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Britain placed under state of emergency
The Observer (U.K.) ^ | 11/11/2001 | Kamal Ahmed, Antony Barnett and Martin Bright

Posted on 11/10/2001 5:23:10 PM PST by Pokey78

Britain is to be placed under a state of 'public emergency' as part of an unprecedented government move to allow internment without trial of suspected terrorists.

In a historic initiative that will incense civil liberties groups, David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, will lay the order before the House of Commons in the next 48 hours, to be followed by anti-terrorist legislation which will be rushed through in the next four weeks.

The order, which says the events of 11 September are 'threatening the life of the nation', will allow Britain to opt out of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which bans detention without trial.

It will pave the way for indefinite imprisonment of foreign nationals who the Government suspects are terrorists, and comes less than 24 hours after warnings from America that Britain is a top target for Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist network.

The move reveals the seriousness the Government places on the threat to Britain. Such orders can be used only in times of war or when there has been an event that puts the security of the nation at risk. Whitehall sources said the order would not be reviewed 'for at least a year'.

Internment was last used during the Gulf war against Iraqis suspected of links to Saddam Hussein's army. It has also been used against terrorist suspects in Northern Ireland and Germans during the Second World War. It is the first time the Government has sought such a major opt-out of the Convention, which is the cornerstone of human rights laws in the country.

John Wadham, director of Liberty, said it would seek to challenge the order in the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. 'This is a fundamental violation of the rule of law, our rights and traditional British values,' he said. 'There is no evidence of direct plans to commit atrocities against Britain.'

Government officials insisted this was a 'formal procedure' and did not signal a change in the level of risk to the country, but said the police needed more powers to detain suspected terrorists.

'Britain is closed to terrorism, and we will take whatever action we can,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said. 'People will object to it, but we are absolutely determined to get the balance right between human rights, which are important, and society's right to live free from terror.'

Downing Street believes that the public will back the moves, which it says are necessary to maintain national security. Intelligence reports suggest a number of terrorists linked to extremist Middle Eastern organisations have attempted to enter the country using the cloak of asylum laws.

The official spokesman said a handful of people would be targeted by the new laws and they would be offered the opportunity to travel to a third country if it could be arranged.

Even suspects who attempt to travel through British airports can be detained if the new terrorism laws are passed.

The Government plans to rush the legislation through both Houses of Parliament by Christmas and is hoping for cross-party support.

The public emergency order will be the first of a series of controversial measures closing what the Government says are loopholes in the law. As well as internment, the terrorism Bill will contain new laws to tackle religious hatred and harsh sentences for people behind 'non-bomb' hoaxes, such as anthrax scares.

It will also contain new measures against money- laundering and a crackdown on bureaux de change, which are often used to move terrorists' assets, and will order banks to scrutinise and report on any suspicious transactions.

New bills on fast-track extradition laws and asylum reform are not now expected until the new year.

*The Home Office is also planning to seize passports from British Muslims who are planning to travel abroad to fight for the Taliban or Osama bin Laden.

Home Office Minister Angela Eagle has confirmed she will give 'serious consideration' to powers at present used against football hooligans trying to travel abroad.

The law allows action against 'a person whose past or proposed activities are so demonstrably undesirable that the grant or continued enjoyment of passport facilities would be contrary to the public interest'.

Andrew Dismore, Labour MP for Hendon, said he would now pass a list of names to Eagle of people who had expressed a desire to travel abroad to fight for the Taliban. 'It is clear that if any British Muslim says he wants to travel to Afghanistan to try to kill British or US soldiers, then that is clearly against the public interest and his passport should be removed,' Dismore said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 11/10/2001 5:23:10 PM PST by Pokey78
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To: Pokey78
Is it about these guys?


British Muslims, Guardian Oct. 30

Send them to Afghanistan. Apparently Pakistan believes the same, since they're letting volunteer fighters go into Pakistan. Kind of a domestic peace policy.

2 posted on 11/10/2001 5:29:18 PM PST by Shermy
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To: Pokey78
Well, now we are getting somewhere. I can only hope the same plan is on George W. Bush's agenda.

Round 'em up and MOVE 'EM OUT!

3 posted on 11/10/2001 5:29:20 PM PST by Semper911
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To: Pokey78
The law allows action against 'a person whose past or proposed activities are so demonstrably undesirable that the grant or continued enjoyment of passport facilities would be contrary to the public interest'.

We should pass this part in the U.S.,we could call it "The bill clinton Law"

4 posted on 11/10/2001 5:35:26 PM PST by mdittmar
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To: Pokey78
Don't remove their passports, remove their citizenship. These people should be given a one way ticket and told they can not come back.
5 posted on 11/10/2001 5:49:07 PM PST by McGavin999
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To: Semper911
Finally we are getting somewhere. Did someone say "internment"? It's about damn time. I hope the U.S. does the exact same thing. This helps to eliminate the threat of sabotage. Go door to door and round 'em up, when you have done this, you are well on your way to winning this war.
6 posted on 11/10/2001 5:54:39 PM PST by lmr
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To: McGavin999
These people should be given a one way ticket and told they can not come back.

Internment will work better than trying to keep them out of the country. They should be locked up till it can be determined which are the real threats. At least then they can't do their dastardly deeds while they're being held.

7 posted on 11/10/2001 6:00:46 PM PST by texasbluebell
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To: Pokey78
I think all of this was part of the 2001 Patriot Act (Terrorism Bill) that the President signed a couple of weeks ago. Plus he has done a lot by executive order. Powell announced yesterday that men (20-45 yrs old ?) from certain parts of the world, ie, the Middle East will have to wait 20 or 30 ? days for a visa to the US. The Bush Administration is cracking down on the creeps. Also in the terrorism bill, it said ALL countries had to turn over their passenger lists before landing in the US. Saudi Arabia, Isreal & a few others had always refused to do this, but now it is US LAW.
8 posted on 11/10/2001 6:03:12 PM PST by nightowl
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To: nightowl
They should have to wait 20 years for a visa.
9 posted on 11/10/2001 6:13:34 PM PST by Zorobabel
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To: lmr
Bravo for the Brits--we should be doing the same thing!
10 posted on 11/10/2001 6:16:46 PM PST by In mourning for six years
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To: Pokey78
The Home Office is also planning to seize passports from British Muslims who are planning to travel abroad to fight for the Taliban or Osama bin Laden.

WHY?

Let em go, take good notes and if they survive and EVER try to come back don't let em in.

MKM

11 posted on 11/10/2001 6:37:47 PM PST by mykdsmom
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To: Pokey78
bump
12 posted on 11/10/2001 6:42:04 PM PST by GretchenEE
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To: Pokey78
using the cloak of asylum laws

Why do you seek asylum?

I am a terrorist.

13 posted on 11/10/2001 6:51:58 PM PST by AndyJackson
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To: mykdsmom
The fact that Britain interred Iraqis during the Gulf War was something I didn't know. For being basically a socialist nation that is becoming overrun by immigrants, I'm glad to see that they are getting their priorities back in line. Who knows, maybe they will re-think the rest of their Socialist system and swing back to the right again. (Literally back to the right.)
14 posted on 11/10/2001 6:54:41 PM PST by 11B3
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To: Pokey78
Britain is to be placed under a state of 'public emergency' as part of an unprecedented government move to allow internment without trial of suspected terrorists.

There goes Great Britain.

15 posted on 11/10/2001 7:29:28 PM PST by lowbridge
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To: In mourning for six years
Bravo for the Brits--we should be doing the same thing!

No we shouldn't.

16 posted on 11/10/2001 7:30:05 PM PST by lowbridge
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To: 11B3
They didn't inter ALL Iraqis, as the racists would like... just those suspected of being threats because of their association with Hussein and his army.
17 posted on 11/10/2001 7:36:55 PM PST by piasa
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To: Shermy

THE ROACHES ARE BEHIND THE WALLS

18 posted on 11/10/2001 7:51:46 PM PST by NewRecruit
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To: Pokey78
Excellent move. We could be facing millions of casualties from sleepers here during the coming conflict with Iraq. We need to move now to contain the damage.
19 posted on 11/10/2001 9:53:41 PM PST by Clinton's a rapist
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To: lowbridge
"No we shouldn't"??? Is that all you have to say? Please tell me why we shouldn't. I feel at least amongst the people I know, they feel it would be a good idea. How else do you intend to eliminate the threat of sabotage (Terrorism)? Or do you not speak for those who wish to eliminate this danger that is very present in our country (And Britain)?
20 posted on 11/10/2001 9:55:41 PM PST by lmr
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