The British government has finally bowed to its highest court and accepted that it can no longer indefinitely detain suspected terrorists without trial. Instead, they plan to introduce administrative "control orders", allowing them to restrict suspects' movements and communications, or subject them to house arrest. Unfortunately, it's still without trial. Methinks they're just not getting it. The problem with arbitrary detention is that it is arbitrary - based on uncontested "evidence" and not subject to effective review. Changing from imprisonment to house arrest is simply changing the scenery - the underlying atrocity of interfering with fundamental liberties without any form of acceptable proof or judicial process remains.
The British Guantanamo prisoners have just been released without charge by UK police:
ReplyDeletehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4210815.stm