Howard government silent on human rights violations in Palestine and Lebanon
AUSTRALIANS FOR PALESTINE
DEMOCRATS MEDIA
Thursday 2 November 2006
SENATOR LYN ALLISON
AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS LEADER
Howard government silent on human rights violations in Palestine and Lebanon
Senator Lyn Allison, Leader of the Australian Democrats said, following questioning in Estimates today, that the Government’s silence in the face of human rights abuses in Palestine and Lebanon was not helping the pursuit of peace in the Middle East.
“This Government appears disinterested in the escalating crisis in the Middle East – one that has killed 92 Palestinian children in just the last four months and where over a million unexploded cluster bomb ‘bomblets’ kill civilians daily in a devastated Lebanon.
“Mr Downer is silent the capture and imprisonment of Palestinian ministers and parliamentarians without charge and the trade sanctions that are starving one million Palestinians in Gaza.
“The Government has said nothing about Israel cutting off access to food, water and electricity to Palestinians living in the Gaza.
“Palestinians are dying but the Howard Government is turning a blind eye.
“This Government accuses the Hamas Government of terrorist acts but says nothing about Israel’s aggression, its illegal settlements or its wall-building.
“Where is the statement from this Government defending the rights of the Palestinian people and condemning Israel’s violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention? Where is the insistence on implementation of UN resolutions?
“Mr Downer is silent on Israel’s refusal to provide maps of cluster bomb sites, its use of phosphorous bombs and its occupation of Shebaa farms in Lebanon.
“Peace in the Middle East will not be achieved while Australia and other countries remain silent in the face of highly disproportionate aggression by Israel.
Australian Democrats
Recent Comments