National Day of Action – Drop the Prosecutions!
9 November 2020
See below for venues.
MEDIA RELEASE 9 November 2020
“The Coalition of Supporters of Bernard Collaery and Witness K (COSOCK) is appalled at the attempts by the Morrison Government and Attorney-General Christian Porter to imprison Witness K and his lawyer Bernard Collaery,” said Sister Susan Connelly, one of the coordinators of COSOCK.
Witness K is in the ACT Courts today – the 43rd hearing in total for him and Bernard Collaery.
“The integrity of these men is in contrast to that of the government at the moment. There is a real question of whether these prosecutions are an abuse of power,” Susan Connelly continued. “COSOCK demands that the vindictive charges––no doubt designed to intimidate others–– are discontinued immediately.”
The courageous and conscientious actions of these men led to a fairer sharing of the resources of the Timor Sea, after Australia had bugged the Timor-Leste government offices.
“The excuse of ‘national security’ for the secrecy of these trials is a travesty and represents a danger to our democracy. These men are being prosecuted under laws designed for terrorists, it is in no way acceptable that these laws are being used to prosecute Witness K and Bernard Collaery,” said Judy Attwood, a Queensland representative of COSOCK.
“Tens of thousands of East Timorese people gave their lives in WW2 assisting Australian soldiers under attack from the Japanese, yet Australia’s Timor Sea episode been shameful. Are we to continue to parade our greed and deceit by prosecuting people who actually live up to Australian values?”
“COSOCK demands that they receive recompense for the suffering and expense this secretive process is causing,” she concluded.
Events for the campaign to drop the prosecutions are being held at these venues –
Canberra – Rally, 12.30 p.m,
ACT Courts, Knowles Pl,
Canberra City ACT
Perth – Rally, 12.30 pm,
outside AG Christian Porter’s office, 28 Main St, Ellenbrook, WA.
Brisbane – Rally, 7.30-8.30am,
636 Mogill Road, Chapel Hill, Brisbane, near Julian Simmonds MP’s office.
Sydney – Four Banner displays 12:30 p.m.
Belmore Park opposite Eddy Avenue, Martin Place near Macquarie Street,
Town Hall, Hyde Park opposite Macquarie Street
Adelaide – Rally, 4:30 p.m.
SA Parliament House Steps
Corner of North Terrace and King William St, Adelaide
Hobart – Rally at 2 venues, 11:45 a.m. -12:45 p.m.
Liverpool St, Hobart and Murray St, Hobart
Darwin – Rally at 12 noon
Northern Territory Supreme Court
State Square, Darwin
Alice Springs – Gathering 12.00 -2.00 p.m.
Alice Springs, Uniting Church Lawns – near laneway Supreme Court
Contact : Susan Connelly 0498 473 341 and Judy Attwood 0475 472 902