Hostages Taken in Martin Place

[Rallo]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

MrP and I are at odds about what to do with people wanting to join IS from Australia. I say let them go and come what may. And arrest them if they get to return. He thinks that they learn too much about warfare and we should keep them here and seize passports.

I guess it is a lose/lose discussion.

There is a separate thread about the siege too. Hope it ends well for the hostages, I cannot imagine their terror, or that of their loved ones.

Pushka there is a United Nations resolution that requires UNSC members not allow fighters to cross borders to join the fight.

UN Security Council Resolution 2178 Member states must:

• stop individuals believed to be "foreign terrorist fighters" from crossing their borders
• stop and ban funding or facilitating such individuals
• prosecute, rehabilitate and reintegrate "returning foreign fighters"
• stop "recruiting, organising, transporting or equipping" anyone going abroad for terrorist acts or training

 

[clazman]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

the UN is a toothless tiger....

 

[moa999]

SMH has a detailed analysis of the flag stuff:

Flag being held by Lindt Chocolat Cafe hostages is not an Islamic State flag

 

[Rallo]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

the UN is a toothless tiger....

I was stating the reason why Australia does not allow people to depart the country to go and fight, not the merits of the UNSC.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, that kind of thinking is how we develop hatred in the community which leads to the alienation of people which can lead to people doing crazy things.

I am sorry but I am afraid.

You can take that any way you like. We knew this was going to happen in our backyard and we did nothing to stop it.

We have a huge problem worldwide. Not just here. You can continue to blame radicals. That will make the problem go away.

 

[medhead]

It is very true that nothing was done to stop it. In fact, Australia cultivated a red neck paradise of bigotry and hatred. A fools' paradise.

 

[ketsuzei]

We knew this was going to happen in our backyard

We still don't even know what "this" is.

 

[medhead]

We still don't even know what "this" is.

Oh come on now. The jury has spoken. Don't being facts into it.

 

[Hvr]

It is very true that nothing was done to stop it. In fact, Australia cultivated a red neck paradise of bigotry and hatred. A fools' paradise.

And is still cultivating that intolerance.

For example the current government is removing secular counsellors from schools and only funding religious counsellors who do not even need to be trained, just believers. Whilst proselyting is ostensibly prohibited the fact that secular counsellors are prohibited means it cannot be tested or addressed.

 

[moa999]

We have a huge problem worldwide. Not just here. You can continue to blame radicals. That will make the problem go away.

Getting OT, but there is a massive refugee problem worldwide.

Out of Syria, Afghanistan alone you have 3+ million displaced people.
UN estimates there are 15+ million global refugees, and another 33+ million displaced

Total refugee resettlement in 2013 was a paltry 100,000 people.
Australia was actually the second highest taker of refugees

Very few countries around the world will actually resettle refugees -- this is part of the problem

Thus people will 'transit' countries where they get asylum with the hope of getting somewhere that will actually take them.

Refugee Council of Australia

 

[Pushka]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Pushka there is a United Nations resolution that requires UNSC members not allow fighters to cross borders to join the fight.

UN Security Council Resolution 2178 Member states must:

• stop individuals believed to be "foreign terrorist fighters" from crossing their borders
• stop and ban funding or facilitating such individuals
• prosecute, rehabilitate and reintegrate "returning foreign fighters"
• stop "recruiting, organising, transporting or equipping" anyone going abroad for terrorist acts or training

The day the United Nations actually does anything constructive is the day I break out a bottle of Dom. Sadly I pay them no respect.

I am sorry but I am afraid.

You can take that any way you like. We knew this was going to happen in our backyard and we did nothing to stop it.

We have a huge problem worldwide. Not just here. You can continue to blame radicals. That will make the problem go away.

But most people are just plain, boring but totally normal people. Terrorism has been around for as long as mankind. In my younger years it was the Yellow Peril that had us in mortal fear.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Three people have escaped (or released) so very very positive news.

 

[JohnK]

We still don't even know what "this" is.

Child custody dispute? Wasn't happy with the service?

I must be overreacting.

 

[Pushka]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Three people have escaped (or released) so very very positive news.

They escaped. It has now been confirmed as a Terror Incident. One woman rang 2GB and her son is a hostage. How she can even bare to speak is beyond me. Apparently there are some very unwell people inside.

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

They escaped. It has now been confirmed as a Terror Incident. One woman rang 2GB and her son is a hostage. How she can even bare to speak is beyond me. Apparently there are some very unwell people inside.

Just saw the video, wow - very lucky people.

 

[TomVexille]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Another couple people have come running outside

 

[erkpod]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

erkpod would like to report that his first trip around the City Circle was quiet, uneventful & on time. Much less people than usual at stations.

Time to do it again & then off to suburbia.

 

[erkpod]

Just went around the City Circle. Quieter than normal. No trains stopping at Martin Place until further notice. For me, Martin Place is not in my normal weekday operations.

 

[under the radar]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

just because we outsiders see 3 and then 2 people run from the building....it doesnt mean they 'ecsaped'....but the media of course preys on the publics need for a dramatic 'headline'.....and then media doesnt want to 'alarm' anyone!! lol....PATHETIC... there is SO MUCH MORE going on behind the scenes that the media doesnt know (THANKFULLY)... i have faith in the police/authorities to bring this to the best outcome possible.....but hey...it's now prime time...and all media needs to jusify the costs involved in their rolling coverage ...lol

 

[whatmeworry]

Re: The totally off-topic thread

Free uber rides in Sydney.
Uber Free Rides During the Sydney Siege | Uber Blog