This stinks. My UK family is now being persecuted by *

[Taxloss]

I am British and live in London. My father, also British, has worked in international aid and development for 30 years - for Oxfam for the first decade or so, then a domestic UK charity, and then from 1990 freelance, working for governments, the larger charities (Red Cross, MSF etc) and transnational agencies (the UN, the World Bank, the EU).

He has devoted his life to others. He works into his old age without tiring because he believes in what he does and cannot think of stopping. He was in Somalia last month.

BUT, in the early 1970s some idiot put a bomb outside a police station in London. It never went off and no one was hurt. Police went around the area, calling at businesses to talk to people and see if they had seen anything suspicious. They dropped in on Dad and saw an anti-Apartheid poster on his office wall. On the basis of that alone, they arrested him. He spent one night in jail before the entire charade was dismissed and the relevant people disciplined.

This one incident now seems to mean that he can never visit the United States ever again. US visa control now needs to know of any crimes you were accused of. And he was accused of planting a bomb. So no chance mister.

So much for Habeus Corpus. So much for innocent until proven guilty.

This means no more work for the World Bank. No more work for US lobby groups. No more visiting our GODDAMN FAMILY in the US.

We're not going to suffer any hardship (other than no family visits for the time being), he has plenty of work. This will only hurt the United States.

Sorry for the rant. But like I said, this stinks.

[GAspnes]

1. that's very unfair and unjust

It sounds like your Dad does wonderful, valuable and necessary work. Once again, BushCo cuts off its nose to spite its face.

[NJCher]

2. just like most bush actions

We're all the poorer for it.


Cher

[demnan]

3. And being anti-aparteid never offended the majority

of the U.S. population who recognized the same inequity in South Africa that had existed in this country for so long. But it may have offended Dick Cheney, the only member of the House of Representatives at the time to vote against a resolution condemning aparteid.

[Taxloss]

5. Well, it was the British police who were offended

And that was a long time ago - different times, different attitudes.

[madrchsod]

4. well good luck sending any mail or package

to the usa. we can send anything overseas without registoring but europeans and others have to..why do you think no one wants to come here anymore other than for cheap labor and to buy companies for 80 cents on the dollar?

[annabanana]

6. When did THIS start?

He was just ACCUSED and he can't visit? Was this just some under the table policy decision? I'd LOVE to know where this is written. Is it a matter of degree? If he'd been accused of throwing a rock at the TV in the local pub would he have been turned away?

[Taxloss]

9. He wasn't even charged

He was just arrested.

It used to be the case that you couldn't get a visa if you had a criminal record - now it just needs "coming into the attention of the law at any time".

I think it might be particularly bad for Dad because of the word "bomb". No smoke without fire, right? Uh, no, that's not smoke, that's a copper getting steamed up over nothing.

[Djinn]

13. you don't even need to have been accused of anything

US authorities can arbitrarily decide you can not enter the US - all those that do enter do so on "color coded" visas that denote their likehood of being terrorists.

Welcome to a brave new world

[no safe haven]

25. Absolutely, Djinn.

My 23 y/o brown skinned daughter was refused entry into the US while her blonde travelling companion was allowed to continue her journey. This was about 6 months ago. Talk to me about "color coding"!!

[babylonsister]

7. Taxloss, that really stinks.

Any way to find a lawyer pro bono to clear up his record? You said the charade was dismissed; why doesn't that clear him?
I am realizing how difficult it is to "fight city hall" because it's us little people against such power. How does one even go about it? Thank you for sharing and I wish I knew of a way to help.

[Taxloss]

11. Well, the World Bank can pull a lot of strings

and as I said, it's not like we're going to be destitute - Dad's prepared to say "fuck 'em". But we're very privileged in this respect. How many people are being rejected? And at what cost to the United States?

[fugue]

8. Oh, I am so sorry!

That's ridiculous! If you were not found guilty, it's not relevant!

Rant as much as you like. You have every right to.

[TrustingDog]

10. How long has this been in effect?

US visa control now needs to know of any crimes you were accused of.
==
in other words, Rove can just arrange someone to accuse you resulting in you being denied entry to the US. Will cut down on those nasty liberals, humanitarian workers, artists, intelligensia that like to mess with american democracy and start flapping their gums about peace and fair trade and all that rot.

Next step: Same rule will apply to people in the US. all you need is an accuser, and there's plenty of them about.

salem.

[gordianot]

12. I also understand since Bush plead guilty of a DUI.

He may not be able to enter Canada. (Of course they will let him) There is a link on DU.

[Taxloss]

14. Ha!

A taste of his own booze medicine.

[CHIMO]

18. A Difference

Is that the Canadian law applies to those found guilty of drinking and driving. In Canada DUI is a criminal offense. If the person is found guilty of DUI in another country they are treated as a Canadian would be, having committed a criminal offense for the purpose of meeting Canadian criteria.
The above case is a case where the person was arrested but not found guilty of any crime.


Edited for structure.

[indigobusiness]

15. So many innocent people are caught in this perverse crunch

of psycho-politics. This is more of the same as we gain speed on our way into the proverbial brick wall.

Sorry.

[Eloriel]

16. Ridiculous, maddening

and pathetic. How PATHETIC the U.S. looks to take such ridiculous measures -- fearful, cowering, anything but strong.

So sorry for your troubles due to our cowardice and just plain mean, pointless littleness.

[gordianot]

17. Hey Taxloss here is the link on the Canada problem

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=2751571&mesg_id=2751571&page=

[bhikkhu]

19. Suspicion of Having Supported Human Rights....

seems to be sufficient these days to get one on the No-Fly lists.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Make7]

21. the internets says:

Google:"I am British" Result: 12,800 hits

Dictionary.com:"transnational" 2. Relating to or involving several nations or nationalities: transnational organizations.

-Make7

[Hello_Kitty]

22. I've known people from England to refer to themselves as British. n/t

[Boudica the Lyoness]

23. I'm British

Although I call myself English Lady here, I'm really British. That is my Nationality. My mum says I'm not English because she's Welsh and only my dad is English. Anyway I hope you don't call me a troll because I say I'm British too. I've been a member of DU since April 2001 and as you can see I don't post very often. Please don't ban yourself, it's a simple mistake.

[moggie]

27. Absolute bollocks

Particularly on the left, it's common for us to refer to ourselves as British, since the "I'm not British, I'm English" attitude is associated with crude nationalism: it's prevalent among the far right (ironically, their current party of choice is the British National Party). If I'm asked where I'm from, I'll say the UK; if I'm asked my nationality, I'll say I'm British, or occasionally European if I want to make that political point. I almost never call myself English.

[AP]

24. 70s and 80s in UK was a real low point for civil rights and civil justice.

They hysteria about the IRA really justified a lot of total crap. You should petition the UK government to expunge his arrest.

[Skittles]

26. My grandmfather was at Dunkirk

I know he would be very angry at such utter nonsense. You've got to pursue this, there has to be an appeal process. It is utterly RIDICULOUS.