Read the ‘closing argument’ by US Air Force Reservist Major, David Frakt (in civilian life, a law professor), who is the military counsel for Mohammad Jawad, only 17 when detained in Afghanistan. He is charged with injuring US soldiers in a war, an act…
Remember the American peace activist who got ASIO’s, the AFP’s and Immigration’s knickers in a knot, until they arrested him for viciously drinking a cup of coffee in Melbourne? The authorities still haven’t admitted any error – see his story as told for…
A bill prohibiting discrimination and bias by health insurers and employers based on people’s genes has passed both Houses of the US Congress by a vote of 509-1. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act is a powerful shield for Americans. Meanwhile,…
As the tepid inquiry into the Haneef matter continues behind closed doors, it is clear that ex-justice Clarke lacks power to compel full disclosure of information and documents. CLA doubts – as do Haneef’s lawyers apparently – that traditionally ‘mum’ go…
Apathy and cynicism were real problems in Australia, brought on by the ‘downsides’ of the Haneef fiasco over intelligence in policing agences, the Attorney-General warns. He lists three areas where Australia can improve: none involves more draconian anti…
Human Rights First has released a seminal study of the use of ‘coerced evidence’ by the US Administration to prosecute terrorists. This 72-page publication, meticulously footnoted, gives chapter and verse on where and how America has gone wrong in its bl…
The Australian Federal Police, who are on a skywards growth and cost trajectory, are developing a paramilitary wing, Bruce Haigh says. Because ministerial management is lacking, they are becoming a law unto themselves, he warns.
AFP spreads wings wider…
CLA spokesman Max Jeganathan’s comments are being read far and wide, with the US legal website Jurist asking for what CLA thought of AFP Commissioner Michael Keelty’s recent outburst against the media. Read what Max said.
See the article on the ‘Jurist…
In other nations, Presidents and Prime Ministers can declare war…but they must get full approval of their legislatures by various mechanisms. In Australia, the power to declare and wage war is shrouded in uncertainty, without the benefit of mandated e…
Why, Joe Woodward (Letters Canberra Times, December 29) do you think civil libertarians are encouraging of or apologists for Islamic terrorists?
Woodward says that “the left in Western culture has no answer to the issue of radical Islam” but it is cl…