ATOM feed
It's two things really:
December 23, 2006
"The Australian people are incensed and distressed by the news that the Indonesian authorities have released Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who has been cleared of any involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings, in which 88 Australians were killed."
"Terrorism commentator Rohan Gunaratna blamed Indonesia's legal system for the acquittal, saying there was "sufficient intelligence and evidence that implicates Bashir as a leader of a terrorist group and also his personal role giving his blessing to terrorist attacks".
"John Howard (Australian Prime Minister) voiced disappointment. 'I know there'll be a feeling of anger on the part of the parents and loved ones and I'm feeling for them this morning very much,' he said..."
December 14, 2006
The Aboriginal people, including respected tribal elders (are) incensed and distressed by the decision not to prosecute Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley over the death in a Palm Island cell of Mulrunji Doomadgee in 2004.
"A police officer found by a coroner to have caused the injuries of a Palm Island man who died in custody would not be charged, the Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions said today.
Deputy state coroner Christine Clements ruled in September that Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley hit 36-year-old Mulrunji Doomadgee and caused his fatal injuries on November 19, 2004, at the Palm Island police station.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Leanne Clare said today charges would not be laid against Snr Sgt Hurley, who was stood down from operational duties while the DPP considered the coroner's findings.
The island erupted into riots in November 2004 after an autopsy found Mr Mulrunji suffered four broken ribs, a ruptured liver and a ruptured portal vein in a watchhouse scuffle."
Noel Pearson comments:
Three Palm Islanders are charged with riot offences, plead guilty and are convicted and sentenced by a highly experienced judge, but the Attorney-General instructs the DPP to appeal to the Court of Appeal which, in a breathtaking judgment by the chief justice, Paul de Jersey, increases the sentences and sends a mother of four children to prison. Her children are made wards of the state.
The dead man's only child takes his own life in the period following his father's death. Remaining Palm Islanders charged with riot offences are awaiting trial. Hurley and his mates from the police service who exonerated him return to their jobs.
"Ms Clare said the evidence was not capable of proving Snr Sgt Hurley was criminally responsible for Mr Mulrunji's death. 'In other words, the admissible evidence suggests that Mr Doomadgee's death was a terrible accident.'..."
Strange people, us Aussies - but in fairness I have to say that anger and distress is building across Australia for the events surrounding the death of Mulrunji Doomadgee.
postscript:
December 22, 2006
"Queensland's Attorney-General Kerry Shine will commission a review of the decision by the state's top prosecutor not to charge a policeman over the death of an Aboriginal man in custody on Palm Island."
4 Comments
I totally agree with you, Della...both situations prove that justice just is a 'word'.
The fundamentalist Muslim is laughing at us in our faces and there's not a damn thing we can do about it!
On the matter of the death of MulrunjiDoomadgee, Clare has now turned around and it looks like her decision is going to be examined and rightly so. She has a lot of answers to give to many questions and she had better be certain of her words this time around.
I'm with you, Della. Although with Bashir, was it really such a surprise? We're talking about Indonesia here.
I wonder about Ms Clare's agenda. She's being very righteous about the whole thing, almost like she knows she ballsed up but doesn't want to admit it. Thank God, the decision is going to be examined again - it's just too upsetting for the Mulrunji Doomadgee's people and the rest of the Aboriginal Community - the DPP's been quite insensitive actually.
If I don't get back to you before, have a merry Christmas, Della and I look forward to reading your blog next year.
Come visit my blog for a bit of a smile, Della! ;) I'm in a happy mood...and would like to share! :)
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