Ben Courtice, Melbourne

Two days after the October 1 terrorist bombing in Bali, 70 people protested outside the Victorian Supreme Court against the government’s new terror laws, and in support of the democratic rights of terrorism suspect Jack Thomas.

Brian Walters from Liberty Victoria told the rally, “Here we are after another crime in Bali and, terrible though terrorist crime is, it doesn’t threaten our way of life. Laws like the ones that we’re protesting about now do ... Those who think they can gain some security by giving up some freedom will have neither freedom nor security.”

Thomas will be the first person tried under Australia’s National Security Information Act. The trial is set to begin on November 2.

The group that organised the protest, Justice for Jack, maintains that the case against Thomas rests on evidence obtained inappropriately. Suggestions that the case might be heard in secret have raised these concerns to a new height.

Thomas’s brother Les told the protesters: “His lawyers have already been forced to undergo intrusive ASIO clearances and there’s a real possibility the process may be entirely closed to the public. How can we be confident that justice is done when court room proceedings can’t even be reported?

“They detained Scott Parkin without ever telling the public what he was supposed to have done. My brother faces 55 years’ jail and we think it is outrageous to suggest that the case against him might be heard in secret.”

Other speakers at the protest included Tim Doughney from the socialist youth organisation Resistance, Democrats Senator Lyn Allison and David Risstrom from the Greens. For more information, visit <http://www.justice4jack.org>.

From Green Left Weekly, October 12, 2005.
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