---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 12:08:01 +1000
From: Julian Assange <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Senator X <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Remarks made by Australian Defence Minister in Malaysia
Dear Senator X,
I have been urgently contacted by Elizabeth Wong, Secretary-General
National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) of Malaysia, in relation to
some extremely damaging statements made by Sen. Robert Hill
in Malaysia. Hill's comments are being internationally reported
via Agence France Presse (AFP), so it is likely the story will
break in the national press tomorrow or Thursday. I include an
excerpt of the material sent to me by the Secretary General. I ask
that you raise the matters therein with the Minister and your party
colleagues.
Sincerely,
Julian Assange
President,
Australian Institute for Collaborative Research
PO BOX 2031 Hawthorn 3122
Victoria Australia
Dear Sir,
Please find attached, a letter by Mr. Tian Chua, a civil
rights activist, Vice-President of the National Justice
Party and political prisoner in Malaysia in response to
remarks made by the Australian Defence Minister, Senator
Robert Hill, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
I have also attached below, a Malaysian news report of
Senator Hill's most inappropriate remarks in regards to
detention without trial in Malaysia and Australia.
Inappropriate, because here in Malaysia, human rights
advocates and the Malaysian Bar Council have been campaigning
for years to repeal the draconian Internal Security Act
(ISA). We fear that the Australian government's tacit
approval for such an act will have repercussions both in
Malaysia and in Australia.
You can find more information about the ISA and our national
campaign to repeal the Act in Malaysia at www.suaram.org/isa
and www.hakam.org
We hope you will be able to raise our concerns in the
Australian media, Parliament and Senate.
Your sincerely,
Elizabeth Wong Secretary-General National Human Rights
Society (HAKAM), Malaysia
----------------------------------------------------
Australia supports M'sia's preventive law to combat terrorism
4:41pm Thu May 30th, 2002 Agence France Presse (AFP)
Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill today voiced support for Malaysia's
use of a tough security law to detain without trial dozens of suspected
local militants.
"Extraordinary responses" were needed to deal with "those that are not
prepared to accept the norms of reasonable behaviour," Hill told reporters
after meeting his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak.
"In effectively combating terrorism, sometimes you've got to err on the side
of the protection of your community, even if it is at some cost to civil
liberties," he said.
"I've argued that you may take preemptive measures and administrative
actions that don't curb civil liberties, but should endeavour to ensure that
you don't go further than is necessary," he said.
"The decison where that line should be drawn is a decison we all have to
make."
Malaysia has detained 62 suspected militants allegedly linked to the
al-Qaeda network blamed for the Sept 11 attacks in the United States under
the Internal Security Act (ISA) allowing detention without trial.
But critics have accused the government of using the ISA to squash dissent
as some of the 62 were members of the opposition Islamic party.
Hill said Australia was also drawing up new laws to give new powers to its
key intelligence agency to counter terrorism, including detaining suspects
for two days without legal representation.
On Malaysia's ISA which allows a person to be detained indefinitely without
trial, he said it was not in his place to "dictate to Malaysia what is an
appropriate period of time for holding somebody."
Hill said Australia pledged to "work very closely" with Malaysia in the
anti-terrorism war during talks with Najib.
"We are both equally committed to achieve a world that is less threatened by
terrorist activity. We agreed on how improving intelligence exchange between
us, learning from each other's experiences can strengthen the hand of each
of us," he said.
He said Southeast Asian countries could strengthen their position against
terrorists by increasing the exchange of intelligence.
Hill said the threat of terrorism "may seem more threatening now because we
are in the know of the greater risks involved but on the other hand, it is
less threatening because action is being taken against it."
Unlikely to join US
Asked if Australia would join US troops to be deployed in the southern
Philippines to train and assist Filipinos forces pursuing the Abu Sayyaf
Muslim rebels, Hill said it was unlikely.
"I can't envision a situation at this moment when that is likely to occur
but obviously it would only be on invitation ... and under the umbrella of
the US as the leader of the coalition force against terrorism.
Hill, who arrived here late Wednesday for a three-day trip, leaves Friday
for Singapore to attend an international security conference.
An Open Letter to the People of Australia.doc
Description: MS-Word document
