20 August 2010
Socialist candidates condemned the Australian Federal Police raids on the Australian Kurdish Association
New South Wales Socialist Alliance Federal election candidates condemned the Australian Federal Police raids on the Australian Kurdish Association in NSW Blacktown and in Victoria and Western Australia.
“This is a cynical pre-election maneuver and yet another attempt to sow fear and suspicion into the broader community,” said refugee activist and NSW Socialist Alliance Senate candidate Rachel Evans.
There is no doubt that these raids were well orchestrated to coincide with the Federal election and justify the existence of unjust anti-terror laws that are aimed to curb our civil liberties,” Evans said.
“If we are so concerned about terrorist activity and the need to protect civilian life, Australia should immediately withdraw its troops from Afghanistan and end military engagement in Iraq. Australia should also cut ties with Israel and Sri Lanka, two governments infamous for their state-sanctioned terrorist activities and assassinations of opposition activist,” Evans concluded.
“The Kurdish Association of NSW has been around for over 25 years, doing the same it has always been doing—promoting Kurdish culture and providing social support for the Kurdish immigrant community,” commented local Parramatta candidate for Socialist Alliance, Duncan Roden.
Australian police raided Australian Kurdish Association and at least 17 homes yesterday and seized computers and documents in a bid to establish funding links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). No one was detained in the raids.
ANF NEWS AGENCY
ANF / MELBOURNE
ANF NEWS AGENCY
