Jack Thomas to face trial on scapegoat terrorism charges : Melbourne Indymedia

Werribee man Jack Thomas has been arraigned in the Victorian Supreme Court to face trial next month on scapegoat terrorism-charges.

Mr Thomas has pleaded not guilty to receiving funds from a terrorist organisation and not guilty to possessing a falsified Australian passport.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred in Karachi in Pakistan between November 2002 and January 2003 after he was tortured.

Possible Walkley Award?

The Crown is expected to call a journalist from the ABC's Four Corners [walls] program and a newspaper reporter to give evidence about an interview they conducted with Mr Thomas.

For ASIO?

So whatever you do don't give the media an interview if you're being accused or look like being accused of a crime, your life and your children's future may depend on it!

Sorcerer: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1879783.htm

PS) If anyone knows the name of the newspaper reporter please make a comment, people need to warned of the danger.

Related:

Lawyers for Mr Thomas have argued the order imposed by the Federal Court is at odds with the Constitution.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/02/140409.php

Ring a bell? Jack Thomas and Four Corners!

Read on or better still watch the program if you can.

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/57759

Draconian scapegoat orders 'stacked against' Thomas

A constitutional law expert says the system is stacked against Melbourne man Jack Thomas.

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/21072

'Control order' should frighten all Australians

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today condemned the issuing of a 'control order' to Jack Thomas by the Attorney General Phillip Ruddock and renewed The Greens call for this arbitrary power to be removed from law.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/08/120775_comment.php#120787

Australia: The torture of Jack Thomas

Given the High Commissioner’s role and the reference to “high places,” there is every indication that the Australian government sanctioned these abuses. What is indisputable is that, acting on its behalf, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions sought to secure convictions that depended entirely upon the completely unreliable statements that Thomas made in his desperation to stop the beatings, avoid being sent to Guantánamo Bay and be allowed to go home.

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/20988

Jack Thomas served with control order

Anyway who cares about civil liberties should be outraged at this decision. We hear about authoritarian governments putting people under house arrest in Burma – well, now it’s happening right here in Australia!’

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/08/120670.php

Professor George Williams says

University of New South Wales law expert Professor George Williams says the matter could be tested in the High Court.

He says the case will reduce people's confidence in the
justice system.

"The fact that a jury is not involved, the fact that the criteria are loaded against the person because the standard of proof is significantly lower than it would normally be, mean that even though a judge, I have no doubt, will attempt to give a fair hearing and do his or her best - doesn't matter," he said.

"You've got the system stacked against someone.

"This is not a normal process and indeed that's exactly the problem with it."

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/08/120828_comment.php

If they were any tougher they'd Rust!

Tougher terrorism laws predicted after Thomas ruling?

A top defence lawyer says he is concerned the Government might push for tougher anti-terrorism laws as a result of the quashing of convictions against Melbourne man Joseph Terrence Thomas.

abc 18 Aug 06

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200608/s1718915.htm

Judge quashes Thomas conviction

This is fantastic news. Congratulations to Jack and the Thomas family! It is a vindication of everyone prepared to fight for basic rights -- and makes the bus trip all the more important. We're in the process of putting a press release out. Good news for a change!

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/19874/index.php

Joseph Thomas conviction immoral

AN EMBARRASSING conviction based on TORTURE IMMORAL

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/07/117441.php

DPP should lose the plot!

Now why would the DPP do that? Based on some notion I suppose, that john hoWARd (the hangman) wants to use Thomas's butt again, to raise the fear stakes in the introduction of the new Anti-Liberty-Dissent Directives!

http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/9617

AUSTRALIAN SCAPEGOAT BLOG

Stop Voting - Stop Supporting Pseudo Democracies: Updated Repost

Stop Voting - Stop Supporting Pseudo Democracies [254]
Just as communicating with the Feds about abandoning the way we live now is a futile process that only buttresses the legitimacy of old ways of thinking and living, continuing to vote within centralised political processes only reinforces their continuing relevance. Citizens who continue to reside within totalitarian-democracies can, at least partly, abandon them by not voting at elections that will never lead to abundance and a better way of living.

http://sydney.indymedia.org.au/node/50448

Civil Rights Defence (Melbourne), Fair Go for David (Adelaide), and Bring David Home (Sydney) have called a National Day of Action in support of David Hicks for April 21st.

Melbourne's rally is being endorsed by Liberty Victoria, Trades Hall Council,
Amnesty International Australia and Civil Rights Defence.

Speakers include Senator Bob Brown and Terry Hicks (who will have just returned from Guantanamo Bay).

The Howard government is finally on the back foot over issue but David remains locked inside Guantanamo Bay. Now is the time to escalate the pressure on the government. We need a massive display of opposition in every city and town to force the Australian government to have David released and brought home to his family.

Rally for David
Saturday April 21st, 1pm,
State Library lawn, Melbourne.
For more info, call 0407 856 628 or visit http://www.civilrightsdefence.org/

The Civil Rights Defence vigil for David Hicks continues today as Terry
Hicks prepares to see his son for the first time in over three years when he
visits Guantanamo Bay next Monday.

Today's speaker: Dominique Saunders of the Law Institute of Victoria.

In drawing the links between David Hicks abuse of human rights, in the name of 'the war on terror' and civil liberties in Australia we'll also hear from Liz Thompson about the 'G20' protesters who have been subjected to raids by 'terror police' in Sydney. The use of special terrorist paramilitary police on domestic demonstrators is a significant concern in regards to Australians civil rights.

The Vigil
Every Friday, 12 noon - 1pm
Held: Outside the Department of Foreign Affairs
Casselden Place
cnr Lonsdale and Spring Streets

Other events:

Invitation to a legal briefing on the Barwon 13
Tuesday, March 27, 6:30pm
Trades Hall, cnr lygon and Victoria Sts (enter via Victoria)

Rally for David
Saturday April 21st, 1pm,
State Library lawn, Melbourne.

You don't know the full facts of the Thomas case.

You haven't seen the full brief of evidence.

You won't hear all the evidence. Just what the media prints and broadcasts.

You have formed opinions based on your prejudices, not facts.

You are a fuckwit.

I hope my legs don't break,

walking on the moon.

We don't know the full facts about the Fuckwit!

Love, support and respect from our family to your family Jack.

high price to pay for your 15 mins ... but your type never learn .. from the beginning to the end .. but at least you'll get more exposure .. FOR 'FREE'!

Try and understand the concept of consequences and then deliberate on every strategy PRIOR to undertaking ACTION

Idiots are able to sink ships, if allowed on board -- beware!

The vast majority of people are morons but this clown is an exceptional idiot for incriminating self on national TV .. look ma, no hands or help required!

Any one can get used for anything what difference does it make how? As long as you know the source of the problem then the rest can duck and weave it.

Thank Jack for giving us the source of the problem. The evil people in government and ABC have been doing some bad things for propaganda and have been clearly exposed.

Better the devil you know!

People being setup and used for political grandstanding on fear.

Cowards like John Howard using people.

caveat emptor -- always reserve your rights with the media, ain't too hard .. allowing the media to determine what is left on the editing room floor is cretinous.

Big media usually break any agreement or contractural obligation thinking that their legal honchos can beat it against us poor citizens ... a few hundreds of K later they are slowly learning to beware of contracts and reserved rights.

a previous comment referred to the danger of idiots in various activist groups .. I concur, and would put a bullet in the head of one who threatened the group without hesitation (intent or accident has nothing to do with it).. I'm speaking metaphorically!

A well-honed, tight fighting unit can ill-afford any loose 'ends'.

One day you people might realise you're in a war; most of your rights have already been eroded and there's more to come, much more .. where do you think it will end?

When you finally wake up you will be slaves in every sense of the world ... you're more than half-way there already .. and you're loving it.

"The alleged offences are said to have occurred in Karachi in Pakistan between November 2002 and January 2003 after he was tortured."

Well this statement makes fucking sense doesn't it?

The clown jihad jack will have his day in court (again).