Mark Summerfield, a patent attorney, analyses the current UK alleged piracy/copyright extradition case with major international ramifications. As well, there's links to the NYT coverage of proposed new US laws which are even more draconian, and to an SMH story of the real-life experience of an Australian extradited and jailed in the US for a similar 'offence'.

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A simple signature on a treaty, which the Labor Government has promised for more than four years, would bring relief to people penned behind bars these holidays. CLA is a signatory to a letter asking new Attorney-General Nicola Roxon to sign the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT) and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. With a stroke of the pen, a formal inspection regime would open up Australia's dark places to the light of external scrutiny.

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How come many hundreds of personnel carrying weapons, some who almost certainly have committed crimes under international law, can enter Australia without Customs or security questioning, Humphrey McQueen asked in a speech outside Parliament House during the US President's visit? In truth, there's a wide range of Americans we would welcome to this country, historically or currently, but it doesn't include members of the Obama Gang, he told the audience.

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After four years of lobbying, CLA's proposal for the government to report details about people we extradite to face trial overseas has been adopted by the Attorney-General's Department. The AG's annual report will in future carry reports of extradition requests granted by Australia and other relevant follow-up information.
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Once again, this time in Sydney, a self-selected group of Attorneys-General from the West is meeting to decide – without reference to the Australian parliament – the shape of Australia's future laws. It's time MPs stood up to be counted against such emasculation of their roles and responsibilities, CLA says.

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Editor, West Australian: The Prime Minister is obliged to support a Presidential clemency for Andrew Chan, an Australian citizen, in Indonesia. In doing so, she is supporting the UN Human Rights Charter which advocates all nations abolish capital punishment, which Australia has done.

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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has called for politicians to abandon short term political goals and treat asylum seekers and Indigenous disadvantage through a human rights-based approach. After a six-day visit here, she is also calling for a "fully-fledged Human Rights Act" for Australia.
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