Outrageous sentencing of Peter Greste.

[i-need-a-martini]

I find it appalling that the Australian news has hardly touched on it and that the government hasn't issued an official statement condemning the Egyptian governement.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-06-23/peter-greste-jailed-in-egypt/5543292

[cherry*135]

I don't think Julie Bishop has any idea of what she should do.. she said something like ' I have made phone calls, what else can be done?'

[lloydslights]

I did a little reading of Peter Greste's background in journalism.  He sure has been in some difficult zones for his chosen career.  

DEB

[2106greencat]

You would honestly think that a resume of the reporting positions over the many years that Pete has done would be enough to prove to anyone that he is a journalist with no alterior motive, no ASIO ties, just a brave man doing his job and reporting from around the world.

Or, maybe, it is that hardcut reporting that he bravely does that  has become a little too close to home for those who would rather hide the truth and so  have decided to trump up a charge to shut him up.

Total madness.

Free Press my ar*se, depends on where you are and what you have to say.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@lloydslights wrote:

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I have read through the link entirely and it explicitly reports that the Aust. Government intends doing, as you put it,  "something" diplomatically through the Dept of Foreign Affairs & Trade.

DEB

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That "something" is turning out to be "nothing".

Around the world, other nations leaders are publicly condemning Egypt. We have yet to do so.

Australia has made no official statement about the case. Nor have they suggested publicly that the Egyptians have done the wrong thing.

In fact the only comment by Abbott is that he is "...not in the business of being critical of the Government as such,”.

Given how much foreign aid we give Egypt and given that Greste is in no physical danger and given that this isna't diplomatically sensitive, I think a bit of criticism wouldn't go astray Mr Aboott!

[cherples]

He's still trying to figure out how to include "Egypt is our bestie" in the conversation.

[lloydslights]

According to reports from both ABC and Ch7 last night, a telephone hook-up is arranged for this weekend between our Govt and the current Egyptian leadership. 

Diplomacy is required for situations like this.

DEB

[icyfroth]

So it's all Mr Abbott's and Ms Bishop's fault as usual?

From news.com

" EGYPT’S President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said he will not interfere in court rulings, a day after three Al-Jazeera journalists including Australian Peter Greste, were sentenced to seven years in prison, sparking an international outcry.

El-Sissi was speaking in a nationally televised speech during a military graduation ceremony tonight.

He said Egypt has an independent judiciary and urged people to stop commenting or criticising rulings by courts.

“We will not interfere in court verdicts,” he said.

Al-Sisi said Egypt’s authorities “will not interfere in judicial matters”.

A government official told AFP Sisi cannot legally pardon the journalists until a final court ruling after an appeal.

The shocking news comes as Prime Minister Tony Abbott has vowed to keep lobbying Egypt’s government to free jailed Greste."

[durruticolumna]

I don't think either side could do anything when dealing with a country like Egypt,frankly. As someone pointed out earlier,we think we're a big player on the world stage.We're not.

[i-need-a-martini]

So we simply allow others to do our work for us then? Amnestry, the UN, the UK, the USA?

This isn't a case of some idiot smuggling drugs and being caught. We have an innocent Australian man who has had his human rights stripped from him. We went all out when Schapelle was busted doing something illegal. Now we are taking a touchy-feely approach when an innocent man is imprisoned? Makes no sense. 

And in terms of diplomacy, we have nothing diplomatic to lose if we criticise Egypt. It is the opposite in fact. They have been trying to strengthen trade relations with us for years plus we give them tens of millions in aid every year.

[i-need-a-martini]

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@lloydslights wrote:

According to reports from both ABC and Ch7 last night, a telephone hook-up is arranged for this weekend between our Govt and the current Egyptian leadership. 

Diplomacy is required for situations like this.

DEB

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7 days later?

The americans were on the phone to the Egyptian gvernment and arranged embassy talks immediately and it isn't even one of their citizens.