| The hearing for David McBride which was to be on 3rd May has been adjourned to 20 September, so consequently we are cancelling the rally planned for the 3rd May. The adjournment was requested by the prosecution – presumably they are having difficulty in mounting the argument that David’s action was not in the public interest. An earlier date for the hearing of 4 July was opposed by the AG’s barrister on the grounds that it was school holidays! These outrageous delays are serving to draw out the case interminably, creating ongoing stress for David.But we can show our opposition to all these prosecutions at a Rally in front of the Supreme court in the park between Knowles Pl and London Cct at 9.30am on Monday 17 May when Bernard Collaery has an appeal hearing against the secrecy provisions in his case. Speakers will be advised. Let’s fill the park with supporters for these courageous men!!The hearing is also scheduled for Tuesday 18 May and we encourage people to attend the hearing after the rally on 17th (it starts at 10.15) and also on 18th. We hope that there may be some actions in other states too on 17th. We’ll keep you posted.The Independent National Security Monitor, Grant Donaldson, is conducting a review into the “Witness J’ prosecution. We encourage people to put in a submission against such secret trials, which are due by next Friday 30 April and also to attend a public hearing to be held in Canberra on June 9th. More details about putting in a submission are on the website – https://www.inslm.gov.au/current-review-work . CT March 29, ‘Ex-spook Witness K closer to day in court’ by Marion Rae. Witness K is scheduled for a hearing on 3-4 June to hear ‘the sentence proceedings before a plea is taken’. A Witness K hearing ‘application for a temporary stay’ is scheduled for this coming Wed 28th April at 9.30am. We encourage all who can to attend the hearing, but we don’t know whether the court will be closed or not. The article says that ‘current orders will not allow automatic and blanket closure of the court’. There are some new political cases against Michael West media, John Menadue and others, which are extremely dangerous for free speech in Australia. We need journalists and media who are not afraid to publish the truth! Have a look at this video from Michael West and pass it on. This Guardian US article about whistleblower Steven Donziger who blew the whistle on Chevron’s pollution of the country of the indigenous peoples of Ecuador is disturbing. If you would like to make a donation to his defence you can do it here. Thank you for all your support for the campaign to drop the prosecutions. We can show this government that they can’t get away with such undemocratic and unjust prosecutions by continuing to show up at the court, and by writing letters to the editor and to MPs. AAPP has written recently to the Defence Department Secretary, seeking a meeting about David McBride’s prosecution (which was declined) and to Foreign Minister Marise Payne regarding Bernard and Witness K’s cases and relations with Timor-Leste. We are awaiting a response. We have also written to the CDPP about these three cases and received an unsatisfactory response. We will keep up the pressure for justice in these cases!for justice and democracy Kathryn Kelly Co-Convenor of Alliance against Public ProsecutionsKeep up to date through our Facebook page! |