Amnesty accuses UK of "perverted justice"

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L10244174.htm

LONDON, Dec 11 (Reuters) - Amnesty International on Thursday accused Britain of perverting justice by detaining foreigners without trial under anti-terrorist legislation.

"The UK government has effectively created a shadow criminal justice system for non-UK nationals that fails to meet international standards for a fair trial," the human rights pressure group said in a statement.

Amnesty asked if Britain had a "Guantanamo Bay in our own backyard" in reference to the 660 prisoners held without charge at a U.S. base in Cuba.

In Britain, non-British nationals who have had deportation orders made against them can be detained under sweeping security laws set out in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001.

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[madddog]

1. well, they do it to their own citizens...

and have for over 30 years in Northern Ireland. They've had the Prevention of Terrorism and Special Powers Acts in various forms for 30 years as well.

Depending on which stat you believe, somewhere between 50,000 and 70,000 British citizens have been arrested, jailed without charge and tortured under these laws since 1972...yet by anyone's admission, the IRA never had more than 2000 men under arms at any one time. Do the math.

I find it so wonderfully ironic that the same people over there who bitch about Guantanamo haven't said sh** about NI over the years.

[Nihil]

3. Assumptions, assumptions, ...

... and complete bollocks in places as well ...

Point 1: Up to 70,000 British citizens tortured? Right ...

Point 2: IRA "under arms" figures do not include sympathisers and
other helpers (who were arrested, questioned and either released or
charged as necessary). However, they do include many of the "2000"
per year that would have been arrested.

Point 3: How many of the 50-70,000 people in that 30 year period are
counted more than once?

Point 4: Just how many IRA people consider themselves to be "British
citizens" anyway?

I do not deny that many innocent people were detained by the broad,
clumsy (not to mention bigoted) hand of UK security - I know several
Irish friends who had real problems going home for visits during the
Troubles - but at no point does that map onto any of your "irony".

Yes, Britain invented the concentration camp (Boer war). Old news.
Yes, British military and police forces did no-one any favours in NI.
Yes, the IRA caused enough mayhem for the UK that the response was
often less than "fair and balanced" (hah).
No, this has nothing to do with either Guantanamo or the deportation
of non-nationals.

Nihil

[rjbcar27]

2. They are free to go whenever they like.

As long as they go to another country. Simple.