Civil Liberties under attack - public meeting in Swindon
Andy newman | 30.03.2004 16:59 | Anti-militarism | Repression | Social Struggles | Oxford
This is the press release from Swindon Stop the War Coalition:
meeting 6th April, 7:30 pm - Friends Meeting House
meeting 6th April, 7:30 pm - Friends Meeting House
Swindon Stop the War Coalition has organised a public meeting to discuss the impact on civil liberties of the war on terror. The meeting will be at 7:30 on Tuesday 6th April at Friends Meeting House, Eastcott Hill.
Matt Foot, a civil liberties lawyer from Fishers solicitors in London will address the meeting. Matt successfully acted for British protesters arrested at the anti-globalisation protests in Genoa, Italy in 2002.
The organisers believe that many of our traditional democratic freedoms are being eroded in the name of fighting terrorism.
Secretary of the Swindon group, Andy Newman, hopes that people will come and debate whether giving up our democratic rights is necessary. “After the terrible bombings in Spain, everyone is understandably anxious to prevent similar atrocities here. However, we still need to question what the government is doing. Not only are British subjects being held without charge in Guantanamo Bay, but 22 people are also held in Belmarsh prison in the UK. We don’t know if they are innocent or guilty, because they have not even been accused of any specific crime! The government is also seeking to curtail our rights to democratic demonstrations through the Civil Contingencies Bill”
For more details check our web page:
http://freespace.virgin.net/swindon.stopwar/civil-liberties.htm
Matt Foot, a civil liberties lawyer from Fishers solicitors in London will address the meeting. Matt successfully acted for British protesters arrested at the anti-globalisation protests in Genoa, Italy in 2002.
The organisers believe that many of our traditional democratic freedoms are being eroded in the name of fighting terrorism.
Secretary of the Swindon group, Andy Newman, hopes that people will come and debate whether giving up our democratic rights is necessary. “After the terrible bombings in Spain, everyone is understandably anxious to prevent similar atrocities here. However, we still need to question what the government is doing. Not only are British subjects being held without charge in Guantanamo Bay, but 22 people are also held in Belmarsh prison in the UK. We don’t know if they are innocent or guilty, because they have not even been accused of any specific crime! The government is also seeking to curtail our rights to democratic demonstrations through the Civil Contingencies Bill”
For more details check our web page:
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Andy newman
e-mail:
Swindon@stopwar.org.uk
Homepage:
http://freespace.virgin.net/swindon.stopwar/index.htm
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
Civil Liberties
30.03.2004 17:30
hindered by Blunketts new laws you lot come along to support us. It's comforting to know that despite all we've done around the world, all the suicide bombers we've sent to their Virgins, all the innocents lost forever, all the lives ruined, we can still rely on people like you to make our lives (and operations) much easier.
Thanks again - - and if next time we get you or one of your loved ones you can be happy in the knowledge that you stuck to your principles.
A Terrorist
very funny
30.03.2004 20:52
These measures have very little impact on terrorists, but a huge impact on immigrants, protesters etc etc. How convenient.
Don't believe me? Check the history eg the last PTA (used against the republican movement, not the IRA) the anti-stalking laws (used against protesters now) etc etc
an anti-terrorist
Perfect
30.03.2004 21:26
With help like that diverting people from the danger and making the government impotent to act against us we can keep killing.
Thanks again you are doing much for our cause.
A Terrorist
Potential Terrorist
31.03.2004 09:01
Che
Well done Che
31.03.2004 10:03
The bombs and bullets are coming, you will have helped make it possible
A Terrorist
Beware the Doublespeak Geek
05.04.2004 21:09
(I) Opposing Blunkett's policies makes you a terrorist
(II)Opposing wars makes you a terrorist
(III)Opposing the war against Iraq helps terrorist
Perhaps we should begin in a lecture theatre or with a book, first we must define the word terrorist. Yes, I know - it would take time, and this discussion room is no place for it, except to point out that the victim of the killing will no longer have the ability to express their anger that (i) they were killed by an individual acting within an armed group, or their happiness (as Bush and Blair portray it) that (ii) they were killed by military forces acting on behalf of ?democratically? elected governments,
Now we have to define democratic - which, of course does not mean representative, but our herd to hooligan/football team-like system of electing networks of self-interested and corrupt people affiliated to political parties (which should probably be banned to ensure democracy). Thinking groups yes -> but we should elect individuals who can not organise their dishonesty in electable groups, so that all votes in Parliament are free votes, ie. no parties on ballot papers, and no electoral advertisement by groups, only individuals.
Lastly, we all know that this warring foreign policy and the atrocities committed by US/UK/ES are one of several root causes of attacks against US/UK/ES
When the bombs go off in London, I'll be blaming Blair - Smith - Blunkett.... so don't vote Labour, so don't vote Tory, so don't vote for turncoat LibDem -> vote Green -> and force them left by joining them!
Dr Jon