Posted on 05/06/2012 7:17:03 AM PDT by ilcenter
A SENATOR has requested an official inquiry into whether Australian taxpayers are unknowingly funding a Palestinian terrorist organisation.
In a letter sent to Foreign Minister Bob Carr last week, Victorian Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson cited evidence collected by Israeli civil rights organisation Shurat HaDin, which alleges that the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), based in Gaza, is a subsidiary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
The PFLP has a history of hijackings and suicide bombings, and was listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government in 2001.
The Australian government’s foreign-aid arm, AusAID, funds the UAWC through World Vision Australia.
Shurat HaDin wrote to both AusAID and World Vision earlier this year to present its claim. Both dismissed its initial claim after conducting their own investigation.
In his letter to Carr, Ronaldson said after reading Shurat HaDin’s evidence, he believed AusAID’s investigation to be inadequate.
“I am unconvinced that AusAID have taken these concerns seriously,” he wrote.
“I would therefore request that you make the findings of the AusAID investigation public, and direct that all funding to the UAWC be suspended pending the outcome of a proper inquiry.”
AusAID informed The AJN on Wednesday that it is currently examining more detailed evidence that was provided to it last month by Shurat HaDin.
“AusAID is examining this material very carefully.
“Our examination will be thorough and will be completed as quickly as possible,” an AusAID spokesperson said.
“We take these claims very seriously. AusAID does not fund terrorist organisations.”
A spokesperson for World Vision Australia, however, said there “remains absolutely no evidence whatsoever” that it or AusAID had provided funding to the PFLP.
Potential partner organisations and key individuals were checked against relevant government and United Nations lists, while World Vision also looked at who its partner organisations had worked with, the spokesperson said.
“The UAWC has worked with some of the world’s major multilateral organisations – all of whom are subject to the similar anti-terrorism prohibitions, and therefore [have] similar obligations to vet,” the spokesperson said.
The developments come as more than 150 entertainers, politicians, and business and community leaders signed an open letter on Tuesday insisting that Prime Minister Julia Gillard keep her promise to increase Australian aid to 0.5 per cent of national income by 2015.
Shurat HaDin’s evidence claims the president and vice-president of the UAWC board of directors are senior members of the PFLP.
Also according to Shurat HaDin, three other UAWC directors are members of the PFLP, while UAWC directly makes its assets available for PFLP use.
Shurat HaDin also claims that senior PFLP personnel are actively and publicly involved in UAWC activity on an ongoing basis.
In addition, a USAID document from May 1993 identifies the UAWC as the agricultural arm of the PFLP.
According to Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor, the UAWC does support the global Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel.
What’s the big deal? Our President just sent the PA $192 Million. Of course he didn’t ask the American people before he did that but......it’s his money......right?
It's only an executive order away.
Hear Repub grumbles; here and there; but where is the freaking Leadership that says "NO". . .or you will be tried for Treason? Impeached; and thrown out and 'into' prison?
What the heck? How is that we have organizations who have investigated all this; and have bonafide information as to the 'truth' of the matter re CAIR et al; while Obama, Inc. claims, CAIR legitimate;(now HAMAS, as well) and so continue to act with impunity?
Sick, sick. . .and sick; that we are sinking. No paddle; no rudder; no real leadership. . .and the communists are in charge and loving it. These enemies of America, cannot abuse our Constitution enough; nor fast enough. It is working; and America IS changing. . .Who will answer our 'tweets' for help?
When listening to people on the street, neighbors, etc, you hear them saying that they are really getting pissed off. Push them far enough and they will be taking to the streets in protest. How much further can they be pushed? The problem with this is that if Congress doesn’t step in fairly soon, and if the people get really ticked off, this administration can put martial law in place. If that happens, they will hold all the cards and they know this. All your rights will come to an end until martial law is lifted. So what recourse do the people have if Congress does nothing? I wouldn’t put it past this President to use the military against our own people.
... the neo Christians need to wake up....awareness is half the battle.
Everyone is concerned about the politically correct, and the abuse this and that..... what about fiscal abuse by Obama and co?
The side issues are gaining more attention than the everyday fiscal negligence and abuses by Obamaco.
Darrell Issa; has publicly charged that the Obama Admin. is the singular, MOST corrupt Administration that our Country EVER had. Many in Congress agree. But bottom line; having thrown that one down; the fear that pushes back the Will to 'act' is their fear; that our nation cannot withstand a Constitutional crisis!
Imagine; that we are only left to deal with the consequences of the most corrupted Admin. ever. . .
(That's okay; we can handle that, right? Meantime; our Leadership collect their paycheck. . .)
These people are raised up from a rootbed of moral ignorance. We should NEVER doubt their capacity to act in the worst of ways; based on 'who/what' they are.
Just listened to a report by Frank Luntz for Fox News. Don't know why he was covering this story - perhaps we was going to have a Russian, Citizen Focus group in Moscow; post installation of Putin(?) - but he was totally 'shaken' by how the Military/Police' turned on a crowd of totally peaceful, upper-class protesters (he pressed, NOT OWS types) with whom he had just walked in parade/march, along side with. He said there were children as well; and that he attack; totally unprovoked; was brutal.
Hundreds of arrests - to make; he surmised - Putin's point as to what was in store for those who take issue with his Election (the fraud) and his Government; i.e. that dissent by any MO; will not be tolerated.
Think Frank, was fearing for his safety and said he did not want to jeopardize his departure. He sounded like he was about to 'loose it'.
Yes; we should not be surprised by whatever unfolds here. Obama is depending on OWS to create a 'war' against the people to disrupt our Election process, altogether; IMHO. Whereby; he will have the cards to determine 'what is next'; and just 'how' he will make things happen.)
Remember Al Gore's infamous defense: "No controlling legal authority?" All of DC has taken it to heart, knowing that without men of iron standing in defense of liberty they can get away with whatever they want.
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