Monthly archives: June 2008

Amnesty International Accuses European Governments of Complicity in ‘Torture Flights’

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Amnesty International has accused European governments, including Ireland and the UK, of complicity and inaction over US-led rendition and secret detention, as it published a new report on European renditions and a ‘Six-point Plan’ for their prevention.

Amnesty International’s report, ‘State of denial: Europe’s role in rendition and secret detention’, published yesterday, shed further light on the extent of Europe’s role in the US-led rendition and secret detention programmes. It also exposes the continuing failure of European states, including Ireland, to admit or investigate violations carried out by their nationals or on their territory.

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“If the detainee dies, you’re doing it wrong”

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From The Washington Post

A senior CIA lawyer advised Pentagon officials about the use of harsh interrogation techniques on detainees at Guantanamo Bay in a meeting in late 2002, defending waterboarding and other methods as permissible despite U.S. and international laws banning torture, according to documents released yesterday by congressional investigators.

Torture “is basically subject to perception,” CIA counterterrorism lawyer Jonathan Fredman told a group of military and intelligence officials gathered at the U.S.-run detention camp in Cuba on Oct. 2, 2002, according to minutes of the meeting. “If the detainee dies, you’re doing it wrong.” …

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If you can’t buy them – ban them

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Liberal Democrat shadow home secretary, Chris Huhne, has written to the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, calling on her to overturn the ban on the anti-Bush march on Sunday. Referring to the recent 42 day detention without trial vote he says: “Just because the votes of these protesters cannot be bought does not mean that their voices should not be heard by those in 10 Downing Street”

It seems that more than one MP is now waking up to just how serious this governments attack on civil liberties and British traditions has become.

Dear Home Secretary,

I am writing to urgently request that you review the

decision of the Metropolitan Police to ban the anti-Bush

march taking place this Sunday 15 June from marching down

Whitehall. As you will be aware the Stop the War Coalition

have organised dozens of peaceful marches past Downing

Street, and I am deeply concerned that the request has been

denied.

In this country we have a long tradition of peaceful protest

and I would be shocked if British civil liberties were

curtailed at the request of a foreign government. I hope

that you can also confirm that the decision of the

Metropolitan Police was not made at the request of the US

authorities.

A static demonstration in Parliament Square is no

replacement for a protest march down Whitehall and I urge

you to work with the police and the protesters to ensure

they are able to make their voices heard outside Downing

Street. Just because the votes of these protesters cannot

be bought does not mean that their voices should not be

heard by those in 10 Downing Street.

Kind Regards,

Chris Huhne

Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary

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Over there and over here

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(ACLU) NEW YORK – In a stunning blow to the Bush administration’s failed national security policies, the Supreme Court ruled today 5-4 that the U.S. Constitution applies to the government’s detention policies at Guantanamo. The Court concluded that detainees held at Guantanamo have a right to challenge their detention through habeas corpus.

(BBC Online) Shadow home secretary David Davis has resigned as an MP. He is to force a by-election in his Haltemprice and Howden constituency which he will fight on the issue of the new 42-day terror detention limit.

Mr Davis, 59, told reporters outside the House of Commons he believed his move was a “noble endeavour” to stop the erosion of British civil liberties.

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New Book Finished

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I am emerging from six months purdah having finally finished my second book! It is called The Catholic Orangemen of Togo and Other Conflicts I Have Known, and is being published by Mainstream of Edinburgh.

I have submitted it first to the FCO for approval. The FCO never did approve Murder in Samarkand, but we went ahead and published anyway, and it turned out despite the government’s bluster there was nothing they could do about it. But the approval process was very helpful in proving the truth of the book, through the FCO’s table of requested changes.

http://www.blairwatch.co.uk/murray/FCO_Comment.pdf

I will keep you updated on what is happening with the Catholic Orangemen.

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George Bush to visit Britain on June 15th

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Stop the War is planning a protest in London on that day against Bush and his war policies, and against the British government’s continuing support for his wars.

For more details go here

Update: Stop the War have applied to demonstrate down Whitehall but so far the police, presumably under instructions from US security, are banning them. They are challenging the ban and are inviting supporters to send messages of complaint to the Home Secretary:

* Telephone: 020 7035 0198

* Fax: 020 7035 0900

* Email: [email protected]

You can also complain to the Metropolitan Police about the proposed ban: Telephone: 020 7230 1212.

A protest is also be organised for when George Bush goes to Windsor for tea with the Queen at 3.00pm.

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