I'm Mohammad Asghar!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pakistan court sentences British man to death for claiming to be prophet of Islam
ANW
January 25,2014
A court in Pakistan has sentenced a British man to death for blasphemy for claiming to be a prophet of Islam.
Mohammad Asghar, a British national of Pakistani origin, was arrested in 2010 in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, for writing letters claiming to be a prophet, police said.
The special court inside Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail, where Asghar is being held, rejected defence claims that the 65-year-old has mental health problems.
"Asghar claimed to be a prophet even inside the court. He confessed it in front of the judge," Javed Gul, a government prosecutor said.
"Asghar used to write it even on his visiting card."
Blasphemy is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97 per cent of the population is Muslim, and insulting the Prophet Mohammed can carry the death penalty.
But the country has had a de facto moratorium on civilian hangings since 2008.
Only one person has been executed since then - a soldier convicted by court martial.
In 2006, the then-president Pervez Musharraf commuted the death sentence on a British man convicted of murder after appeals from former UK prime minister Tony Blair and Prince Charles.
Asghar also ordered to pay fine
Mr Gul says the court also ordered Asghar to pay a fine of $11,480.
A medical board examined Asghar after defence lawyers said he was suffering from some mental disorder, but Mr Gul said they "declared him as a normal person".
"Asghar was failed to produce even a single witness in his favour," Mr Gul said.
A police official in Sadiq Abad neighbourhood of Rawalpindi, where Asghar was arrested, confirmed the death sentence.
Pakistan's tough blasphemy laws have attracted criticism from rights groups, who say they are frequently abused to settle personal scores.
In 2012, Rimsha Masih, a young Christian girl, was arrested for alleged blasphemy in Islamabad.
The case provoked international concern because of her age, estimated at 14, and because she was variously described as "uneducated" or suffering from Down's syndrome.
The charges against here were eventually thrown out and last June she fled to Canada with her family.
Even unproven allegations of blasphemy can provoke a violent public response.
There have been several cases where mobs have attacked mentally ill people who have made supposedly blasphemous claims.
AFP
An American, Australian ,Israeli, British "Judeo Christian Friendly " blog.
Anthropogenic Global Warming SCAM
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
THEIR ABC and Fairfax, Rats in the SILO, doing their best to undermine border protection +FACTS on numbers of Labor Green Loon VOTE People arrivals
ABC and Fairfax doing their best to undermine border protection issue
Piers Akerman
The Daily Telegraph
January 24,2014
FORCED to face the collapse of their repeated pre-election prediction that the Coalition's border protection policy would be unworkable, the ABC and Fairfax are now doing their utmost to undermine the national effort.
In many countries the activities of these media outlets would be regarded as traitorous.
In 1946 William Joyce, known to the world as Lord Haw-Haw, was executed for treason after spending the war years broadcasting propaganda from Berlin on behalf of his Nazi hosts.
The actions of the ABC this week, notably through its ill-gotten Australia Network, which broadcasts into Indonesia, rival Joyce's disgraceful deeds.
How the ABC and its Fairfax supporters can believe that reporting allegations of accusations of torture by Australian service personnel without a shred of corroborating evidence is in line with sound journalistic practice and principle is beyond belief.
Before the election, both media outlets noisily protested that the Coalition's plan to stop the boats would fail. In the face of the indisputable success of Operation Sovereign Borders, both have been forced to recalibrate their politicised campaign of attack on the Coalition.
Producing an asylum seeker with a burnt finger or two hardly constitutes evidence of torture on the high seas.
Not surprisingly, the ABC and Fairfax are clamouring for an inquiry. So, too, are the people-smugglers - because an inquiry would tie up the naval resources that are damaging their businesses.
The ABC constantly claims Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has imposed a blanket of secrecy over the anti-people-smuggling operation. Secrecy was a prerequisite of the military involved in the operation, as it would be in any military exercise.
The attempts to smear Morrison don't stop there. The ABC and Fairfax try to make him the scapegoat for every action taken by the Immigration Department, even when nothing more than due process is being followed, so intent are they on pursuing their own dubious political agendas.
Earlier this month the organisations prosecuted the cause of a homosexual man who was in Australia unlawfully.
They, and the Twitterati, claimed Morrison was somehow reluctant to act because the man was in a same-sex relationship.
They agitated for Morrison to ignore the process that applies to all individuals applying for protection visas, be they heterosexual or homosexual, and grant the man residency immediately - same-sex relationships take precedence in their alternate world.
Every day these organisations take up political cudgels in the hope of damaging the government.
Occasionally, the ABC's broadcasts generate a response from Indonesia and some minister is obliged to increase the rhetoric even though the political reality dictates the cessation of the people-smuggling trade would benefit both Indonesia and Australia.
Once the boats are stopped, the issue is dead and the countries can get on with more important issues beneficial to both.
But the ABC and Fairfax want to keep the issue alive and they ignore the international precedents for the Abbott government's actions.
Here is the mission statement from the US Coast Guard on illegal boat arrivals: "The Coast Guard conducts patrols and coordinates with other federal agencies and foreign countries to interdict undocumented migrants at sea, denying them entry via maritime routes to the United States, its territories and possessions.
"Thousands of people try to enter this country illegally every year using maritime routes, many via smuggling operations. Interdicting migrants at sea means they can be quickly returned to their countries of origin without the costly processes required if they successfully enter the United States.
"When successful, illegal immigration can potentially cost US taxpayers billions of dollars each year in social services. In addition to relieving this financial burden on our citizens, the Coast Guard's efforts help to support legal migration systems.
"Primarily, the Coast Guard maintains its humanitarian responsibility to prevent the loss of life at sea, since the majority of migrant vessels are dangerously overloaded, unseaworthy or unsafe."
It could just as easily describe the Abbott government policy.
People-smugglers, the ABC and Fairfax have a vested interest in keeping this issue alive in the hope there will be sufficient public outrage to bring about a review. Despite all the indignation, it isn't going to happen.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has given his full backing to the operation and expressed total support to the naval and customs officers on the frontline.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, he said: "These are just claims without any apparent facts to back them up. I fully support the statement of the minister on this subject and I have complete confidence in the decency, the humanity and the professionalism of Australia's navy and customs personnel, who I commend for a magnificent job - a job which is increasingly effective and successful.
"While I'm not saying this problem has been entirely resolved, the fact is we have gone many weeks now without a single boat arrival in Australia and the last time we had this kind of an outcome was back, from memory, in 2008.
"I think people making allegations should be able to produce some evidence. There is no evidence to back them up. Who do you believe? Do you believe Australian naval personnel or the people who are trying to break Australian law?
"I trust Australia's naval personnel."
FACTS That the Insurgents apologists and facilitators don't want you to know.
No boat in five weeks vindicates Prime Minister's tactics
Patrick Lion
The DailyTelegraph
Jamuary 24,2014
AUSTRALIA has not recorded an asylum seeker boat arrival in five weeks - the first time in five years there has been such a quiet stretch without more people filling detention centres.
The Abbott government last night said Australia was now back close to the "starting line" in its bid to eliminate "the border chaos" that had started under Kevin Rudd in early 2009 and continued under Julia Gillard.
The reduction comes as relations between Australia and Indonesia over asylum seekers soured further yesterday with our closest northern neighbour warning that Australia was "reachable" by its fighter planes.
The development comes as the population of asylum seekers at Christmas Island has also dropped below 2000 for the first time since February last year.
"We have our foot on the neck of the smugglers and we are not going to give them any relief," Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said. "We are going to keep applying the pressure."
The last boat arrival of asylum seekers was transferred to Australian authorities on December 19, a period of 35 days, or five weeks, without an arrival.
While the government has declined to comment about "on-water" incidents, citing operational reasons, Indonesian authorities have confirmed several boats have been turned or towed back in that time.
The federal government does not count them as arrivals requiring transfers because the people returned to Indonesia instead.
According to the government, the last time a similar period of no transfers occurred was between January and March of 2009 when the Rudd government started relaxing border protection measures.
Mr Morrison last night said he had increasing confidence his policy measures were working, even though he conceded there was more work to do.
He said over the first 100 days the Coalition had pushed down arrivals to about 300 a month - close to the level of the 2010 election - and had now wound back the arrival numbers to the early Rudd era.
"This takes us back close to the starting line on boat arrivals, with it being five years since there was such a period of time with no arrivals," Mr Morrison said.
"Between January and March of 2009 was the last time there has been a longer period with no arrivals. That was when things started to ramp up.
"We are repairing the damage - that means getting us back to what it was like before Rudd and Gillard's border chaos wreaked havoc."
Although the government is aware arrivals do slow during the monsoon season, there were 357 people who arrived on five boats in the first 23 days of January last year.
The population on Christmas Island yesterday was 1909 people, the first time it has been under 2000 people since February last year when monthly reports began and the total was 1224 people.
In March last year, the total rose to 2251 detainees and had stayed above 2000 since.
Piers Akerman
The Daily Telegraph
January 24,2014
FORCED to face the collapse of their repeated pre-election prediction that the Coalition's border protection policy would be unworkable, the ABC and Fairfax are now doing their utmost to undermine the national effort.
In many countries the activities of these media outlets would be regarded as traitorous.
In 1946 William Joyce, known to the world as Lord Haw-Haw, was executed for treason after spending the war years broadcasting propaganda from Berlin on behalf of his Nazi hosts.
The actions of the ABC this week, notably through its ill-gotten Australia Network, which broadcasts into Indonesia, rival Joyce's disgraceful deeds.
How the ABC and its Fairfax supporters can believe that reporting allegations of accusations of torture by Australian service personnel without a shred of corroborating evidence is in line with sound journalistic practice and principle is beyond belief.
Before the election, both media outlets noisily protested that the Coalition's plan to stop the boats would fail. In the face of the indisputable success of Operation Sovereign Borders, both have been forced to recalibrate their politicised campaign of attack on the Coalition.
Producing an asylum seeker with a burnt finger or two hardly constitutes evidence of torture on the high seas.
Not surprisingly, the ABC and Fairfax are clamouring for an inquiry. So, too, are the people-smugglers - because an inquiry would tie up the naval resources that are damaging their businesses.
The ABC constantly claims Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has imposed a blanket of secrecy over the anti-people-smuggling operation. Secrecy was a prerequisite of the military involved in the operation, as it would be in any military exercise.
The attempts to smear Morrison don't stop there. The ABC and Fairfax try to make him the scapegoat for every action taken by the Immigration Department, even when nothing more than due process is being followed, so intent are they on pursuing their own dubious political agendas.
Earlier this month the organisations prosecuted the cause of a homosexual man who was in Australia unlawfully.
They, and the Twitterati, claimed Morrison was somehow reluctant to act because the man was in a same-sex relationship.
They agitated for Morrison to ignore the process that applies to all individuals applying for protection visas, be they heterosexual or homosexual, and grant the man residency immediately - same-sex relationships take precedence in their alternate world.
Every day these organisations take up political cudgels in the hope of damaging the government.
Occasionally, the ABC's broadcasts generate a response from Indonesia and some minister is obliged to increase the rhetoric even though the political reality dictates the cessation of the people-smuggling trade would benefit both Indonesia and Australia.
Once the boats are stopped, the issue is dead and the countries can get on with more important issues beneficial to both.
But the ABC and Fairfax want to keep the issue alive and they ignore the international precedents for the Abbott government's actions.
Here is the mission statement from the US Coast Guard on illegal boat arrivals: "The Coast Guard conducts patrols and coordinates with other federal agencies and foreign countries to interdict undocumented migrants at sea, denying them entry via maritime routes to the United States, its territories and possessions.
"Thousands of people try to enter this country illegally every year using maritime routes, many via smuggling operations. Interdicting migrants at sea means they can be quickly returned to their countries of origin without the costly processes required if they successfully enter the United States.
"When successful, illegal immigration can potentially cost US taxpayers billions of dollars each year in social services. In addition to relieving this financial burden on our citizens, the Coast Guard's efforts help to support legal migration systems.
"Primarily, the Coast Guard maintains its humanitarian responsibility to prevent the loss of life at sea, since the majority of migrant vessels are dangerously overloaded, unseaworthy or unsafe."
It could just as easily describe the Abbott government policy.
People-smugglers, the ABC and Fairfax have a vested interest in keeping this issue alive in the hope there will be sufficient public outrage to bring about a review. Despite all the indignation, it isn't going to happen.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has given his full backing to the operation and expressed total support to the naval and customs officers on the frontline.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, he said: "These are just claims without any apparent facts to back them up. I fully support the statement of the minister on this subject and I have complete confidence in the decency, the humanity and the professionalism of Australia's navy and customs personnel, who I commend for a magnificent job - a job which is increasingly effective and successful.
"While I'm not saying this problem has been entirely resolved, the fact is we have gone many weeks now without a single boat arrival in Australia and the last time we had this kind of an outcome was back, from memory, in 2008.
"I think people making allegations should be able to produce some evidence. There is no evidence to back them up. Who do you believe? Do you believe Australian naval personnel or the people who are trying to break Australian law?
"I trust Australia's naval personnel."
FACTS That the Insurgents apologists and facilitators don't want you to know.
No boat in five weeks vindicates Prime Minister's tactics
Patrick Lion
The DailyTelegraph
Jamuary 24,2014
AUSTRALIA has not recorded an asylum seeker boat arrival in five weeks - the first time in five years there has been such a quiet stretch without more people filling detention centres.
The Abbott government last night said Australia was now back close to the "starting line" in its bid to eliminate "the border chaos" that had started under Kevin Rudd in early 2009 and continued under Julia Gillard.
The reduction comes as relations between Australia and Indonesia over asylum seekers soured further yesterday with our closest northern neighbour warning that Australia was "reachable" by its fighter planes.
The development comes as the population of asylum seekers at Christmas Island has also dropped below 2000 for the first time since February last year.
"We have our foot on the neck of the smugglers and we are not going to give them any relief," Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said. "We are going to keep applying the pressure."
The last boat arrival of asylum seekers was transferred to Australian authorities on December 19, a period of 35 days, or five weeks, without an arrival.
While the government has declined to comment about "on-water" incidents, citing operational reasons, Indonesian authorities have confirmed several boats have been turned or towed back in that time.
The federal government does not count them as arrivals requiring transfers because the people returned to Indonesia instead.
According to the government, the last time a similar period of no transfers occurred was between January and March of 2009 when the Rudd government started relaxing border protection measures.
Mr Morrison last night said he had increasing confidence his policy measures were working, even though he conceded there was more work to do.
He said over the first 100 days the Coalition had pushed down arrivals to about 300 a month - close to the level of the 2010 election - and had now wound back the arrival numbers to the early Rudd era.
"This takes us back close to the starting line on boat arrivals, with it being five years since there was such a period of time with no arrivals," Mr Morrison said.
"Between January and March of 2009 was the last time there has been a longer period with no arrivals. That was when things started to ramp up.
"We are repairing the damage - that means getting us back to what it was like before Rudd and Gillard's border chaos wreaked havoc."
Although the government is aware arrivals do slow during the monsoon season, there were 357 people who arrived on five boats in the first 23 days of January last year.
The population on Christmas Island yesterday was 1909 people, the first time it has been under 2000 people since February last year when monthly reports began and the total was 1224 people.
In March last year, the total rose to 2251 detainees and had stayed above 2000 since.
Racist Hooligans and Vandals desecrate Eight Kilometres of Botany Bay foreshore and Captain Cooks Cottage in Melbourne
Anti Australian Racist Vandals and Hooligans desecrate Captain James Cooks Cottage and 8 killometers of Botany Bay foreshore
Anti Australian Racist Vandals and Hooligans desecrate Captain James Cooks Cottage and 8 killometers of Botany Bay foreshore
Trail of racist graffiti from Brighton to Sans Souci dampens Oz Day weekend celebrations
Murray Trembath
The Leader
January 24, 2014,
A Rockdale Council contractor is working to remove a trail of racist graffiti scrawled overnight on walls and walkways along the beach front from Brighton-Le-Sands to Sans Souci.
The graffiti condemned Australia Day and ‘‘colonialism’’
Residents were sickened by the attack.
‘‘It is a disgusting thing to happen just before Australia Day,’’ said Roxy Wilson, of Brighton-Le-Sands.
Oleksandra Kaleichyk, of Monterey, who migrated from the Ukraine four years ago and has become an Australian citizen, said it was ‘‘disrespectful to the people of Australia’’.
‘‘It is very sad,’’ she said.
"I had tears in my eyes when I saw what had been done"
Contractor Sam Bennett removed graffiti quickly by painting with a chemical solution, then water blasting.
A similar Anti-Australia day graffiti attack took place overnight on the Melbourne historical landmark, Cooks’ Cottage, in Fitzroy Gardens.
Messages were sprayed on the building, which was once the home of Captain James Cook’s parents, located in Fitzroy Gardens.
Police were called to the cottage, which is 259 years old, just after 7.30am today.
Reports said vandals had filled light bulbs with paint to create makeshift paint bombs before hurling them at the walls and roof.
Fluro and black lights were used to emblazen anti-Australia Day slogans, which include a large scrawl calling January 26 ‘‘Australia’s shame’’
Why they HATE Captain James Cook and Australia.
Captain James Cook is one of the greatest maritime explorers of all time -- only the acclaimed fifteenth-century explorers, Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama, can stand with him. Bestselling author of FATAL STORM, BLIGH and FLINDERS, Rob Mundle explores the life and travels of James Cook in a major new biography for lovers of adventure and the romance of sail.
Over three remarkable voyages of discovery into the Pacific in the latter part of the eighteenth century, Cook unravelled the centuries-old mystery surrounding the existence of the great south land, Terra Australis Incognita; became the first explorer to circumnavigate New Zealand and prove it comprised two main islands; discovered the Hawaiian Islands; and much more. Cook was a man who pursued a teenager's dream that evolved from a chance encounter in a small seafront village on the east coast of England.
It was a dream that became a reality and transported him to legendary status among all who mapped the world, on land and sea. Through the combination of hard-won skills as a seafarer, the talents of a self-taught navigator and surveyor, and an exceptional ability to lead and care for his men, Cook contributed to changing the shape of the world map more than anyone else.
About the Author
Rob Mundle is the author of the highly acclaimed international bestseller Fatal Storm. He has written six other books, including the bestselling Sir James Hardy: An Adventurous Life, Alan Bond’s authorised biography,Bond, and Life at the Extreme, the official record of the 2005/2006 Volvo Ocean Race round the world. He lives in Main Beach, Queensland.
Anti-Australia Day vandals target Cooks' Cottage in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne
Tom Miner
Herald Sun
January 24,2013
SECURITY guards were scheduled to patrol Cooks' Cottage this weekend before anti-Australia Day activists vandalised the historic landmark last night.
The vandals sprayed inflammatory messages on the former home of Captain James Cook's parents, located in Fitzroy Gardens.
One said "26th Jan Australia's shame" while the other said "F@#$ Aus Day".
People walking through Fitzroy Gardens stopped to look at the graffiti this morning, with the building also sprayed with fluorescent green and orange paint.
A window was also broken in what Lord Mayor Robert Doyle described as a "senseless act of vandalism against one of the icons of our city".
He said "vandalism is not a legitimate form of protest" and the messages were an "act of disrespect" to Melbourne.
"It detracts from the message that those vandals were trying to get across in the first place," he said.
Cr Doyle said security guards were scheduled to patrol Cooks' Cottage throughout the Australia Day long weekend after previous acts of vandalism last year.
"Unfortunately these vandals got in advance of the security guards," he said.
The incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed last year and Cr Doyle said that footage would be "very helpful" to police.
Cooks' Cottage is scheduled to reopen to the public this afternoon but Cr Doyle said the clean-up bill for the historic heritage bluestone building would be costly.
Police arrived at the scene shortly before 8am to inspect the damage and Detective Sen-Constable Scott Gray said it was disappointing to see the anti-Australian messages.
At least two vandals were believed to have been involved in the attack and Det-Sen Constable Gray said they appeared to know where the CCTV cameras were located.
It was not clear what time the vandals had struck but a security guard passing through the area at 5am did not notice the graffiti.
A passer-by was believed to have contacted police this morning.
The cottage was erected at the site in 1934 after it was brought to Australia to commemorate Captain Cook's voyages.
About 100,000 people visit the landmark every year.
Murray Trembath
The Leader
January 24, 2014,
A Rockdale Council contractor is working to remove a trail of racist graffiti scrawled overnight on walls and walkways along the beach front from Brighton-Le-Sands to Sans Souci.
The graffiti condemned Australia Day and ‘‘colonialism’’
Residents were sickened by the attack.
‘‘It is a disgusting thing to happen just before Australia Day,’’ said Roxy Wilson, of Brighton-Le-Sands.
Oleksandra Kaleichyk, of Monterey, who migrated from the Ukraine four years ago and has become an Australian citizen, said it was ‘‘disrespectful to the people of Australia’’.
‘‘It is very sad,’’ she said.
"I had tears in my eyes when I saw what had been done"
Contractor Sam Bennett removed graffiti quickly by painting with a chemical solution, then water blasting.
A similar Anti-Australia day graffiti attack took place overnight on the Melbourne historical landmark, Cooks’ Cottage, in Fitzroy Gardens.
Messages were sprayed on the building, which was once the home of Captain James Cook’s parents, located in Fitzroy Gardens.
Police were called to the cottage, which is 259 years old, just after 7.30am today.
Reports said vandals had filled light bulbs with paint to create makeshift paint bombs before hurling them at the walls and roof.
Fluro and black lights were used to emblazen anti-Australia Day slogans, which include a large scrawl calling January 26 ‘‘Australia’s shame’’
Captain James Cook is one of the greatest maritime explorers of all time -- only the acclaimed fifteenth-century explorers, Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama, can stand with him. Bestselling author of FATAL STORM, BLIGH and FLINDERS, Rob Mundle explores the life and travels of James Cook in a major new biography for lovers of adventure and the romance of sail.
Over three remarkable voyages of discovery into the Pacific in the latter part of the eighteenth century, Cook unravelled the centuries-old mystery surrounding the existence of the great south land, Terra Australis Incognita; became the first explorer to circumnavigate New Zealand and prove it comprised two main islands; discovered the Hawaiian Islands; and much more. Cook was a man who pursued a teenager's dream that evolved from a chance encounter in a small seafront village on the east coast of England.
It was a dream that became a reality and transported him to legendary status among all who mapped the world, on land and sea. Through the combination of hard-won skills as a seafarer, the talents of a self-taught navigator and surveyor, and an exceptional ability to lead and care for his men, Cook contributed to changing the shape of the world map more than anyone else.
About the Author
Rob Mundle is the author of the highly acclaimed international bestseller Fatal Storm. He has written six other books, including the bestselling Sir James Hardy: An Adventurous Life, Alan Bond’s authorised biography,Bond, and Life at the Extreme, the official record of the 2005/2006 Volvo Ocean Race round the world. He lives in Main Beach, Queensland.
Anti-Australia Day vandals target Cooks' Cottage in Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne
Tom Miner
Herald Sun
January 24,2013
SECURITY guards were scheduled to patrol Cooks' Cottage this weekend before anti-Australia Day activists vandalised the historic landmark last night.
The vandals sprayed inflammatory messages on the former home of Captain James Cook's parents, located in Fitzroy Gardens.
One said "26th Jan Australia's shame" while the other said "F@#$ Aus Day".
People walking through Fitzroy Gardens stopped to look at the graffiti this morning, with the building also sprayed with fluorescent green and orange paint.
A window was also broken in what Lord Mayor Robert Doyle described as a "senseless act of vandalism against one of the icons of our city".
He said "vandalism is not a legitimate form of protest" and the messages were an "act of disrespect" to Melbourne.
"It detracts from the message that those vandals were trying to get across in the first place," he said.
Cr Doyle said security guards were scheduled to patrol Cooks' Cottage throughout the Australia Day long weekend after previous acts of vandalism last year.
"Unfortunately these vandals got in advance of the security guards," he said.
The incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed last year and Cr Doyle said that footage would be "very helpful" to police.
Cooks' Cottage is scheduled to reopen to the public this afternoon but Cr Doyle said the clean-up bill for the historic heritage bluestone building would be costly.
Police arrived at the scene shortly before 8am to inspect the damage and Detective Sen-Constable Scott Gray said it was disappointing to see the anti-Australian messages.
At least two vandals were believed to have been involved in the attack and Det-Sen Constable Gray said they appeared to know where the CCTV cameras were located.
It was not clear what time the vandals had struck but a security guard passing through the area at 5am did not notice the graffiti.
A passer-by was believed to have contacted police this morning.
The cottage was erected at the site in 1934 after it was brought to Australia to commemorate Captain Cook's voyages.
About 100,000 people visit the landmark every year.
Inside the mind of the SAVAGE
Thursday, January 23, 2014
US, German and Russian backed INDONESIA has beefed up its military presence in waters off its southern border as military officials claim its air force is ready and that Australia is "reachabale"
Claims Australia is 'reachable' by Indonesia's air force as border stoush hits new lows
Patrick Lion
The Daily Telegraph
January 23,2014
INDONESIA has beefed up its military presence in waters off its southern border as military officials claim its air force is ready and that Australia is "reachabale" if there are any more border violations.
Indonesian military officials have today told the Jakarta Post its Navy warships, including frigates, fast torpedo craft and corvettes as well as maritime patrol aircraft, have been deployed to waters off its southern border.
Four Air Force defence radars have also been programmed to closely monitor the area.
"We are watching four radars in Timika, Merauke (in Papua), Saumlaki (Maluku) and Buraen (East Nusa Tenggara), which all face Australia," Air Force chief spokesman Air Commodore Hadi Tjahjanto told The Jakarta Post.
If we notice any border violations, our air base in Makassar will be ready. Australia is reachable from there."
The Post said the base referred to was the Sultan Hasanuddin Air Force Base in the South Sulawesi provincial capital, home the 11th squadron of 16 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-27/30 Flankers.
The newspaper said the flankers have a maximum range of some 3,000 kilometers. The sea border lies some 1,000 km from Makassar. At Mach 1, or the speed of sound, the Flankers would reach the border in little over an hour.
Comment is being sought from Prime Minister Tony Abbott's office and the Australian Defence Force.
The developments come after Australia admitted last week it had accidentally breached Indonesia's sovereignty during asylum seeker missions in recent weeks.
Professor Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University told News.com.au: "Indonesia has always been pensive about its territorial integrity and Australia has played a role in that in the past."
"There's a sensitivity about that. If Indonesia did that to Australia we'd be very upset, if not more so," he said.
The Australian Government apologised to Indonesia after Navy vessels "inadvertently" breached Indonesia's territory "on several occasions" in recent weeks.
Australia's relationship with Indonesia has hit rocky waters recently, particularly because of the government's 'turn back the boats' policy and allegations from US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden that Australia spied on the country's president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his wife, Ani in 2009.
Professor Clive Williams, from Australian National University's Centre of Military and Security Law, hosed down concerns, saying it was just rhetoric that was good for Indonesia's politicians ahead of looming elections.
But he said Australia had blundered last week by admitting the sovereignty violations, which then demanded a response.
"It's probably good mileage for politicians in Indonesian to be extra nationalistic," he said.
"I would doubt whether they would follow through on that - it's very much for home consumption. The stupidity on our part was admitting we'd entered their waters. That was necessary on our part and has just created problems."
Patrick Lion
The Daily Telegraph
January 23,2014
- Military presence in southern waters has been increased
- Radar centres facing Australia are on alert
- Air Force base in Makassar makes our country 'reachable'
- Follows admission sovereign waters had been breached
INDONESIA has beefed up its military presence in waters off its southern border as military officials claim its air force is ready and that Australia is "reachabale" if there are any more border violations.
Indonesian military officials have today told the Jakarta Post its Navy warships, including frigates, fast torpedo craft and corvettes as well as maritime patrol aircraft, have been deployed to waters off its southern border.
Four Air Force defence radars have also been programmed to closely monitor the area.
"We are watching four radars in Timika, Merauke (in Papua), Saumlaki (Maluku) and Buraen (East Nusa Tenggara), which all face Australia," Air Force chief spokesman Air Commodore Hadi Tjahjanto told The Jakarta Post.
USA Germany Russia supply Tanks F16's, Apache attack helicopters and Submarines to Indonesia as Indonesia continues to demand Australia cease defending its borders from Indonesian based Insurgents / asylum seekers
If we notice any border violations, our air base in Makassar will be ready. Australia is reachable from there."
The Post said the base referred to was the Sultan Hasanuddin Air Force Base in the South Sulawesi provincial capital, home the 11th squadron of 16 Russian-made Sukhoi Su-27/30 Flankers.
The newspaper said the flankers have a maximum range of some 3,000 kilometers. The sea border lies some 1,000 km from Makassar. At Mach 1, or the speed of sound, the Flankers would reach the border in little over an hour.
Comment is being sought from Prime Minister Tony Abbott's office and the Australian Defence Force.
The developments come after Australia admitted last week it had accidentally breached Indonesia's sovereignty during asylum seeker missions in recent weeks.
Professor Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University told News.com.au: "Indonesia has always been pensive about its territorial integrity and Australia has played a role in that in the past."
"There's a sensitivity about that. If Indonesia did that to Australia we'd be very upset, if not more so," he said.
The Australian Government apologised to Indonesia after Navy vessels "inadvertently" breached Indonesia's territory "on several occasions" in recent weeks.
Australia's relationship with Indonesia has hit rocky waters recently, particularly because of the government's 'turn back the boats' policy and allegations from US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden that Australia spied on the country's president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his wife, Ani in 2009.
Professor Clive Williams, from Australian National University's Centre of Military and Security Law, hosed down concerns, saying it was just rhetoric that was good for Indonesia's politicians ahead of looming elections.
But he said Australia had blundered last week by admitting the sovereignty violations, which then demanded a response.
"It's probably good mileage for politicians in Indonesian to be extra nationalistic," he said.
"I would doubt whether they would follow through on that - it's very much for home consumption. The stupidity on our part was admitting we'd entered their waters. That was necessary on our part and has just created problems."
USA Germany Russia supply Tanks F16's, Apache attack helicopters and Submarines to Indonesia as Indonesia continues to demand Australia cease defending its borders from Indonesian based Insurgents / asylum seekers
USA,Barack Husseine Obama & Germany supply 30 F-16 fighters,a dozen Apache attack helicopters and 103 Leopard battle tanks while Russia supplies 12 Submarines armed with cruise missiles.
I have to wonder who's side those 1700 US Marines recently stationed on Australian soil in Darwin will be on when Indonesia starts pushing buttons.
It could well be they are part of an Obama Muslim Brother Hood sabotage /advanced scout force,designed to pave the way for an Indonesian invasion.
Sydney's Occupied Territories should make for interesting viewing as the already embedded Jihadi's mobilise;
Indonesia boosts military presence near Australia and ramps up efforts to increase its firepower
News
January 23, 2014
INDONESIA has boosted its military presence near Australia and ramped up a push to increase the firepower of its armed forces, according to a report.
It comes at a time of growing turmoil in Australia's relationship with Indonesia after revelations last week Australian Navy vessels breached Indonesia's territorial waters while enforcing the Coalition's asylum seeker policy.
As The Jakarta Post reports, Indonesia is greatly expanding its Marine Corps.
The nation is reportedly awaiting the delivery of 30 F-16 fighters, a dozen Apache attack helicopters and 103 Leopard battle tanks from the US and Germany, and is purchasing a dozen Russian submarines armed with cruise missiles.
The country has warned it will deploy navy vessels to patrol its coast after the Australian incursion last week. The nation's Air Force has also programmed four radars to monitor the country's southern border.
She said the military should strengthen its "outward-looking" approach due to signs of escalating threats. The Post also quoted an anonymous official who said a clash at sea could be "imminent".
"Now that we have three frigates on the border, a clash could be imminent as our Navy will prevent the towing back," the official said.
One expert told news.com.au the military upgrade was a response to fears about Australia, which is "front and centre" in the country's mind at the moment, as well as concerns about other neighbours and growing powers such as India and China.
Professor Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University said: "Indonesia has always been pensive about its territorial integrity and Australia has played a role in that in the past."
"There's a sensitivity about that. If Indonesia did that to Australia we'd be very upset, if not more so," he said.
The Australian Government apologised to Indonesia after Navy vessels "inadvertently" breached Indonesia's territory "on several occasions" in recent weeks.
Australia's relationship with Indonesia has hit rocky waters recently, particularly because of the government's 'turn back the boats' policy and allegations from US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden that Australia spied on the country's president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his wife, Ani in 2009.
Prof Kingsbury said the Government had handled the spying issue "very poorly". "We needed to apologise and we needed to do it quickly and we didn't," he told news.com.au.
At a media interview at the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said she works very closely with her Indonesian equivalent, Dr Marty Natalegawa.
"We're in regular communication, we are working together for the shared purpose of ensuring the people smuggling trade is dismantled but also that the Australia-Indonesia relationship is strengthened."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said at a press conference this afternoon that Tony Abbott's policies were causing tension with Indonesia.
"Our relationship with Indonesia is important. Clearly Abbott policies are causing real friction with Indonesia.
I have to wonder who's side those 1700 US Marines recently stationed on Australian soil in Darwin will be on when Indonesia starts pushing buttons.
It could well be they are part of an Obama Muslim Brother Hood sabotage /advanced scout force,designed to pave the way for an Indonesian invasion.
Sydney's Occupied Territories should make for interesting viewing as the already embedded Jihadi's mobilise;
------------------------------------------------------------------
Indonesia boosts military presence near Australia and ramps up efforts to increase its firepower
News
January 23, 2014
INDONESIA has boosted its military presence near Australia and ramped up a push to increase the firepower of its armed forces, according to a report.
It comes at a time of growing turmoil in Australia's relationship with Indonesia after revelations last week Australian Navy vessels breached Indonesia's territorial waters while enforcing the Coalition's asylum seeker policy.
As The Jakarta Post reports, Indonesia is greatly expanding its Marine Corps.
The nation is reportedly awaiting the delivery of 30 F-16 fighters, a dozen Apache attack helicopters and 103 Leopard battle tanks from the US and Germany, and is purchasing a dozen Russian submarines armed with cruise missiles.
The country has warned it will deploy navy vessels to patrol its coast after the Australian incursion last week. The nation's Air Force has also programmed four radars to monitor the country's southern border.
"Now that we have three frigates on the border, a clash could be imminent as our Navy will prevent the towing back," the official said.
One expert told news.com.au the military upgrade was a response to fears about Australia, which is "front and centre" in the country's mind at the moment, as well as concerns about other neighbours and growing powers such as India and China.
Professor Damien Kingsbury from Deakin University said: "Indonesia has always been pensive about its territorial integrity and Australia has played a role in that in the past."
"There's a sensitivity about that. If Indonesia did that to Australia we'd be very upset, if not more so," he said.
The Australian Government apologised to Indonesia after Navy vessels "inadvertently" breached Indonesia's territory "on several occasions" in recent weeks.
Australia's relationship with Indonesia has hit rocky waters recently, particularly because of the government's 'turn back the boats' policy and allegations from US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden that Australia spied on the country's president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and his wife, Ani in 2009.
Prof Kingsbury said the Government had handled the spying issue "very poorly". "We needed to apologise and we needed to do it quickly and we didn't," he told news.com.au.
At a media interview at the weekend, Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop said she works very closely with her Indonesian equivalent, Dr Marty Natalegawa.
"We're in regular communication, we are working together for the shared purpose of ensuring the people smuggling trade is dismantled but also that the Australia-Indonesia relationship is strengthened."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said at a press conference this afternoon that Tony Abbott's policies were causing tension with Indonesia.
"Our relationship with Indonesia is important. Clearly Abbott policies are causing real friction with Indonesia.
Organized Crime Australia : Union to fund Bikie Gangs High Court Challenge against anti gang laws
Australian Labor Party Fundraisers and Bag Men,now what will the Unions and the ALP ask for in return for this magnanimous gesture ?
Unions fund bikies High Court challenge against the Newman Government's anti-gang laws
Josh Robertson
Courier Mail
January 21,2014
THE Queensland premier says union members will be upset to learn their money is being used to bankroll a court challenge against his anti-bikie laws.
The Maritime Union of Australia and a group aligning itself with the Electrical Trades Union have given $5000 and $10,000 to the United Motorcycle Council's fighting fund, The Courier-Mail reports.
MUA state secretary Mick Carr told the paper the donation was made to help bring down laws that are not restricted to bikies.
Premier Campbell Newman said union members would be rightly upset by the revelation.
"I think many hard working union members would be unhappy about their money being used to bankroll criminals,'' he wrote on Twitter.
Acting Attorney-General David Crisafulli has also attacked the move.
"While the unions support criminal gangs, we'll continue to stand up for innocent Queenslanders who have had enough of these gangs and the huge list of crimes they commit,'' Mr Crisafulli told the news paper.
The UMC has announced it will launch a High Court challenge to the bikie laws.
The Queensland Council of Unions is also considering it's own action against the laws, saying they infringe on the work rights of members linked to bikie gangs.
The bikie laws include additional jail terms for gang members who are convicted of serious crimes, and also restrict their ability to gather in public.
They also ban people with gang links from working in certain industries.
Opposition Leader Annastascia Palaszczuk said it was up to unions to decide how they spent their money and whether or not they wanted to help challenge the laws.
"That's a matter for that union but people have a right to appeal, they have a right to challenge," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We live in a democracy, we live in a place where if you don't like a particular law you have right to challenge it."
Ms Palaszczuk said the ETU also had a right to challenge laws aimed at weeding bikies out of the construction industry.
"What the union is concerned about is the impact of these laws on hard working tradesman, electricians, tradesman right across Queensland," she said.
"These are the people being targeted for no apparent reason."
Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported unions are helping bankroll the bikies' High Court fight against a common foe - the Newman Government and its anti-gang laws.
The Maritime Union of Australia and a group aligning itself with the Electrical Trades Union have donated thousands of dollars to the United Motorcycle Council fighting fund.
The MUA, which gave $5000, and a group calling itself the "ETU Boys", which gave $10,000, are among prominent donors to a UMC war chest currently swelling by about $100,000 a month.
The national arm of the Bandidos has also been forced to give $35,000 by other clubs who blamed its members for provoking the war on bikie gangs.
The Queensland Council of Unions will today consider separate legal action against laws which it considers may infringe the work rights of members linked to bikie gangs.
The ETU has already flagged its own High Court challenge of the "disgraceful" laws on behalf of members who face being stripped of trade licences despite quitting clubs.
Australian Crime Commission task force seizes $500m in drugs, cash as investigators focus on motorcycle gangs, people smugglers
Unions fund bikies High Court challenge against the Newman Government's anti-gang laws
Josh Robertson
Courier Mail
January 21,2014
THE Queensland premier says union members will be upset to learn their money is being used to bankroll a court challenge against his anti-bikie laws.
The Maritime Union of Australia and a group aligning itself with the Electrical Trades Union have given $5000 and $10,000 to the United Motorcycle Council's fighting fund, The Courier-Mail reports.
MUA state secretary Mick Carr told the paper the donation was made to help bring down laws that are not restricted to bikies.
Premier Campbell Newman said union members would be rightly upset by the revelation.
"I think many hard working union members would be unhappy about their money being used to bankroll criminals,'' he wrote on Twitter.
Acting Attorney-General David Crisafulli has also attacked the move.
"While the unions support criminal gangs, we'll continue to stand up for innocent Queenslanders who have had enough of these gangs and the huge list of crimes they commit,'' Mr Crisafulli told the news paper.
The UMC has announced it will launch a High Court challenge to the bikie laws.
The Queensland Council of Unions is also considering it's own action against the laws, saying they infringe on the work rights of members linked to bikie gangs.
The bikie laws include additional jail terms for gang members who are convicted of serious crimes, and also restrict their ability to gather in public.
They also ban people with gang links from working in certain industries.
Opposition Leader Annastascia Palaszczuk said it was up to unions to decide how they spent their money and whether or not they wanted to help challenge the laws.
"That's a matter for that union but people have a right to appeal, they have a right to challenge," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We live in a democracy, we live in a place where if you don't like a particular law you have right to challenge it."
Ms Palaszczuk said the ETU also had a right to challenge laws aimed at weeding bikies out of the construction industry.
"What the union is concerned about is the impact of these laws on hard working tradesman, electricians, tradesman right across Queensland," she said.
"These are the people being targeted for no apparent reason."
Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported unions are helping bankroll the bikies' High Court fight against a common foe - the Newman Government and its anti-gang laws.
The Maritime Union of Australia and a group aligning itself with the Electrical Trades Union have donated thousands of dollars to the United Motorcycle Council fighting fund.
The MUA, which gave $5000, and a group calling itself the "ETU Boys", which gave $10,000, are among prominent donors to a UMC war chest currently swelling by about $100,000 a month.
The national arm of the Bandidos has also been forced to give $35,000 by other clubs who blamed its members for provoking the war on bikie gangs.
The Queensland Council of Unions will today consider separate legal action against laws which it considers may infringe the work rights of members linked to bikie gangs.
The ETU has already flagged its own High Court challenge of the "disgraceful" laws on behalf of members who face being stripped of trade licences despite quitting clubs.
Australian Crime Commission task force seizes $500m in drugs, cash as investigators focus on motorcycle gangs, people smugglers
Australian Crime Commission taskforce seizes $500m in drugs, cash as investigators focus on motorcycle gangs, people smugglers
ABC
By Sarah Dingle
January 23,2014
The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) is claiming a major victory in its fight against organised crime, with a special covert taskforce seizing more than $500 million in drugs and cash in the last year.
The commission's anti-money laundering taskforce, which is focused on tracking the proceeds of crime, has led investigators to clandestine drug labs within Australia and criminal activities overseas.
ACC's acting chief executive Paul Jevtovic says the key to following the money was working out how it was being moved offshore through alternative remitters - agents outside the formal banking system who offer cash transferral services.
"They need to move their profits in safe havens where they can then line their pockets, or in turn, use that profit to continue the crimes that they're perpetuating again civilians here in Australia," he said.
Mr Jevtovic estimates organised crime costs the Australian economy at least $15 billion every year.
He said criminal profits are primarily derived from drug importation which the commission worked with state and federal investigators, and international partners like the US Drug Enforcement Agency, to crack down on.
"Drug importations into Australia continue to be the main profit source by organised crime here in this country, but there is a range of other things, serious organised investment frauds, identity theft," he said.
"Over the last 12 months the covert aspects of that operation, which are ongoing, has seized more than $580 million in drugs and assets, including $26 million in cash.
"In the last week, we have had a single cash seizure of $6 million."
People smugglers, motorcycle gangs monitored by investigators
Mr Jevtovic said a "very complex global network" of more than 20 countries were involved in the movement of money in and out of Australia.
"We're not going to go into detail about the specific countries, but the reality is that the Middle East and south-east Asia have featured prominently," he said.
"There's no doubt, and we've confirmed, bikie gangs operating in Australia and elsewhere in the world are involved. There's clearly drug cartels, people smuggling networks.
"We've allowed the money to take us to the crime types. There've been, for example, something like 128 targets that were previously unknown to law enforcement identified. There have been 105 people arrested on some 190 charges."
Mr Jevtovic said people smuggling operations and outlaw motorcycle gangs are a focus of investigations but he declined to say whether any bikie associates have been implicated.
"I don't want to confirm that, but it would be fair to say that outlaw motorcycle gangs have been the subject of our investigations and will continue to be," he said.
"Money has been paid to people to facilitate the commission of people smuggling, and it is the movement of those funds we will continue to focus on."
The ACC is also monitoring the use of rising international digital currency, bitcoin, but would not confirm whether it is a preferred method of money laundering by organised crime.
ABC
By Sarah Dingle
January 23,2014
The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) is claiming a major victory in its fight against organised crime, with a special covert taskforce seizing more than $500 million in drugs and cash in the last year.
The commission's anti-money laundering taskforce, which is focused on tracking the proceeds of crime, has led investigators to clandestine drug labs within Australia and criminal activities overseas.
ACC's acting chief executive Paul Jevtovic says the key to following the money was working out how it was being moved offshore through alternative remitters - agents outside the formal banking system who offer cash transferral services.
"They need to move their profits in safe havens where they can then line their pockets, or in turn, use that profit to continue the crimes that they're perpetuating again civilians here in Australia," he said.
Mr Jevtovic estimates organised crime costs the Australian economy at least $15 billion every year.
He said criminal profits are primarily derived from drug importation which the commission worked with state and federal investigators, and international partners like the US Drug Enforcement Agency, to crack down on.
"Drug importations into Australia continue to be the main profit source by organised crime here in this country, but there is a range of other things, serious organised investment frauds, identity theft," he said.
"Over the last 12 months the covert aspects of that operation, which are ongoing, has seized more than $580 million in drugs and assets, including $26 million in cash.
"In the last week, we have had a single cash seizure of $6 million."
People smugglers, motorcycle gangs monitored by investigators
Mr Jevtovic said a "very complex global network" of more than 20 countries were involved in the movement of money in and out of Australia.
"We're not going to go into detail about the specific countries, but the reality is that the Middle East and south-east Asia have featured prominently," he said.
"There's no doubt, and we've confirmed, bikie gangs operating in Australia and elsewhere in the world are involved. There's clearly drug cartels, people smuggling networks.
"We've allowed the money to take us to the crime types. There've been, for example, something like 128 targets that were previously unknown to law enforcement identified. There have been 105 people arrested on some 190 charges."
Mr Jevtovic said people smuggling operations and outlaw motorcycle gangs are a focus of investigations but he declined to say whether any bikie associates have been implicated.
"I don't want to confirm that, but it would be fair to say that outlaw motorcycle gangs have been the subject of our investigations and will continue to be," he said.
"Money has been paid to people to facilitate the commission of people smuggling, and it is the movement of those funds we will continue to focus on."
The ACC is also monitoring the use of rising international digital currency, bitcoin, but would not confirm whether it is a preferred method of money laundering by organised crime.
Sydney's Multicultural Sociopath's Inc. attack TV News reporter
Seven reporter headbutted in Sydney
Ninemsn
A television reporter was injured when he was headbutted requesting a doorstop interview in Sydney's west.
Seven reporter Hugh Whitfeld was "bleeding pretty badly" after he was attacked at a home in Edensor Park, sources at the network say.
Whitfeld was one of several journalists on the street this morning after an accident had taken place just after midnight.
A young man was hospitalised after the car he was driving smashed into the bedroom of a house on the road.
Whitfeld, along with Nine reporter Laura Tunstall, was waiting for residents in the home to wake up before they were to knock on the door.
At 8.30am this morning a group of reporters went to the house in the hopes of speaking someone living in the house.
Ninemsn
A television reporter was injured when he was headbutted requesting a doorstop interview in Sydney's west.
Seven reporter Hugh Whitfeld was "bleeding pretty badly" after he was attacked at a home in Edensor Park, sources at the network say.
Whitfeld was one of several journalists on the street this morning after an accident had taken place just after midnight.
A young man was hospitalised after the car he was driving smashed into the bedroom of a house on the road.
Whitfeld, along with Nine reporter Laura Tunstall, was waiting for residents in the home to wake up before they were to knock on the door.
At 8.30am this morning a group of reporters went to the house in the hopes of speaking someone living in the house.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison speaks with Ben Fordham about the allegations of torture by Insurgents and THEIR ABC by the Royal Australian Navy
Liam Fitzgerald
The Daily Telegraph
January 22,2014
PRIME Minister Tony Abbott says there is "absolutely no evidence" to back up claims Australian sailors mistreated asylum seekers during a boat tow-back operation.
Indonesian police are investigating after the ABC aired footage of asylum seekers receiving medical treatment for burns they allege were inflicted when they were forced to hold onto hot engine pipes during a boat tow-back operation to Rote Island.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison denied the allegations on Wednesday, saying people smugglers had reason to fabricate them to undermine Australia's border protection policies, and his comments were backed up by Mr Abbott in Switzerland.
"There's absolutely no evidence for them," said Mr Abbott, in Davos for the World Economic Forum.
"These are just claims without any apparent facts to back them up.
"I fully support the statement of the minister on this subject and I have complete confidence in the decency, the humanity and the professionalism of Australia's naval and customs personnel, who I commend for a magnificent job. A job which is increasingly effective and successful."
Asked if the aired footage constituted as evidence, Mr Abbott said: "Who do you believe?
"Do you believe Australian naval personnel or do you believe people who were attempting to break Australian law? I believe Australian naval personnel."
Okto George Riwu, a spokesman for Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara provincial police, said earlier officers were looking into the allegations but did not yet have evidence to back up the allegations.
Mr Abbott said the claims would not impact upon Australia's longstanding policy of turning back asylum-seeker boats "when it's safe to do so".
The prime minister's comments came after he moved to ease tensions with Indonesia on Tuesday by declaring it was Australia's "most important single relationship".
However, in the wake of the naval infringement controversy, Mr Abbott said Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must understand border control was a matter of sovereignty for Australia.
Australian Customs and Defence have started a review into the entry of Australian vessels into Indonesian waters after the incursions reignited tensions between the nations.
Skaf Rape Gang Victims will never forgive
We can't forget and we'll never forgive - Skaf rape victims ten years on
This story was published
4 YEARS AGO JULY 03, 2010
SALLY Sharp* does not mince her words. Ten years after a group of 14 young males gang raped her in a horrific six-hour ordeal she still wishes they were dead.
"I just wish they were all dead, run over by a bus," she says.
But these days she can't be bothered wasting her energy thinking too much about them. Life has moved on, she is happy and positive, she has a great job which she loves, she has relationships and a wonderfully supportive family
Sally, now 29, was one of at least six victims who fell prey to the evil gang of Bilal Skaf, which terrorised western Sydney in August of the year 2000, gang raping young women in what turned out to be racist attacks.
Their victims were lured from trains, shopping centres and public places. The attacks were calculated and well planned and involved up to 14 males, aged 13 to 18 years, all of Lebanese origin. As well as being raped, Sally was subjected to racist taunts, she was called an "Aussie pig", told she was going to get it "Leb style" and asked if "Leb c*** tasted better than Aussie c***".
It has been a long road to recovery for the victims but most of them have triumphed. Of the 11 young men convicted of attacking them, all but one remain in jail. One was released on parole three years ago and another, who was released on parole in May last year, had his parole revoked in March after failing drug tests.
But, for the victims, life is best lived without giving any of the men much thought. Some would prefer not to talk about it at all. At least two are now married with young children. One of them, who spent several years living overseas, says that era has now been erased from her life and she has so much to look forward to with her family and children that she does not look backwards.
Others say they have emerged winners and one, who also has children now, has even forgiven her attackers.
Sally will never do that. She says there is "no way" she would ever forgive any of the 14 who defiled her on the evening of August 30, 2000. She is not one of those capable of such extraordinary forgiveness.
But she doesn't need to be. After an ordeal through the courts which dragged on for seven years and which saw two of her alleged attackers granted retrials and one ultimately found not guilty, she has emerged stronger and more determined.
It wasn't an easy road to travel. The ongoing court cases badly affected her study, she was scared to go out and she was locking herself away in the house.
She remembers the exact moment when she decided that the men who raped her would not break her spirit. It was the day she was meant to go back to court to give evidence in the retrial of one of her alleged attackers.
She did not want to do it. She had been in court several times and it had been a harrowing experience. She didn't want to go back there. It was too draining, emotionally and physically.
"That was seven years after it [the attacks]. It was enough. That was exactly the moment I decided I wasn't going back," Sally says.
"It seemed like every time I got myself to a place where I wanted to do something with the rest of my life, this [court] would come back and kick me up the bum and I would dwell on it."
Sally says that half of her is glad she went to police and to court, the other half wonders if it was worth it.
The court system, she says, is "riddled with flaws". Her advice for rape victims is to do what they think is right and not to let other people talk them into going to court.
Another victim, Debbie Greenwood*, is now 28.
She is satisfied with the court and criminal justice system response to her case and she would do it all over again if she had to in order to ensure her rapists got what they deserved.
Debbie now has a long-term relationship and a stable job and says she tries not to think about that night too often. She now exercises caution when she goes out at night and says she only goes out with her boyfriend to ensure that she is safe.
"Before it happened I used to think no one would ever attack me. Clearly when it happened I thought I was going to die that night . . . that I wasn't as invincible as I thought," she remembers.
"Pretty much for me I feel that justice is served in my case anyway. I think they got what they deserved for the crimes they committed against me. I'd do it all again. I'd go back [to court] as many times as I had to, I'd go back time and time again."
Sally remains tough and determined. She now has a job which she loves and she is able to catch a train again. Sally was lured from a train to her fate and for a long time found it difficult to get on a train.
But she is pragmatic. She has to get to work and get around somehow. Besides, avoiding trains would mean her attackers had won.
And she doesn't think about the attack as often. Once, she would think about it all the time, every day. Now it's less frequent, as are the flashbacks and nightmares. She has conquered her own devils and is proud of it.
* Names changed to protect the identities of victims
This story was published
4 YEARS AGO JULY 03, 2010
SALLY Sharp* does not mince her words. Ten years after a group of 14 young males gang raped her in a horrific six-hour ordeal she still wishes they were dead.
"I just wish they were all dead, run over by a bus," she says.
But these days she can't be bothered wasting her energy thinking too much about them. Life has moved on, she is happy and positive, she has a great job which she loves, she has relationships and a wonderfully supportive family
Remember When: Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen,The woman who fought back for the victims.
Sydney's Occupied Territories Bilal Skaf Gang Rapist member known as "H" to be released on Parole... NOT LONG ENOUGH!!! Deport the Prick
Sally, now 29, was one of at least six victims who fell prey to the evil gang of Bilal Skaf, which terrorised western Sydney in August of the year 2000, gang raping young women in what turned out to be racist attacks.
Their victims were lured from trains, shopping centres and public places. The attacks were calculated and well planned and involved up to 14 males, aged 13 to 18 years, all of Lebanese origin. As well as being raped, Sally was subjected to racist taunts, she was called an "Aussie pig", told she was going to get it "Leb style" and asked if "Leb c*** tasted better than Aussie c***".
It has been a long road to recovery for the victims but most of them have triumphed. Of the 11 young men convicted of attacking them, all but one remain in jail. One was released on parole three years ago and another, who was released on parole in May last year, had his parole revoked in March after failing drug tests.
But, for the victims, life is best lived without giving any of the men much thought. Some would prefer not to talk about it at all. At least two are now married with young children. One of them, who spent several years living overseas, says that era has now been erased from her life and she has so much to look forward to with her family and children that she does not look backwards.
Others say they have emerged winners and one, who also has children now, has even forgiven her attackers.
Sally will never do that. She says there is "no way" she would ever forgive any of the 14 who defiled her on the evening of August 30, 2000. She is not one of those capable of such extraordinary forgiveness.
But she doesn't need to be. After an ordeal through the courts which dragged on for seven years and which saw two of her alleged attackers granted retrials and one ultimately found not guilty, she has emerged stronger and more determined.
It wasn't an easy road to travel. The ongoing court cases badly affected her study, she was scared to go out and she was locking herself away in the house.
She remembers the exact moment when she decided that the men who raped her would not break her spirit. It was the day she was meant to go back to court to give evidence in the retrial of one of her alleged attackers.
She did not want to do it. She had been in court several times and it had been a harrowing experience. She didn't want to go back there. It was too draining, emotionally and physically.
"That was seven years after it [the attacks]. It was enough. That was exactly the moment I decided I wasn't going back," Sally says.
"It seemed like every time I got myself to a place where I wanted to do something with the rest of my life, this [court] would come back and kick me up the bum and I would dwell on it."
Sally says that half of her is glad she went to police and to court, the other half wonders if it was worth it.
The court system, she says, is "riddled with flaws". Her advice for rape victims is to do what they think is right and not to let other people talk them into going to court.
Another victim, Debbie Greenwood*, is now 28.
She is satisfied with the court and criminal justice system response to her case and she would do it all over again if she had to in order to ensure her rapists got what they deserved.
Debbie now has a long-term relationship and a stable job and says she tries not to think about that night too often. She now exercises caution when she goes out at night and says she only goes out with her boyfriend to ensure that she is safe.
"Before it happened I used to think no one would ever attack me. Clearly when it happened I thought I was going to die that night . . . that I wasn't as invincible as I thought," she remembers.
"Pretty much for me I feel that justice is served in my case anyway. I think they got what they deserved for the crimes they committed against me. I'd do it all again. I'd go back [to court] as many times as I had to, I'd go back time and time again."
Sally remains tough and determined. She now has a job which she loves and she is able to catch a train again. Sally was lured from a train to her fate and for a long time found it difficult to get on a train.
But she is pragmatic. She has to get to work and get around somehow. Besides, avoiding trains would mean her attackers had won.
And she doesn't think about the attack as often. Once, she would think about it all the time, every day. Now it's less frequent, as are the flashbacks and nightmares. She has conquered her own devils and is proud of it.
* Names changed to protect the identities of victims
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)