* please circulate widely *
The ASIO Legislation Amendment Bill is due to be considered by the Senate at
the next sitting on August 19, please distribute and sign the statement
below.
--
ALP must block the ASIO bill in the Senate
This is an urgent statement calling on the ALP to block the proposed new
powers for ASIO in the Senate.
The ASIO Legislation Amendment Bill 2002 will enable ASIO to detain innocent
people incommunicado without a right to a lawyer or contact with family and
friends.
To be detained, people need not be suspected of any crime only be someone
ASIO says has information regarding terrorism. This could include families
and friends, neighbors and colleagues, journalists or doctors who know of
someone ASIO says is terrorist.
People detained and interrogated will not have the right to silence or a
right against self-incrimination. Withholding information could lead to
imprisonment of up to five years.
Proposed amendments, such as the right to an ASIO approved lawyer and a
maximum detention period of one week, do not alter the fundamental
undemocratic character of the legislation which removes rights we have had
for hundreds of years.
No one should be detained or imprisoned, unless convicted or suspected of a
crime on reasonable grounds by a court.
--
Please add your name and return to [EMAIL PROTECTED] as soon as
possible. Deadline: Monday, August 12.
The statement will be issued to the media and public, with only your name
and organisation attached
[Name]
[Organisation]
[Email]
[Phone]
Damien Lawson
Western Suburbs Legal Service Inc.
30 Hall St, Newport 3015 VIC
03 9391 2244 (Tel)
03 9399 1686 (Fax)
0418 140 387 (Mobile)
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
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