My following book review appears in today’s Sydney Morning Herald: An insider reveals the tortuous history of Sri Lanka’s conflict. The United Nations recently released a report into war crimes committed in Sri Lanka in the final stages of that country’s brutal civil war between the Tamil Tigers and the Colombo regime that ended in…
Showing all posts tagged human rights
Hard evidence that most Australian parliamentarians know nothing about Palestine
Yesterday’s “debate” in the New South Wales parliament was about Palestine, Israel, Nazis, Jews, Nazis, human rights, BDS, Nazis, praising the Zionist lobby, Nazis, the Greens, Nazis, Hitler and the Nazis. Most politicians were more than happy to accuse BDS supporters of being Nazis and comparable to actions during Nazi Germany. Such comparisons are futile…
Mouthing platitudes over Palestine should not be default Greens position
Following last week’s clueless intervention of New South Wales Upper House Greens Jeremy Buckingham over the Middle East – what? me? Israel and Palestine is complex so I want to be hugged by both sides equally – today’s parliament saw the following: A fresh split has emerged within the New South Wales Greens over the…
“It’s a Jewish obligation to criticise state violence”
The subtle but noticeable shift in American, Jewish public opinion towards Israel and Palestine. Occupation matters. Human rights abuses noticed. Blind backing for Zionism is unimaginable. Bring it on: Initial Development Trailer: Some of My Best Friends Are Zionists from Open Letter Productions on Vimeo.
Serco doesn’t train staff properly yet calls itself fit and proper
Here’s why: The Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network released the statement below on September 13. * * * A detention centre worker has contacted the Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) and indicated that a SERCO security guard was in tears as a result of a directive from the Department of…
Sinhalese thug feels weight of investigation
Unlike in Australia, where the Federal government was more than happy to accept a Sri Lankan nominee for a top diplomat post despite serious allegations of war crimes against him, some other countries treat human rights with proper seriousness: The Sri Lankan government has recalled its second most senior diplomat to Switzerland and Germany in…
ABCTV News24 on climate change, Murdoch thuggery and asylum seekers
I appeared last night on ABCTV News24’s The Drum (video here). The Federal government is introducing its carbon tax legislation into the parliament and yet I argued it’s legitimate to ask why so many polluters are receiving such concessions. It’s an attempted political fix that hasn’t convinced many Australians. Simply put, many people are skeptical…
Just who are those blindly backing Israel and hating BDS in Australia?
This ain’t pretty. As the BDS movement grows in Australia – the hysteria in the corporate media and political elites suggest panic stations – it’s important to understand what those opposed to full Palestinian rights are arguing. Sydney journalist Kate Auburn attended a rally last weekend in Sydney and documented the following. Note the paranoia,…
Iraq tragedy explodes on Australian television
Now and then, on commercial TV, the brutal reality of our world erupts on the screen and reminds us of our real place and responsibility: