Muslims, not "Aussies".
-Bruce Dozens of Aussies with terror links 'Dozens' of Aussies with terror links Patrick Walters and Greg Roberts March 24, 2005 UP to 80 people in Australia have trained or had close links with terrorist groups, including al Qa'ida, but most will probably never face prosecution. ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson estimated yesterday that "probably less than 10 per cent" of those with links to al Qa'ida, Jemaah Islamiah and other terrorist groups would be charged with terrorism offences. This was because relevant laws in Australia dealing with terrorist offences only came into force in July 2002, together with the added difficulty of gathering sufficient evidence to meet legal standards. "I suspect it would be a similar story in most other countries," the nation's top spy said yesterday. Five people have faced or are facing legal proceedings in relation to Australian terrorism laws. Attorney-General Philip Ruddock told The Australian the Government knew precisely how many people had actively associated with terrorist groups but declined to give exact figures. Mr Ruddock said security agencies possessed the relevant powers to monitor persons of interest. "They can be applied under warrant to all Australians," he said. He said he had no plans to introduce any new counter-terrorism measures but stressed the Government's approach was a "work in progress". "We don't act in a precipitate way," Mr Ruddock said. Mr Richardson, addressing an international legal conference on the Gold Coast, said Australia should keep an open mind about the need to further develop and make changes to terrorism laws as new issues or challenges were identified. "Properly considered, balanced, tough laws are an essential component in the fight against terrorism," Mr Richardson said. "The notion that such laws constitute a victory for terrorists is a nonsense. Their victory lies in the death of innocent civilians; ours lies in its lawful prevention." Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, liberal democracies were more dependent on a range of other countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, taking action under more draconian laws which they, the liberal democracies, would have difficulty in enacting. "Would regional security interests have been best served by Hambali, Jemaah Islamiah's chief of operations, being taken into custody in Australia rather than Thailand?" he said. Mr Richardson said Australia's terrorism laws had been a response to real threats and to real attacks. "The threats have been given substance by at least one aborted, disrupted or actual attack in Australia or against our interests overseas in each of the five years between 2000 and 2004 inclusive," he said. By and large, countries had pursued legislative measures only after specific acts threats and attacks, Mr Richardson said. "Far from being quick to act, we have often been too slow, and counter-terrorism is not a game in which it pays to only act when you can see the whites of an eye." <http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12643891%5E27 02,00.html> http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12643891%5E270 2,00.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. Fund a student project in NYC/NC today! http://us.click.yahoo.com/EHLuJD/.WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? 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