Gary Fitleberg, November 20, 2003

Australia is paving the road to eliminate terrorism internationally!!! Its brave and courageous move sets an example for others to follow!!!

Australia will ban the Arab "Palestinian" militant group Hamas and the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba organization, adding them to a list of outlawed "terrorist groups", a senior official stated.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said he would introduce legislation in parliament on to ban the Muslim groups so anyone found belonging to them, training, funding or recruiting members could face 25 years in jail.

"The government has the responsibility to ensure the security of Australians," Ruddock told parliament.

The move by Australia, a close U.S. ally, comes after the European Union in September banned Hamas following pressure from the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during their Monday evening meeting in Moscow that Russia was also considering adding the militant Hamas group to its list of outlawed terror groups, Israel Radio reported.

Ruddock said there were no proven links between Hamas and Australia but it was a "matter of prudence" to ban the group.

But he said the conservative government had received advice that there were links between Australia and Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based group fighting for freedom from India for the Muslim-majority Kashmir region.

It is one of two groups that India blamed for a bloody late 2001 raid on its parliament that triggered a military standoff with Pakistan and brought the neighbors close to a fourth war.

"Therefore it does pose a threat to Australia and Australian interests," he told parliament, without giving further details.

Australia is paving the road to eliminate terrorism internationally!!! Its brave and courageous move sets an example for others to follow!!!

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2003 Gary Fitleberg