Anthony Byrne (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, I present the committee's report entitled Review of the re-listing of Ansar al-Islam, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.

In accordance with standing order 39(f), the report was made a parliamentary paper.

The current regulations to relist these organisations were signed by the Governor-General on 8 March 2012. They were then tabled in the House of Representatives and the Senate on 13 March 2012. The disallowance period of 15 sitting days for the committee's review of the listing began from the date of the tabling. Therefore, the committee was required to report to this parliament by tomorrow, Tuesday, 29 May 2012.

When the relisting of these four organisations was previously reviewed by the committee in June 2009, the relisting of a fifth organisation, Asbat al-Ansar, was also reviewed. The Attorney-General advised in a letter dated 22 February 2012 that she had decided not to relist this organisation as a terrorist organisation under section 102.1 of the Criminal Code as she was satisfied on reasonable grounds that there was insufficient contemporaneous information from classified and open sources to demonstrate that this organisation satisfied the legislative criteria for proscription under the Criminal Code. I would now like to take this opportunity to outline some brief information on each organisation and I will also outline the committee's findings in relation to each of these four organisations. With respect to Ansar al-Islam, it plans and conducts attacks against foreign forces, and Shiah, Kurdish and Iraqi government interests. AAI's attacks most commonly target US and Iraqi security forces in Iraq, using improvised explosive devices and indirect fire attacks. The statement of reasons lists over 50 attacks for which AAI have indicated responsibility, by posting a video or media statement, in the period since the last review. Their methods have included assassinations, the use of small arms, thermal grenades, and IED and mortar attacks against Iraqi police and military personnel and against US military patrols, bases and vehicles. The committee does not recommend disallowance of the regulation in relation to this organisation.

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan is a militant Islamist group based and operating in central and south Asia. The group established relations with the Taliban and al-Qaeda, and allegedly became extensively involved in narcotics trafficking. One of its founders, Namangani, was killed during the US led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and the remnants of the IMU fled across the border to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Although its capabilities were severely degraded, the following years saw the IMU regroup in the South Waziristan area of the FATA, where it established close links to a number of Pakistani Taliban groups and reportedly participated in cross-border attacks on the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Notwithstanding increasing pressure from ISAF and Pakistani security forces, reports throughout 2010 indicated that the IMU had re-established an operational presence in northern Afghanistan, and the group also claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in Tajikistan. The committee does not recommend disallowance of the regulation in relation to the IMU.

With respect to the third organisation, Jaish-e-Mohammed, the statement of reasons indicates that the JeM is based in Pakistan and operates primarily in Indian Administered Kashmir. JeM operatives have been involved in attacks against civilian and military targets in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. JeM attacks have included suicide bombings in 2001 and 2003, with most attacks since that time involving grenades and firearms. JeM continues to concentrate its efforts against Indian security forces, government installations and civilians in the disputed territory of IAK. In addition, JeM has broadened its operational focus to join the Afghan Taliban in attacks against government and coalition forces in Afghanistan. The committee does not recommend disallowance of the regulation in relation to JeM.

With respect to Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Jane's Terrorism and Insurgency Centre states that LeJ activities have been curbed following the arrest of key leaders and the particular focus of the military and police authorities on the group, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of activists. Following the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011, the LeJ vowed to conduct a series of retaliatory attacks. To this end, a spokesman for the LeJ, identifying himself as Ali Sher Haidri, released a statement in mid-May 2011 threatening to avenge bin Laden's death by targeting not only government ministers and security force personnel but also Shiah Muslims from the ethnic Hazara community in Pakistan. The LeJ followed through with these threats with a series of significant attacks in and around Quetta between May and July 2011. The statement of reasons lists 12 acts of terrorism attributed to or suspected of being perpetrated by LeJ. The committee does not recommend disallowance of the regulation in relation to LeJ.

In the time remaining, I would like to take the opportunity to thank my fellow committee members, including the deputy chair, Philip Ruddock, and the secretariat, Jerome Brown, Robert Little, Cathryn Oliff and Jessica Butler for their work in reviewing these and other terrorist organisations. I would also like to make a point about Daryl Melham who served on the committee until March this year, a significant service to a significant committee, which has been noted. (Time expired)

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