Melbourne “terror” trial comes to an end
SP Newsletter No.231
This week Australia’s biggest “terrorism” trial came to an end. Seven of the so-called ‘Barwon 12′ were convicted of being members of an unnamed and unspecified terrorist organisation.
When these men were first arrested in 2005, State and Federal Governments said that an imminent terrorist attack had been thwarted. No such attack was identified during the trial. The broad terms in the ‘anti-terror’ legislation has meant that these men have been found guilty of basically thinking and talking tough.
These men definitely did discuss the ideas of radical Islam. They are also guilty of perhaps a certain amount of bravado, but nothing more. With the Federal Government spending more than $20 billion chasing so-called terrorist prosecutions, they desperately needed some trophies in the cabinet to justify the money that has been spent.
The Supreme Court jury found Abdul Nancer Benbrika guilty of intentionally directing the activities of an unspecified terrorist organisation and of being a member of an unnamed terrorist organisation.
Six of his co-accused were found guilty of being members of an unnamed terrorist organisation and another four were acquitted. The jury was unable to reach a verdict about the final accused, although he is likely to face a re-trial. The problem of the case was not with the jury’s deliberations but with the definitions in the laws.
The four who were found not guilty walked free from court nearly four years after they were arrested. Defence lawyer Rob Stary called on the Federal Government to apologise and compensate the men.
Speaking at a media conference at Trades Hall in Melbourne Stary said “The first thing we would expect the federal police and the Government to do is to offer an apology to these four menâ€.
The men have been held in high-security detention since their arrests. The conditions were similar to those experienced by inmates at Guantanamo Bay. Given none of the men ever committed any violent acts, it is obvious that they should not have been held in such conditions while the presumption of innocence still applied.
Stary also attacked the comments of the Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland. McClelland was quick to welcome the convictions of the first group of men in the press – even before the whole trial was over! Stary said “It beggered belief that he would make any comment. McClelland was either ill advised or he had no concept about the processâ€. The comments could well now be grounds for an appeal.
The case consistently received appalling coverage in the capitalist press, especially the Melbourne Herald Sun. It should be noted that there was no proven evidence that the men would commit any act. Despite this many papers spun up stories suggesting that the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Westgate Bridge were targets of the men. It is highly unlikely that this mass propaganda campaign did not have any effect on the jury.
The Socialist Party has called for the ‘anti-terror’ legislation to be repealed. The definition of terrorism in the Act includes “seditious intention†and the act of urging someone to “attempt, otherwise than by lawful means, to procure a change to any matter established by lawâ€.
These laws could easily be used against groups who are advocating all sorts of political change. The legislation stifles free speech and places barriers on groups engaging in legitimate dissent. Today the laws are used against radical Muslims, tomorrow they will be used against trade unions, socialists and other groups protesting against government policy.
This particular case is not yet over and more ‘terrorist’ cases are coming up. The seven men have still not been sentenced and this could take several more months. Their lawyers have indicated that the men will all appeal against their convictions.
SP National Conference - The crisis facing world capitalism
SP will be holding our 2008 National Conference in Melbourne on Friday October 10 & Saturday October 11. On the opening night of the Conference we will host a public meeting featuring Kevin McLoughlin, the General Secretary of the Socialist Party in Ireland. The meeting will discuss the international situation and the crisis facing world capitalism.
The conference will continue on Saturday with members discussing the situation in Australia, New Zealand, party building and business. On the Saturday night we will close the Conference with a social event that will also double as the launch of our Yarra Council election campaign. All supporters of SP are invited to both of these public events.
The details are: Public meeting - The crisis facing world capitalism
7pm Friday October 10th, 2008 @ Trades Hall, Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South.
SP election campaign in Yarra
All Victorian Councils will go to the polls on November 29. SP will be running a strong campaign in the City of Yarra. We will be defending Stephen Jolly’s seat in the Langridge ward and we will also be standing Denise Dudley in the Melba ward and Anthony Main in the Nichols ward.
We will need help letterboxing, staffing the pre polling booths and on election day. We also need to raise money to pay for the campaign. We will also be launching our campaign with a big social event that will coincide with our National Conference. The details are: Yarra Council election launch - 7pm Saturday October 11th 2008 @ The Old Colonial Hotel, 125 Brunswick Street Fitzroy.
If you can help our campaign in any way, contact our National Office on 0396399111. For more information about our work in Yarra visit.
http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/council
SP financial appeal
SP needs $20,000 to pay for our election campaign and National Conference. Please read this important appeal letter and donate now! Thanks to all those who have already donated.
http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/1446
News links
US: Interview with Cindy Sheehan
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/09/09usa.html
Thailand: Courts rule PM must resign
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/09/12thaila.html
Pakistan: Massacres of the Pashtoon peoples
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/09/12pakisa.html
Join the Socialist Party
If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.
We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.
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Socialist Party contact details
Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.
http://www.sp.org.au
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