Aust govt inconsistent on death penalty

Imam Samudra, 38, Amrozi, 47, and Mukhlas, 48, have all been executed.

The lawyer for one of the Bali Nine members facing death row says attempts to have his client's life spared will not be taken seriously unless the Federal Government consistently opposes the death penalty.

Solicitor John North represents drug smuggler Scott Rush and he wants the Federal Government to step up diplomatic pressure on Indonesia over capital punishment following the Bali bombers' execution.

Mr North says while he understands why the Government did not campaign for the lives of the bombers, the Government cannot pick and choose.

"Probably can't expect them to do it because they were such monstrous crimes but the thing is they should make it quite clear to the many Indonesians that they value life, all human life," he said.

"They shouldn't try and cherry pick those that should be executed and those that should not."

Quote: All those innocent people killed in East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan (Colateral Damage) never committed any crime and they were killed. Murdered in fact in cold blood by Indonesia and Australia and its complicity in those illegal and degrading wars and crimes against humanity. The fact is our government murder people in cold blood anytime they think that they can get away with it and they do so with impunity.

Related:

Indonesia tells bombers families get ready
The families of the Indonesian Islamists on death row for the 2002 Bali bombings have been told to "get ready" for the executions, a prosecutor says.

Protest Bali bombers' executions - priest
High profile Catholic priest Frank Brennan has called on the Australian Government to speak out against the execution of the three Bali bombers as it draws nearer.

Fool me twice 1-20 -Official release (BALI BOMBINGS/ETimor) Exposing the Australian government's lies about the East Timor massacres, the cover-up of the Bali bombings (including '93 WTC attack) and subsequent anti-terror legislation forced through parliament.

The Truth About Bali Bombings
Part One + Two: Que Bono. Who Benefited? The Bali Bombings were a direct US-Israeli response to the growing Peace marches and Anti War Movement in Australia that was ballooning at an alarming rate after 9-11 and after Bush announced he was waging illegal invasions. It also very quickly secured Indonesia's and Australia's subservience to the US and cemented involvement in the US led War on Terror, and subsequent illegal invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rudd firm on capital punishment stance
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the fact that he backs the death penalty for the Bali bombers in Indonesia does not signal any change in his opposition to capital punishment in Australia.

Push for clear line on death penalty
PRESSURE is mounting on the Rudd Government from the Labor back bench to adopt a tougher stand against the death penalty.

I had no choice, says courier facing death
AN AUSTRALIAN sentenced to death in Vietnam this week for heroin trafficking told officials she was forced into the crime to pay off her husband's gambling debts.

'Bali nine' trio's death sentences overturned
Three 'Bali nine' members still face the death penalty, including the group's ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, as well as Rush, the only drug mule still sentenced to death.

Australian govt abandoning author in Thai jail

An Australian barrister is accusing the Federal Government of failing to help an Australian writer who is in jail in Bangkok on charges of insulting the Thai monarchy.

Harry Nicolaides was arrested in August because of a brief passage in a novel he published in 2005, referring to rumours about the Thai royal family.

Mr Nicolaides has been in jail for more than two months and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison if convicted.

Barrister Mark Dean says the Government has failed to meet its responsibilities.

"The Australian Government, that is, the Foreign Minister, part of his principal responsibilities are to protect Australian citizens in circumstances such as this, particularly where a citizen is being used for political reasons," he said.

"And so far the Australian Government, from what we can tell, has done nothing."

Australia pays family of Afghan governor

Governor Rozi Khan and two bodyguards were killed.

Australia has made an honour payment to the family of Afghan tribal district governor Rozi Khan who was shot dead in a confused firefight involving Australian special forces troops.

The speedy burial of Governor Khan meant no post-mortem examination was possible and it would probably never be known whether he died from shots fired by the Australian troops, defence chief Angus Houston said.

[Sure. People were born yesterday?]

The incident occurred in the town of Tarin Kowt on September 18.

Air Chief Marshal Houston said it was a violent and confusing event which led to the death of a respected tribal leader.

"As an Australian patrol was passing through a rural settlement on their way to achieve a separate objective, [stealing oil resources?] they came under fire from multiple sources," he told a Senate budget estimates committee hearing on Wednesday.

[But all illegal and degrading wars are violent and confusing as well they're lethal memes that should be avoided.]

The soldiers fired back in self defence.

"During this protracted night-time engagement, a group of five armed men that included Mr Khan approached the patrol from the direction of some of the firing.

"Believing these men were a threat, we appear to have engaged the group that included Mr Khan."

[So whilst stealing oil resources on Afghanistani soil they shoot people from the region believing these men who lived there were a threat.]

International Security Assistance Force and Australian inquiries had been unable to determine the exact details of the engagement including who killed Mr Khan.

[That's is why they paid the honour payment? By the way how honourable is that?]

The governor's immediate burial, required by local custom, prevented forensic examination.

"Following negotiations in accordance with Afghan culture, an honour payment has been made to Mr Khan's family to help maintain our good relationship with Rozi Khan's followers," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

The amount paid was unspecified.

[This is the second time this article stated that, "The governor's immediate burial, required by local custom, prevented forensic examination." So that's how you know it's propaganda. For instance if all those killed by someone in Afghanistan, can't be examined, then who knows who killed who? The war is propagandised. To think that Chief Marshal Houston doesn't know this and wouldn't use it to defend himself or his government from being accused is just plain imperialist fraud.]

Australian inquiries determined civilians in the area were anxious and uncertain as there had been Taliban activity the day before and again that evening.

[Sure.]

The Taliban had also threatened to kill one of the locals in the vicinity and that caused guards on compounds to be nervous and agitated, prompting the initial contact.

[Good throw off anyway.]

"On the night he was killed, Mr Khan was not aware that coalition forces were involved in the engagement and he was moving to assist members of his militia that he believed to be under attack by the Taliban," Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

The defence chief said he was confident Australian troops acted in accordance with the right to self defence under their rules of engagement.

[War Chief Marshal Houston should be sacked.]

Quote: Did Khan's two bodyguards get an honour payment? How honourable would that be? Don't the military force understand that they can do wrong in a war zone? A war zone that they helped to create. By not allowing wrong in a war zone then Chief Marshal Houston implies that the illegal and degrading war on Afghanistan is somehow right? But the truth will set you free...

Related:

Govt mulls payment Afgan governor's family
The Australian Defence [War] Force says the Federal Government will consider making a payment to the family of an Afghan governor, who is believed to have been accidentally killed by Australian forces.

Three civilians killed in botched raid
AUSTRALIAN special forces troops in Afghanistan have accidentally killed a district governor and two of his bodyguards in a botched raid that will pose a further setback to the [war against indigenous afghanistanis.]

AFGHANISTAN: End the slaughter
An Afghan woman who lost family members weeps after air strikes on Friday in Azizabad district of Shindand August 23, 2008. An UN investigation suggested that 60 children were killed in the airstrike. Australian troops are not restoring peace in Afghanistan but working for oil company profits, amongst other things.

Austraila detained Afghans in 'dog pens'
Australian special forces troops detained suspected Taliban militants [or indigenous Afganistanis] in "dog pens" in actions which have prompted a protest from the Afghan ambassador.

Govt mulls payment Afgan governor's family

Governor Rozi Khan and two bodyguards were killed.

The Australian Defence [War] Force says the Federal Government will consider making a payment to the family of an Afghan governor, who is believed to have been accidentally killed by Australian forces.

The Governor of the Chora District, Rozi Khan, was shot dead last month during an incident where Australian forces were returning enemy [resistance] fire.

ADF Vice Chief Lieutenant General David Hurley says an act of grace payment to Mr Khan's family is one of the measures being considered by the Government.

"An investigation is being conducted into that and we'll await the outcome of that inquiry," he said.

"We have taken advice from the local leadership in the area in terms of what steps in reconciliation and how do we address the issue of that incident."

Quote: What about his bodyguards family? Are payments only for nobility? Peasants don't count?

Related:

Three civilians killed in botched raid
AUSTRALIAN special forces troops in Afghanistan have accidentally killed a district governor and two of his bodyguards in a botched raid that will pose a further setback to the [war against indigenous afghanistanis.]

AFGHANISTAN: End the slaughter
An Afghan woman who lost family members weeps after air strikes on Friday in Azizabad district of Shindand August 23, 2008. An UN investigation suggested that 60 children were killed in the airstrike. Australian troops are not restoring peace in Afghanistan but working for oil company profits, amongst other things.

Austraila detained Afghans in 'dog pens'
Australian special forces troops detained suspected Taliban militants [or indigenous Afganistanis] in "dog pens" in actions which have prompted a protest from the Afghan ambassador.

Death penalty ban 'would help save Bali 9'

A Sydney Federal Labor backbencher says a permanent Commonwealth ban on the death penalty will help the campaign to get Australians off death row in Bali.

The member for Werriwa, Chris Hayes, says current legislation means the death penalty could be reintroduced by the states.

He has moved a notice of motion in Federal Parliament to stop that happening.

Mr Hayes says it was the plight of the convicted drug smuggler, Scott Rush, that motivated him to action.

"What parent of an 18-year-old hasn't got concerns about the people their child mixes with or sometimes associates with?," he said.

Scott Rush and two other Australians, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, face the death by firing squad in Indonesia.

The three Australians are members of the so-called Bali nine, who were caught trying to smuggle more than 8.2 kilograms of heroin from the resort island of Bali to Australia in 2005.

Chris Hayes says his bill also sends a clear message that Australia opposes the death penalty, increasing the diplomatic pressure on Indonesia.

It will be debated when Parliament resumes the week after next.

Rudd firm on capital punishment stance

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the fact that he backs the death penalty for the Bali bombers in Indonesia does not signal any change in his opposition to capital punishment in Australia.

[What a contradiction in terms?]

Mr Rudd says the three men on death row in Indonesia over the bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians, are cowards and mass murderers who deserve the justice that will be delivered to them.

[Wrong again: The convicted Bali bombers did not have the means to create such a bomb. There are reports that in one Balinese kampong that provided labour to the clubs in Kuta Beach, seven empty coffins were buried, because there were no identifiable remains of the missing workers. It was as if they had been vaporised. Scores of people, mainly locals, are thought to have disappeared without trace.] Australia's Terrorism Wake Up Call.

He says the Bali bombers are subject to the Indonesian system, but he has said he does not believe in the death penalty in Australia or for Australians in other nations.

"That's the view of the Liberals, that's the view of the Australian Labor Party and that'll be the case into the future as well," he said.

"Also when it comes to Australians convicted of sentences abroad, both Mr Howard when he was prime minister and myself since becoming Prime Minister, we regularly intervene with foreign countries arguing the case for clemency for Australians convicted abroad."

Quote: Clearly Kevin Rudd is lost on this one. How can he not see that all people are equal? And have been created equal - no matter where they are from? How can any person create this dilemma for themselves? For himself? For our people? Basically any other foreign country would take that as an approval to execute an Australian citizen.

Related:

Push for clear line on death penalty
PRESSURE is mounting on the Rudd Government from the Labor back bench to adopt a tougher stand against the death penalty.

I had no choice, says courier facing death
AN AUSTRALIAN sentenced to death in Vietnam this week for heroin trafficking told officials she was forced into the crime to pay off her husband's gambling debts.

'Bali nine' trio's death sentences overturned
Three 'Bali nine' members still face the death penalty, including the group's ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, as well as Rush, the only drug mule still sentenced to death.

Gillard stresses local relevance of US crisis

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has highlighted the seriousness of the United States financial crisis, warning that Australia is not immune to financial turbulence overseas.

The US Treasury is currently debating an $840 billion rescue package, funded by taxpayers and designed to lure investors back into the struggling market.

Ms Gillard says the situation in the US has serious implications for the domestic economy.

"What it means for us is, we as a Government have to take a prudent approach to economic management," she said.

'Not immune'

Ms Gillard says the Federal Government's proposed budget measures aim to keep a reign on the domestic economy.

"The point that we have been making is that we are in different circumstances here," she said.

"We are not immune from global credit markets but we have a strong well regulated financial sector and that puts us into a different position as the United States where the subprime mortgage issue has just been so huge."

But Ms Gillard says the Opposition is being irresponsible and are "standing in the way" of important budget measures.

"We inherited a domestic inflation challenge with inflation running at 16-year highs," she said.

"In uncertain economic times globally, the last thing we can afford is uncertain budget spendings at home."

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Wall Street crisis: Poor to bail out the rich again “Rich people got it good in this country”, said African-American comedian Wanda Sykes on the September 24 Tonight Show with Jay Leno. “We refuse to let them not be rich. Think about it. Broke people are about to bailout rich people. This is what is going on.”

THEY WANT MAMA TO MAKE IT ALL BETTER! Rep Kaptur 'Rep. Marcy Kaptur gets it right — sort of. Wall Street and the banksters are not irresponsible, as she claims, they are criminals who methodically plotted to loot as much money as they could from the markets and then turn the corpse over to the American people, who they know will be obliged to pay for the damages.'

Bailouts Will Push US into Depression
Infowars.com 'The end result of the global economic slowdown may be the U.S. announcing national bankruptcy as the government cannot afford the bailouts that it promised and the market will not bail out the government, Martin Hennecke, senior manager of private clients at Tyche, told CNBC on Thursday.'

Democrats, Republicans conspire to remove Wall Street bailout from election campaign Closed-door talks continued throughout the day Friday between congressional Democratic and Republican leaders and the Bush administration, with all sides pledging to reach agreement on terms of a $700 billion bailout package for the US financial system before the Asian stock markets open Monday morning—Sunday afternoon in the US.

Biggest US bank failure ever
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Upwardly immobile: mortgage stress bites
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Households give up three years of gains
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Rental rage surges in Sydney
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Qld has highest homeless rate in Australia
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More homeless seeking help: report
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Housing rents surge in Sydney
RENTS for houses across Sydney surged 8 per cent in the three months to June, driven by landlords facing higher mortgage rates.

First mortgages doubled in a decade: ABS
The amount first home buyers borrowed to make their housing purchase doubled in the 10 years to 2005-06, new statistics show.

Housing crisis forcing people to sleep rough
A Wesley Mission study found 71 per cent of respondents identified the housing crisis as the major reason for them becoming homeless. Of those, 88 per cent said accumulated debt and unexpected financial crisis were factors.

Funding fall 'locks workers out of housing'
People who cannot afford to rent or buy suitable homes have been locked out of public housing because of a drastic fall in national funding, a Sydney conference has heard.

Renters must pay for their own evictions
SYDNEY renters have plenty to gripe about. Not only are their rents soaring but they are also funding the legal machinery used by landlords to evict them.

NSW feels the deepest jobs cut
MORE than 17,000 NSW workers left or lost their jobs last month in the worst labour market reading in years, fuelling fears the state will suffer the brunt of the coming economic slowdown.

Welfare services under strain: survey
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Report warns new wave of homelessness
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When pain persists, they arrive
People are still angry when they lose their houses, but he notices that "people nowadays seem to think, when they take a loan, that it's a risk and that if they take the loan they might end up losing their house".

'No warning' about Beechwood collapse
The New South Wales Government says it had no warning one of the state's largest building companies was about to collapse, despite receiving more than 100 complaints over three years.

Housing crisis is real: industry
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Rudd to raise China Olympic censorship

China's human rights worse: Amnesty

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he will raise concerns with the Chinese Government about internet censorship during the Olympics.

Chinese authorities are blocking sensitive websites used by the international media and are using spyware to monitor internet use in hotels used by journalists and other visitors to the Games.

The chairman of the International Olympic Committee's media commission, Kevan Gosper, has complained that he was not informed of the decision and says his reputation has been damaged over the issue.

Mr Rudd has said he will discuss the issue when he visits Beijing for the Games.

"I'm quite concerned by them, I saw the reports, also the comments by Kevan Gosper," he said.

"My attitude to our friends in China is very simple, they should have nothing to fear by open digital links with the rest of the world during this important international celebration of sport."

Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates meanwhile agrees that the controversy has "damaged" Mr Gosper.

"He clearly at some stage has been under the impression, and you showed me the bit of paper saying there would be restrictions," he said.

"He didn't know that, he's apologised.

"Others in the IOC say there are no restrictions. So we'll see. I'm finding it a little confusing."

Related:

China's human rights worse: Amnesty
Human rights group Amnesty International has released a scathing assessment of China's human rights record since it was awarded the right to host next month's Olympic Games seven years ago.

Dalai Lama arrives in Sydney
The president of the NSW Tibetan Community, Tenzin Gaden said he hoped the Dalai Lama's visit would raise awareness of the plight of the Tibetan people, who are under Chinese rule.

Thousands flock to Canberra ahead of torch relay
"Among all the communities, including the Chinese and Tibetan, those who live in Australia, I personally have had to deal with them in many, many years, they are strongly supportive of peace and harmony, because we are a great multicultural nation here."