Sedition on the streets of Melbourne
by Takver Wednesday January 24, 2007 at 10:57 PM

SeditionCharter.org is a collection of individuals who want to challenge Australia's sedition laws publicly. This Indymedia reporter met them on the streets of Melbourne outside the offices of the Victorian Justice Department holding their weekly vigil and leafleting the public about the sedition laws.

seditioncharter_1219.jpg, image/jpeg, 500x333

Each Wednesday the group holds a vigil outside Government offices or courts of law around Melbourne between 11.30am and 12.30am. Their website says:

"the Howard led Coalition government supported by the Labor Opposition, has passed a raft of legislation that has removed many of the rights and liberties Australians have enjoyed for generations. We encourage Australians who wish to register their opposition to these laws and who believe citizens have both a right and a duty to agitate against governments that strip citizens of their inalienable rights, to sign the SEDITION CHARTER to openly demonstrate their opposition to these laws. WE HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR, BUT FEAR ITSELF."

The sedition charter was launched on the 31st of May 2006, Up to November 2006, 147 people have publicly signed the sedition charter on the website.

On the street the group has consistently set up their vigils for over six months, leafleting people about the sedition and anti-terror laws that have been passed by both Federal and State Governments in Australia to curtail civil rights and liberties.

While I was at the vigil Police Chief Christine Nixon came out of the building head down avoiding eye contact and avoided the proffered leaflets. Many people, though, accepted a leaflet to read over lunch and perhaps to take home.

The Sedition Charter vigil will be at the magistrates' Court on 31st January 2007. The Seditioncharter.org website does not have an up to date list of vigils for 2007, but I'm sure one will be loaded soon. Or maybe just keep an eye on the Indymedia Calendar for upcoming vigils on Wednesdays.

Sources:
1. SeditionCharter.org http://www.seditioncharter.org/
2. Sedition Charter moot trial of Commonwealth Government
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/11/131878.php
3. Sedition Charter stands defiant outside Hyatt (G20 plunder party ghq)
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/11/130370.php
4. Australian Parliamentary Library: Sedition Law in Australia
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intguide/LAW/sedition.htm
5. Wikipedia: Australian Sedition Law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_sedition_law

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