Wally1967
08-25-2009, 05:34 PM
AUSTRALIA should start torturing high-risk prisoners, including terror suspects, a federal Liberal MP has argued.
Queensland MP Michael Johnson says there is a limited place for torture in civil societies, but says it must be done in an "appropriate way" and properly explained to the public.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has blasted the MP, arguing there is no justification for the use of torture in a humane and civil society.
Mr Johnston's comments follow reports that the CIA and its anonymous sub-contractors used various forms of torture and other devices against terror suspects, including threats to kill their children and rape their mothers.
"I think that there is a very limited place for torture, and certainly where that torture takes place, it must be done in an appropriate way, and in an appropriate context," Mr Johnson told Sky News.
Mr Johnson has previously backed the pariah state of North Korea.
While the US Government had earlier acknowledged that it had used "waterboarding" - giving a victim a fear that they are being drowned -- other new techniques were now emerging including loading holding guns and power drills to people's heads.
"The Government's position is that torture is totally inconsistent with a humane and civilised society," Mr McClelland said last night.
"Torture compromises a nation's moral leadership and jeopardises the capacity to combat terrorism and counter extremism."
Queensland MP Michael Johnson says there is a limited place for torture in civil societies, but says it must be done in an "appropriate way" and properly explained to the public.
Attorney-General Robert McClelland has blasted the MP, arguing there is no justification for the use of torture in a humane and civil society.
Mr Johnston's comments follow reports that the CIA and its anonymous sub-contractors used various forms of torture and other devices against terror suspects, including threats to kill their children and rape their mothers.
"I think that there is a very limited place for torture, and certainly where that torture takes place, it must be done in an appropriate way, and in an appropriate context," Mr Johnson told Sky News.
Mr Johnson has previously backed the pariah state of North Korea.
While the US Government had earlier acknowledged that it had used "waterboarding" - giving a victim a fear that they are being drowned -- other new techniques were now emerging including loading holding guns and power drills to people's heads.
"The Government's position is that torture is totally inconsistent with a humane and civilised society," Mr McClelland said last night.
"Torture compromises a nation's moral leadership and jeopardises the capacity to combat terrorism and counter extremism."