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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAmnesty International Gets This One Exactly Right!
It is utterly improbable that David Michael Miranda, a Brazilian national transiting through London, was detained at random, given the role his partner has played in revealing the truth about the unlawful nature of NSA surveillance.
Davids detention was unlawful and inexcusable. He was detained under a law that violates any principle of fairness and his detention shows how the law can be abused for petty vindictive reasons.
There is simply no basis for believing that David Michael Miranda presents any threat whatsoever to the UK government. The only possible intent behind this detention was to harass him and his partner, Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, for his role in analysing the data released by Edward Snowden.
States cannot pass anti-terror acts and claim they are necessary to protect people from harm and then use them to retaliate against someone exercising his rights. By targeting Miranda and Greenwald, the UK authorities are also sending a message to other journalists that if they maintain their independence and report critically about governments, they too may be targeted.
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=20922
snappyturtle
(14,656 posts)People bitch that reporters don't report what governments
are doing behind the curtains. When they do, others bitch
some more. We can't have both ways. imho
This latest assault is intimidation, sent loudly and clearly.
dawg
(10,624 posts)Just like the downing of Morales' plane.
They're painting a picture for us. If we don't see it, it's only because we don't want to.
malaise
(268,968 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)Poitras, ferrying material, on a trip paid for by the Guardian.
If neither Greenwald, Miranda, or Poitras saw this coming, then they need to read more LeCarre novels before they play spymaker.
HardTimes99
(2,049 posts)Miranda are merely incidental to the real impetus behind the detention: sending a message to other putative whistle-blowers about what might befall them should they decide to follow their conscience rather than the dictates of the national security state.
HardTimes99
(2,049 posts)with regard to Miranda must be made aware that Amnesty International disagrees emphatically with them. So are they going to throw Amnesty International under the bus now too?