Post by Paul on Oct 21, 2005 23:59:39 GMT
This is an issue I feel very strongly about. The UK Terrorism Act, and the manner in which the Police tend to deal with suspected 'undesirables' in this country I think is frankly appalling. I propose we move to call for a redrafting of the Act to ensure a better balance is made between the protection of British citizens and the upholding of personal and civil liberty. Do we as a Society have a general consensus on this? Please read the articles I've linked a little further below if you're not sure; I think they give a balanced enough view of the topic.
It's an absolutely terrible piece of legislation which deliberately inhibits people's freedom of movement, speech and the following Human Rights:
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association
Terrorism Act 2000
www.uhc-collective.org.uk/knowledge/toolbox/defence/t2000.htm
UK as a Police State?
www.urban75.com/Action/terror2001.html
Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4288682.stm
www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,16132,1550565,00.html
New Statesman Article
www.newstatesman.com/People/200508080010
Official Government Page - Terrorism Act Press Briefings
www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page2253.asp
Transcript of Mark Oaten, MP (Liberal Democrat), speaking in the House of Commons, speaking to the House, 25th Feb 2004:
Just think, based on 'intelligence' you can be detained for up to 12 months without charge. That's right here, in the UK! Personal experiences of this include myself being stopped on the London Underground simply because I was wandering round the station trying to work out the fastest route back to my station. Policemen will follow you and suspect you if you act 'suspicously'. It happened to many people in Northern Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s because the authorities then tarred all the members of the Catholic community with the same brush and immediately suspected them of IRA or otherwise extremist involvement. Likewise, many Protestants recieved the same treatment (albeit on a far smaller scale). The result was an alienated Irish (Catholic) population and a far worse situation ensued.
Now it's happening to the Muslims and other ethnic minorities. It happens to 'ordinary' white people like me or you too. The attitude the Government is taking doesn't just infringe upon our civil liberties, it's downright dangerous as history has taught us. It creates martyrs and heroes. It provides a cause for would-be terrorists of whatever political persuasion. It provides terrorist recruiting sergeants with their own recruiting materials. So, let us campaign for a moderated Terrorism Act. I'm currently in the process of provisionally finding larger organisations who have organised agendas and campaigns that we may get advice from should we decide to take this up as a Society.
How Can We Campaign Then?[/u]
1. University-wide Petition
2. Lobbying of Local MPs
3. Letter to Home Secretary or Prime Minister (guidance on letter-writing can be found on Amnesty International's UK page)
4. Traditional Poster Campaign
5. PTO Article and press campaign
6. Any other ingenious (or otherwise obvious) ideas would be very welcome!
I guess we'll bring this up at the next meeting as a point of discussion on the agenda, but it's an interesting and worthwhile issue as it directly concerns us, right here in the UK.
Peace out and have a cool (free) weekend
It's an absolutely terrible piece of legislation which deliberately inhibits people's freedom of movement, speech and the following Human Rights:
Article 7
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 9
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
Article 12
No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
Article 13
Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State.
Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 20
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association
Terrorism Act 2000
www.uhc-collective.org.uk/knowledge/toolbox/defence/t2000.htm
UK as a Police State?
www.urban75.com/Action/terror2001.html
Shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4288682.stm
www.guardian.co.uk/attackonlondon/story/0,16132,1550565,00.html
New Statesman Article
www.newstatesman.com/People/200508080010
Official Government Page - Terrorism Act Press Briefings
www.number-10.gov.uk/output/page2253.asp
Transcript of Mark Oaten, MP (Liberal Democrat), speaking in the House of Commons, speaking to the House, 25th Feb 2004:
" "First, it is not right to hold individuals indefinitely without any idea of what their long-term prospects are. My right hon. Friend the Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed highlighted a second reason why time is a critical consideration. We do not know when the war on terrorism will be over, and have introduced temporary measures to tackle a situation that we may have assumed after 11 September was temporary. However, it has become clear that it is not, so we surely need more permanent solutions to tackle a situation that, I suspect, we will have to live with for many years to come.
The third reason why it is appropriate to look at part 4 now is the growing evidence of some of the tensions that it is causing among the Muslim population in this country. If they feel that the rights of fellow Muslims are less important, the good will and community relations that we need to continue building in those groups will surely be undermined. I do not necessarily share his sentiments, but the president of the Muslim Association of Britain said:
"This legislation will only lead to a society that is divided, shattered, rife with hatred, heaving with racism, with no promise of a prosperous future"."
Just think, based on 'intelligence' you can be detained for up to 12 months without charge. That's right here, in the UK! Personal experiences of this include myself being stopped on the London Underground simply because I was wandering round the station trying to work out the fastest route back to my station. Policemen will follow you and suspect you if you act 'suspicously'. It happened to many people in Northern Ireland in the 1960s and 1970s because the authorities then tarred all the members of the Catholic community with the same brush and immediately suspected them of IRA or otherwise extremist involvement. Likewise, many Protestants recieved the same treatment (albeit on a far smaller scale). The result was an alienated Irish (Catholic) population and a far worse situation ensued.
Now it's happening to the Muslims and other ethnic minorities. It happens to 'ordinary' white people like me or you too. The attitude the Government is taking doesn't just infringe upon our civil liberties, it's downright dangerous as history has taught us. It creates martyrs and heroes. It provides a cause for would-be terrorists of whatever political persuasion. It provides terrorist recruiting sergeants with their own recruiting materials. So, let us campaign for a moderated Terrorism Act. I'm currently in the process of provisionally finding larger organisations who have organised agendas and campaigns that we may get advice from should we decide to take this up as a Society.
How Can We Campaign Then?[/u]
1. University-wide Petition
2. Lobbying of Local MPs
3. Letter to Home Secretary or Prime Minister (guidance on letter-writing can be found on Amnesty International's UK page)
4. Traditional Poster Campaign
5. PTO Article and press campaign
6. Any other ingenious (or otherwise obvious) ideas would be very welcome!
I guess we'll bring this up at the next meeting as a point of discussion on the agenda, but it's an interesting and worthwhile issue as it directly concerns us, right here in the UK.
Peace out and have a cool (free) weekend
