AFP changed its position on Haneef

Posted on 23. Dec, 2008 by Cameron Reilly in Australian media, Australian politics

John Clarke’s report on the Haneef affair is out and it says that there was no evidence to justify his arrest and treatment by the Australian Federal Police and the Federal Government.

The best quote I’ve read is from the Hindustan Times, which write:

The report said the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) consistently advised the then conservative government there was no credible evidence against Haneef. The AFP also told the government the same thing, but later changed its position and backed a prosecutor’s call to charge Haneef.

(Australian police wrong to charge Haneef: report- Hindustan Times)

It’s an instruction in the way the Elite protect each other to review the position taken on the affair by the Rudd Government and Australian mainstream media.

You have to remember that this was a “mickey mouse” inquiry in the first place. Rudd, during his election campaign, promised to hold an inquiry but, when the time came, he made sure it was rigged to provide a certain result.

Here’s what the Australian Council for Civil Liberties President Terry O’Gorman had to say at the time:

“Quite inexplicably, the Rudd election campaign promised to set up an inquiry, it turned out to be a mickey mouse inquiry because it’s not conducted under the provisions of the federal royal commissions act.

“It is not a royal commission, it is not sitting in public, it can’t force the AFP among other agencies to produce witnesses or produce documents, it can only ask them to.

“It’s been a joke from the start,” he said.

But see if ANY of the mainstream media reports that this week.

And that’s how it works, boys and girls – take notes.

You announce an inquiry and then you rig it, you limit what questions it can ask, who it can ask, and who can observe the proceedings in order to limit any criticism. Then, then the report comes out with nice, neat answers, you can discard it and move on.

Anyway, what did the report say? I haven’t been able to get my hands on it yet, but here’s what’s being reported.

From The Age (actually written by Matthew Ricketson with AAP because Fairfax has axed most of its journalists):

(Rudd’s Attorney-General) Mr McClelland said the Labor Government would leave it to the agencies themselves to decide whether any disciplinary action should be taken against a long list of people whose actions were grossly incompetent.

Gee, I wonder what they’ll choose.

Again from The Age:

Mr McClelland said he would not criticise any members of the former government, including the prime minister John Howard, Mr Andrews and attorney-general Philip Ruddock.

AKA: I’ll cover your ass when you lie to the public and you’ll do the same for me the next time you’re back in power.

And there’s more:

“All actions of police were undertaken in good faith and in the best interests of public safety, given the circumstances at the time,” the (AFP) statement said.

The report found that the AFP told the Howard Government that there was no evidence against Haneef – AND THEN CHANGED THEIR MIND. This is what they call “in good faith”?

I call it BULLSHIT.

So the Rudd Government is going to give the Howard ministers and the AFP a get out of jail free card. Does it have anything to do with how Rudd, when Opposition leader, didn’t have much to say about the Howard Government’s handling of the case? Or is it just favours for mates?

Anyway, let’s take a look at the Australian media headlines. Out of everything the report had to say about how this case was totally fabricated at senior levels of Government and Federal Police, these are the headlines that the mainstream media chose to run with today:

Haneef report says nothing new: Andrews
The Age, Australia

Kevin Andrews finds vindication in Clarke report
The Australian, Australia

We wont say sorry to Haneef – Coalition
The Australian, Australia

Haneef wants apology, compensation for bungled terror probe
The Age, Australia (this one not too bad)

Haneef verdict: charges unfair but minister clear
The Canberra Times, Australia

No fallout over Haneef
The Age, Australia

Mohamed Haneef pleased to be cleared, calls for apology over arrest
NEWS.com.au, Australia

What would YOUR headine be?

Mine would be:

“Rudd Govt Looks After The Elite”