|
Listing of the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) as a terrorist organisation
|
Civil Rights Network
|
Jan 15, 2006 20:20 PST
|
Dear Terror-Laws List members,
The Federation of Community Legal Centres and the Civil Rights Network
(CRN) Victoria [www.civilrightsnetwork.org ] are calling on
individuals and organisations to make a submission to the Parliamentary
Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security opposing the listing of the
PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) as a terrorist organisation.
Whilst these proscription powers breach fundemental principles of our
criminal law system and Australia’s international obligations under the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, banning
organisations who do not pose a direct threat to Australia’s national
security reflects a highly politicised and undemocratic process.
That the listing of the PKK was made one week after the visit of the
Turkish Prime
Minister may imply that this proscription serves mainly to criminalise
domestic support for the political opponents of an Australia ally. It is
vital that civil society organisations and concerned individuals within
Australia oppose this.
A Briefing Paper prepared by the CRN which people may wish to
use in order to do their own submission, and a proforma submission
prepared
by the Federation of Community Legal Centres, which can simply be
signed
and sent, are available at:
http://www.communitylaw.org.au/community/pages/News/ .
Submissions are due by Monday 23 January 2006.
For detailed information about proscription generally, see the
submissions
of Patrick Emerton, The Federation of Community Legal Centres and the
Public Interest Law Clearing House available at:
www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/pjcaad/reports.htm
For further information please contact:
Anthony Kelly
Policy Officer
Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic) Inc
Suite 11, 1st Floor, 54 Victoria St, Carlton South, 3053
T 03 9654 2204
F 03 9654 5204
|
|
 |
|
