Sweeping new emergency laws to counter UK terror

[Newsjock]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=466424

23 November 2003

Sweeping measures to deal with terrorist attacks and other emergencies are to be announced this week, giving the Government power to over-ride civil liberties in times of crisis, and evacuate threatened areas, restrict people's movements and confiscate property.

The Civil Contingencies Bill, which covers every kind of disaster from terrorism to the weather, will be the biggest shake-up of emergency laws since the early part of the last century, replacing legislation which saw the UK through a world war and the IRA bombing campaign.

Some of the proposals in the draft version of the Bill, drawn up in the summer, have alarmed civil rights activists, notably a clause that gives the Government the power to suspend parts or all of the Human Rights Act without a vote by MPs.

Once an emergency has been proclaimed by the Queen, the Government can order the destruction of property, order people to evacuate an area or ban them from travelling, and "prohibit assemblies of specified kinds" and "other specified activities".

If these rules had been in force during the Iraq war, critics say, they could have been used to to ban street demonstrations, making anyone who travelled to protest guilty of a criminal offence. After a major terrorist attack, forums made up of local councils, the emergency services and utility companies would be put in charge of trying to get shattered communities back together.

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[JailBush]

1. God damn the Queen.

It sounds like she likes to visit the U.S. to see race horses raised by one of George Bush's biggest allies. It isn't hard to tell who's buttering her bread.

[rooboy]

4. the Queen has nothing to do with this - it's Blair and Blunkett. n/t

[JanMichael]

18. Fuck em' all!

Seriously.

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Is this suppose to coincide with the UK going on Red Alert?

http://www.news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1292792003

Britain on red alert as terrorist threat rises

Sun 23 Nov 2003

MINISTERS are preparing to place the UK on ‘red alert’ in an unprecedented peacetime move that would see the streets of Britain flooded with armed police.

The plan to step up to the highest possible security state follows last week’s devastating terrorist attacks on British targets in Turkey and growing fears that a direct assault on the UK is inevitable.

The nationwide alert would result in tougher security checks across the country and give intelligence agencies and police emergency powers to increase surveillance, phone-tapping and the detention of terror suspects on the basis of intelligence reports.




No wonder W left London all giggly and full of himself. It was another Mission Accomplished.

[Lars39]

3. Who's next? Italy?

I can't see the Brits putting up with this. I hope they raise hell, or they'll know what it's like to be in our shoes. :scared:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

5. This is the UK version of the Patriot Act combined with the ...

...Terror Alert system that allows the total shutdown of all activities following a major terrorist attack.

Something big is being planned to allow the U.S. and the UK to essentially declare martial law and suspend elections, but I'm not sure the so-called "terrorists" are behind it.

[54anickel]

8. Martial Law? Suspend elections? Please tell me this a really long

shot! Elections are a year away! :scared:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

9. I wish I could say that...

...but there appears to be a major push by the Bushies to get a lot of things done very quickly. Legislation is being rammed through quickly in the dead of night, more troops are being called up (supposedly for the Middle East), and Patriot Act II is just about through Congress.

I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I really hope that it's telling me the wrong thing.

[Lars39]

10. For some reason,

this news has made me more afraid than anything else that's come down the pike so far. I wonder if *IT* is going to be synchronized with several countries? Who would be on the list? Australia, Italy, Spain?

[54anickel]

6. Think Shrub will try to twist the Canadian arm as well?

Wasn't there a visit planned soon?

[Dirk39]

7. Same atmosphere here in Germany,...

terror is coming to Europe (Turkey). Just on monday, an interview with Schröder will be published, where he demands a different attitude towards Iraq, esp. debt-relief. And our socialdemocratic Ashcroft is preparing the rest. It's more than frightening.
Dirk

[wabeewoman]

11. This is scary, folks.

Its a coordinated effort to take away the civil liberties of the world. We are there and the rest of the world is following. I thought it was all too convenient how bush and blair had the same scripted speeches leading up to the war-its been coordinated from the beginning but to see it spreading and including other countries. Yikes.

[Lars39]

12. yes, you've got it.

I feel like the canary in the coalmine and just about as helpless. What to do, what to do? Spinning our wheels while this massive plan is being made operational.

[Dirk39]

16. On the other hand the world-wide protest is getting stronger and...

stronger. It's not just the 100.000 - 300.000 people protesting Bush in GB. Just a few days before, more than 100.000 people were protesting in France, after the social-forum. Just weeks before more than 100.000 people were in the streets of Germany, protesting Schröders neoliberal war against what has remained of the welfare-state in Germany. In Germany the first non-organized workers-strikes ever since the end of WWII started just a few days ago, without being mentioned in any newspaper or TV-news (at the car-manufacturer Ford). We had a lot of workers striking decades ago, but never without the support of an established union.
Sometimes I think, we just lack the ability to combine all of those things. One of the most impressive things is, that there is no longer that gap between student-protests on the one hand, and ordinary people, who couldn't care less, on the other hand. We're in the same boat.
Dirk

[Lars39]

17. We are in the same boat, from country to country.

Walensa comes to mind. Solidarity.

[madddog]

13. Sweet Jesus...

how much more do they NEED? They've already got the Prevention of Terrorism Act, Special Powers Act, with a few updates here and there. That stuff already makes the Patriot Act look like a Sunday picnic by comparison.

Not to mention a camera on every street corner, and an unarmed populace.

George Orwell...paging George Orwell.

Well, I always wondered when all the sh** they've pulled in Northern Ireland over the last 30 years would come home to roost. Wonder if the Diplock Courts are coming to the mainland...talk about your poetic justice!

[hedgetrimmer]

14. i'd like to order a full round of big brass ones for everyone in the house

look i like to be poetic... get the creative hat on and come play...

the terrorist is coming to get you...
the government is coming to get you...
the laws are going away!
kiss goodbye, goodnight to freedom...
beware! beware! BEWARE!
fear has got you by the nose...
fear has got you by the toes...
beware! beware! BEWAR! (typo, but it entertained me)


pull those boot straps up...
give it a shout...
horton heard a who...
how about you?

we are here, we are here, we are here ...YOOP! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE!

all together now... pick up your pint of ale and lets have at it...

cheerful as ever with a glowing red nose of intoxicated frivolty...

bring down the anger, bring down the fear... rise up with the fun, rise up with the laughter... bring in the points with song, bring in the truth with music, bring in the happiness... the fear is what they have... it is their power-tool (black-n-decker and such)(no, i did not get a royalty check for that plug) do not be afraid, lose fear in the nightmare of the bushcabal and laugh with the truth... :-)

[Lars39]

15. That's good ,hedgetrimmer!

Here's to you and your prose! :toast:

[Lars39]

19. kick

:kick:

[Zhade]

20. BIG KICK

:kick:

[tinnypriv]

21. I love the fact there is ZERO TV media opposition to this

I'm discounting the TV hacks throwing up some non-media-versed fool from Liberty of course. :mad:

[Rex]

22. Let's see, Gen. Franks said the U.S. Constitution won't survive

a WMD hit, and now this from the U.K.

My only question is when are they planning to do it (Bush&Blair)?