The return of Dr Mohammed Haneef after four weeks in custody following a botched “terror” probe has sparked a new controversy: should—or should not—Australia apologise for the bungle? Australian Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out saying sorry: “Australia will not be apologising to Dr Haneef. He was not victimised. Mistakes happen from time to time and when dealing with terrorism, it is better safe than to be sorry.” Australia’s foreign minister Alexander Downer too has justified the screw-up: “What do you expect the police to do, fall on the ground and grovel? Eat dirt?”
But Haneef’s laywer Peter Russo has said an apology might not be out of place and Queensland premier Peter Beattie has said that Australia must issue a “formal apology” if the inquiry into the case found nothing. The United Indian Association and the Overseas and Australian Medical Graduates Association too have asked the government to apologise to the 230,000-strong Indian community in print and electronic media without any further delay to ensure that there will be no snowballing effect of the backlash on the community.
Questions: Should Australia say “We are sorry” at the highest level? Should India insist on it so that the right signal is sent out that the human rights of its citizens cannot be trampled upon so brazenly? Is it so humiliating for Australia to say sorry if a mistake has been made? Could it cement better relations between Indians and Australians? Or in the name of the war on terror, should civility like civil liberties be thrown out of the window?
churumuri 
A civilised country, institution or individual would/should apologise for any mistake, accidental or otherwise. But then who in her right mind would mention civilisation and Australia in the same breath? Not Vinutha Mallya, I bet. The country-continent prides itself on a macho image almost bordering on the homosexual. So it would never do anything as sissy as saying sorry. So, we will have to settle for the next best alternative, which is to see India thump Australia grandly in the upcoming home series. There will be at least 10 players out of the 15/16 who come here who would fail a “character test” that was so cruelly imposed on our Mohamed Haneef. Cheers.
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The answer is ‘YES’! But, to expect one from arrogant like John Howard would be a mistake. It’s fun to see Howard/Downer digging themselves deeper into trouble with their utter arrogance towards foreign (read ‘third world/ developing world) nationals.
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The Sydney Morn ing Heralds says:
“But he stood by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews’ decision to cancel Dr Haneef’s visa on character grounds, saying his minister was acting on “secret information”.
“The question of whether he should have a visa again depends on assessments made as to his associations and I suspend judgment on that,” Mr Howard told the Seven Network.
“Because I think at the moment the cancellation of his visa was wholly legitimate and I can’t see therefore the circumstances in which it’s going to be restored, certainly in the near future.”
Mr Andrews is seeking advice from the commonwealth solicitor-general as to whether he can release the information publicly”
It is unthinkable that Hanee, a close friend of Sabeel who is under arrest in Britain and who is in turn close friend of the two Islamists who failed to blow up the Airport did not know what they were upto. Australia should release the intelligence information on Haneef. As far as Haneef’s future as a doctor anywhere outside India is concerned, it is finished. If I were Haneef, I will send back that Australian lawyer who is blowing and cold in India to his country and lie low for a few years. Many commentators on intelligence think that Australians moved too quickly to arrest Haneef before he has had time to establish a ‘cell ‘ in Australia. It is not arrogant for Howard to be cautious about a muslim alien who places religion above everything else. It is after all Haneef who appled to go to Australia to be a doctor. The common assumption is there is much more to come out about Haneef in his close association with Sabeel Ahmed in Britain. Atmasakshi, there is no child labour in Australia, no burning of brides because they did not bring hefty dowries and certainly not the corruption one witnesses in every layer of administration in India.
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Muthappa Rai was a wanted man but he is free man today ! Do you think he is innocent and should India Apologize to Him ! Do you believe he is innocent ? No Criminal Procedure system can work if every acquittal has to be followed by an Apology and compensation .
Dr. Haneef has admitted he got a call from the mother of Kaleel about the problem with SIM card and he lands himself at AIRPORT soon. It is circumstantial if you cannot get any additional evidence but certainly enough to arrest . The fact SIM card was was not at the sight of blast at Galsgow but at kaleel’s House does not materially alter the situation except an error apparent on the face of the record. You should admire the system which was honest to admit the mistake and let him free is ! such a thing would have never happened in India.
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definitely not…..Australia should never apologize…first of all there are some questions to be answered….why did haneef rush to oz immediately after the bombings(unless he had something to do with it), that too on a one way ticket….also, i am sure he knew pretty well about the whole plot, and he ha a bigger role to play than just handing over a sim card(which they say was not found on the blast site)….don’t trust these Muslim terrorists….
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@Atmasakshi
“The country-continent prides itself on a macho image almost bordering on the homosexual”.. that was fantasic.. :)
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I wonder whether Haneef can sue the Australian Police for casting aspersions on his character and causing irreparable damage in terms of work permit, monetary losses etc.
I also hope India’s moronic media learns something from this episode and goes into facts before declaring anyone as terrorist or otherwise.
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I agree with Jeevarathna. There is nothing Australia need to apologise about it. Terrorism should be handled the way Australian Government is doing. People like CM of Karnataka are wasting their valuable time in meeting Haneef. The biggest joke is offering Haneef a plum Government posting for bringing this great honour to Bangalore, Karnataka and India.
May be his name could be added to Kempegowda Prize List announced today and later a BDA site, Rajyotsava Award followed by nomination to upper house, if possible chairmanship of an academy!
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Aatmasakshi, so how many homosexuals have you insulted today, in our country? Or are they simply kept buried by a system supported by your likes? Or like so many people without rights at home, they do not exist in your eyes? But, for some reason you get a 6×6 vision looking at the rest of the world? Talk about human rights! Stop playing God and try to get your basics right about being benevolent and start feeling the pain of people in your neighbourhood before changing the rest of the world and beleiving you are good and have everything sorted out.
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yes. aus should apologise. but the point is, do we as a country deserve an apology for anything from anybody? before asking for apologies we should be sorry for ourselves. A billion people go up in a frenzy demanding an apology when two ‘dagars’ slug out a ‘koLi jagaLa’ on some reality show and here we’re debating(!!) whether the Aus should apologise! It wasnt even a ‘mistake’ goddammit! The Aussie police tried to ‘plant’ evidence! Thats not a ‘mistake’.. thats ‘criminal’! Its not even a question of whether Haneef was ‘victimised’. It was worse. They trampled with his ‘dignity’ without a second thought. The Indian govt., infact should be paying to sue Australia anyway.
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@Tegginamane Shivu
I second that proposal for
“Rajyotsava Award” for Dr Haneef!
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The infantile CM of Karnataka and his government would recommend a padma award for this brave son of the soil! I suggest that should be become an anti-terrorist expert in Karnataka combining his role as the Dean of Ambedkar Medical College!!!
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Yahoo report of part of newspaper interview with Bharata Ratna Haneef
“When asked if he felt he was a victim of an international conspiracy, Haneef said: “Not an international conspiracy but definitely an Australian conspiracy.”
Despite his ordeal and Australian authorities revoking his work visa, Haneef said he wanted to return and work in Australia.
“I would fight for that,” said the young doctor, adding that he was a true follower of Islam, a religion which taught only peace and love.”
Except our Bharata Ratna Haneef every one in the whole wide world is a conspirator. Australia should invite him with a work VISA and appoint him as Consultant Cardiologist at the GoldCoast Hospital. His cousin Sabbel Ahmed who also wanted to leave in a hurry to somewhen intercepted at the Liverpool Railway Station is another peace loving doctor jst as their religion Islam preaches. Well, if this not a cruel joke what is?
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Star of Myusore report:
” HANEEF VISITING MYSORE THIS WEEK
Bangalore, July 30 (MRS)- Dr. Mohammed Haneef, who is in the news these days for his arrest in Australia and subsequent release, will be visiting Mysore within three or four days.
Ikram Siddiqui, cine actor and cousin of Dr. Haneef, told Star of Mysore this morning over phone that he will stay at a resort in H.D. Kote taluk for about two days.
“He has visited the resort a couple of times in the past”, he added.
Job in Dubai
Ikram denied the possibilities of Dr. Haneef returning to Australia or practicing in India.
Looks like our hero Haneef is in great demand in Dubai. I understand that Dubai is the recycling mecca for stolen SIM cards which suits our hero well!
Last time a few years ago when an Indian was accused of stealing the poor guy was given sentence of 10 years ( the owrd parole is not in Dubai judiciary lexicon) on a hearsay evidence of a single terrified person. The ‘court’ if you would like to call it presided over by a single person in Arabic Robe who asked the prosecution to read out the case, listened to the hearsay evidence of this trembling person and passed the sentence all in 30 mins flat! After all they are not Aussies to release the guy! A criminal lawyer in Dubai says death sentences are passed on any one perpetrating crime against the kingdom! Suits our hero well!!!
“He is likely to go to Dubai to take up a job. He has many offers there”, he claimed.
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Kumaranna Yeddi fight nalli Haneef CM aadre hyange?
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ayyo gowdre, namm editor sahebru karnaataka kanda, namm huDuga namm huDuga antha yerisidd ashTheya, aa voyya aagli aour maneyavaraagli yalD paisegg aago ashThu bele koDlilla.
CM puTTe gowdru sarkari aaspaatreli doctar aaythiya antha bere buckkITTu. voyya australia, dubai anthe hogthaane.
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elli namm chattrjeegaLu? aavathheno ond onde post maaDu ande nija aadre iga onthara withdrawal symptoms..
aa voyya bengali aadre naanu assaamee!! :)
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Why should they? They did their duty. They arrested him on suspicion and let him free once they knew that the evidence was NOT ENOUGH to prosecute. Remember all this happened within a month. Terrorists are not some body whom you allow them to be free till you collect evidence. You do not wait for them to shoot to kill before you find out as to whether they are armed! Let us see what happens in INDIA. When you do not have sufficient evidence you prosecute them. When you have more than sufficient evidence you let them free saying that there is no evidence. You do not produce the evidence in court with the convenience of the ruling party. Poor people are rotting in jails across the country without any trial. As was said by some one there are people in Indian jails who are not on the records of he Jail! Rich and powerful people get away with any thing in India from – rape, murder, theft, drug trafficking, rash driving, corruption and what not. FIRST LET US SET RIGHT OUR BACK YARD BEFORE WE PASS ANY COMMENT ABOUT OTHERS. Our law enforcers have a lot to learn from their Ausis counter part. Why should they apologise?
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TS,
Funny your comments about the missing BC :)
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Did anybody say sorry to Britain when 2 Indians from Bangalore tried to bomb a night club, and again an airport? 100s of people would have been killed if they were successful.
What would British Police do if they find SIM card in home of one of the bombers? Will they protect average law abiding citizen whose life was targetted, or will let Haneef enjoy full freedom and catch him should he were to engage to a terror attack?
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TS . Namma BC bagge swolpa BS padhya heLi?
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NO. There is need to
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Why so much hatred for a Muslim here among the commenters?
This reflects badly on the educated Indians in the eyes of foreigners.
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Have we no Shame?
Dozens of Indian laborers are executed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia every year on real or trumped up charges. And wht does the Govt. Of India or this blog do – NOTHING.
Furthermore, India, where Narendra Modi remains the Chief Minister, where thousands of poor wretches rot in jail for indefinite period of time, without ever seeing a judge – does not have the right to demand an apology from Australia, where Indian citizens, including Haneef, enjoy more rights [in practice] than afforded by their mothe land.
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K…If you say anything about Saudi you will be definitely dubbed as Sanghi, right, Religion has two faces, one- tolerating others and another one teaching intolerance…You can talk about and comment about the Common wealth countries , UK, USA, and some democratic countries , about others you should not open your mouth even to express your opinion objectively
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Released because of “insufficient evidence to try” is NOT the same as released because “innocent.”
Haneef is presumed innocent.
His release from custody only tells us the Australians believe there is not enough evidence to convict him. His release is NOT because he is innocent, which he is by presumption.
The fact is getting obfuscated in the news coverage.
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Churmuri should take the lead and apologise on behalf of the media for whipping up hysteria on this issue. The whole media jamboree when haneef “landed” in India was extremely vulgar, it made me want to throw up. Wait and watch, the fun will begin when his “peace loving” cousins in the UK start talking. I have a feeling that the media might ultimately end up with motte on its face.
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Nonsense… Australia was completely wthin its rights to detain Haneef and interrogate him. Why should Australia apologise merely for following its own law?!
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Does any one remember a Karnataka Guy accidentally landed up in Pakistan as a fisherman, got jailed for 22 years, tortured and released. Now a teawallah in Chikmagalur or some place. Is Pakistan apologising for this act?
There is a case of Keralite (?) travelling in a Taxi, accidentally entered the lane of Mekka (the driver wanted to take a short cut, because of traffic jam), was about to be executed for the crime of non-muslim entering the holy place. Did Saudi being sought an apology?
Imagine if this Haneef were to be Hanumantappa caught for the same ‘innocence’, how much media coverage he would have got?
Let some sense prevail on this Haneef Hype!!
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Let them not apologize ..who cares
some moron gave his sim card to his ‘BHAI BHAI’ and was ablout to flee country . Who cares?
I still donot know why employment has to be given to this guy..Is this again Minority appeasement?
sooLe MakkaLu
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that the case got more hype than necessary or that some mallu got ‘almost executed’ in Saudi Arabia doesnt absolve the australian cops of their crime – of trying to ‘plant’ evidence. also, every time a ‘keralite’ is executed in saudi or an indian rots in a pakistani jail, there is no paranoid reporting in their media which would leave all ‘browns’ vulnerable to ‘hate attacks’. the only ones who are affected are just the unfortunate individuals in question.
in the west(australia is west) though, a irresponsible media and a paranoid administration feed off of each other and the next ‘hate attack’ may only be around the corner. if not a hate attack, cases like this have the power to dictate stereotypes which the average ‘biLiya’ will buy without a second thought. and i am sure that every western govt., is aware of this.
whether haneef is truly guilty or not is totally besides the point. the point is that, what the aussie police tried was not only unethical but criminal too; and their actions truly had the potential to put the entire indian community at risk of being stereotyped, if not physically harmed and Haneef is totally justified in saying that Aus should apologize. that mr. howard refuses to even acknowledge the gravity of the case is even more shameful. what if haneef was innocent and the aussie police had been successful in framing him? all indians around the world and not just in australia, would have become fair game for hate mongers.
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