SPAIN IN THE ARSE
"Terrorism is not only a group of commandos who act, but is a
project
that tries to root itself in society, and to combat it, it is also
necessary to struggle against the social, economical, political and
also
communication structures which support and nourish it" - Jaime
Mayor
Oreha, Spanish Minister of Internal Affairs.
When Oreha spoke at the European Conference on Terrorism in Madrid
in
January last year his government was already cracking down on
Spanish
citizens' civil liberties; long before September 11th and the
beginning
of an international 'war on terrorism'. In the past year alone,
belonging
to the wrong political party, supporting prisoners, teaching the
Basque
language, publishing books and records, editing a magazine, being in
a
band, running a radio station, or simply being a journalist has become
a
crime in Spain. There have been mass arrests with people taken to
isolation wards where they are often tortured then released a few
days
later without charge. This targeting of Basque political activists
has
now spread to anarchist and other radical movements, with raids and
arrests being part of a general clampdown.
Euro nicked!
No surprises then to find that Spain is using its presidency of the
European Union to push forward radical proposals that would label
demonstrators at European summits 'terrorists'. The document, issued
last
month to the European Working Party on Terrorism, states that they
have
"noticed a gradual increase...in violence and criminal damage
(at
anti-capitalist protests) orchestrated by radical extremist groups,
clearly terrorising society." The proposals go on to state that this
'new
breed' of terrorist menace are "organisations taking advantage of
their
lawful status to aid and abet the achievement of terrorist groups'
aims."
Post September 11th, the European Union agreed new legislation for
combating global terrorism, along with a European arrest warrant.
The
Spanish proposals go further, asking for a more proactive EU wide
database to keep an eye on protestors. They reckon that this
extension
"would provide a very helpful tool in preventing and, where
appropriate,
prosecuting violent urban youthful radicalism, which is
increasingly
being used as a cat's-paw by terrorist groups in order to achieve
their
criminal aims."
But it's not just Spain that is widening the definition of terrorism;
we
in the UK are 'fortunate' enough to be protected by some of the
world's
toughest anti-terrorist legislation. Barrister Stephanie Harrison,
from
the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities reckons that the
Terrorist
Act 2000 (SchNEWS 268), alongside its even tougher little sister,
the
Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (see SchNews 331), are
not
only criminalising dissent amongst the locals, but are a direct attack
on
the rights of vulnerable groups - mainly immigrant communities.
Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, Leader of the Muslim Parliament of Great
Britain
told SchNEWS that the situation within the British Muslim and
Arabic
community is becoming unbearable. "We are the target of this
legislation
- there is a witch hunt going on - a fishing expedition... Innocent
people
are being harassed, families are being disturbed, children
traumatised...
there is a climate of fear in our community". And it doesn't stop
there,
as new legislation allows instant internment, providing the police
with
powers to detain people indefinitely without trial. Often based on
the
most circumstantial of evidence, Asians and Muslims the length and
breath
of this fair and pleasant land are finding themselves being
detained
under this new legislation. Dr Siddiqui's message is clear "The
whole
Muslim community is frightened, intimidated and traumatised; as a
result
the people are not getting involved in community activities, and
people
are asking 'is it worth it?'"
In January Yasadigimiz Vatan, a Turkish language socialist weekly
magazine had its last two issues confiscated by police who said it
was
"property for the use of terrorism." Vatan has been distributed
in the UK
for the past two years so what has changed? According to one of its
workers "The Terrorism Act 2000, which is not being used to
fight
terrorism but to fight democrats and prevent press freedom in this
country."
Estella Schmidt from the Kurdish National Congress (KNK) told us that
as
far as UK based Kurds are concerned it is more a case of harassment
than
actual detention. Demonstrators are constantly being filmed, and
follow
up calls from police to homes of Kurds is commonplace often late at
night
and unannounced."These people are not from this country, and
despite
protesting innocently, and making it quite clear that they are not
supporting terrorists, they are still harassed by police - it is
similar
to the way the Irish have been treated in the past."
As the Spanish example shows, it's not long before the
authoritarian
finger starts pointing at anyone who dares to disagree. Raif, a
lawyer
from Coalition Against the Terror Acts, told SchNEWS "With so much
police
activity against refugees and Muslims, many people are becoming
complacent. This new document confirms exactly what we've been warning
of
for ages. All effective dissent will be treated the same: you are
either
with them or you are a terrorist and outlaw."
* Coalition Against the Terror Acts c/o Haldane Society,
Conway Hall,
25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL
www.cacc.org.uk
http://go.to/ta2000
* To find out more about crack down in Spain
http://barcelona.indymedia.org
* The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) is today mounting a
legal
challenge to its banning under the Terrorism Act
2000. The PKK are
one of 21 political groups whose activities were
outlawed under a
Proscribed Organisations Order which came into
effect in March last
year. Peace in Kurdistan Campaign 020 7586
5892
* On Wednesday people across America wore blue triangles to
show
support for the thousand plus people - mainly
Arabs and Muslims -
who have "disappeared" since September
11th. Many of those detained
are being held on the basis of secret evidence -
or no evidence at
all. Prisoners are held without being allowed
any contact with a
lawyer, and the US government is refusing to
reveal their
identities, nationalities and whereabouts. To
find out more go to:
www.laresistencia.org
* For a list of anti terrorism events check out the party
and protest
section on our website.
http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/schnews-l
Spanish captains on pirate longliners are poaching patagonian toothfish in southern waters.The fish are laundered through RSA's China.Fish and large seabird stocks expected to crash soon,real soon.
