The New Terrorist Act 2000, gives Jack Straw the discretion and power to proscribe any organisation, he feels is “concerned in terrorism.” That is, any association or combination of persons, who prepare for, promote or encourage the advancement of a political, religious or idealogical cause, at home or abroad. The pressure to proscribe comes from foreign governments, who wish to oppose self-determination in their own countries, like Turkey and Iran, even if there is no terrorist activity being conducted in the U.K.

An extension of police powers under this Act, includes the ‘prevention and suppression’ of terrorism which means they have the right to stop and search any suspect and have ‘special powers’ of arrest. Judges, can extend detentions, at the request of police! This shabby legislation, debated late at night, for one and a half hours, will not only criminalise groups like the PKK or Tamil Tigers, but make terrorists out of MP’s who engage constituency members, like the Seikh Youth Federation, in discussions. The Prime Minister is guilty under this law, for negotiating or making concession to the IRA, proscribed since 1973.

‘Domestic terror’ is specifically aimed at Animal Rights Extremists, yet Combat 18, a violent rascist wing of the National Front, is not proscribed in the list of twenty-one banned organisations, which an inarticulate, stuttering and stammering Home Secretary, made the House vote on, in block, without judging their merits or grievances individually. This ill conceived undemocratic Bill, which is now a ‘permanent, counter-terrorism law,’ will have repercussions, affecting all, who seek change.