The War on Terror: A potential threat to liberty?

[ItWillNeverWork]

Throughout the world since September 11, hundereds of governments have passed so called 'anti-terrorist' legislation that, according to Amnesty International, has been used as an excuse to "step up repression, undermine human rights protection and stifle political dissent". Redefining the word 'terrorism', holding people without charge, expanding death penalty, sanctioning torture and curbing freedom of speech are some of the things that are occuring.

For example:

Jordan: "amendments to the penal code in october [2002] expanded 'terrorism' to include damaging the enviroment, public, private, international organisations or diplomatic missions. the amendments also strengthened powers to close down any publication deemed to have publised false or libellous information that could 'undermine national unity or the country's reputation'."

Philippines: "Human rights groups report indiscriminate mass arrests and torture of suspected members of and sypathisers with the Abu Sayef Group, which is alleged to maintain links with Al-Qaida. Currently, foreign 'terrorist' suspects are detained indefinatly under old immigration law."

Malaysia: "Since september 2001 the internal Security Act of 1960 has been used to detain at least 40 Malaysians accused of links to 'international terrorism'. The act allows detential without trial.

United kingdom: The Anit-Terrorism, crime and security Act 2001 permits indefinate detention of non-UK nationals without charge or trial if the Home Secretary reasonably believs and suspects they are a national security risk and 'international terrorist'. The belief and suspician may be based on secret evidence.

United States: The CIA has been given a green light, under the USA PATRIOT act, to tap US citizens; the FBI and other police agencies can now conduct "sneak and peak" searches of people's homes and offices; and a new definition of "domestic terrorism" is broad enough to include political protests.

Furthermore, the detention of suspects without trial, acces to lawyers or the outside world in Guantanamo Bay continues. Some of the prisoners have been held their for nearly 2 years with no charges brought against them, and some are reported to be as young and 13/14 years of age. Concerns are now arrising over the possibility of an execution chameber being built especially for Guantanamo Bay detainees.

New Zealand: "Local human rights organisations are concerned that the draft anti-terrorism bill could criminalise legitimate protest, designate people as terrorists without trial, and give the authorities more power to spy on citizens" - 2002.

As you can see from this brief account of only a few countries(and these are theccountries who have taken relativley moderate steps), the war on terror has prompted many nations to relinquish freedoms for increased security. Others have used terrorism as an outright excuse for oppression.

Here are a few news stories I thought summed up the atmosphere in some parts of the world:

Man Charged over Email to US embassy
www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?thesection=news&thesubsection=&storyID=3531974&reportID=62066

Manipulation of media coverage
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55816-2003Oct20.html

EU calls on US to act over Guantanamo Bay Situation
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3205055.stm

European Bank critisise Uzbekistan over human rights
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3157196.stm

Jordanian Dissident Jailed
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1990925.stm

Whilst all these stories may not be linked to the war on terror dicectly the abuses are made more possible due to anti-terror legislation passed since september 2001.

I think at this point it would be fitting to end on a quate by a well know man named Benjamin Fraklin.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"

[Stonewall]

Well, that does indeed suck, but what are we supposed to do? Just lie down and let another September 11 happen again? Innocent people are going to get caught up in the middle of this and that's not cool at all, but who bears the blame? The countries passing these anti-terror laws or the terrorists that make them necesary? Some laws might be a potential threat, but the sociopaths who condone mass murder are a definite threat. Nobody seems to care about them anymore, though.

[ItWillNeverWork]

So in order to fight for the things that some would like to take from us, we must first sacrifice those same values? Hmm, good logic there.

[Stonewall]

Well, that's actually not what I said at all, but since your almighty logic is unimpeachable, I'll not waste my time trying to engage in reasonable discussion any longer.

[ItWillNeverWork]

Great attititude to hold on a disscussion board that.

[Psychodoc]

There is a similar essential irony in the increasing tendency for those in the civilised world to want the freedom to live their lives within locked down, gated communities.