Month: October 2014

Australia: some history, 1969-72

Below is a transcription, via slackbastard, of ASIO documents from the National Library. It provides an account of a number of actions classified by the agency as ‘terrorist’. National Archives of Australia: A12389, A30 PART 14

“Title: ASIO Special Projects Branch documents 52-67: Terrorism its nature, objectives and revolutionary role, A note on the past, present and future significance of Communism in Australia, Significant demonstrations, including violent incidents claimed by or attributed to terrorist-type groups like the People’s Liberation Army, Worker-Student Alliance, the Utashi etc, A note on Terrorist activity, Trotskyism in Australia, The National Socialist Party of Australia (NSPA), Communist Party of Australia (CPA), Socialist Party of Australia (SPA), Comment on a Communist Party of Australia Discussion Document for its 23rd Congress (1971), A note on recent “New Left” trends in the USA and their significance for the “Left” in Australia, A note on the “new Left” in Australia, Urban Guerilla Warfare including Anarchist and radical Violence, The Politically Motivated Act of Violence”

Significant demonstrations, including violent incidents claimed by or attributed to terrorist-type groups like the People’s Liberation Army, Worker-Student Alliance, the Utashi etc,

1969

4th July : About 13 youths, in three cars, broke 18 windows in the U.S. Consulate-General, Melbourne. Anonymous callers to radio station claimed responsibility on behalf of the P.L.A. Damage assessed at $500.

17th July : A ballot box being used in the University of Melbourne Student Representative Council elections was stolen. Anonymous callers to mass media claimed responsibility on behalf of Melbourne P.L.A. “Second Division”.

14th August : Two plate glass windows were broken at Australia House, Brisbane (housing the Department of External Territories). An anonymous caller to mass media claimed responsibility on behalf of the Brisbane Branch of the P.L.A. Earlier that day there had been a demonstration outside Australia House in protest at the Department’s policy in regard to the Bougainville copper dispute. Damage was assessed at $2,000.

9th September : Four – six persons raided the premises of Department of Labour and National Service, Adelaide, throwing animal blood into filing cabinets and cutting telephone cables. The raid was planned by PROVO. One of the participants was arrested.

23rd/24th September : A group, claimed to number 15, extinguished the eternal flame at the Shrine of Remembrance, Brisbane, and later broke windows at Australia House (housing the Department of Labour and National Service). An anonymous caller to mass media claimed responsibility on behalf of P.L.A. Continue reading “Australia: some history, 1969-72”

Nauru: Hunger strike starts as protests spread

6 October, RAC: The protests by asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru that began on Thursday 25 August are continuing, and have now spread to the single men’s camp, OPC 2.

The daily protests inside the family camp show no sign of slowing down. Every evening, between 300 and 500 asylum seekers gather to protest against proposed Australian government policy that would see them left doubly discriminated against and facing a life sentence on Nauru.

Around 90 asylum seekers, mostly Burmese, Bangladeshi and Iranian, have been on hunger strike for the last three days (ie since Saturday 4 October). Hundreds are maintaining a 24 hour protest and vigil at the gates of OPC 2.

Yesterday, Sunday 5 October, around 60 of those found to be refugees held another demonstration in front of the Save the Children offices.

Continue reading “Nauru: Hunger strike starts as protests spread”

Sydney: football fans boo Prime Minister

6 October: It’s customary for the Prime Minister of Australia to appear at a Grand Final game to congratulate players. But things took an unexpected turn for PM Tony Abbott after last night’s NRL match between champions South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Canterbury Bulldogs.

As the Prime Minister was introduced in the post-game ceremony, the crowd quickly reacted with a tremendous chorus of boos, obviously unimpressed with his presence.

Sydney: football fans abuse police

6 October: After their team’s loss in the NRL  grand final thousands of supporters spilled on to Burwood Rd in Belmore. The situation became tense when a pedestrian sign was ripped out of the ground. Fans jumped up and down on the sign when police forced their way through the crowd. A female police officer was seen confronting one man.

As about 15 officers surrounded the area, the crowd started chanting “F. k the police, f. k the police”.

Officers put their backs to the wall of a restaurant as the fans moved face-to-face with them. The officers took one person’s details and eventually left. No arrests were made.

Sydney: Woman sets Australian flag alight at War Memorial

1 October: A woman set alight an Australian flag at the ANZAC War Memorial in the centre of Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.

NSW police were called to the historic memorial in Hyde Park at midday after reports that a fire was burning inside the building.

The flag caught on fire after the woman lowered the flag into the memorial’s Flame of Rememberance. She is understood to be of caucasian appearance and aged between 35 and 45 years old. The burning of the flag was captured on CCTV and police remain in the Sydney CBD searching for the suspect.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Victor Dominello condemned the act.  “Not only is this criminal behaviour, it’s deeply disrespectful of the Memorial and all it represents,” Mr Dominello said.  “It is deeply concerning that any person would seek to desecrate the Australian flag. Doing so on this sacred site makes it all the more reprehensible.”

The memorial remained closed throughout Wednesday afternoon as police investigated the incident.