Terror Laws or anti-Dissent Laws

[Mowhawk]

Recently, an American anti-globalisation non-violent peace activist was detained and deported from Australia. The government here used the recently passed Terrorist Laws to detain and deport this gentleman.

In Britain, Sussex police revealed that powers introduced to tackle the threat of violent terrorism were used against hundred's of delegates, peace activists and anti-Blair protestors. Among those detained last week at the Labor Conference in Brighton was a retired 82 year old Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany who is an anti-Iraq war. His crime was shouting "nonsense" during a speech on Iraq by Foreign Minister Jack Straw.

Are these laws enacted to intimidate political opponents?

[Mowhawk]

Read those articles.

"The Right to Protest"

"Laws intended to combat problems from anti-social behaviour to terrorism are being used against legitimate protesters."

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

"Almost everywhere, governments have taken September 11th as an opportunity to restrict their citizens' freedom."

http://www.economist.com/PrinterFriendl ... ID=1301751

"Australia to impose 'draconian' anti-terror laws" Why not New-Zealand?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3425364a12,00.html

"Anti-terrorism laws 'unjustified"

"A group of academics has sent a report to federal and state leaders, urging them to drop proposed new anti-terrorism laws."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/20 ... 467516.htm

"John Pilger slams Howard's anti-terror laws"

http://www.greenleft.org.au/back/2005/644/644p9.htm

[Globetrotter-]

mo, it could be true that governments (specially in the developing world) have used the terrorism card to detain opponents.

Even governments in the developed world use terrorism to curtail basic rights. Unthinkable measures about 5 years ago are today carried out without political repurcassions.

But we should blame the terrorists who have used various kinds of hospitalities to infiltrate the normal peace loving citizens.

A case in point :

The london bombings: Most of the bombers were from east africa and pakistan who have lived in the UK.

Now, if every paki or east african stopped, searched and deported; it is not the fault of the government.

[Basra-]

Globe???


I must say-- usally u come out' as someone rational with mediocre charms.But mostly -- u just a victim of another western civilisation hazard.You talk exactly like someone who gets his knowledge from TV western media-- talk like dem', walk like dem- & no original thought in bewtween! The axis of evil should hire & pay u for your relentless services.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

This is indeed the dilema that free and open socieites face. How to maintain your freedoms when psychos are exploiting those freedoms to kill your citizenry?