Freedom of Political Association - BANNED? : Melbourne Indymedia

Freedom of Political Association - BANNED?

Tuesday 12th June, 7pm

New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, cnr Victoria & Lygon Streets, Carlton

Civil Rights Defence invites you to a public meeting in response to the arrest of Aruran Vinayagamoorthy and Sivarajah Yathavan on charges of support for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (the ‘Tamil Tigers’).

Vicki Sentas, from the Federation of Community Legal Centres of Victoria, has spoken out against the arrests: “Terrorist organisation offences have devastating consequences for the many diverse communities, including Tamils, Kurds and Palestinians, with emotional, charitable and political connections to conflicts overseas.”

Pratheepan Balasubramaniam, from the Australian-Tamil Rights Advocacy Council, also expressed his opposition to the arrests: "As innocent Tamil lives are claimed on a daily basis in the north and east of Sri Lanka," he said, "it is the understanding of different perspectives that will bring an end to the fighting. Silencing one side with legal sanctions and the sensational reporting that inevitably accompanies accusations of terrorism is counterproductive to dialogue and to attempts to end the political violence."

The so-called “anti-terror” laws under which the men are charged directly threaten freedom of political association and international solidarity campaigns in Australia.

Come and hear Ms Sentas, Mr Balasubramaniam, and other civil libertarians address the question: How can we resist political fear-mongers and rein in attacks on our right to dissent and freedom of political association?

Speakers to include:

* PRATHEEPAN BALASUBRAMANIAM (Australian-Tamil Rights Advocacy Council)

* VICKI SENTAS (Federation of Community Legal Centres)

* ROBERT STARY (Lawyer & civil libertarian)

* LEIGH HUBBARD (Past Secretary Victorian Trades Hall Council)

* AZLAN McLENNAN (Melbourne Palestine Solidarity Network)

For more information:

Ph. 0422196011

http://www.civilrightsdefence.org

Civil Rights Defence meets every Tuesday from 6.30pm, Trades Hall

Related:

More charges for alleged Tamil Tigers
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have laid fresh charges against two Melbourne political scapegoats, accused of being members of the Tamil Tigers.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1926377.htm

Alleged Tamil Tiger supporters denied bail
Two Melbourne men facing political scapegoat terrorism charges have been denied bail.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1917519.htm

Tamils arrested in Australia under Howard’s draconian “anti-terrorism” laws
Once more, unsubstantiated allegations of “terrorism” are being used for outright attacks on basic political, legal and civil rights. These developments highlight the extraordinary scope for Australian governments to use the so-called anti-terrorist laws to exploit the bogus “war on terror” launched by Washington to target anyone considered a threat to Australian domestic or foreign policy.
http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/update/index.php

Alleged Tamil Tigers supporters apply for bail
Two Melbourne men facing terrorism charges have applied for bail in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1916502.htm

SP statement
Following the arrest of two men in Melbourne on terror related charges the Socialist Party issued the following press statement.
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/05/144377_comment.php#144388

DFAT knew of payments to Tigers: Downer?
War criminal foreign minister Alexander Downer says his department has known for some time that financial contributions were being made to the Tamil Tigers [alleged] terrorist organisation from Australia.
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/05/144377_comment.php#144401

Political conjunctions and Blurring definitions
A number of factors have recently formed a conjunction, which provided a new view of a popular ‘reality’. Whenever the flames of the terrorist ‘threat’ begin to wane convenient arrests are made that fan the embers back into flames of concern. Recent police raids in Sydney and Melbourne have resulted in the arrests of two Sri Lankan Tamils; “two men have appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on terrorism related charges,” ran the intro from one media outlet while another ran with, “men face terrorism charges after raids.” I’m sure we all get the drift but it should be noted that assistant commissioner to the Federal Police, Frank Prendergast, went to lengths "to make it clear that these men weren't involved in any possible attacks on Australian soil.” Well then, what? Full story:
http://cleaves.zapto.org/clv/newswire.php?story_id=489

Lankan govt had no part in Tigers arrests: Ruddock?
War criminal attorney-general Philip Ruddock says the government was not pressured by Sri Lankan officials before police swooped on two suspected Tamil Tigers fundraisers.
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/05/144377_comment.php