Congratulations to Chris McCafferty
Posted by Richard
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Well done Chris! Thank you for voting against the 90-day detention without trial in the Terrorism Bill on Wednesday night.
I hope you can also help change the wording on "glorification" of terrorism. The current wording will make academic teaching, research and librarianship extremely difficult, especially in the areas of Peace Studies, history and politics.
Posted by Steve
Thursday, November 10, 2005
I have to say I totally disagree with her actions, yet again MPs through out the country, pay no attention to what the gerneral public at large want, which is a safer environment for everbody to live in. I am no supporter of Tony Blair. However 28 days is nowhere near long enough, when investigating these issues and the backgound to any terrorist attack or threat.
Posted by John Blackburn
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Reading the various comments reminds me of the phrase Anthony Trollope used in his demolition of the so-called 'free' press: 'It is so easy to condemn..What can be so easy as this, when the critic is responsible for nothing?' I could take the 'anti' lobby more seriously IF there was even a pretence of saying how the government is expected to prevent terrorist acts without being able to interrogate people suspected of organising them. Magic? ESP? Guesswork? As Nicholas Freeling says in one of his novels 'What's the average none-too-bright cop looking for? Scowling Palestinians...?' The point being that good interrogation takes time. All this NIMBY-ist posturing has acheived is to encourage the use of illicit means (drugs, beatings, torture etc) by the security people to get results. And information from these methods is deeply suspect. The next time some bod with a grievance ( or some 'nutter' fighting for a cause, take your pick) blows up some poor sods who just happen to be passing by, no doubt the NIMBYs will be just as quick to condemn police inaction/ineffectiveness. The 'blame'culture, doncha just love it?
Posted by Pat McCarthy
Thursday, November 10, 2005
John, like the war on Iraq, taking away our precious civil liberties, will increase the risk of terrorism. Just look at how internment recruited thousands for the IRA in the seventies. The following is from the Liberty website:
"Anti Terrorism measures have done little to ensure Britain is safe and secure from terrorist attack, but much to infringe the civil liberties of those living in the UK.
Liberty has fundamental concerns about aspects of the Terrorism Bill, which has profound implications for human rights and civil liberties.
"We are particularly concerned about threats to free speech and the extension of pre charge detention. These measures have the potential to undermine centuries of democratic tradition and are likely to be disastrously counter-productive.
"The miscarriages of justice which involved Irish suspects and anti terror laws in the 70s and 80s are a reminder of the dangers of rushing laws which create a twin-track system and delivering poor justice.
"As we recover from the attacks on London we must be prepared to defend our ancient principles of freedom and liberty. To allow their erosion, and to give in to intolerance, would give victory to the terrorists.
If we give in to intolerance, we are giving in to terrorism.
Posted by Alison Dale
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Well done Chris and thank goodness for Parliament.
Pat is right when s/he points out that draconian measures in Ireland such as the introduction of internment did not lead to a reduction in terrorism. It has been said that the best recruiting sergeant the IRA ever had was the British Government. If the 90 day detention proposal had been accepted by Parliament that same saying could also have been applied to Al Qaida.