Posts Tagged ‘civil liberties’
Civil Liberties in today’s news
Posted by: Gav in Gavin Ayling's blog on January 12th, 2010
Today’s BBC news was interesting for anyone interested in the freedom of humans from oppression by their so-called democratic governments.
Innocent men who were held for over two years without trial and tortured, Shafiq Rasul and Rahud Ahmed, were able to meet one of their former guards after he contacted them to apologise on Facebook.
The next story was about the European Court on Human Rights’ decision that ruled illegal the Stop and Search powers used in a draconian manner by some police forces (sorry ‘services’ — another 1984-ism). For a while people who look like they have Asian ancestry may be safe when taking photos in London’s tourist hotspots.
But unfortunately, it’s not all good news. A trial has begun without a jury for no reason other than that the police have lost so much authority that they are no longer able to keep safe twelve individuals to the extent that they can be trusted — at least that’s the state’s excuse. The sooner this ‘trial’ is stopped, the better. An innocent group of men (as they are until the completion of a valid trial by their peers) should not have to trust a judge with their liberty.
Two bits of good news — one piece of bad. Not a bad score by most counts. Vote Liberal Democrat and perhaps we can have even more good news from May onwards!
The Liberal Democrat Party logo
Peter Willows assaulted by the State
Posted by: Gav in Gavin Ayling's blog on December 13th, 2006
It is depressing that I have to use the same caveats every time I comment on this story, but it is safer to do so:
1. I do not agree with what Peter Willows, Brighton & Hove City Councillor for Hangleton Ward said in May
2. I think Peter Willows should be replaced by the Conservative Party’s selectors before the next election and that, were he not, he should be voted out
But how can it be right (it isn’t, just so you know), that a statement of his opinion which he even moved to deny, has caused him to be convicted of a public order offence (BBC News, Pink News)?
In general society you should be allowed to say absolutely whatever you like whether it would be polite to or not. But as a politician it is even more important. I don’t want to vote for someone who it turns out has thoughts that they’re not allowed to express. This is supposed to be a liberal and free country!
But what is worse. What really makes the vomit return to your throat, is that the Liberal Democrats in Brighton (those that claim to support the freedoms we hold so dear) called for, and celebrated, a guilty verdict. Isn’t it the case, then, that the Liberal Democrats only stand up for ne’er do wells and minorities?
I hope Pink News will forgive me for quoting them here:
Jay Nemes and Johnny Core are two Brighton based gay men, they gave the disgraced councillor £40 towards his court costs after the verdict.
Mr Nemes told The Argus: “Freedom of speech in England ended on December 12, 2006.
Damn right.
I said before that the facism against freedom of speech tempts me to say something illegal as a protest… The trouble is there’s nothing I think that’s illegal… yet.
I hope Paul Elgood and Warren Morgan lose their seats.
