiest of pretexts. With no notice or legal hearing, any person can be thrown into secret "preventative detention" or placed, by a "control order," in isolation under house arrest.
Shoot to kill on the belief of reasonable grounds is a problemProvisions in relation to use of force in s105.23 raise serious concerns. In particular subsection 105.23(2) specifically contemplates the use of lethal force against a detainee where an AFP member believes on reasonable grounds that this is necessary to protect life or to prevent serious injury to another person.
ASIO laws: Don't be silencedThe secrecy surrounding the proposed national anti-``terror'' legislation stands in stark contrast to previous ASIO and "anti-terror'' laws that have been subject to scrutiny by parliamentary committees and public hearings.
Brisbane Peace Convergence calls on Beattie to reject terror legislation changes The Brisbane Peace Convergence (BPC) are calling on Premier Peter Beattie to reject the Federal governments proposed amendments to anti-terror laws. The BPC consider the changes to pose a threat to fundamental rights in a democratic society, including life, liberty and democratic action.
How's this for sedition?Edmund Burke, who declared the tyranny of bad laws, was a deep political thinker and a ferocious polemicist. In 1777, he wrote to the Sheriffs of Bristol that the true danger to freedom was when liberty was nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.
Sydney Morning Herald Poll flawedSydney Morning Herald: "According to the latest Herald Poll, about three-quarters of voters think it is OK to lock up suspected terrorists [scapegoats for the Coalition of the Killings resource wars in the Middle East] without charge, put them under house arrest or shackle them with tracking devices."
SHOOT TO KILL MADNESS AND DRACONIAN LAWSThe Howard Government wants to give police executing preventative detention orders the power to shoot to kill. This is shoot to kill madness.
New anti-terror laws and the Muslim communityOn 8 September the Prime Minister introduced a 12-point plan outlining new anti-terror laws [draconian laws to bolster support for John Howard's resource wars in the Middle East] in a press release. Two weeks later he went to the Council of Australian Governments meeting with the proposals. They approved the measures by and large.
Secret agents brief Bracks on 'seditious' protestAustralia: Melbourne: Thursday 20 October, 2005: A phalanx of "secret agents" delivered a written briefing to Premier Steve Bracks at Parliament House today to tip him off to potential "seditious activities" at a planned demonstration for civil liberties on Saturday.
Shoot-to-kill bluffAUSTRALIA: federal labor leader kim sleazley has predicted the federal dictatorship will fail in its push for a shoot-to-kill policy to be included in its counter-terrorism laws.
Sedition Laws Target Peaceful Civil DisobedienceThe new Sedition Laws in the anti-terror bills clearly target people who call for acts of non-violent civil disobedience. Under the laws there is no defence for calling for change to any law by anything other than lawful means. Penalty is up to seven years jail.
Stanhope flags doubts on 'hasty' terrorism billACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope says he may refuse to sign off on parts of the Federal Government's hasty terrorism bill. Mr Stanhope published a draft of the controversial laws [draconian laws] on his website on Friday and has refused to take it down despite a directive from the Federal Government.
Despoja: Stanhope hero of the hourNatasha Stott Despoja has described Mr Stanhope as the "hero of the hour". Senator Despoja says there is meant to be a vote on the draft legislation in the week beginning November 7.
Stanhope stands his groundStanhope: It is bizarre to think legislation of this significance can be rushed into Parliament without consulting a single Australian.
Anti-terrorism laws inquiry 'too short'Australia: The Opposition says the inquiry effectively gives senators just one day to examine the bills. Labor's homeland security spokesman, Arch Bevis, says the inquiry will be unable to scrutinise whether the legislation provides a balance between security and civil rights.
Australia: Draconian laws draw rights watchdog's ireHuman Rights Watch has condemned Australia's proposed anti-terrorism laws as a "shocking departure" from its historical championing of the rights of the individual.
Dissent Isn't Taken Lightly Down UnderHistorian Michael Foley said during times of war pacifists often get mugged. As a nonviolent activist working to end the war in Iraq and the corporate war profiteering that comes with it, September 2005 has been the most surreal time of my life and I definitely feel like I got mugged by Australian Attorney General Phillip Ruddock and the Australian government.
Australia: Rattling the cageRecently, the federal government announced a controversial new 'counter-terrorism' package. Civil libertarians were quick to raise the spectre of a police state . Yet Muslim groups argued that the new security regime is already having an impact on the democratic freedoms and everyday safety of their communities.
AUSTRALIA: MUSLIMS SOLD OUT!Hand picked alleged Australian Muslim leaders are being used to cut their own throats the same as the hand picked Indigenous mob have been used by the John HoWARd Government to screw ATSIC.
Anti-terrorism laws put rights at risk: FraserFormer prime minister Malcolm Fraser says Australians could be treated unfairly under the Government's anti-terrorism [draconian] laws unless a human rights act is introduced.
Stop the war on civil liberties!Prime Minister John Howard is using the "war on terror" to promote widespread fear about "terrorists" and "terrorism" in Australia. This is despite the fact that the biggest act of terror being committed today is being carried out by foreign troops, including Australia's, in occupied Iraq.
Spots and StripesIt is well known that John Howard, infamous lackey and liar, is devoid of anything that could be remotely regarded as masculine or manly; the draconian measures he has implemented to 'secure' Australia against the terrorist bogeyman are astounding.
They know where you liveTwenty-four hours after the country's leaders agreed to draconian counter-terrorism laws this week, the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock, was playing down media claims that ASIO believed there were 800 would-be suicide bombers living in Australia.
When Terrorism Outlaws DemocracyOn September 27, 2005, Australian democracy surrendered to terrorism. On that day, a coalition of willing federal and state leaders agreed to anti-terrorism legislation that will enable police persecution of the Muslim community and threaten dissidents with imprisonment. In a country without a Bill of Rights, the prospect of more draconian Terror Laws delivers ultimate control through fear. Australia, with its history of penal colonies, racism and detention centers, is now set to become a police state.
Evans: moderate threatEvans doubts reports that 800 potential terrorists are living in Australia.
No! Your Rights AustraliaYou have the right to not remain silent.
800 people deemed a potential security risk?As reported in the Australian today, ASIO has apparently identified up to 800 people deemed a potential security risk. Ruddock says the draconian COAG measures "deal with people who pose a risk to the safety and security of the Australian community." Hmmm, like detained and deported US peace activist Scott Parkin perhaps? What is this broad definition of a "Terrorist"?
Democrat Will Oppose Anti-Terrorism LawsNSW Democrat MLC, Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, has accused the Premier, Mr Morris Iemma, of selling out to John Howard after agreeing to new 'Anti-Terrorism' laws yesterday. Dr Chesterfield-Evans said the proposed laws agreed to by Morris Iemma will not work.
Mein Kampf by John HowardMonths before Bali Au warships were seen invading Iraqi territorial waters in deliberate provocations under American protection. It was obvious that Howard had decided before Bali to join in an illegal and aggressive invasion of Iraq and in fact , when that happened, it was led by Au stormtroopers BEFORE the ultimatum given Baghdad had even run out!
Collection of Terrorists Meet to Take Away Our RightsTomorrow (27th of September) the State Premiers and the Federal Government are meeting to conspire to strip Australians of their rights. Welcome to the brave new world of electronic tagging and "preventative" detention.
Tell Your State Premier: Don't Do Ruddock's Dirty WorkOver the past several years, the Howard government has passed a series of dangerous new laws. These laws have undermined our basic legal and democratic rights.
Australian government unveils legal framework for police stateIn the lead-up to his September 27 "counter-terrorism summit" with the eight Australian state and territory leaders, Prime Minister John Howard last week unveiled a package of legislation that goes well beyond the already deep inroads made into essential civil liberties under the fraudulent banner of the "war on terrorism..."
Australia: Counter-liberty plans unveiledAUSTRALIA: VIC: BLACK Hawk helicopters and fighter jets will patrol Melbourne's skies during the Commonwealth Games next March, as part of counter-terror measures outlined today.
John H.o.W.A.R.d line roars at Fascism WeekAUSTRALIA: Parody: (Rooters) - While Attorney General Phillip Duddock helped wrap up a US protester for Prime Meanster, John HoWARd during Australia's Fascism Week after a 5 day detention debut and the removal of Mr Scott Parkin a peace activist who was deported back to Houston, Texas. The h.o.W.A.R.d fascism line, adding a dash of despotism to a week of largely draconian styles.
Parkin charged $11,700 for detention and removalLos Angeles Friday, 16 September, 2005 : American peace activist Scott Parkin arrived back in the US today, escorted by 2 Australian immigration officials. He is expected to arrive in Houson, Texas on a Continental Airlines flight at around 3pm AEST.
Government out of control on security: WilkieAustralia: Canberra Thursday, 15 September, 2005 : Former intelligence analyst Andrew Wilkie today staunchly defended US peace activist and teacher, Scott Parkin, saying that the government's national security agenda is out of control.
Australia, USA, Iraq: Scott ParkinThe rapid and widespread response to the detention of US peace and global justice activist, Scott Parkin, has been heartening and effective on many levels. Actions have taken place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and outside several Australian Consulates in the United States.
Peace Activist Agrees to be removed but challenges security reviewATTENTION: CHIEFS OF STAFF - IMMIGRATION REPORTERS - LEGAL REPORTERS
Australia's fascist ideal: ProofPhilip Ruddock, Federal Attorney General to Australian, hopes to eclipse the neo-cons of the US in the race toward the fascist ideal of social uniformity and control (oppression).
Anti-War Extremists Loyal to ScottWhat can I say to someone like Scott Parkin? Sorry mate, to get a PEACE prize in this country you need to be drop dead sexy, go-tees are out - you gotta go. Peace Prize.
US Peace Activist to be DeportedScott Parkin, a Texas based peace activist was detained by Federal police at approximately midday Saturday. He was en route to give a workshop about the progress and success of the peace movement in the US and companies profiting from the Iraq war.
Howard government threatens academic freedomAs Peter McGregor noted in GLW #639, I recently resigned in protest from a committee of the federal government's National Health and Medical Research Committee (NHMRC) and called for a boycott by academics of government committees generally.
'Different times' call for bill of rights, says QC'To ensure no future government can erode basic human rights. Lex Lasry, QC, gave last night's key note address at the University of Western Australia's annual Day of Ideas.
Australia: a little dab will do ya .....Reflections on the phoney, hypocritical "values" debate being promoted by the federal government, as part of its proscriptive program to emasculate our democracy.
Government warned Terror Laws "inherently dangerous, draconian and open to misuse" John North, Law Council of Australia: "In times of fear, it is easy for governments to impose ever (more) draconian laws."
Fishing expedition pays offA man whose home was targeted by ASIO in fishing raids this year is facing fraud charges along with a co-accused who is linked to firearms offences.
The Terrorism of ASIO LawsWanda Fish asks Australian Senators to reject Howard's proposal to strengthen laws that already erode our basic legal rights. This legislation has the potential to turn ASIO agents into terrorists who can kidnap and detain innocent Australians simply because they "might know something".
Terrorgraph not quiet on 'Aussie militant' probeAFP refuses to comment on investigation into militant video: hoWARd's abc.
Phillip Duddock's 'accent' heard in militant broadcastAustralian/Arab television has broadcast a video showing a masked militant with an apparent Australian accent criticising British Prime Minister tony bliar over Iraq.
HICKS: Not a Happy Birthday!AUSTRALIA/CUBA/US :David Hicks, the Australian imprisoned at the US Base of Guantanamo Bay, will be 30 years old this coming Monday August 7, 2005.
GetUp! Stand Up! Stand Up For Your Rights!Because of you, something exciting happened in our democracy last week. From every corner of the country, more than 20,000 emails were sent to the Coalition Senators. Our message was simple: now you have control of the Senate, we will be holding you to account. Thousands of you added personal messages to your representatives about the issues you care about.
Australia: We're Living In A War ZonePrime Minister john hoWARd and his cronies have now placed us in a war-zone moving defence capabilities to Australia's south-east coast.
All the alleged terrorists are MuslimsThe Australian Federal Police (AFP) commissioner mick keelty, a well know propagandist and liar, now claims that 60 Islamic extremists are operating in Australia and they are not news to the police and intelligence agencies.
All the wicked witches in Pakistan?Pakistani authorities say 800 suspected militants [scapegoates and patsies] have been arrested in raids following the deadly London [false flag operation] bombings, as Islamic groups protest a move to expel 1,400 foreign students.
It's just not cricket: KhanThe perception in the West remained that somehow Islam was connected to militarism and terrorism, that all Muslims believe that all suicide bombers go straight to heaven. No one mentioned that before [false flag operations of] 9/11 70 per cent of suicide bombings in the world were committed by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, who were Hindus.
Lawyer dismisses ASIO fishing raids as PR stuntFascist federal Police (AFP) and ASIO officers conducted more raids in Melbourne and Sydney yesterday but the publicity surrounding the raids has been dismissed as a public relations exercise by the Melbourne lawyer for an accused terrorist.
Howard off to US, UK - part 5PART-5- PRIME minister john hoWARd will meet US president george w buSHIT, British prime minister tony blair and queen 'imperialism' herself during a 10-day visit to the United States and the UK next month.
hoWARd, ruddock, ellison, keelty and news ltd plotted chaosAUSTRALIA/CUBA: Government and corporate propaganda agencies 'believe' they have foiled an attack on the Melbourne Stock Exchange by a radical Islamic network linked to a covert group, which has carried out surveillance on key Sydney sites.
Houses raided over 'possible' political attack plans?ASIO have raided a number of properties in Melbourne on a 'fishing expedition' in relation to a 'possible' political scare campaign by the hoWARd government, playing on the fears of all Australians... again!
Is this our most dangerous Newspaper?The Daily Terrorist should be managed with manacles and flown into Siberia via a jumbo jet tomorrow amid fears government fascists may attempt to use them again on someone else.
HOSTAGES OF THE WAR ON TERRORThis forum will bring together legal representatives and victims of counter-terror, along with justice campaigners and organisations in order to share strategies for achieving justice for these men and the many other like them.
WAR ON TERROR, WAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS: AMNESTYThe Canterbury-Bankstown Peace Group & the Justice for Hicks & Habib Campaign welcome the statement by Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan, condemning the US Administration for condoning torture and the suppression of 'human rights' in their 'war on terror'.
Murdoch's war on truth in war reportingPeople who remain to be convinced that cross-media laws are important to maintaining the fabric of our democracy need look no further than today's page one of The Daily Telegraph.
Chomsky signs on for justiceNoam Chomsky has signed the Justice for Jack campaign petition which calls on the Australian Attorney General Philip Ruddock and Director of Public Prosecutions to "drop any charges reliant on records of interviews conducted under duress without the presence of a lawyer."
If he'd been given his passport he'd be a free manA Sydney man [scapegoat in the Coalition of the Killings resource wars in the Middle East] has been found not guilty of preparing for a terrorist attack on a Commonwealth building [ruling class propaganda.]
Trial by unrelated video clipsShould alleged terrorist suspects [scapegoats for the resource wars in the Middle East] be shown on television side-by side-'terrorist training camp film clips' gathered by the government and media archives to give the wrong impression of accused people facing trial?
Accused Australian Citizen 'denied passport in 2002'?AN AUSTRALIAN CITIZEN who was refused a passport by DFAT in mid-2002 became frustrated at the government for treating him differently.
Court should be told Gov't using 'Jack'!A Melbourne court should have been told a man accused of working for Al Qaeda is being used by the fascist Australian Government as a pawn in their leverage to win support for their illegal and degrading activities.
Noble Cause Torture?AUSTRALIA: The Labor Party has decided not to support a Senate inquiry into new allegations made by Mamdouh Habib that the Australian Government cooperated with Egyptian intelligence authorities who he insists tortured him.
New account adds weight to interrogation claimsAustralia/Cuba/Iraq: The fascist Federal Government is under further pressure today because Australians were involved in the interrogation of tortured Iraqi prisoners.
Australian senate accused govt of war crimesDid you hear the one about David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib having a Barbeque in Afghanistan with Bin Laden? Yeah it was reported on Channel Seven's Sunrise this morning! But they don't know if it was a sheep or a goat, but sources say it was most likely a goat.
DPP to appeal innocent man's bailThe Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will seek to have an innocent Melbourne man Joseph 'Jack' Thomas, returned to isolation in custody?
Fascist Australian Govt torture exposedThe fascist Federal Government has been exposed for the torture of Australian Mamdouh Habib and the US Government's allegations against him (if they were true) would have been made under duress.
Innocent witch verballed by federal fascists!Shame on the federal fascists. The wicked old witch is dead! A Melbourne Magistrates Court has heard that a 31-year-old innocent Victorian man was facing terrorism charges?
Lawyer blames police for Habib break-inJohn HoWARd, Alexander Downer, Phillip Ruddock, Robert Hill, to name just a few....HOW DO YOU PLEAD?
No reason for Habib to sell story: Beazley?Federal Agreement Leader Kim Beazley is a well-paid loser. A loser who supposed to be defending our democratic rights by standing up to the HoWARd Government's fascism.
Australia: a presumption of guilt......KAREN PERCY: Two of Australia's leading barristers have seized on the return of Guantanamo Bay detainee, Mamdouh Habib, to launch an unprecedented attack on the Federal Attorney General, Philip Ruddock.
Aust Community criticises Govt for 'crimes'!Australia: The Law Council of Australia is warning that the Federal Government must learn from its mistakes over Guantanamo Bay? Now that's a mistake!
Australian Govt Guilty of Crimes: CommunityAustralia: The community says federal fascists who allowed the torture of its citizenry including Mamdouh Habib may be arrested when the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal address the War Crimes Indictment set out by the community.
What they did to HabibMamdouh Habib was the victim of atrocities fit for a concentration camp, including being tied to the ground while a prostitute menstruated on him, his lawyer said yesterday.
Innocent witch verballed by federal fascists!Shame on the federal fascists. The wicked old witch is dead! A Melbourne Magistrates Court has heard that a 31-year-old innocent Victorian man was facing terrorism charges?
Innocent Victorian man held in custody for Xmas?!Lawyers have argued the case against Mr Thomas was weak and based on a statement he made in Pakistan without a lawyer present and therefore unlawful.
Innocent Melbourne man makes second bail bidRubish, just plain propaganda, fear-mongering, draconian nonsence from the HoWARd goverment's war agenda stink tank.
MPs to review spy agency powersAustralian spy agency ASIO'S controversial powers to detain and question suspected terrorists [scapegoats for HoWARd's resource wars] will be re-examined by a parliamentary committee. Parliament passed the new counter-terrorism powers in July last year.
Goulburn Jail breaches UN standardsNSW: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Justice Minister John Hatzistergos to bring Goulburn Jail's Maximum Security Wing into line with United Nations standards, after a prison inmate's covert survey of his fellow inmates revealed problems with rehabilitation programs and basic amenities.
Lodhi toilet paper: crap!He is facing nine charges and is accused of planning a major terrorist attack on Sydney defence sites and the electricity grid using downloads off the internet and having 100 rolls of toilet paper to wipe his arse after low level bombs and farts.
Community seeks more power to interrogate ASIO suspectsGreens Senator Bob Brown does not think increased police powers are necessary. "We have enormous powers for surveillance, apprehension or punishment of people who are engaged in or intending to engage in or thinking about being engaged in terrorist acts in this country," he said.
Greens warn of 'politicised' terror trialsAUSTRALIA/CUBA?: The Australian Greens say they are concerned that new anti-terrorism laws being debated in the Senate allow for the "political black-banning" of defence lawyers at terrorism trials.
Melbourne man charged over ASIO linksASIO a know Australian terrorist organization is verballing the community again...about allegations that a man, while living overseas, received funds from Al Qaeda and had close association with the members of the terrorist group.
DING DONG! THE WITCH IS DEADA court has been told Joseph Thomas is a sleeper? ZZZ! Melbourne Australia: A court has been told that Osama bin Laden asked a Melbourne man to become a "sleeper" in Australia before undertaking activities for the Al Qaeda network? Munchkins: "Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead."
AFP: The unlikely CRIMINALIt was born of a bombing and it made its name after a far more devastating act of terrorism. But for most of the 25 years in between, little was known about the Australian Federal Police force or the work it did.
Australian Federal Government complicity in war crimesComplaint to Australian law officers about Australian Federal Government complicity in war crimes.
There is no justification for tortureIn the weeks since the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison were revealed, evidence continues to seep out of similar mistreatment of prisoners in other US military detention centers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay.
Howard rejects spy agency overhaulPrime Minister John Howard has played down the need for a major overhaul of Australia's spy agencies as a result of an inquiry by former intelligence officer Phillip Flood.
Mamdouh Habib: Taunted and Tortured!Four Corners [Walls]: Terrorist - or Taunted by the Australian Defence Force who sacked him as a cleaning contractor? Who is Mamdouh Habib? And why was he harassed by the Australian Federal Police? Then tagged and labelled as a spy? Why was he vilified by the community? When he fled to Pakistan how did he end up being tortured in Egypt? And how did he end up at Guantanamo prison camp reserved for the men America calls "the worst of the worst.
He was an undercover agent for the bluesHe was my journalist, he was working undercover. The fellow knew all of the moves.... He really had me romping, bare footing stomping. He just kept igniting my fuse....
Up there Khasali: Innocent man new bail lawsThe New South Wales Supreme Court has asked innocent man Bilal Khazal to increase to amount of surety offered, before the bail is formally continued.
HEY! BIG BROTHER? LET INNOCENT PEOPLE GO!Young men terrorised, tortured, and threatened with charges for no crime by Australia mate the lucky country. Lucky if you're not used for Howard's FEDERAL ELECTION and George Dubya's WAR ON LIBERTY! Who shot liberty? IGNORANCE!
Ul-Haque 'the man who wants to become a doctor'The taskforce is investigating French man Willie Brigitte, who was tipped back home for a visa breach. Allegedly the Un-Australian Newspaper claimed he also attended training camps before his six-month stay in Sydney. Police have not alleged Mr Ul-Haque knew Brigitte. The Un-Australian just mentioned it because they are 'you guessed it' up John Howard's butt and they like the USA want 'you guessed it' our Federal Government. Well Yankee go home!
Brain injury for suspicion 'inhumane'Faheem Khalid Lodhi refused bail by a Sydney court and remanded until June in hell at the (HARM-U) High Risk Management Unit at Goulburn. While he is in there he will receive a brain injury and is likely to self-harm due to the gross violation of living standards.
Keelty foresees more terrorismAustralian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Mick Keelty says terrorist groups will continue to find new ways to threaten countries.
Daily Terror rolled-over for Howard's war gamesThe DAILY TERROR is suspected of being the source of the news this morning that Willie Brigitte is a terrorist and that Sydney faces a bomb attack.
Lawyer claims Al Qaeda suspect's evidence tainted!Before returning to Australia last year, Thomas was arrested and held in custody for five months by Pakistani authorities before being released without charge.
Man terrorised by ASIO remanded in 'AA' isolation!A Victorian man has been remanded in custody after being charged with terrorism offences, including having links to Al Qaeda?
Ruddock foreshadows new terrorism lawsThe new laws will allow police to access emails and mobile phone SMS messages, enable wider use of surveillance devices, and protect sensitive national security information during terrorism trials.
Islamic movement denies links to Al QaedaThe Islamic Youth Movement has denied having any links to Al Qaeda and says it is considering legal action against the Four Corners program. In a statement released early this morning, the group rejects allegations it is helping coordinate any kind of terrorist network inside Australia and says it is being unfairly targeted.
2nd Renaissance -10 The War on Witches [150]In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued a Papal Bull that became the rationale for establishing the Inquisition in Germany. The following excerpt from the Bull sets out the official view of the danger of witches to the community. The Bull and this this passage provided the sole excuse for the torture and cruel executions that were, ultimately, to be the fate of up to fifty percent of the population of some villages.
Certain inmates set a series of fires in the Baxter Detention Centre in South Australia, causing $2 million dollars worth of damage and destroying the personal possessions of many asylum seekers/refugees. 
