[JNV Announce] URGENT ACTION CONCERNING PREVENTION OF TERRORISM BILL

[lrcndnvrn]

Campaign against the Criminalisation of Communities URGENT ACTION Alert
(forwarded by JNV)


Dear Friend


The Government is rushing through the new Prevention of Terrorism Bill through the Parliament with unseemly haste. The second reading was completed on Wednesday the 22 Feb. The Committee Stage and the final stages are to be completed on Monday the 28 Feb 2005.


The Bill abandons the presumption of innocence completely and gives the Home Secretary the executive power to restrict a person's liberty with a range control orders up to and including house arrests on the basis of suspicion rather than proof. There would be retrospective judicial reviews to confirm the decision.   The Home Secretary will rely upon secret intelligence which may have been obtained through torture by third parties. The accused will not be able to test the case against him in any meaningful way because of the proposed closed court sessions.


The Bill has come under severe criticism from MPs from all parties all human rights and civil liberties organisations. It is only the three-line whip of the Labour party that will secure its passage. The Bill is ill-conceived and dangerous and if implemented it would lead to serious human rights violations and erosion of civil liberties.


Those who are concerned with preserving human rights and civil liberties need to act urgently given the short time scale.

Please consider the following options.



OPTION 1



This option is for every person in every constituency throughout the United Kingdom. It can be done within 5 minutes. Copy and paste this message- change it in the way you wish and then fax it  www.faxyourmp.org.uk or www.writetothem.com Do this not later than Sunday 27 Feb.



OR simply ring the House of Commons telephone inquiry line 020 7219 4272, ask for your MP's office and talk to them. If nobody is available, leave a message.







"Dear



I urge you strongly to vote against the so called Prevention of Terrorism Bill.



I am deeply concerned that the Prevention of Terrorism Bill is being rushed through the House with unseemly haste and without appropriate Parliamentary and public scrutiny it requires.



The bill proposes to remove the presumption of innocence as the core principle of British justice and vests the power with the Home Secretary to deprive a person of his/her liberty on the basis of suspicion rather than proof.



The bill proposes closed retrospective judicial reviews where evidence obtained by secret intelligence will be used. The accused will  thus not be able to the test against him or her.



I fear that the bill if implemented will lead to gross violations of human rights, erosion of civil liberties and miscarriage of justice.



As one of your constituents,  Please let me know which way you will be voting.





Yours sincerely   "





Your MPs are in their constituencies this Friday and Saturday.  Why not see if you can see them when they are holding a surgery and express your concerns.











OPTION 2






If you live in Inner London, Greater London and the Home Counties and are willing to travel to the House of Commons on Monday to lobby your MP between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. then you need to phone your MPs office at the House of Common using the number 0207 219 4272  or  phone the local constituency office.



Ask for a lobbying appointment at the House of Common at a mutually agreed time on Monday the 28 anytime between 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you are working, it will have to be after working hours say between 6 to 8 p.m.



This is open to people outside South East as well if they have grave concerns and are prepared to travel to London.




To prepare yourself, get the most up to date information from the following websites:



http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/

http://web.amnesty.org/

http://www.cacc.org.uk/





In solidarity







Saleh Mamon

CAMPACC CO-ORDINATOR FOR THE NATIONAL LOBBY





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Milan Rai
Justice Not Vengeance
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