ANGER IS still mounting at the police dawn raid in Forest Gate.
Muslim organisations have picketed New Scotland Yard to protest at the
police shooting of postal worker Abdul Kahir and his arrest, along with
his brother, as part of an alleged ‘anti-terrorist’ operation.
Simon Carter
After being held in police custody for one week the brothers were
released without charge. Their solicitor told reporters that they
intended to sue the Metropolitan Police over the raid.
The lack of evidence and the size of the police operation (250
police) added to the suspicion that the authorities are targeting black
and Asian people, especially Muslims. Over the last 12 months there has
been a huge increase in stop and search measures by police of black and
Asian people.
Local people are angry that they were under siege for hours,
apparently on the word of a MI5 informer. No ‘chemical weapon’ or any
other terrorist device has been found at the Forest Gate address.
Several newspapers claim the raid was forced on a reluctant
Metropolitan Police by the MI5 security agency, backed by the Cabinet
Office. However, after this bungled raid, the days of Met chief Sir Ian
Blair look numbered. He already faces criticism from an Independent
Police Complaints Commission report for a "catalogue" of police blunders
over the gunning down of Brazilian migrant worker Jean Charles de
Menezes in Stockwell tube station last year.
People support action to prevent death and destruction by terrorist
acts but all the new police and legal powers make little difference in
combating terrorism. These measures have, however, curtailed democratic
rights. People can now be put under ‘house arrest’ without charge.
Freedom of speech can be banned under a ‘glorification of terrorism’
clause.
In December 2005 a 25-year-old chef was convicted for reading aloud
the names of 97 British soldiers killed in Iraq! Last September
80-year-old John Catt was arrested under the Terrorism Act and
handcuffed for wearing an "offensive" T-shirt, suggesting that Bush and
Blair be tried for war crimes!
Moreover, the constant warning of terrorist threats by the government
and media has created a political climate where Asian and Muslim people
have become demonised in the eyes of some of the wider community. This
has been a factor in the growth of support for the racist BNP.
Blair’s support for Bush’s ‘war on terrorism’ has produced two
destructive wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, led to the indefinite
detention of people in Guantanamo Bay and to "extraordinary rendition"
whereby people are abducted by US forces and flown to other countries
where they are secretly tortured.
Imperialist wars for oil and political control of foreign countries
by the US superpower and its UK ally stirred up hatred and hostility
toward the West throughout the world, and helped terrorist organisations
increase recruitment and political support. Rather than create a safer
world, Bush and Blair’s wars have led to more violence and greater
insecurity in the world.
- Make the police accountable to the community they’re meant to serve.
For democratically elected local police committees. - For a public inquiry, involving workers’ and community organisations,
into anti-terrorist policing.
Socialist Party public meeting
Police shooting, terrorism and Iraq Thursday 22 June, 7.30pm-9pm,
Bryant Street Centre, Bryant Street, Stratford, London E15.
