Inquiry into the AFP’s behaviour must cover the Bali Nine case
The Attorney-General has appointed former Supreme Court Justice, Mr. John Clarke QC, to inquire into various aspects of the way in which the Australian Federal Police and the Minister for Immigration, in 2007, took action against Dr. Mohamed Haneef.
Many people think that other aspects of conduct by the Australian Federal Police should also be the subject of a public inquiry, including its action in causing young Australians to be arrested for drug offences in Indonesia and be sentenced to death despite Australia being a signatory to international treaties prohibiting capital punishment.
There are many precedents for inquiries having their terms of reference expanded where significant public demand existed for such expansion. The famous Fitzgerald Inquiry in Queensland in the late 1980s is an excellent example.
You may therefore like to write to the Attorney-General, Mr. McClelland, and to Mr. Clarke requesting and suggesting that the terms of reference be expanded to allow Mr. Clarke to consider the AFP’s actions in having young Australians sentenced to death despite Australia’s international obligations for offences that would result in less than 20 years imprisonment in Australia.
The Attorney-General’s address is:
The Honourable Robert McClelland MP,The Attorney-General
Attorney-General’s Department
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
By Fax: (02) 6273 4102
The address for Mr. Clarke’s Inquiry is:
Secretariat to the Clarke Inquiry
Attorney-General’s Department
Robert Garran Offices
National Circuit
Barton ACT 2600
World of Difference conference update
AACP held a workshop at the W of D conference at the University of Queensland on the weekend, featuring Lee and Christine Rush, Tim Goodwin from Amnesty, and our patron, Stephen Keim, QC.
As well as continuing to raise awareness of our campaign and of the fate of people on death row across the world, we also had the added goal of helping to establish a group – Students Against Capital Punishment – at the university, which is now on-track.
Thanks to everyone who came along, to everyone who signed up for SACP and to the organisers for inviting us.
AACP at UQ’s World of Difference Conference – March 15th
Australians Against Capital Punishment will be running a workshop at the University of Queensland’s World of Difference social justice conference.
Date: Sat 15 March
Venue: UQ, St Lucia Brisbane, Room 232, Steele building
Time: AACP / SACP workshop Sat 2 – 3:30pm
We will also be running a stall in the Great Court from 12.30 onwards if anyone would like to come along and talk more informally before the workshop begins.
Our session will be discussing the ongoing role of AACP and the formation of Students Against Capital Punishment groups, our speakers will include Tim Goodwin from Amnesty International, and Lee and Christine Rush talking about their experiences as parents of someone on death row.
All are welcome, for more information contact Tina or phone 0423 709 445.
‘Bali nine’ trio’s death sentences overturned – ABC
‘Bali nine’ trio’s death sentences overturned
Sydney man Matthew Norman and the rest of the ‘Malasti three’ previously had their sentences increased to the death penalty. (File photo) (Reuters: Murdani Usman)
Three of the ‘Bali nine’ drug couriers have had their death sentences reduced to life in jail.
Matthew Norman, Thanh Duc Tan Nguyen and Si Yi Chen were known as the ‘Malasti three’ because they were arrested in a hotel of that name on April 17, 2005.
The trio had their sentences increased to the death penalty by Indonesia’s Supreme Court in August of 2006.
Now, a different panel of judges within the same Supreme Court has decided on their final appeal, known as judicial reviews, and reduced their death sentences to life imprisonment.
The decision is also positive for fellow drug courier Scott Rush, who is yet to lodge his final appeal.
Rush given fresh hope in death penalty fight
Fight for life: Scott Rush behind bars (AFP: Arizona Sudiro)
A lawyer for convicted drug smuggler Scott Rush hopes he will be spared the death penalty now that three fellow members of the ‘Bali nine’ have had their sentences reduced to life in prison.
