We seem to be driven by fear and hate -- at least our fearless
leaders would like to have us think that way.
Roger
On 2 Aug 2007, at 7:17 PM, karl shah-jenner wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Eichhorn"
This might be of interest: http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?
sid=07/08/02/1455217
Also: http://www.pictureny.org/
All in the name of homeland security!
the second link I take it links to the first..
hmm. I don't like what is happening, the world over it seems.
The latest here is this little gem:
<http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/new-secret-search-powers/
2007/07/31/1185647903263.html?s_cid=rss_news> (watch the url wrap)
the guts of it is:
POLICE and security agencies will be given unprecedented "sneak and
peek" powers to search the homes and computers of suspects without
their knowledge under legislation to go before Federal Parliament
next week.
The extensive powers - which also give federal police the right to
monitor communications equipment without an interceptions
warrant .. Under the laws, officers from the federal police and
other agencies would be able to execute "delayed notification
warrants", allowing them to undertake searches, seize equipment and
plant listening devices in businesses and homes.
**Police and security officers will be able to assume false
identities to gain entry and conduct the surreptitious searches.**
But the person affected by the raid does not have to be informed
for at least six months, and can remain in the dark for 18 months
if the warrant is rolled over.
The warrant is to be issued by the head of a police service or
security agency without the approval of a judicial officer. It can
also be extended for more than 18 months with the sanction of the
minister.
The lack of judicial oversight was justified by the Minister for
Justice and Customs, David Johnston, on the grounds that a court or
judicial officer might leak news of the warrant.
..Moreover, the warrant can be issued for any offence that carries
a prison term of 10 years or more, despite a strong recommendation
from a bipartisan Senate committee earlier this year that it only
be used for investigations into terrorism, organised crime and
"offences involving death or serious injury with a maximum penalty
of life imprisonment".
..Federal police say they need the powers because current rules
mean suspects are tipped off that they are under investigation.
The bill also deals with "controlled operations" - undercover
operations where federal agents are permitted to undertake criminal
activity in order to further their investigations.Federal
authorities will have far greater scope to undertake such
operations and will no longer need approval from the Administrative
Appeals Tribunal.
The bill provides for immunity not only to the undercover police or
security officer involved but also civilian informants. For the
first time it also allows foreign police and intelligence agencies
to take part in undercover operations and to use false identities.
We have an 'inform on your neighbor' policy here now, we have laws
such that it can be deemed a criminal offence to *have* a camera,
we're now going to let the police lie, cheat and steal all under
the cover of anonymity and without scrutiny or oversight, our
population has been largely disarmed*
the Nazi's would be laughing at the world we've created :(
problem is no one ever seems to repeal these laws once they're
introduced
It seems the governments of the 'free' world have turned on their
populations
what can one do?
I'm very saddened by this all
k
