‘Shoot-to-kill’ provisions of Australia anti-terror proposal questioned News
‘Shoot-to-kill’ provisions of Australia anti-terror proposal questioned

[JURIST] Australian state leaders warned Thursday that "shoot-to-kill" provisions in the country's anti-terrorism proposals [draft law text, PDF] could lead to another wrongful police shooting similar to the one by British officers who incorrectly identified a Brazilian citizen as a suicide bomber [JURIST report] and killed him. The opposition could lead to a revision of the measure, but Australian Prime Minister John Howard [official profile] said the provisions do not actually give the Australian Federal Police [official website] any new power since they already have the right to use necessary deadly force in protecting against deaths or serious injury. Despite civil rights concerns and assertions by law academics who say the laws might breach Australia's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [text], six of Australia's states and two territories have already approved the laws. State leaders in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria said the shoot-to-kill provisions were not part of their agreement with the prime minister and that they want the section changed, vowing to "bring forward legislation consistent with what was agreed to." Reuters has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.