verging_on_random

As if it could happen here …

July 14, 2007 on 4:23 pm | In Uncategorized |

Yes as if a government in a nice free democratic country like Australia could pass laws that create absurd offences, designed to let the government stage ridiculous show trials to convince the weak-minded that we are indeed infested by terrorists of whom the Labor Party is notoriously tolerant but against whom John Howard and his ministers stand courageous and vigilant.

As if.

Do you remember all the bland assurances we were given when the government introduced round after round of new ‘anti-terrorism’ laws? Laws that gave the police powers unprecedented in Australia? Laws that created all sorts of vague new crimes? “Don’t stress out,” we were told, “If you haven’t done anything wrong you’ve got nothing to fear.”

I don’t remember The Authorities warning us not to do favours for family members lest it turn out that at some future date they are involved in a terrorist act and we are deemed to have acted ‘recklessly’, in which case we will be charged with an offence that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in gaol. I don’t actually recall that being mentioned as doing something wrong. Yet that seems to be the fate of Dr Mahomed Haneef.

Mohamed Haneef, 27, appeared in a court Brisbane charged with providing support to a terrorist organization. A decision on possible bail was postponed until later on Saturday.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty said the police charge cited recklessness, rather than intention.

“The allegation being that he was reckless about some of the support he provided to that group, in particular, the provision of his (mobile phone) SIM card for the use of the group.” Haneef’s lawyer Peter Russo told Australian radio that Haneef was “very upset” by news of the charges, which could lead to 15 years in prison if he is convicted.

As far as we have been told, the so-called ‘terrorist organisation’ consisted of a handful of loonies who in the end didn’t manage to hurt anyone but themselves, and even then Keelty confirms that there is no suggestion Haneef knew what they intended to do. He just gave his cousin his SIM card when he left England - and apparently that is now a very serious offence in Australia.

But don’t fret folks, the laws won’t affect you if you haven’t done anything wrong … unless of course your arrest can be exploited for political advantage, in which case it won’t matter a damn whether you’ve done anything wrong or not.

More at Surfdom.