Issue 257 of SOCIALIST REVIEW Published November 2001 Copyright © Socialist Review

The iron heel

Acts of terrorism, warned Leon Trotsky, encourage repression. Today that warning is being vindicated on a global scale. Governments around the world are using the events of 11 September to attack civil liberties and opposition movements.

The US government's initial response to the CIA's remarkable success in foiling 'terrorists' was to press for an end to the ban on CIA assassinations abroad. The government then passed an anti-terrorism bill which would allow the indefinite detention of non-citizens without meaningful judicial review; provides for heavy penalties for minor offences, including political protest, under a newly created crime of domestic terrorism; and allows agencies such as the CIA to enter people's homes and offices, take photographs and download computer files without telling the victims until much later.

Anti-terrorism legislation being rushed through in Europe and elsewhere includes definitions of 'terrorism' broad enough to allow the arrest of anyone the authorities don't like. The European Union also proposes to criminalise 'supporting terrorism' and make it punishable by up to seven years in prison, where 'support' could include being a friend of a suspected 'terrorist'. The EU is also introducing a European arrest warrant to get rid of legal safeguards covering extradition.

In mid-October home secretary David Blunkett told a muted House of Commons that human rights laws are to be suspended to allow the indefinite internment of suspected foreign 'terrorists'. Such internment would be authorised on the basis of 'intelligence' gathered by our trustworthy and foolproof security services. Proscribed organisations include the Kurdish PKK and the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers. A new power will enable the home secretary to reject asylum claims for suspected 'terrorists', with greatly restricted access to judicial review of such rejections. A broad 'conspiracy law' will make it a criminal offence to train, aid or communicate with known 'terrorists'.

Blunkett also announced a new combined offence of incitement to religious and racial hatred--presented as a measure to protect Muslims--that will be punishable by up to seven years imprisonment. History shows that such laws are primarily used against the victims of injustice and those challenging the interests of big business.

Another threat to civil liberties emerged in October. The Auld report, the government's review of the criminal justice system, promises to deny thousands of people every year the right to trial by jury. A middle court in a new three-tier court system would try cases for which the penalty is likely to be less than two years in prison. In such cases, defendants would lose the right to opt for jury trial.

The Auld report further recommends that there should be a right for the prosecution to appeal against a 'perverse' jury verdict. Such 'perverse' decisions include the acquittal of the women who justified dismantling a military aircraft on the grounds that it would be used to repress people in Indonesia. Over the years the 'perversity' of juries has been instrumental in overturning oppressive and unjust legislation.

The British government has also been part of the rush in the so called first world to clamp down on 'illegal immigrants'. The EU is proposing further obstacles to asylum seekers, a move that UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson condemned as potentially 'a further hardening of the Fortress Europe mentality.' In early October the Italian cabinet approved proposals to jail 'illegal immigrants' for up to four years before deporting them. Australia has already imposed draconian restrictions on asylum seekers. New laws legalised the government's refusal in August to allow 433 mostly Afghan asylum seekers trapped on a Norwegian cargo ship to claim asylum in Australia.

Elsewhere governments are using the 'international campaign against terrorism' to increase repression of opponents they denounce as 'terrorists'. The day after the hijackings in the US, Israeli tanks entered Jenin, a Palestinian-controlled area, and killed more than a dozen Palestinians. In mid-October, after an escalation of Israeli state violence, the Israeli cabinet secretary said Israel would 'act against the Palestinian Authority in the way currently accepted by the international community to act against a leadership that supports terror'.

Officials in Russia have announced that this is the moment to 'solve the Chechen question'. They are increasing the repression of Chechens in Russia as well as in Chechnya. Proposed amendments to national law include the right to detain people suspected of having links with 'terrorists' (Chechens) for up to 30 days without charge and without access to a lawyer.

The Chinese authorities have stepped up the repression of Muslim Uighurs in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, intensifying their policy of imprisoning, torturing and in many cases executing those accused of 'separatist/terrorist' activities. Similar moves have been made by the authorities in Uzbekistan.

In Turkey suspected members of Islamic groups have been rounded up and tortured. And the government is debating constitutional amendments to 'eradicate terrorism' (including the Kurdish movements). In India the government suddenly proclaimed that the powerful Maoist movement in Nepal is 'terrorist', and closed its border with Nepal.

And on every continent hundreds of people suspected of having links with Osama Bin Laden or Islamist groups have been arrested and have had their rights violated. In some countries they have been tortured. In others they have been detained without charge for prolonged periods. In many they have been interrogated without lawyers. In all cases, the authorities feel confident that no one will care what happens to those accused of 'terrorism'. After all, such actions are being done in the name of civilisation.