Author Archives: andrew

Henry Keogh and the stonewall of justice

Posted on May 7, 2015 by andrew

By Andrew L. Urban. This is how it was reported in The Adeliade Advertiser: “In a Supreme Court hearing this morning (May 1, 2015) the highly controversial (Henry Keogh) case was listed for trial beginning on March 8, 2016. Director … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy and Justice | Leave a comment

Criminal code amendment Bill almost there

Posted on May 5, 2015 by andrew

Tasmanian Attorney General the Hon Vanessa Goodwin is making good on her promise to introduce legislation to amend and improve the Criminal Code to enable persons convicted of serious crimes further right to appeal their convictions. On the invitation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy and Justice | Leave a comment

Sovereignty not a moral shield

Posted on May 3, 2015 by andrew

By Andrew L. Urban. We must respect the sovereignity of other states as we expect them to respect ours, goes the argument against criticism of Indonesia’s death penalty for drug smugglers. Really? Is that like a blanket cone of silence … Continue reading →

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Global migration a challenge for democracy

Posted on May 2, 2015 by andrew

By Andrew L. Urban Millions of people are taking life theatening journeys to seek new lives in the West. Some are indeed fleeing life threatening persecution at home. But many of the millions (over 50 millíon according to the UN … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy And Refugees | Leave a comment

Look out, Luke, democracy about

Posted on March 29, 2015 by andrew

Open letter to NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley – and the Australian Labor Party 29/3/2015 (the day after Labor lost the NSW election) Dear Mr Foley, Immediately before Labor lost the NSW 2015 election, you were publicly defending your parliamentary … Continue reading →

Posted in Should Know Better | Leave a comment

Sue Neill-Fraser: murder by the prosecution – the evidence

Posted on March 26, 2015 by andrew

By Andrew L. Urban.  First published in The Australian, 25/3/2015 as “Justice cast to the four winds” (p. 11) Sue Neill-Fraser was convicted of murder in 2010, after her partner of 18 years, Bob Chappell, disappeared from their jointly owned … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy and Justice | 5 Comments

Recruit former Jihadists to combat radicalisation

Posted on March 17, 2015 by andrew

By Andrew L. Urban. Letter to The Editor, Sydney Morning Herald, 15/3/2015 – unpublished. It is encouraging to hear of plans to use former Jihadists to counter radicalisation (SMH 14/3/2015, Ex-jihadists could be used to counter extremist message); it shows someone … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy And Terrorism | 1 Comment

Death penalty or revenge killing?

Posted on March 12, 2015 by andrew

By Andrew L. Urban With the death penalty hanging over two Australians (and a number of others) in Indonesia convicted of heroin smuggling as I write (12/3/2015), the state sanctioned killing of criminals has generated much debate and vitriol – … Continue reading →

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Jihad & Judeochristianity – different moral universes

Posted on February 22, 2015 by andrew

Jihad is propelled not merely by religion but its own and different moral universe, writes Andrew L. Urban. “The struggle against Islamic extremism has been crippled by a failure of historical awareness and cultural understanding. From the very beginning, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy And Terrorism | Leave a comment

Australians on death row: a win-win option

Posted on February 17, 2015 by andrew

Letter to Foreign Affairs Minister The Hon Julie Bishop MP February 14, 2015 Dear Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, With the greatest respect for your work in Foreign Affairs in general and the extraordinary efforts to avert the executions of … Continue reading →

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