SP fights for democratic rights
This month a Socialist Party-inspired motion at the Yarra Council meeting in Melbourne was passed by 7 votes to 1. The motion opposed the recent listing of the PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) as a terrorist organisation by the Federal government. Only an ALP Councillor voted against, using statements from Federal Attorney General Philip Ruddock’s web site to back his case! Even the local paper saw the irony in that.
Here is the full resolution:Agenda item: 4.1
Kurdistan Workers Party - Notice of Motion No. 1 of 2006 - Councillor Jolly
“That Council strongly opposes the listing of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party)
as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code for the following reasons:
(a) Whilst we remain opposed to political violence in all its forms and remain
impartial to the Turkey - Kurdish conflict, the listing of the PKK in Australia highlights the inherent dangers of the Governments’ proscription regime. The practice of listing organisations is undemocratic and a departure from fundamental principles of criminal law. Proscription is inconsistent with Australia’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, most notably those
obligations relating to freedom of association (Article 22);
(b) As there is no evidence that the PKK pose any threat to Australia’s domestic national security, it is reasonable to suspect that the banning has been motivated by foreign policy considerations. The listing will serve only to suppress the political opponents of an Australian ally rather than
protecting the safety of Australians;
(c) We are concerned that banning the PKK will undermine current and future negotiations for peace in the region and will be utilised to further justify the
actions of the Turkish state in this conflict which has included the destruction of Kurdish villages, extra judicial killings, torture of Kurdish arrestees, the banning of political organisations, the prohibition on
publications calling for Kurdish self determination, and the active prevention of the use of Kurdish language and other symbols;
(d) Council is also concerned about the impact upon Australian citizens. Virtually any support of Turkish Kurdish human rights objectives that are shared by the PKK could leave Australians open to prosecution. Under this listing, asylum seeker claims of persecution due to real or alleged association with the PKK or related organisations will expose refugees to
criminal prosecution for membership or a number of other serious offences;
(e) This political listing has nothing to do with protecting Australia from terrorism and could easily be the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa, Fretelin in East Timor, or the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in West Papua; the Council therefore calls upon the Federal Government to disallow this listing at the earliest opportunity.”
