WAR: Australia Creates Controversial 1,000 Mile Security Ring Around Its Coastline, page 1

posted on Dec, 17 2004 @ 01:15 PM

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John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia announced yesterday the creation of a 1,000 nautical mile "terror exclusion zone" around its coastline, well beyond its territorial waters. If perceived to be a threat, Australia plans to intercept and board ships passing through the new zone. All ships in the zone will be monitored and required to give details of their crew, location, speed, cargo and destination port. Legal experts say that intercepting a ship in international waters would provoke outcries, and be contrary to maritime law.

news.independent.co.uk
Kathy Marks, The Independent, SYDNEY- Australia has heightened national security amid fears of a terrorist attack by Islamic militants based in south-east Asia, particularly Indonesia. However, most analysts believe that the risk, particularly from shipping, is minimal.

Don Rothwell, a professor of international law at Sydney University, said Australia was entitled to monitor ships beyond the 200-nautical mile limit of its territorial waters.

But he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: "With the exception of pirate ships and ships that are not flying flags, and one or two very minor exceptions, there is no real basis upon which any country can just stop any ship at all on the highs seas because it does infringe this fundamental freedom of high seas navigational freedom.

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IMO, this is dangerous, and may end up provoking action which may not have been necessary. Maritime law provides for free navigation of the high seas outside of territorial waters. The first ship that says "screw you, we are not providing you any information because we are in international waters," will likely be immediately suspect and intercepted/boarded, causing distress and possibly harm to those involved. This could spark some nasty consequences. The gray area between freedom and security is blurred even further with this action by Australia.

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Countermeasures

posted on Dec, 17 2004 @ 02:20 PM

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Freedom ???? isn't that an ancient word from before the time rogue states had subs with medium range missiles?

Kriz_4

posted on Dec, 17 2004 @ 05:44 PM

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Originally posted by TrueAmerican

IMO, this is dangerous, and may end up provoking action which may not have been necessary. Maritime law provides for free navigation of the high seas outside of territorial waters. The first ship that says "screw you, we are not providing you any information because we are in international waters," will likely be immediately suspect and intercepted/boarded, causing distress and possibly harm to those involved. This could spark some nasty consequences. The gray area between freedom and security is blurred even further with this action by Australia.

I totaly agree with you, "neutral zones" are becoming a thing of the past. Pre-emptiveness seems to be the latest trend and that is a very dangerous thing.

Flange Gasket

posted on Dec, 17 2004 @ 07:28 PM

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It's probably a bluff, if you live in Australia you get used to John Howard, he'll say anything to gain an advantage, he lies through his teeth all the time, people seem to love it. He'd be fully aware he can't get away with what he's proposing, but if the refugee boat people and illegal asian fishermen hear this it might make them think twice.