Haneef case shows need to repair Migration Act
I’m attending a forum in Brisbane today which is examining how to respond to the issues that arise from the case of Dr Mohamed Haneef. There are some interesting speakers who I expect will shed more light on this specific case. A relative of Dr Haneef’s who has just arrived in the country will probably also be present. The Australian newspaper has distinguished itself over recent years in running a flurry of articles, often on the front page, that whip up fear and loathing against Muslims, so you know things must seriously stink when they publish an article calling Dr Haneef’s treatment “a case of plain old verballing”.
However, this is far from the first case in Australia where someone has been locked up without charge or trial as a result of the excessive powers given to government minsters under the Migration Act. There are many worse examples. Click on this link to read of one example I wrote about early last year. It gives the detail of a case of a man who was locked up for over six years on the basis of evidence which was withheld from him. When he finally got access to the allegations, he was able to eventually demonstrate it was a case of mistaken identity. He was finally released, with no apology and no compensation – just six years of his life taken away for no good reason, while his children grew up without him.
Perhaps the Haneef case will finally wake people up to the fact that our Migration Act allows politically motivated decisions to be made which inflict gross injustices and suffering on people for no good reason.
This article in The Australian about the reaction in India to Haneef case is also worth noting. It reports on a meeting in Bangalore “between India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Ahamed, a member of India’s 150million-strong Muslim community, and Dr Haneef’s wife, Firdous Arshiya.”
“The Haneef case has not made anyone happy; not the media, not the legal fraternity, and not the 200,000-strong Indian community in Australia,” Mr Ahamed said after the meeting.
As an aside, I spoke to Dr Haneef’s wife on the phone a couple of days ago. It must be very hard for her to deal with this situation, especially given that she has only recently given birth to their first child – not to mention that the income her husband was earning has been cut off by the Queensland government.
UPDATE: The forum at Griffith University in Brisbane was extremely well attended – around 200 people for a gathering that had only been planned a few days ago. There were a lot of strong speakers and a lot of determination to try to turn Australia in a better direction and away from the fear and growing constraints on freedom which permeate so much of Australian politics.
55 Comments, Comment or Ping
al loomis
i wonder what events need to transpire, so that australians will be jolted out of their national fantasy that they live in a democracy?
Jul 22nd, 2007
barry blackman
Now the AFP or Govt have ‘leaked’ the existence of photographs of a prominent gold coast building (and it’s foundations) among Dr Haneefs possessions. The implication being Haneef was planning ’something’
In an astounding knee jerk, there are calls for SIM card purchases to require 100 point identity check. It’s a short hop from there to monitoring EVERYONES phone calls all the time.
George Orwell double plus good.
GO GET ‘EM ANDREW~!
Jul 22nd, 2007
philip travers
Strange over a number of days I was hearing the mans name as Yaneef rather than Haneef.If he sussed out buildings etc. and the Feds can prove a case…I say the glitch and balls up in my hearing and understanding was an invoked potential,neither deliberate on my part, mental disturbance or, um, hearing impaired.And if he was planning something etc, will the baked bean brigade finally investigate my complaint.After all speaking in fits and gibberish is something I am avoiding.Making errors like I do at typing isnt profoundly mentally impaired.The N.S.W. government is into the theme park approach to releases of policy with DNA fingerprints being installed at your local copshop.Who pissed on the street and who wrote the grafitti on the toilet door could be a good use of it,although many people would become lost for words,and, be olympic when it comes to nature calls.And dog DNA!? Shit there will be a demarcation dispute between council and cops! Better keep my nose and ear hair clean!? Mistaken identity officer ,really!
Jul 22nd, 2007
Marilyn
What’s absurd is that the Indian and British police have both investigated and come up empty on this young man. The can’t even find any evidence that the cousin in Glasgow was radical in India or did anything other than work, three members of the so-called cell have been released, Dr Kafeel did not drive to Glasgow to commit an offence he lived and worked in Glasgow and the Iraqi was visiting him.
The feds. should take Peter Faris’s advice and just let him go home.
Jul 22nd, 2007
irene
If Dr Haneef is cleared of all potential charges, what chance does he have of resuming normal life and work in Australia? None, thanks to the “leaking” by the AFP in the first instance. And as for the minister’s intervention in naming him as of “bad character”, the time for that if it was so, was BEFORE issuing his entry visa. I sure hope to hell that none of my relatives do something illegal in the future so that I am not tainted by association.
Jul 22nd, 2007
Peter Kemp
A case of “plain old verballing” contrary to Haneef’s record of interview seems to be the case.
But the real 3 questions behind all of this Andrew, that should be asked of Keelty are these:
Whatever the answer, the follow up questions are:
Going also on Keelty’s rolling over to Howard on the causes of terrorism; the apparent failure to investigate the (probably Dolly) leakage of Wilkie’s secret ONA report: my confidence that the AFP will impartially and professionally mount a competent prosecution against suspected terrorists is practically ZERO.
Jul 22nd, 2007
freedrhaneef
Thankyou for speaking at this forum AB. Do you know of any similar events in Melbourne and Sydney?
Regards
Free
Jul 22nd, 2007
Marilyn
Even so it is still not legal to cancel a visa for the purpose of keeping someone locked up and not to deport them.
Jul 23rd, 2007
zen
Is it possible to find out (through the Senate perhaps) how much money has the Australian government already spent on the ‘anti-terrorist’ extravaganza?
The cost should include the involvement of the Australian navy used for political purposes, construction and maintenance of detention centres, appeal system and legal costs, transport of the detainees all across Australia and overseas, hiring legal advisers and counsellors, contractors,fridge magnets and other government propaganda,now compensations pay outs, government contractors i.e. from Sydney or Melbourne, flying by Qantas to remote areas like Port Hedland or Broome or Woomera to interview detainees; In Baxter detention center there are 2 people currently held. At any time of the day there are at least 20 government cars in front of this lovely ‘facility’ and plenty of guards.
In ‘The Western Australian’ some years ago there was an appeal of the locals to build another detention centre as it ‘created jobs’. I felt sick.
This incredible Byzantine system, which produced Vivian Alvarez and Cornelia Rau, now dr. Haneef costs us probably more than entire health system.
We have the navy, bombers, military planes, the army, police, cameras, intelligence (?), Pine Gap, satellites, planes, criminal laws, etc. Why did we have to build ‘a system outside the system’ in the name of national security? Do we live in the Middle East? Are we prepared to get bancrupt but at least we would ‘feel safe’? In what way Vivian Alvarez or little babies ‘threatened our borders’? How much more money do we plan to spend? How are we going to benefit from the Howard ‘economy’?
Jul 23rd, 2007
syd mcleod
Now lets see a KNOWN live in associate of committed terrorist.
Fits profile of same know proven terrorist.
Like them he is known as a sweet lovable guy who wouldn’t hurt a fly that is until they blows the crap out of the place.
In what way does this guy relate to any of the rubbish brought up here answer NONE!
Jul 24th, 2007
CORAL
zen:
No, we don’t live in the Middle East, but an increasing number of its population is coming here.
syd mcleod:
Yes, sweet lovable guys do blow the crap out of the place. My son and I have known 2 of them. One is currently in jail awaiting trial for building bombs etc, and the other has been in and out by now.
I am almost completely astounded (but not quite) by the phenomenal capacity of some people for fanatical nincompoopcy.
It isn’t me who defends cowardly treasonists, OR a man who has trained with a widely known mass-murdering terrorist group (guns, bombs), OR those who have been rejected by the government for citizenship.
I am accused of paranoia by paranoid people who are afraid of their own shadows – hopefully not to be found among a potential fresh batch of anti-government terrorists – as hinted at by Paul Walter on another thread.
Because I am related to a person working in a high security government job, I know my phone is tapped from time to time.
One Xmas, our presents arrived with the Xmas paper ripped to pieces by security staff. Security specialists also keep tabs on where money goes.
Since we have nothing to hide, it doesn’t worry us at all.
Jul 24th, 2007
philip travers
Coral s input is a lesson,that cannot be lightly dismissed.Thats terribly Coral!I read the Sydney Institute.s attempt at suggesting,the Left Democrats and Greens are just critics and wouldnt know how to make decisions that essentially worked.Has that man got a problem.I have seen some good and bad decisions from Government come off my pen and writings,and the pay rate is lousy for me..I dont even make a Grade of Government Clerk.He must prefer the pretence of being an expert on others rather than the reality many people contribute to our society even on matters security,without any pay at all or even knowing that there is danger to themselves.Assisting Police with enquiries,doesnt mean that one knows who maybe photoing or filming the event.We,as a nation, cannot allow ourselves to be carried away by a threat that isnt exactly always showing up regularily as the well presented characterisations of activity overseas.I get terrorised by Police having to now suffer beer bottle attacks..that is really frightening.I cannot recommend DNA, Tasers, etc there is flesh body and blood inside and outside the clothing of Police activity.If a DNA bank was set up that was voluntary and had more purposes than law enforcement,and,was citizen controlled,rather than corporate of government,then this maybe a way out for Police and Civil Liberties concerns.I also think the Federal Police are copping a lot of criticism indirectly via those who wont do it direct and with a point.Rudd is trying to drain as much political blood out of this issue without being controversial.Acquiessence to the Government position is a criticism then of its functionaries.The Sydney Institute just sighs about its perceived injustice to Dear old John..and young Rudd.And anyone can slip on an uneven surface,and his John s reflexes arent that ancient.
Jul 24th, 2007
zen
Coral
In WW2 Australian government set up a concentration camp for Jews. As most of them who came from Germany spoke German, all of them were suspected of being Hitler’s spies and arrested without a charge..
Accusing people who happen to have a different opinion to yours of ‘fanatical nincompoopsy and paranoia’ seems like you are short of arguments so you turn to personal abuse. ‘Habeas corpus’ and abolition of slavery have been the most important achievements in human history. I would not like them to go down the drain by a repressive government.
An Australian citizen Vivien Alvarez had nothing to hide, either. She was a holder of an Australian passport and Medicare and was in a wheelchair (very vulnerable)when she was pronounced by the government to ‘threaten our borders’and got deported in that wheelchair. 247 Australian residents and citizens did not have anything to hide either, when they were detained and deported by a sheer mistake. And this is what worries me. We will all have to foot the bill in coming compensation cases.
And the fact that the high security in Australia did not stop already CONVICTED Skases and Mokbels to escape the justice system makes you wonder when my paranoia comes from.
Jul 24th, 2007
MJ Kishore
Everyone who talks about and to respect the legal system here,i wonder if that is the case why they have cancelled his visa inspite of court bail?
is this way the respect for legal system here? or is that a warning for a particular community?
Jul 24th, 2007
Marilyn
Coral name one person who has been blown up in Australia in the last 70,000 years.
Then get over it.
Jul 24th, 2007
Andrew Elder
If you thought it was difficult to get overseas-trained doctors to come here, wait a few months and it will be next to impossible.
Jul 24th, 2007
CORAL
Marilyn:
Two sanitation workers were killed in a bombing outside the Hilton Hotel by members of the Ananda Marga sect during a meeting of CHOGRM. Several other people were injured. Is that enough for you?
I have nothing to “get over”. Perhaps you do.
See my links to this incident and the high school teacher/bombmaker on the Aboriginal Children VI thread for further details.
zen:
I’m not short of arguments – just tired of being abused. I wasn’t specifically talking about you. You’re right about Skase et al. There is corruption at every turn.
All:
The Federal government can already do ANYTHING of its choosing – new legislation or not.
At the same time, people need to stop dealing up rubbish to the police.
Kicking all of the authority figures is not a great way of having a successful society.
Jul 24th, 2007
Lotharsson
Neither is blind aquiescence to anything they do.
It’s not the kicking that you should discourage, it’s unwarranted kicking. A successful democratic society needs a mechanism to watch the watchers, and to ensure the law enforcers follow the law. Expressions of public outrage are a legitimate form of citizen participation in that process.
On the basis of the historical record, a corrupt government or law enforcement establishment is far more likely to do harm to you or those you love than terrorists.
Jul 24th, 2007
syd mcleod
This has nothing whatsoever to do with Germans/Japanese/Italians interned during the war. It has nothing to do with Averez this is about a guy who has had a more then close relationship with known bombers end of story. To make anything else out of it is a nonsense. I as an Australian born citizen have had my troubl;es with immigration that referrs to their illegal regulations they use against legitimate immigrants. But to use this guy with anything beyond the admitted facts is a nonsense as does him nor you any credit.
Jul 24th, 2007
Marilyn
Syd McLeod, what drivel. One person in Glasgow self-immolated and the other did nothing at all.
Grow up – I have a former son in law in jail for murder, should my grand-daughter be considered guilty too? Should I?
Apologies Coral – not one person has ever been killed by the bogeyman called “muslim terrorist”.
Jul 24th, 2007
Donna
Coral
Possibly you could consider what it is that you say, and how you say it, that invites such disdain from other posters.
I noted on another post you stated you would be inviting family and friends to join you on this blog to back you up.
That doesn’t surprise me in the least that you would do something like that. And it says a lot for your lack of ethics.
Jul 24th, 2007
ken
Coral – I think your going the way of the reef and being bleached
Jul 25th, 2007
Evil Pundit
The only fear being spread is the nonsense being peddled by commenters like Al Lewis and Barry Blackman about the Howard government turning Australia into a fascist state.
Wildly exaggerated claims like these do nothiong for the credibility of your cause. Nor does Marilyn’s flat-out denialism, which tries to pretend that terrorism doesn’t exist.
The comments section of this blog has become a collecting point for conspiracy theorists and flat-earthers. Voices of dissent from the group mind such as Coral are simply abused.
Since Andrew takes a hands-on approach to moderating the comments, I can only assume that this hodgepodge of hysteria meets his approval.
Jul 25th, 2007
CORAL
It seems it’s you who can’t take a joke, Donna.
I said nothing about getting anyone onto this blog. Read for understanding – not extrapolation and condemnation.
Marilyn:
I don’t think 21 million Australians give a hoot about the ethnic origin or religion of a bomber. It’s the bombing itself they’re concerned about.
As for the Indian people being upset about Dr Haneef – I wonder how they felt when the Ananda Marga sect murdered and maimed innocent people. That’s an Indian cult from an eastern religion.
Comparing your relationship to your son-in-law with the situation of Dr Haneef is completely ridiculous.
Lotharsson:
What you say is valid, but I cannot completely agree with your final sentence.
Jul 25th, 2007
TrishaM
Coral, the three people arrested and jailed for the Hilton bombing were later pardoned and released after a Royal Commission in which some theories were expressed about the bombing being a put-up job by ASIO in order to prove the need for ASIO’s existence. Sound familiar? A second trial of one of the original three led to an acquittal. The only person who served a full sentence was someone else, who later claimed he’d lied when he confessed to the bombing, but has never said why he would do that. No definite answer has ever been given as to who bombed the Hilton.
Perhaps you need to check your history … there were terrorist bombings in Australia in the early 70s – and since those were by Croats, the odds are very much against their having been Muslims, since I believe over 90% of the population of Croatia is one variety of Catholic or another, and their muslim population is about 2%.
Jul 25th, 2007
red crab
its not the bombs that some ppl may or may not bring to australia .
just have a look at whats happening in perth now.
i predicted this type of senario way back when we were all commenting on the health of ppl comming in through christmas island .
Jul 27th, 2007
CORAL
TrishaM:
Firstly, Evan Pederick gave himself up. He wasn’t arrested. There was some controversy over who actually did the bombing, but you are unloading a certain amount of BS here.
Any theories about ASIO are only that … theories … speculation … not facts. I can assure that ASIO doesn’t need to prove the essentiality of its existence. I’ve never read such nonsense.
Thank you for telling us about the Croats. Marilyn will be glad to hear it. The bombers’ religion is unimportant to me, but their identities/religions cannot be determined by percentages.
I will repeat that I don’t think 21 million Australians give a hoot about the ethnic origin or religion of a bomber – only the danger he/she poses – since you don’t seem to have taken it in the first time.
red crab:
Well, that’s right. It’s a pity some others don’t have your capacity to think things through.
Jul 27th, 2007
Lotharsson
Coral,
I’m not sure why you don’t agree with my final sentence. Think about all the totalitarian and repressive governments in history (I’m sure I don’t need to mention some of the most murderous), compared to all the terrorists in history.
You’re probably relying on the assumption that “It Can’t Happen Here”, the same assumption made by most people – but not everyone – in the US.
That’s been the same assumption relied on throughout history whenever government repression has been on the increase. People who point out the increasing repression are told by others to stop wearing tinfoil hats or stop being alarmist – right up until it’s too late. (First they came for the communists, but I remained silent…)
You might also be interested in Dave Neiwert’s series(part 1) on Pseudo-Fascism which is coolly reasoned, researched and argued.
Civil liberties are very hard to obtain, and very easy to let slip away little by little. Terrorism is a perfect excuse even though the actual historical risk is quite low thus far (for Americans it is comparable to the risk of death by lightning, or slipping in the bathtub, or a collision with a deer , or a peanut allergy).
Before some commenters have the vapours – that historical risk assessment is not to minimize the fact that there are terrorists who would like to kill much larger numbers of us. However, they have been fairly unsuccessful thus far (even though we’ve got all hysterical about taking away civil rights to try and combat them when other measures are much more effective) and can likely only dream of killing as many as the most bloodthirsty dictators.
Jul 27th, 2007
Donna
Coral
You stated:
‘It’s a pity some others don’t have your capacity to think things through.’
I think that’s something you could ponder on.
Jul 27th, 2007
TrishaM
Coral, since I didn’t ever say Pederick was arrested rather than surendering himself, I don’t see your point. He was convicted, but later said he didn’t do it – nobody knows why he first admitted then denied it. Your point was that the bombers were a member of some strange cult- since we don’t know who the mombers were, it’s hard to say what their religion might have been.
Pederick is in training to be an Anglican priest, if he hasn’t already made it. Hmmm.
As for your wondering why ASIO would need to prove the need for its existence, you might care to look into its history and the strange history of stuff-ups and persecution of innocent people – frighteningly similar to recent events.
Whatever this statement of yours might mean : “I can assure that ASIO doesn’t need to prove the essentiality of its existence”, it is simply an opinion of yours, unless you are the person in charge of continuing or ending the existence of ASIO, or some other equally powerful political figure. I can assure you that there always have been and continue to be people who have doubts about the efficacy and efficiency of ASIO. That’s actually our job, as citizens, to evaluate the performance of our servants in the Public Service. Just lately, I am having a few doubts.
Jul 27th, 2007
red crab
i just cant help myself.
come on down to oz .
let us acuse you of a boggas crime for political reasions .
prove you inocent and send you home with pockets full of taxpayers money.
all you need to do is have a couple of weeks holiday on us.
its no suprise that this situation has gone wrong from the govts point of view they grabed the situation and tried to get some political points from it without looking .
it was so obviouse as i sead if the doc was a real threat he would have just bean taken care of quietly.
they now need to admit there mistakes take responsobility and learn from them .
Jul 27th, 2007
Graham Bell
Evil Pundit [on 23]:
You said
Hmmmm …. I can understand your exasperation but I do suggest you at least look at the histories of the rise of various fascist and fascist-like regimes in Europe and Latin America.
When you’ve done that, you will understand why so many Australians on the
Right/conservative/free-enterprise side of the political fence are alarmed at what has happened to Australia in the past decade …and not a single “denialist” nor a “flat-earther” among them..
Jul 27th, 2007
Marilyn
No it is not Coral. Haneef was arrested and persecuted because he knows his cousins who committed a crime. I might just as easily have been arrested and persecuted because I know my former son in law who committed a crime.
That’s how absurd the whole thing is.
Jul 28th, 2007
paul walter
Graham
Bell will give your response to EP a serious, quiet nod of respect. There are indeed two types of non-left bloggers. There are the Tim Blair type flamers and trolls. EP appears to offer a fair example of the subspecies.
Then there are the majority. Responsible, sincere, sometimes naive, sometimes dogmatic and often incredibly insightful. These are the people at the other end of the wicket to lefties that combined produce an accurate synthesised snapshot for a democratic community trying to survive and prosper.
I noticed during the Haneef debate that many conservatives were dubious of what was transpiring , but coming from different trajectories and offering alternative but equally plausible explanations and insights perhap not considered deeply enough by lefties.
Personally, must admit in the aftermath that “security” considerations need not be ignored as anathema.
A bit like, you don’t lock up the house during the day, but it is wise to do so at night or when you’re not there. By way of analogy, if a Howardist security policy has flaws, do we then give up completely on any rational attempts at such a policy?
I hope what’s happened creates a debate as to how the current flawed system can be improved from the point of view of BOTH efficiency AND fairness.
Kicking this off if only for myself, I’d say the answers to our security problems lie NOT in the Andrews over reaction to a magistrate’s decision to bail Haneef, endorsed by Ruddock and Iemma further proposing the crippling of bail provisions.
But that’s because the laws, in seeming to denying fundamental accountability for police and politicians on the reasonable notion of efficiency remove the need to be thorough through removal of scrutiny, as much as the disturbing intrusions on liberty experienced by Haneef.
But, an efficient system should be in place, because at sometime there might in fact turn up something that IS nasty and needs tracking down.
Still, at what cost?
Jul 29th, 2007
ken
That last post Paul is very accurate. Like many things people oftne find it hard to distinguish between their dislike of the regualtory / policy regime and the implementation of it. In this case both legislation and implementation are / were fundamentally stuffed up.
In my view the winding back of the “un charged” time would be a useful start, to maybe a max of 3-4 days.
Jul 30th, 2007
Aron
Has EP apologised for slurring an innocent man’s reputation yet? :)
Jul 30th, 2007
paul walter
Thanks, Ken.
It’s just that these sorts of laws have given me the creeps for quite some time. Lack of safeguards and accountability, politicisation by media and politicians, overrule of separation of powers etc.
Jul 31st, 2007
philip travers
And now that Haneef is asking questions of why his visa was taken off him.If it was returned,and no explanation given,who should supply the character witness in absence!?
Jul 31st, 2007
zen
Not many people are aware that when Mr. Ruddock was the minister for immigration he personally granted 200 visas (in one day) to 200 active soldiers from an Arab country, trained with explosives. (Most probably using section 503.3 which gives the Minister the ultimate power with no accountability.)
What worries me, is that if we agree that one person can decide ‘who comes to this country’, it may well happen that one day one ‘democratically elected, albeit powerful’ member of our government may actually let some terrorists in, if they are i.e. blood or business related. This is precisely the reason I do support the review of the Migration Act’s recently added provisions in the name of ‘national security’.
Jul 31st, 2007
philip travers
I am back,gee, and the local shop has only ham flavored baked beans! As I sat listening to A.M.and the show put on by Andrews,re evidence of suspicion, and then over to the Dr.s smiling face on the SMH site, the word characterisation evolves anew.There was nothing in the lot of Andrews that represents any type of valuable reason for suspicion.Whilst all that transpired as reported could only be so with a long prologue.Surely a man of his age can recognise the nature of scenarios and match them with motivations!? I think the only truth that has emerged is we are waiting on the Poms in more ways than one.{And these comments of mine are being dictated to me by something that operates 24/7 every year now back a long way expressed here and elsewhere.}.Brothers.. older ones especially give advice! He may of known.. the brother,by imagining and noting he was Muslim… the shit would hit the fan, and, he may of mistrusted his cousins,the response of the Pom Police and eventually the Australian authorities. Whilst I dont mind being suggestive about cousins,apparently only the successful Pom Police think that Indian Muslims love their cousins without any conditions.I mean, out of necessity one could even live with cousins,because there maybe a fairer chance they will be tolerable,but, I dont know if they as cousins would share secrets if they had any.And well pass over the sim card.. cannot use it. One strange thing between the telephone recorded stuff direct to the ABC, and the SMH report is the phone call seemed to of said project,whereas,the printed,last time I looked,SMH report said.. protest. Me,I am not 100% sure of my scenarios,after all they are not presented as evidence of even a ongoing suspicion. I didnt think hair growing in ears interfered with what one hears,or I am being suspicious of hairy ears!?GEE? Why have I separated my suspicions of hearing loss with my own hairy ears !?
Jul 31st, 2007
Marilyn
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s1992324.htm
I have no idea what investigation Andrews is babbling about because it is clear from this that the poms. knew weeks ago that Haneef had no connection to anything and never even wanted him.
Is Keelty simply spinning another yarn to cover his back for a week or two more?
Jul 31st, 2007
CORAL
TrishaM:
I suggest you re-read the first 5 words of your post #25.
It wouldn’t surprise me to find a former member of a destructive cult training for the priesthood. Both involve very heavy indoctrination.
Some people have a very deep emotional void inside them that needs to be filled by something.
Lotharsson:
The reason I didn’t completely agree with your final sentence is because the events of the past are not always necessarily a true indicator of the events of the future.
Marilyn:
You are viewing the situation from much too simplistic a perspective.
Aug 1st, 2007
TrishaM
Your message has puzzled me. The 3 who were released had been wrongly convicted because Pederick (an ASIO informant and a plant) had wrongly informed against them. He was not ever a sincere member of Ananda Marga – your assumptions about his psychological makeup may or may not be right, but they have nothing to do with the point of your original assertion about terrorist acts in Australia having been perpetrated by “the Ananda Marga sect … That’s an Indian cult from an eastern religion.”
It’s not correct to say that – nobody knows who perpetrated the Hilton bombing. (And no, I’m not from Ananda Marga. I just dislike people repeating scary rumours ad nauseam. I ask myself for what purpose would someone ignore the truth.)
Aug 1st, 2007
Michael
I think Kevin Andrews shoudl resign. You can participate in an online petition demanding his resignation.
http://andrewsmustresign.com/
Aug 2nd, 2007
CORAL
TrishaM:
Herein lies the puzzle. The internet contains so many conflicting reports (some describing 2 separate bombing incidents) that it is impossible for anyone to really know what happened.
To my knowledge, Evan Pederick was a member of the Ananda Marga sect … not an ASIO informant.
ken:
Three to 4 days doesn’t seem very long for something like this to be investigated.
Aug 4th, 2007
Donna
Zen
I was unaware of this information.
It’s amazing what you discover by reading some of the posts.
Thanks for that.
Aug 4th, 2007
philip travers
During the last half hour around 7 ,I was feeling the cold here,my problem of going to sleep on my feet for a minute eventuated,and then finally after going through the SMH.I decided to post some thoughts,that are indirectly related to Haneef,seeing the Bush government is going to give itself the right to follow me around,which I have already assumed it is doing illegally anyway,because of the strange sleep problem,and as some would wrongly believe a sort of schizophrenia in hearing every waking moment bar none the continuation of nuisance instruction and diversion of attention to make me make errors, that at times I consider are deliberate to force death.Having made those statements, and now completely unconcerned about the Bush government like all those before to Reagan,which is a long time and before that ,my bloody contempt for them is now complete.WIRED Magazine points out how phoney the evidence of Osama Bin Laden is,and this country should just pull out of any relationship with them until this stuff is cleared up.I also expect the mad cow thing in England, is strangely related,and history is repeating itself too regularly,and my memory hasnt failed yet.Lets start talking 9/11 was a controlled demolition,before the bastards have their election and close down dissent right across that country.
Aug 4th, 2007
geoff
KEVIN ANDREWS: Ladies and gentlemen, today I have exercised my powers under the Migration Act to cancel the visa of Dr Mohamed Haneef. Section 501 of the Migration Act provides for the cancellation of a visa where a person fails the character test. In particular, a person fails the character test if, and I quote, ‘the person has or has had an association with someone else or with a group or organisation whom the Minister reasonably suspects has been involved, has been or is involved in criminal conduct.’
Based on information and advice I’ve received from the Australian Federal Police, I reasonably suspect that Dr Haneef has had or has an association with persons involved in criminal conduct, namely terrorism.
NOW THAT’S A LAY-DOWN MISERE…. IN THIS CASE.
COUSINS, TERRORISTS… YEP… MISERE
Aug 6th, 2007
Andrew Bartlett
I couldn’t agree more Geoff. I appreciate you demonstrating the key point of my post in such a crystal clear way.
As Geoff points out, the powers under the Migration Act are so extreme and so broad that just having your cousin do something is enough for you to be found guilty by the Minister, even if you have nothing to do with what the cousin did and knew nothing about it. Every other relative of Dr Haneef could get caught under the same provision.
Indeed, given I have spoken to Dr Haneef’s wife and other relatives, I could come under the terms of this provision as well, (were it not for the fact that I am an Australian citizen).
It is a sick joke which has been used many times over to make politically convenient decisions which have unfairly punished hundreds of people. It should be scrapped before it does any more harm to Australia, as well as to individuals who don’t deserve it.
Aug 6th, 2007
Geoff
Well i’m sure we are both aware that Immigration is a basket case in some respects.
After all there are people refused visas everyday for lesser reasons than Haneef’s cancellation.
Aug 7th, 2007
Naomi Cartledge
Coral
“Since we have nothing to hide, it doesn’t worry us at all.”
I have nothing to hide either. I have one chance to live on this planet and I have the right to live it in private. Only when I’m arrested and then charged with a crime do the authorities have the right to investigate my activities. Even if I’m charged I’m entitled to the presumption of innocence until a jury rules unanimously, beyond reasonable doubt that I’m guilty as charged. Even criminals like Ivan Milat were treated in this manner. Now, if you don’t like this system of justice then find another country. This one is mine and I insist on real democracy for all.I support it totally! This is the Australia that I want back-for my grand children.
Don’t you think it’s strange that AWB (allegedly)gave $300 million to Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship and yet so far they’ve escaped further investigation by AFP? Could it be that it’s due to ministers of the Howard government being ‘involved’? Over 60 pieces of information via emails, faxes, notes, minutes and they “don’t recall” any knowlege? I’d have thought that $300 million is a pretty big example of “providing material support for terrorism”? The role of Howard, Ruddock, Andrews, Downer and Vale is a disgrace to decency and democracy.
To my knowledge all Dr Haneef has done is give his SIM card to his cousin. I’m not my ‘brothers’ keeper’ either and being related to an alleged suspect is not a criminal offence. If Dr Haneef’s legal team hadn’t published his record of interrogation he’d probably still be locked up. Kevin Andrews has stated on record that an employer can sack you if he/she doesn’t like your face, well apparently this government can operate the same tactics re so-called anti-terror laws. What about the terrors suffered by the people of Iraq and Afghanistan? Neither citizens were involved in 9/11. 650,000+ are dead, millions displaced and impoverished! It disgusts and saddens me!
Aug 7th, 2007
CORAL
Naomi Cartledge:
Those of us who are related to people working in sensitive government jobs know why the government keeps an eye on us.
My relative could be selling national secrets to our enemies that could get us all killed.
If ASIO didn’t keep an eye on all of us, including where large sums of money went, then you’d have nothing to worry about – because instead of complaining, you might be DEAD, along with the rest of us!!!
Why don’t you try being disgusted and saddened by that???
Your comment:
“To my knowledge all Dr Haneef has done is give his SIM card to his cousin.”
That’s right. You don’t know what’s really going on, any more than the rest of us.
Aug 8th, 2007
Naomi Cartledge
Coral, what I meant by “To my knowledge all Dr Haneef has done is give his SIM card to his cousin.”That’s just about what everyone knows including the AFP, ASIO or the local police, otherwise the charges would not have been dropped, and he’d have been charged with something else. He hasn’t. In this country when charges have been dropped, people are allowed to get on with their lives, he should too.
Who’s responsible for all the violence in Iraq? We invaded a sovereign country, that didn’t have the weapons we had (or our so-called mates had) and we killed 650,000 people, displaced 4 million, poisoned their land with 3000 tonnes of Depleted Uranium, caused thousands of kids to die or be maimed by unexploded Cluster Bombs, etc. Now, if I was living overseas and I saw my suburbs being bombed, relatives murdered, raped and locked up only because they exercised their rights under the Geneva Conventions to oppose the occupiers, then I’d be pretty damned angry.
There were no terrorists in Iraq prior to March 2003, only Saddam Hussein.He was captured in Dec 2003, so why are we still killing Iraqis? Why do we have diplomats in a country that we’re supposed to be ‘at war’ with? Did it happen during World War 11, or Vietnam, or Korea? Why is the US building an embassy there costing $800 million,why did the US pass legislation that blackmailed the people of Iraq? Agree to US and Britain taking nearly 70% of oil and revenues for 35 years, plus make policy decisions re oil or no money for restoration. Bush called the ‘mission’ Operation Iraqi Liberation-OIL?
The best way to avoid people wanting to commit violent acts here, is to stay out of their country, and not kill their people. I find it repugnant, that so-called ‘christians’ think it’s OK to kill for power and oil. I don’t. People in Iraq have loved ones too!
Aug 9th, 2007