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| Down Under |
| Downer pressures moderate Muslims |
| 2005-07-24 |
| MODERATE Muslim leaders needed to be more vocal in condemning terrorism, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today. Mr Downer said the Islamic community could play a key role in improving Australia's national security in the wake of terrorist bombings overseas. "(We need to) ensure that moderate Muslims are standing up there and condemning these activities not just in the media, but in their daily lives in interaction with the broader community," Mr Downer said on Channel 9. He said security measures such as increasing the number of close-circuit security cameras around transport facilities had proved effective in investigating the London bombings. But he was lukewarm about a proposal to introduce a national ID card in Australia. "We've never had an identity card in this country for the reason I think more than anything we think psychologically we feel it's Big Brother putting his hand on our shoulder to a greater extent then we'd like," Mr Downer said. "So it would be a big step for Australia to move towards an identity card. "I think the argument would have to be very persuasive for both the Cabinet and more broadly the community to accept an identity card." Any expansion of anti-terror laws would also have to balance civil rights with tougher powers, he said. He said Australians should remain alert but not alarmed about the potential for attack on local soil. "You can see that al-Qaeda or al-Qaeda-related organisations ... are prepared to continue this campaign of bombing in different parts of the world," he said. "So in Australia we just can't be too careful - we have to make every effort we can to try and reinforce our security." |
| Posted by:Spavirt Pheng6042 |
| #1 Sheesh. He gets it. Then he doesn't. Then he does. Then... Politicians. Sigh. Ozzies: Yes, put the heat on the Muzzies to prove themselves as Ozzies First, not Muzzies First. Same goes for every Western nation. Ignore what they say and watch what they do. Doing nothing = implicit approval. -fin- |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-24 18:14 |