Scott Poynting
There's a very old joke about a man sprinkling a mysterious white powder all around the walls of his house. A bystander asks, "What's that for?" The man replies, "To keep away dangerous elephants". Says the bystander, "But there's no elephants around here". The powder man replies, knowingly, "See, it works!"
A lot of anti-terror measures "work" in just this way. Thanks to the private security officers guarding the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it has not been blown up. And why would I object to being searched by them, unless I had something to hide?
When, on July 27, a United Airlines flight notified a security alert and returned to Sydney airport because someone found a vomit bag with "B.O.B." written on it, politicians and all official spokespeople proclaimed this a sensible precaution. Better to be safe than sorry.
So it was old news and only worth one small paragraph in the Daily Terrorgraph when on August 26 a Virgin Blue 737 returned to Sydney airport because someone found a white powder in the toilet. Yes, it was talcum powder. But it's as well to be alert — no anthrax, no bombs, no elephants.
Anti-terrorism laws work in much the same way as the elephant repellent. They help prevent the fear of terrorists, and do very little to prevent terrorism, whether it's here or not. But they are useful for other things, too. They keep certain sectors of the population silenced, repressed, in fear. Who knows when you might get a knock on the door? Been to the wrong country? Attended a public meeting? Read a religious magazine? Accessed the wrong website?
Of course, you might not get a knock on that door. ASIO has recently advertised for locksmiths. But it's better than sledgehammers, isn't it? Or maybe not, if you don't know about it.
In Bin Laden in the Suburbs: Criminalising the Arab Other, my colleagues and I described the ASIO and federal police raids on the homes of Muslims in Australia, after September 11, 2001, and October 12, 2002. Sledgehammers, guns at heads, small children being threatened, personal documents and computers confiscated from family homes.
At the time of going to press, not one person raided had been arrested for anything other than an immigration or visa infraction.
As I understand the new anti-terrorism laws, for an author or journalist to make public the details, so-called "operational information", of such a raid now, would make them liable to, from memory, up to five years' imprisonment.
The "Why would you object if you've got nothing to hide" attitude infects the whole of our society.
A just-released report by Amnesty International USA states: "Prior to 9/11, racial profiling was frequently referred to as 'driving while black'. Now, the practice can be more accurately characterized as driving, flying, walking, worshipping, shopping or staying at home while black, brown, red, yellow, Muslim or of Middle Eastern appearance." It couldn't happen here, could it?
Last Thursday morning, I saw a middle-aged woman being body-searched at Central Station by four uniformed police — two men and two women. Two private security guards stood by. The woman looked shocked and distressed, as she was subjected to this humiliating public charade. She was diminutive in stature, and offered no resistance. She would probably be described by NSW police as "of Middle Eastern appearance".
She had a small blue back-pack which was on the ground, its contents being examined at one stage by one of the officers. Next to it, also subjected to examination, was her wallet. While her pockets were searched, she repeatedly looked down at the wallet. I'd be worried, too, I thought.
She was then apparently ordered to stand with her legs apart and her arms in the air since this is what she did. One police officer held each arm, while another patted her all over, including the crotch. No bombs, no grenades, no guns, no knives, no white powder.
I did not see the beginning nor the end of these proceedings. Perhaps the police apologised profusely for the harassment and humiliation. Or maybe they discovered a weapon of mass destruction. I would like to know. At the time, I felt sickened in the guts by this appalling ritual. Whatever danger it was supposed to protect me from, I'd rather face that.
[The above is the text of a talk presented to a Socialist Alliance public meeting in the Bankstown Town Hall gallery on September 11. Scott Poynting is an associate professor at the University of Western Sydney.]
From Green Left Weekly, September 22, 2004.
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