[NYTr] Haneef, from India, thanks Australian people for support

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Dave Muller (southnews)


ABC News (Australia) - Jul 29, 2007
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/29/1991147.htm

Haneef thanks Australian people for support

ABC news

Dr Mohamed Haneef has spoken for the first time since being detained on 
the suspicion of terrorism related offences, thanking the Australian 
people for supporting him.

The Gold Coast based doctor was released without charge last Friday and 
has flown out of Australia overnight bound for India.

Speaking for the first time since his detention four weeks ago, Dr 
Haneef said it was good to be free.

Stopping off at the Bangkok Airport, Dr Haneef told a waiting media
pack waiting he was grateful to the Australian people for their support.

"Definitely yes - thanks everyone," he said.

Despite the charges against Dr Haneef being dropped, Immigration 
Minister Kevin Andrews has told Channel Seven he will not reinstate the 
doctor's work visa.

"I've had to defend this matter with one arm tied behind my back
because of protected information," he said.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie told Channel 10 the decision to cancel 
Dr Haneef's visa was politically motivated.

"Kevin Andrews behaviour in all this needs to be subject to greater 
scrutiny," he said.

Inquiry call

Meanwhile, despite giving bipartisan support during Dr Haneef's 
detention, the Federal Opposition now wants a judicial inquiry.

The Greens have joined the growing chorus for an inquiry into the
Haneef case.

Greens leader Senator Bob Brown will move for an Upper House inquiry on 
Tuesday week.

He says there is a lot of disquiet among the Australian population and
a thorough inquiry is needed.

"In particular the role of the ministers involved," he said.

"The Minister for Immigration Kevin Andrews, the Attorney-General 
[Philip Ruddock] and the Prime Minister [John Howard] and of course the 
role of the DPP [Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions] and the 
Australian Federal Police.

"In particular, why the decisions were made by the Government to 
continue to detain Dr Haneef after he was given bail by the courts and 
why wrong evidence was brought before the courts."

Civil liberties

The Australian Civil Liberties Council (ACCL) says Dr Haneef has been 
treated extremely badly by Australian authorities.

The ACCL is to ask the Federal Integrity Commissioner to investigate
the way the Haneef case has been handled by Australian Federal Police,
the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Federal Government.

ACCL president Terry O'Gorman says the case has been bungled under the 
guise of fighting terrorism.

"If there are mistakes being made in terrorist investigations in this 
country, that means there are serious civil liberties issues which 
require to be addressed," he said.

"We want the Federal Integrity Commissioner to direct the AFP and the 
DPP to change their procedures so this fundamental miscarriage of 
justice cannot occur again."

                            ***

AAP - Jul 29, 2007

'Haneef case will damage nation's reputation'

THE lawyer for Mohamed Haneef says Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews' 
refusal to reinstate his client's working visa will damage Australia's 
reputation.

Dr Haneef flew home to India last night after a charge against him of 
supporting a terrorist organisation was dropped due to a lack of
evidence.

Mr Andrews revoked Dr Haneef's visa earlier this month, just hours
after a Brisbane court had granted him bail.

Despite the collapse of the case, the minister today vowed not to 
reinstate Dr Haneef's visa unless the Indian national's lawyers are 
successful in appealing the decision in the Federal Court.

Dr Haneef's lawyer Peter Russo is accompanying his client on a flight
to Bangalore, and has expressed his anger at Mr Andrews' decision
during a stopover in Bangkok.

"The minister's decision is beyond bizarre,'' Mr Russo said in a
statement.

"The minister's decision will mystify the great majority of Australian 
people.

"It will make overseas people very suspicious about living and working 
in Australia and this negative perception will take decades to erase.''

Mr Russo said he was angered by Mr Andrews' comments today that Dr 
Haneef's rapid departure from Australia heightened his suspicion of the 
former Gold Coast doctor.

"Dr Haneef had left the country voluntarily after the criminal charge 
was dropped, but he wanted to continue the fight to have his work visa 
restored,'' Mr Russo said.

"What we can't understand is how the minister can cling to a view that
a man who had been detained for nearly a month on charges that proved
to be baseless can continue to smear his good name through an executive 
decision based on secret material.''

Immigration officials prevented Dr Haneef from conducting an open press 
conference to thank his supporters prior to his departure, Mr Russo
said.

Dr Haneef's legal team were not privy to a deal between the former Gold 
Coast hospital registrar and the Nine Network to conduct an exclusive 
interview before his departure late last night.