Britain: a haven for war criminals and killers?

[IndianaGreen]

Britain: a haven for war criminals and killers?

Tuesday 06 April 2010
by Paddy McGuffin

The government must end its protection of human rights abusers if it is no longer to be regarded as a haven for war criminals, campaign groups have said.

The calls followed the disclosure that of 51 suspected mass murderers and war criminals resident in Britain, not one has been prosecuted.

New figures obtained by the Aegis Trust show the UK Border Agency has taken action against 513 war crimes suspects since 2005 - either by refusing residency or immigration and refugee status.

But no arrests or prosecutions came from the 51 cases referred to the Metropolitan Police.

A 2009 Aegis Trust report found suspects living in Britain included torturers from Saddam Hussein's Iraq regime, Afghan warlords, a member of the Sudanese Janjaweed, several Tamil Tigers, a Somali warlord and several suspects from the Balkans.

Reforms strengthening genocide and war crime laws came into force yesterday allowing the prosecution of suspects found in Britain from 1991 rather than from from the previous limit of 2001.

Aegis Trust head of campaigns Nick Donovan urged the government to ensure war criminals were brought to justice.

"We welcome the change in the law," he said yesterday. "However, the time has now come to enforce that law.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/88848

[ck4829]

1. This has been going on for a long time. They protected Pinochet from prosecution

[IndianaGreen]

2. Tony Blair took a personal interest in protecting Pinochet from being deported to Spain

War criminals and human rights abusers protect one another.