Australia Expands Laws to Face Terrorist Threat

By Max Bartels

Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania 

 

Canberra, Australia 

The Australian Senate has passed a new bill in response to the recent foreign and domestic terrorist threats facing Australia. The new legislation will make it easier for intelligence and law enforcement agencies to access the personal information on computers and cell phones of Australian citizens overseas. The bill would also create an increased penalty of up to 10 years in prison for disclosing secret information, this is especially concerning for journalists, who are concerned that they will be targeted with these new penalties. Lastly the new legislation gives civil and criminal immunity to Australian intelligence agents. The government was quick to comment that the immunity would not be extended to those agents that caused death, serious injury, engaged in sexual offenses or severe damage to property.

IS TERROR SUSPECT RAIDS
Australian police outside a house in Sydney during raids last Thursday (Photo Curtesy of SBS)

The Parliament has pushed for these new laws in response to major counter terrorist operations in recent weeks, where Australian law enforcement and intelligence agencies foiled an ISIS plot to stage a public beheading in Sydney. There have also been smaller incidents, including a number of arrests involving ISIS recruiters operating in Australia. The Australian response was to lift restrictions on the intelligence community however; the political opposition parties are voicing their disapproval. Both the Liberal Democratic Party as well as the Green Party has stated that these new laws will effectively restrict freedom of the press. The major concern is that if the press is not able to report on intelligence activities then democracy in Australia will be undermined.

Another major concern of the opposition groups was that torture could be included in the new laws. Prime Minister Tony Abbott gave a speech in response to this rumor that torture would not be included in the new legislation and that it will remain outlawed in Australia. The legal immunity was also explicitly stated to not cover incidents of torture. It has only  been in the last few weeks that Australia responded to a call from the U.S. to aide international efforts in combating ISIS. In response to that call Australia deployed troops abroad, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott stating that Australia was not out of the reach of the ISIS threat. Shortly after the deployment announcement, ISIS became very active in Australia, evident from a foiled terrorist plot as well as a slew of arrests. Now Australia has adapted their laws to face the new threat but many worry that it will lead to injustice.

For more information, please see:

ABC News — Senate Passes New Counter-Terrorism Giving Stronger Powers to Intelligence Agency ASIO — 25 September 2014

The Guardian — Torture Ruled Out of Counter- Terrorism Laws For Australian Security Agencies — 21 September 2014

The Guardian — Australia’s Counter- Terror Laws Will Restrict our Free Speech and Free Press — 21 September 2014

SBS — What Will the Counter- Terror Laws Mean for Australians? — 24 September 2014

UN General Assembly Focuses on Traditional Topics As Well As Ebola and ISIS

By Lyndsey Kelly
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America – On Tuesday 23 September 2014, more than 140 heads of state and government gathered in New York City for the 69th annual United Nations general assembly. With the current state of world affairs this year’s agenda took on new crises, including the rise of Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria, the Ebola outbreak, and the ongoing civil strife between Ukraine and Russia. However, traditional topics such as nuclear weapons and climate change were also discussed.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon spoke in New York at the Climate Change Summit on 23 Sept 2014 (photo courtesy of Time).

On Wednesday, the United Nation Security Council convened at a special session chaired by United States President, Barack Obama, in order to reach an international agreement regarding disarming ISIS. The agreement seeks to sever the flow of funds and weapons to extremist groups. Thus, straining the rapid development of extremist groups such as ISIS.

In addition to addressing the concerns regarding security issues in the Middle East, United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, focused on the U.N. Climate Summit. Kerry states that it is “absolutely imperative” for the world to curb the impact of climate change immediately.

Additionally, the Ebola outbreak in Africa was a highly discussed matter at the summit. Last week, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution addressing the rapid spreading of Ebola, calling it an “international peace and security threat.” The resolution called for field hospitals to be set up in outbreak areas, along with all U.N. member nations to provide assistance in the form of qualified staff and supplies.

Since the first case of Ebola was discovered, it has claimed the lives of more than 2,7000 individuals. The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, stated at a recent press conference, “Ebola is an exponential crisis that demands an exceptional global response.” President Obama also addressed the issue at the summit, and asked world leaders to provide more assistance in the form of funds and medical aid to the affected countries.

 

For more information, please see the following:

NEW YORK TIMES – President Obama to Address U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday – 23 Sept. 2014.

TIME – UN General Assembly Kicks Off in New York City – 23 Sept. 2014.

US NEWS – Obama Tackles ISIS, Ebola, and a Nuclear Iran at U.N. General Assembly – 24 Sept. 2014.

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Transcript: Obama’s Address to the United Nations General Assembly – 24 Sept. 2014.

Regime Forces Overrun Town near Damascus

By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Managing Editor

DAMASCUS, Syria – As U.S. and Coalition forces target the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and the Khorasan group in Syria the Assad regime continues the tighten its grip on communities near the capital, targeting rebel held communities. Syrian forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad overran rebels in Adra al-Omalia, a town 30 km northeast of the Syrian capital. Syrian State Media, SANA reported that the armed forces had “imposed their control over the town of Adra al-Omalia and eliminated a number of terrorists.” SANA reported that Syrian soldiers were combing the area and clearing out explosives planted by armed groups. The raids were an important advancement for the Assad Regime which is attempting to strengthen its grip over the areas around Central Damascus. Assad’s forces, backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah group, have been gradually extending control over a corridor of strategic territory that reaches from Damascus to the Mediterranean coast.

Syrian state TV, SANA, claimed on Thursday that the armed forces had “imposed their control” over Adra al-Omalia. SANA broadcast what it said was live footage of Syrian solders in the overrun town. (Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera)

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, confirmed that the government had taken control of Adra al-Omalia after clashes with rebels including some fighters from the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, whose assets have also been targeted by U.S. air strikes. The United States considers the Nusra Front a terrorist organization. The Observatory earlier reported that at least 29 people – 18 of them rebel fighters – died during fighting on Wednesday between rebels and government forces in the outskirts of Damascus. Fighting still regularly kills nearly 200 people a day Syria.

Syrian opposition activists warn that the continued U.S. and Coalition Airstrikes in Syria may ultimately help the Assad regime if regime assets are not targeted in the strikes. The Assad regime is a primary target of ISIS fighting, the regime views the ISIS organization as continued threat and could use the airstrikes as indirect aid to reclaim territory taken by the ISIS group and as an opportunity to open new ground battles against the militants.

The Coalition strategy against ISIS may incentives the Assad regime ramp up fighting against the Free Syrian Army and other moderate fighters out of fears that these groups will receive increased aid from the international community. United States President Barack Obama has lobbied for increased military aid and training to moderate Syrian rebels as a potential proxy force to fight ISIS militants on the ground in Syria. This firepower would likely ultimately be turned against the Assad regime.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Syrian Army Overruns Town Near Damascus – 25 September 2014
The Jerusalem Post – Report: Syrian Army Retakes Area Northeast Of Damascus – 25 September 2014
Reuters – Syrian Army Extends Grip In Town Northeast Of Damascus – 25 September 2014
The Washington Post – U.S.-Led Airstrikes Could Open New Fronts For Syrian Battles Against Islamic State – 25 September 2014

French Tourist Beheaded in Algeria by Group Linked to Islamic State

By Kyle Herda

Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

PARIS, France – A French tourist to Algeria was killed in a beheading by an Algerian jihadist group linked to the Islamic State. The group, Jund al-Khilafah, kidnapped Hervé Gourdel on Sunday, the day after he arrived in Algeria, and after putting out a video threatening Gourdel’s life if France does not stop aiding the US coalition in the Middle East, the group followed up with a video showing his alleged murder.

Hervé Gourdel with his captors before being executed. (Photo courtesy of NY Daily News)

Facing the threat of Gourdel’s death should the bombings not cease, France insisted that it would not back down from the attacks. Following the new video depicting the beheading, French President Francois Hollande condemned the group’s actions as “cruel and cowardly.” Hollande went on to declare that “France will never give in to blackmail, to pressure, to barbaric acts… Quite to the contrary… The fight against terrorism will be pursued and accelerated as much as necessary with the respect for law.”

While it is unclear exactly what the link is between this group and ISIS, the video is a very similar style to the previous three videos released by ISIS depicting the beheadings of two Americans and one British citizen. While at least 40 nations have promised to support the move against ISIS, France has gained extra attention from the terrorist group. France was the first nation to join the United States in conducting bombings on ISIS targets in Iraq.

While past Western victims of the brutal beheading videos have been either journalists or humanitarian workers, Gourdel was merely in Algeria to hike and explore caves. While traveling through Algeria, armed militants grabbed Gourdel and took him captive. This was likely in response to the expanded airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria, as over 200 missiles have already hit targets across Syria. Even though Algeria is about 2,000 miles away from Syria, Algeria is not the only country with an ISIS presence within, as Libya has also been a worry to the French.

The Islamic State has already threatened to behead yet another British aid worker, Alan Henning. This recent video signals that ISIS and their allies are not going to stop simply because other countries have decided to begin fighting back.

For more information, please see:

USA Today – Jihadist video claims beheading of French hostage – 24 September 2014

ABC – ISIS Supporters Appear to Behead French Captive – 24 September 2014

Daily News – Algerian terrorists behead kidnapped French mountain guide – 24 September 2014

New York Post – Algerian ISIS group threatens to behead French captive – 23 September 2014

ACU Launches the Annual Report of 2013

The Assistance Coordination Unit is overdue in issuing its annual report of 2013 and the report of the external international auditing firm “Deloitte” is mentioned with four NOTES!!

The Assistance Coordination Unit “ACU” of the National Coalition has published its annual report of 2013, accompanied by a report from the external Global auditors who contracted with the Unit to conduct a full-scale auditing for it.

The annual report recites the achievements of the Unit through its main divisions in different humanitarian, developmental and medical sectors, as well as its affiliated offices in Lebanon and Jordan. Accompanying the report are the financial report of all ACU’s activities, auditing and comparison reports prepared by the ACU’s internal auditor as well as the report of the global auditing firm “Deloitte”. The report has graphic projections and representations of all 2013 activities and performance indicators.

Interestingly, the result that “Deloitte” concluded in its report came as a “qualified opinion” meaning that, “the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of ACU as at 31 December 2013 except four notes”.

The ACU had contracted with “Deloitte”, the Global external financial auditors in March of 2014, in order to ensure greater transparency in front of the Syrian people and other donors and implementing partners, and with the intention of holding itself accountable to the dignified Syrian people pertaining to all funds provided to the public through the Unit and the crucial role it plays.

It is noteworthy that, “Deloitte” firm is one of the four largest international professional services networks (Big Four of Audit Firms). It is known to audit governments, governmental banks and a large array of international banks.
Download the report in English, via this link: Click Here

The following link is for a video with full explanation, supported by graphs and official documents, of the Unit and of the performance indicators of 2013. It also presents Deloitte’s report and the “NOTES” they talked about, to be utilized as technical information: Click Here

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any needed information upon financial issues on this e-mail: finance@acu-sy.org
For more information, please contact us on this e-mail: info@acu-sy.org