Free Republic

'Anti-terror law threatens democracy' Nov 28 2003 The government's draft plans to bolster Britain's response to major terrorist attacks and natural disasters have "potentially dangerous flaws", a Parliamentary committee has warned. The all-party committee of MPs and Peers, set up to examine the draft Civil Contingencies Bill, warned that the powers could be used to undermine human rights and the British constitution. Committee chairman Dr Lewis Moonie MP, a former Labour defence minister, said: "In defining emergency powers, the Government has come up with a one-size-fits-all Bill for every possible scenario. We are concerned that as a result the draft...

AFTER almost two years of denying the threat of terrorism in Thailand, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has suddenly declared the country a potential "breeding ground" for terrorists, and rushed through anti-terror laws by executive decree. The move comes amid increased security jitters in the wake of the Marriott hotel bombing in Jakarta last week, although analysts said it was probably a bid to convince US President George W. Bush and world leaders due to visit Thailand for an Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation meeting in October that Thailand was now taking terrorism seriously. The decrees, which came into effect at midnight...