Australia moves to ban Islamic groups

[dArKeR]

Canberra - Australia's government said on Tuesday it would seek to ban militant Palestinian group Hamas and Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba.

A meeting of government legislators agreed to propose laws that would change the listing provisions for terrorist organisations. An official spokesperson said the bill would create powers to ban either organisation if the government was satisfied that it was engaged in terrorist activities.

"The purpose is to create a basis for the identification and listing of Hamas and Lashkar-e-Taiba as terrorist organisations under Australian law if the minister is satisfied that either or both of those organisations are engaged in terrorist activities," a government spokesperson said.

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=qw1067927762340B223&set_id=1

Shouldn't we then be able to ban a larger, more organized, with more money and connections terrorist group, the GOP?

[jonoboy]

1. more spin from the Deputy Sheriff.

Howard has to start coming up with something with an election next year, just like Bush..they will act in unison.

[Josh]

2. True, but I don't have any problem with them banning Hamas,

just as they banned al Qaeda some time ago.

Howard WILL create some kind of external threat to win the election (not that he needs anything more than the continued ineptness of Simon Crean as opposition leader) but I don't have a problem with them banning certain terrorist groups.

The increased powers for ASIO on the other hand terrifies me greatly. That bill will never pass.

[jonoboy]

3. It is getting pretty bizarre

with Simon Crean. He seems to be completely frozen at a time when Howard is so takeable.

[Aidoneus]

4. why would Hamas have any interest in Australia?

say what one will about them, they have never and have no interest in operating anywhere outside of historical Palestine.

Since the Howard "Sheriff" regime will not provide any useful domestic agenda, they resort to racist scapegoating, 'rule by fear', south Pacific manipulation and militarism toadying along with the world's most dangerous aggressor (who, if Howard is interested in reigning in killers, should be the ones to end up on these "terror" lists).

[Josh]

5. Well certainly Jamah Islamia should be first on the list -

they're operating all over our backyard. This won't stop them, it'll just make it harder - a little harder.

[Matilda]

6. Banning Jamah Islamia may be okay. But Hamas?

I think they have their hands full dealing with Israel, and that's
what they're about after all. But I see Howard pulling the "you're
in danger but I can save you if you'll only let me give ASIO more
powers to help protect you" routine.

Given that the antics of ASIO in the past have often borne a
resemblance to "Get Smart", I think they've been given more than
enough powers already. We don't want to wake up one morning and
find half our population has been disappeared in the night.