1. PM Slams ‘Jihadist’ Muslims
2. Seduction of Dr Nelson
3. Xanana, SBY Let Shame File Slide
4. Conflict Dogs Papuan Peace Chance
5. Indonesia Caught In Moral Panic
6. Does Tokelau Really Have A Future?
7. Some SDF Members May Stay After Iraq Pullout

Special Report: AFP Death Penalty Guidelines

Special Report: Navy Fires on Illegal Fishing Boat

1. PM Slams ‘Jihadist’ Muslims,
   George Megalogenis, Australian, 2006-02-20

   John Howard has strongly criticised aspects of Muslim culture, warning they pose an unprecedented challenge for Australia’s immigration program. “You can’t find any equivalent in Italian, or Greek, or Lebanese, or Chinese or Baltic immigration to Australia. There is no equivalent of raving on about jihad, but that is the major problem.”

   • ‘Jihadists’ remarks a duty: PM, Australian, 2006-02-20

2. Seduction of Dr Nelson,
   Greg Sheridan, Australian, 2006-02-18

   The new Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson is the subject of a serious attempt at seduction. Nelson’s choice is simple: is he going to implement Howard’s defence policy or Beazley’s? For undoubtedly the “old paradigm” gang are plotting a big comeback.

3. Xanana, SBY Let Shame File Slide,
   Sian Powell, Australian, 2006-02-18

   The presidents of East Timor and Indonesia agreed to publicly ignore the conclusions of a damning UN-sanctioned report.

   • Shouldn’t This Convicted Thug Be In Jail?, Paras Indonesia, 2006-02-18

4. Conflict Dogs Papuan Peace Chance,
   Ahmad Pathoni/AAP, Australian, 2006-02-19

   Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is eager to halt the low-level insurgency in eastern Papua after ending a decades-long separatist conflict in Aceh, at the other extremity of the sprawling archipelago nation. But “the problem with Papua is: who has the legitimacy to negotiate on behalf of Papuans with the government?” said Dewi Fortuna Anwar, an analyst with the Habibie Center think tank.

5. Indonesia Caught In Moral Panic,
   Adrian Vickers, Age, 2006-02-17

   The Bali nine are trapped in a Muslim moral renewal that is sweeping the country. For many years now groups with names such as “Defenders of the Faith” have been raiding nightclubs in Jakarta and other major cities, determined to get rid of the bars and prostitution that they see as a degrading influence on their nation.

6. Does Tokelau Really Have A Future?
   Maggie Tait, NZPA, 2006-02-17

   Tokelau has just voted to stay with New Zealand instead of opting for change. Does such a small country – population 1600 – even have a future to run?

   • Tokelauans Say No To Self-Determination, Maggie Tait, Sunday Star-Times, 2006-02-17
   • Tokelau Council of Ongoing Government.
   • Tokelauans on Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
   • Tokelau on Wikipedia.

7. Some SDF Members May Stay After Iraq Pullout,
   Yomiuri Shimbun, 2006-02-20

   In an attempt to keep a Japanese presence in Iraq after the GSDF units’ withdrawal, the U.S. government has asked Japan to dispatch GSDF units to provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) to help improve the governing and security capabilities of Iraqi municipalities. The government has rejected the request, but it believes that coordination with the multinational forces would go smoothly if some GSDF members stayed in Iraq.

Briefing note: AFP Death Penalty Guidelines

Man Faces Death After AFP Drug Help,
Tom Hyland, Age, 2006-02-19

Federal police face fresh controversy over their policy of giving information to foreign police in cases that can end in death for Australians. News of the AFP’s role in the arrest of Australian man Huu Trinh comes as the AFP fends off criticism from civil liberties groups for giving Indonesian police information that led to the arrests of the Bali nine drug smugglers.

• Review of AFP Guidelines – Matter of Urgency, Law Council of Australia, 2005-10-12

• AFP Practical Guide on International Police to Police Assistance in Death Penalty Charge Situations, [Released under Freedom of Information Act], New South Wales Council For Civil Liberties [PDF].

• The Australian Federal Police and Capital Punishment, New South Wales Council of Civil Liberties

Briefing note: Navy Fires on Illegal Fishing Boat

Illegal fishing boat intercepted after shots fired,
ABC New Online, February 19, 2006.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has confirmed another large illegal fishing boat has been intercepted in Australia’s northern waters, 25 nautical miles within Australia’s economic exclusive zone, north of Darwin. This follows the detection of a Chinese boat a week ago that is believed to have been acting as a large freezer for illegal fishing operations. Dr Nelson has told Channel Nine that force had to be used with the Indonesian boat.

• ‘Mothership’ searched for Aussie fish, Karen Michelmore, AAP, Australian, 2006-02-16.

• Crossing Borders: Implications Of The Memorandum Of Understanding On Bajo Fishing Activity In Northern Australian Waters, N. Stacey, Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2001.

• The Last Frontier: Australia’s Maritime Territories and the Policing of Indonesian Fishermen, Ruth Balint, Australian Public Intellectual Network.

• National Plan of Action for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

• Operation Cranberry – Northern Australia and Sea Air Approaches, Australian Defence Force Operations.

• Surveillance flights grounded, Australian, 2006-02-19

• NT Proposal To Fight Illegal Fishers, Northern Territory Government, 2006-01-05. [PDF]

• Indonesian ‘Fishers Of Men’: Notes on the plight of fishers from Eastern Indonesia and Australian/Indonesian relations over the issue of people smuggling, Helen Pausacker, ACFOA, 2002-02-20. [PDF]

• Expert Consultation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, Sydney, Australia, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 2000.

Subscriptions

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please contact the editor, Jane Mullett: austral@rmit.edu.au