Federal Police

[Julia]

How do you feel about the Federal Police's handling of the Dr Haneef case?

Should he have his Visa reinstated?

 

[tech/a]

Who knows.

Is the "Truth" ever known in these circumstances?
From who's involved to the evidence---whats acceptable and whats not.
Clever arguement can supress fact.

You can be innocent and judged guilty or Guilty and argued innocent!

 

[arminius]

its a sad incident in aussie history.
it will all come out in the wash...the govt intervened in justice to boost polls. simple.
one more bastion of national integrity destroyed.

 

[justincase]

This case just proves that the laws introduced by 'little johnny' and his party are for scare mongering. The sooner we get rid of them the better. Bring on the election.
I don't think they could reinststate Haneef's visa. That would be a complete backflip for the government. Just remember they have information that they cannot release. (YEAH RIGHT).
It is a sad time to be an Aussie.

 

[macca]

To me it is simple, if that guy in Qld falsified the evidence then it is his fault.

If the Federal Police falsified the evidence then it is their fault.

Whoever deceived the powers that be, should be sacked for doing that.

I don't think in either case there is justification for resignation of a pollie, they would simply have to accept the word of the appointed experts.

 

[chops_a_must]

How was the press conference with the DPP right next to Keelty, with the former saying he was absolutely confident HE had done nothing wrong.

How many serious stuff ups is Keelty going to preside over? He has to go surely.

 

[masterjunko]

*Let's think like Little Johnny*
Election year, we are lagging in the polls. Need to think of something fast! Let me see... I did Tampa last time and it worked. I need something similar to scare the ignorant lemmings into voting for me... Can't blame all Australian muslins cos they will vote me out. Bingo! That doctor in QLD should do the trick. He's is a muslin and got a muslin name. Got cousins in UK and left his mobile phone SIM there too! Let's blame him for it!
*end of sarcasm*

Seriously this is a rather stupid and major stuff up. At least there is someone to correct the mistake of AFP and DPP. BUT who's going to correct the mistake of our immigration minister?!

 

[chops_a_must]

Seriously this is a rather stupid and major stuff up. At least there is someone to correct the mistake of AFP and DPP. BUT who's going to correct the mistake of our immigration minister?!

The High Court.

 

[trinity]

Who knows.

Is the "Truth" ever known in these circumstances?
From who's involved to the evidence---whats acceptable and whats not.
Clever arguement can supress fact.

You can be innocent and judged guilty or Guilty and argued innocent!

Well said Tech/A. I thought of the situation as, "damned if you do, damned if you dont".

 

[moXJO]

I wonder how they could stuff something like this up so badly.Considering this was pretty much the most public case of these new laws being used, and had so much media attention.Seems a bit weird they could get it so very wrong without someone picking it up sooner.

 

[Pommiegranite]

Okay..the following rant isn't just about the police, as I think the problem should be looked at in the bigger picture:

This whole affair has disgusted me. I feel sorry for the Australian citizens in that a great nation seems now to be a politically directionless puppet that has its strings pulled by the US.

The last time I visited Australia (1995), this country had an obvious identity of its own. Today, it seems as though it has an identity crisis eg. media, police.

I left the UK last October thinking that we were following America's lead. However, this is nothing compared to Australia. At least the average Brit has a good winge about Britain being influenced by the 'Yanks'. Here, the average Ozzie seems to be confused as to what patriotism actually means.

Will the real Australia please stand up?

 

[2020hindsight]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/29/1991147.htm
About a week ago I had a beer with a fellow who had met the doctors with whom Haneef worked. - visiting lecturer of some sort.

Anyway, he said that they were always certain of his innocence.
a) He had had his holiday booked for a long time
b) He had a one way ticket because it was cheaper to buy the return ticket there
c) they would welcome him back, absollllutely no problem !
d) He was being made a scapegoat

I played devil's advocate, and said that if that sim card he had given over was involved, (as the prosecution said in court), then he sure as hell had a case to answer.

Since then, it turns out that the sim card WASN'T involved.
Had they said in court "it COULD have been involved" then that would be different.. but to "make it up"...

I don't know why, But I'm reminded of when they found the blood under the dashboard of Lindy Chamberlain's car ( which was in fact anti rust protection) ... When they want to convict, they will do so.

Then, what to do once they admit he is innocent - that those facts are just plain wrong - he's done nothing , apart from the fact that one of his close relatives is a bit of a worry. .... I would have thought that he could stay personally (just IMO)

Then again , my brother-in law would say "tell me a man's company, and I'll tell you his name" - he's a pretty autocratic sort of father btw lol. (I'd hate to be tarred with his brush by the same token - by knowing him lol - probably be accused of being a bludy Fascist )

Does it depend on what he wants to do? - he seems to be happy now, no hard feelings? Even thanks the Aussie people for their push for justice.......That at least we got right! - and it's important!

Certainly the anti -terror laws have been criticised by top legal minds as nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction - hollow counterproductive etc.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/28/1990751.htm
Ministers accused of 'driving' Haneef case..Posted July 28, 2007 09:39:00

The terrorism-related charge against Dr Haneef was dropped yesterday after prosecutors abandoned their case amid revelations of mistakes in the case against him. ......In announcing the decision, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Damien Bugg QC admitted his agency had made two key errors as it built its case against Dr Haneef.

But Australian Council for Civil Liberties national secretary Cameron Murphy has told AM it is clear there was political interference in the case.

"Clearly there were three facts put out to the media in this matter that appear to be plainly wrong," he said.

"First, that Dr Haneef's SIM card was used in the UK bombing.
Secondly, that he had the names of known terrorists in his diary.
And thirdly, that he was plotting to blow up some Gold Coast building.

"I think we are entitled to know if any of these incorrect facts originated from ministers' offices, or if there's [been] any pressure exerted from the Attorney-General or another minister, or their offices, in relation to this investigation.

"I think it's all too easy to scapegoat the Australian Federal Police Commissioner and the Commonwealth DPP, when clearly ministers have been driving the commentary and the speculation over this case from the very beginning."

Mr Murphy backed calls for an independent inquiry into the case.

"Otherwise the public can't possibly have any confidence that terrorism investigations are going to be conducted independently and appropriately in the future," he said.

Federal Labor has called for a judicial review of the Director of Public Prosecutions, while the Greens say there should be a Royal Commission.

But the calls for an inquiry have been rejected by Mr Ruddock.

 

[masterjunko]

The High Court.

Technically yes.
Meanwhile you rot in a immigration detention center.

 

[SevenFX]

If anyone is interested, looks like 60minutes have bought his story, which is a story in it's self....(paying for certain types of stories).

It may be screening tonight on channel nine, think 7.30pm or whatever time they're usually on.

Hope their's not to many other poor Buggers wrotting away in jail, because of similar situtations to this one.

Gotta Love them.... NOT.

 

[wayneL]

Okay..the following rant isn't just about the police, as I think the problem should be looked at in the bigger picture:

This whole affair has disgusted me. I feel sorry for the Australian citizens in that a great nation seems now to be a politically directionless puppet that has its strings pulled by the US.

The last time I visited Australia (1995), this country had an obvious identity of its own. Today, it seems as though it has an identity crisis eg. media, police.

I left the UK last October thinking that we were following America's lead. However, this is nothing compared to Australia. At least the average Brit has a good winge about Britain being influenced by the 'Yanks'. Here, the average Ozzie seems to be confused as to what patriotism actually means.

Will the real Australia please stand up?

Yes indeed!!!

 

[2020hindsight]

You'd suspect that Rudd doesn't want to do anything that might somehow backfire (and who knows how, Tampa maybe?)

Meanwhile also ACT Chief Minister says we should have Bill of Rights .
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/28/1990855.htm

Haneef case prompts bill of rights call Posted Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:00pm AEST
ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope says the Commonwealth's handling of the terrorism case against Mohamed Haneef shows that a national bill of rights is required.

The ACT Labor Government enacted the territory's own Bill of Rights in 2004.

"One of the great weaknesses in the overarching terrorism laws in Australia is that without a national bill of rights by which to measure the acceptability of our legislation, particularly tough and at some levels draconian legislation such as the Commonwealth terrorism legislation, it highlights the dangers that exist for Australians," Mr Stanhope said.

Final point :-
Did anyone esle notice that as Haneef looked more and more innocent, so too did the nastiness of his cartoon charcter change ? warmer more interesting colours, etc - even symmetrical lol?
Here are a couple, the smiling one obviously the most recent
To be fair, one is ABC, the second is Channel 9.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=280072
Incidentally, just a chance that that will be on 60 minutes tonight I guess

 

[Bushman]

To be fair, some people in key positions (Damian Bugg, Peter Beattie) did stand up to the Ruddock/Andrews kangaroo court and Haneef is now free. This does give me hope in the robustness of the Australian judicial system.

I cannot wait to see the political damage control invoked that will try and 'spin' away the fact that Andrews beat his chest and revoked Haneef's visa. As always, all this posturing has to be seen in the context of the forthcoming election. Last time around it was the sickening 'Children Overboard' scandal. This time it is the 'Haneef character test'. Both 'stories' were eventually discredited but that is not the point. Rather this chest beating is intended to reinforce only one thing - the Libs are strong on border protection in a time 'terrorism'. Border protection dates back to the time of the 'Yellow Peril' and is ingrained in the Anglo Celtic Australian psyche. So even if it is found to be an abuse of judicial prudence, it reinforces to 'Joe or Joelene Average' that the Libs are the best at protecting his or her interests from the scary world out there.

I really do hope that this charade does not work this time around. Being a South African by birth, I have seen the human rights outrages that can be perpetrated in the name of protecting the economic wealth for the powerful minority.

Then again the national Labour party was very silent on this issue. New Labour is just the Liberal party in disguise.

 

[Smurf1976]

Yet another example of what's gone so tragically wrong with this country.

Australia in 2007 seems to be all about the almighty Dollar. Votes are bought with the promise of cheap credit and more cuts to public services or a boost to the corporate bottom line.

Meanwhile our basic sense of justice and what is right gets thrown overboard. If the facts don't suit then just make them up.

It didn't used to be this way and it need not be now.

 

[moXJO]

Meanwhile our basic sense of justice and what is right gets thrown overboard. If the facts don't suit then just make them up.

It didn't used to be this way and it need not be now.

Actually it was this way and a lot of innocent people went to jail. Think of the corruptions that use to go on in the police force with people being loaded with evidence so the charge would stick.

What makes you wonder is if this is how big a mistake they can make with the media spotlight on them how many innocent people are in prison that did not have the media and public interest in them.

 

[wayneL]

Yet another example of what's gone so tragically wrong with this country.

Australia in 2007 seems to be all about the almighty Dollar. Votes are bought with the promise of cheap credit and more cuts to public services or a boost to the corporate bottom line.

Meanwhile our basic sense of justice and what is right gets thrown overboard. If the facts don't suit then just make them up.

It didn't used to be this way and it need not be now.

Totally agree!

It seems the only thing that engenders community spirit is adversity or disaster. While I don't wish that on anyone, it will be the only thing that sorts this mess out.

Over my lifetime I have seen that booms are only good for the hip pocket... and 'king lousy for everything else.