Danby queries Carr about Australian funds for alleged terrorist linked Palestinian NGO
Foreign Minister Bob Carr yesterday met with the Member for Melbourne Ports, Michael Danby MP to discuss a range of matters including an assertion that Australian aid funding is being provided to a Palestinian non-government organisation with alleged terrorist links.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr
Senator Carr said his parliamentary colleague had raised this concern with him and he provided the following advice received from AusAID.
“Material regarding the alleged link of the Union of Agriculture Workers Committee’s (UAWC) to a proscribed terrorist organisation, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), is being thoroughly examined.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that neither the UAWC nor its Board of Directors, appear on any list of proscribed organisations or individuals.
“The Government of Israel has confirmed that Israel does not list the UAWC as a terrorist entity.
“The UAWC receives funding via the Australian Middle East NGO Cooperation Agreement (AMENCA) program, which was first approved by the Howard Government in 2004.
“When the allegation was first raised in February, AusAID and World Vision undertook detailed investigations which found no evidence that a breach of the Charter of the United Nations Act has occurred.
“On April 11, AusAID received further material from Shurat Hadin purporting to support claims of a terrorist link.
“AusAID is examining this material in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Government Solicitor.
“The examination will be thorough and completed as quickly as possible.
“AusAID officials visited the World Vision office in Gaza on March 26, to assess World Vision’s management of the program. AusAID has also consulted with other multilateral, bilateral and non-government donors who work with the UAWC.
“Donors to UAWC include the governments of Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, as well as the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), UNDP, UNRWA, FAO, Oxfam, Norwegian People’s Aid, Catholic Relief Services and Save the Children.
“The examination of these claims has not yet concluded.
“At this point, however, no evidence has been found to conclude there has been a breach of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945
“AusAID has consulted with various agencies in reaching this view, including the Australian Government Solicitor.
“If the Government becomes aware of evidence confirming a breach of the UN Charter Act we would immediately to suspend funding of the organisations concerned and refer the matter to the relevant authorities,” Senator Carr said.
Palestinians face poverty and disadvantage that has been prolonged by the complex nature of regional conflict and failures in the peace process in the Middle East. Of Gaza’s 1.6 million population, nearly 40 per cent are living in poverty and 75 per cent are dependent on aid for survival. 31 per cent of the workforce is unemployed.
The UAWC program directly benefits up to 1,180 poor and vulnerable households (8,260 individuals) through the establishment of plant and seedling nurseries which increase the food security and economic capacity of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and particularly women.
‘oto’ Yor inglish end hungarian IS surprinsigly fentastik!!!!
Ta mac, so is yoor giocs. Me mates and me was reedin it and vomited laaafin at them koments and yourse komando of Engelish.
Paul,
edes appam, ne izgazsd magadad ( pure Hungarian and surprinsigly decent !). Carr looks best when pretends to be concerned for our community ! No doubt he consulted his pal, Hannan Ashrawi, before “intellectualising” the issue.
Now why do I think of Sir Humphry Appleby from “Yes Prime Minister” when I read Carr’s response. His statement that the claims will beinvestigated as thoroughly and quickly as possible raises more questions that it answers. Who determines the thoroughness of the investigation, who determines what is quick. Unfortunately a political answer to a very personal issue.
Carr’s comments are pure bureaucratese. They avoid the point raised: UAWC is affiliated with and headed by PFLP operatives and PFLP is a designated terrorist organisation. That Israel does not list the UAWC as a terrorist organisation is beside the point; no-one has claimed that it was. Israeli politics and Israel’s appeasement policies need to be considered and Jewish leaders in the diaspora need to complain about its supine attitude to its enemies. UAWC seems to fill the same sort of niche as the Holy Land Fund in the USA. Support UAWC and either fund PFLP or enable it to get credit for helping Gazans.
Oh Ben, you are funny. Your rants may be intended to make a case for the Fakestinians, but only a one eyed, half brained person would take your comments seriously. Deir Yasin was not a massacre, but a battle and the casualties were exaggerated by both the Arabs and the Haganah. The other comments you make are too ridiculous to comment on individually. The only point that needs to be kept in mind is that in no country other than Israel would a fifth column be tolerated and in neighbouring entities, they would be shot or thrown of tall buildings. Maybe on the way down, they might find your rants funny as well.
Danby is being more loyal than the king. Even Israel – a terrorist state in itself – does not classify the group as terrorist. Now for instance the terror of displacment, military rule, armed settlers, home demolitions, indefinite imprisonment without trial, torture in perison, massacres from Deir Yesin to Gaza.