Josh Deegan was one of the many who died in the Bali bombing in October 2002. Since then, his father, Brian Deegan, has asked repeatedly why Australian officials didn't make public the information that suggested that Bali could have been the target of a terrorist attack. He has also been a strong advocate against the war on Iraq and is running as an independent candidate for the federal seat of Mayo which is currently held by foreign minister Alexander Downer. Green Left Weekly's Jo Ellis spoke to Brian Deegan.
I spoke to Brian Deegan the day after a bomb exploded in front of the Australian embassy in Jakarta, killing passers-by and security guards. Responding to my question about why the bombing happened, Deegan said: "For the very same reason that the attack in Bali occurred and the very same reason that more attacks will occur. And that is that the Australian government has joined in the 'coalition of the willing' countries, ready to put to one side human decency, ready to put to one side international laws and to embark upon an illegal enterprise.
"These people that are committing these atrocities and I don't back away from that — my God, they're just so wrong — but they would regard themselves as righteous and they would regard these atrocities as part and parcel of a war and after all it is we, as Western countries, that declared this war to begin with. We committed many atrocities before they did."
As an example, Deegan points to the 13-year economic blockade of Iraq and its impact — the deaths of "an estimated 5000 children per month".
"I mean, we can label them as terrorists, they label us as terrorists. I'm not so certain who's worse. We see images of the carnage that has been produced by their attacks, but we never see images of the carnage that's produced by our attacks. No, the media aren't interested in that, nor is the government. Now, the fact of the matter is that this government has blood on its hands, there's no doubt about that. And I'm ashamed."
Before quitting his job to run in the federal election, Brian Deegan was a magistrate. He considers negotiation to be crucial in dealing with terrorism. "History is strewn with examples of where negotiation has brought a resolution. History is also littered with instances of where non-negotiation brings about further terrorist episodes.
"I'm trying to put in practice what I preached on the bench for 16 years. If parties have a complaint, if parties have a dispute, I have been very successful, 90% successful in solving cases before they come to trial purely on the basis that I demand people negotiate. And it works. And now I'm trying to demand that this government negotiates before more innocents are killed.
"I mean, if these people are fanatics — which this government keeps painting them as — OK, well you can't really negotiate, but the reality is that they do have some righteous principles, they do not wish for Australia to be joining with a 'coalition of the willing', or whatever you'd like to call it, of Western nations that are invading Muslim nations, it's as simple as that, and killing innocent Muslim babies.
"No, they don't like that. I don't like that. I didn't like it before Josh died, I don't like it now, and I stand against that and that's why I say 'Bring the Australian troops home immediately!'."
I asked Deegan whether he agreed with Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Keelty's comments that the Iraq war has made Australia a terrorist target. He replied: "I was saying it before he came out... I said it to Joshua two months before he died. Let's not forget that John Howard cynically, disgustingly, deceitfully talks about what came first.
"It was only one month before Bali that nine eminent Australians including three former prime ministers pleaded — pleaded — with this prime minister to re-think his position vis-a-vis Iraq. Bali then occurred and now the prime minister is saying 'No', Bali occurred first. Now that's just ludicrous."
According to Deegan, Howard and Downer are reluctant to enter into debate with him on foreign policy issues. "They paint me as a grieving father. That's the only way they can disguise the fact that they're wrong and I'm right. It's a cowardly thing to do, but it's the only thing they can do because they cannot debate me logically on the issues. They know that I have the truth on my side, they have deceit on their's, and the reality is that I would beat them from a commonsense point of view."
Other families of the Bali bombing victims have been generally supportive of the issues that Deegan is raising. "They've begged me to continue. I'm an advocate not just for me and my family but for many of the victims. Not all, but for many.
"I could not, as a judicial officer, remain silent when I could see many injustices are occurring. I mean, that's my job. Frankly, I'm disappointed that more judicial officers didn't come out and speak out loudly."
From Green Left Weekly, September 22, 2004.
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