3 Stories-Common Thread, That Is: US & UK Violated Human & Civil Rights In The "War On Terror"

[kpete]

A former head of MI5 has accused the government of exploiting the fear of terrorism and trying to bring in laws that restrict civil liberties.

"The US has gone too far with Guantanamo and the tortures," she said. MI5 does not do that. Furthermore it has achieved the opposite effect - there are more and more suicide terrorists finding a greater justification."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7893890.stm

US, UK and violations of human and civil rights
by NY brit expat
Wed Feb 18, 2009 at 08:39:42 AM PST


In the past few days, three news-stories have appeared in the British press. Although on the surface they on unrelated, they all have a common thread running through them, that is, the US and UK's actions in the war on terror. The first story is the report of the International Commission of Jurists which relates both to the US and UK. The second story discusses Stella Rimington's assertion that the UK government is undermining civil liberties and using fear of terror as a weapon to cow British citizens into accepting these changes. The final story relates to the Law Lord's decision to allow the deportation of Abu Qatada to Jordan. While the last two stories only touch on the US and its actions, there are lessons to be learned by Americans.

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International Commission of Jurists

The first story, that relating to the report of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) relates both to the US and UK. The full text of the report is here (warning it is 213 pages) http://www.icj.org/...

The report by the ICJ is based on 3 year extensive examination of terrorism, counterterrorism and its impact on human rights. Drawing on public and private hearings covering 40 countries, the ICJ listened to testimonies from government officials, victims of terrorism, rendition survivors and civil society groups in dozens of countries around the world.

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The ICJ report rejects the use of counter-terrorism and secrecy in the war on terror "paradigm" and calls for its repudiation. Moreover, it emphasises the importance of criminal justice systems in the legal response to terrorism rather than the use of intelligence systems, secrecy and undermining human rights in the pursuit of terrorists.

From the press release: (http://www.icj.org/...

The report illustrates the consequences of notorious counter-terrorism practices such as torture, disappearances, arbitrary and secret detention, unfair trials, and persistent impunity for gross human rights violations in many parts of the world. The Panel warns of the danger that exceptional "temporary" counter-terrorism measures are becoming permanent features of law and practice, including in democratic societies. The Panel urges that the present political climate may provide one of the last chances for a concerted international effort to take remedial measures and restore long-standing international norms. The change in US administration provides a unique opportunity for change.

The Panel calls on policymakers to rely on civilian legal systems, utilize criminal courts and not resort to ad-hoc tribunals or military courts to try terror suspects. The report repeatedly remarks upon the extent to which undemocratic regimes with deplorable human rights records have referred to counter-terror practices of countries like the US to justify their own abusive policies.

"Seven years after 9/11 it is time to take stock and to repeal abusive laws and policies enacted in recent years. "Human rights and international humanitarian law provide a strong and flexible framework to address terrorist threats."

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A brief conclusion

This brings us back to the notion of human rights. Irrespective of the actions of individuals or the groups to which they are members, irrespective of how repugnant their statements or their ideologies, all people have human rights and among these rights is a protection from torture and the right to a fair, unbiased and open civil (not military) trial. These rights have been seriously eroded during the Bush regime's term in office as part of a systematic government policy that has literally extended across the world. It is past time for these activities to cease and for the rule of law to once again determine treatment of the accused, prisoners and for their human rights to be acknowledged.

more (tons of links)at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/2/18/1046/66303/847/698867

[biopowertoday]

1. Thanks for pulling this together. Much appreciated.