RECENT EVENTS have dramatically heightened the atmosphere of
insecurity and tension in Britain, and particularly London.
While the
attempted second wave of bomb attacks on 21 July thankfully failed, it
has nonetheless succeeded in considerably increasing the fear of future
attacks.
In addition, we have seen the horrific bombings in Egypt,
resulting in the death of over 60 people. And we have also had the
killing by the police of an innocent man, Jean Charles de Menezes.
The government and the police have brazenly tried to justify the
‘shoot-to-kill’ policy that was used against this electrician, from a
poor region of Brazil. Sir Ian Blair, London Metropolitan Police Chief,
has declared that the ‘shoot-to-kill’ policy will remain and that more
innocent people could be shot.
The socialist demands a genuine public inquiry, under the democratic
control of trade union and community organisations, into the events that
led to the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes.
The press reports to date raise a whole number of questions that need
to be answered. If the police believed Jean Charles was a suicide bomber
why did they allow him to travel on a bus to the tube? Did they ask him
to halt? Why was the armed unit who were ordered to intercept him in the
tube in plain clothes and, as they were, was Jean Charles even aware
that the armed men chasing him were police officers? Hair-raisingly the
driver of a tube train in Stockwell station was held at gunpoint – why?
Of course most people, because they understand the difficulties the
police could face dealing with suicide bombers, might accept the
necessity, in extreme circumstances, of ‘shooting-to-kill’. However,
socialists oppose the introduction of ‘shoot-to-kill’ as a policy. It
will inevitably lead to the death of innocent men and women, as it did
when it was used by the police in Northern Ireland.
For every Muslim in Britain, and every person who could conceivably
be seen by the police as Muslim, the fear of being shot on sight by the
police has now been added to the fear of future bombings we all suffer,
plus the already existing fear of increased racism. Millions will have
heard the news of Jean Charles’ killing in horror, and like one shocked
witness to the events in Stockwell station thought, "there but for
the grace of God go I" (Daily Mirror 25 July).
This will inevitably lead to further anger and alienation amongst
young Muslims who will have little trust that only those actually
involved in the suicide bombings will be targeted. No wonder – according
to Home Office statistics only 1% of those arrested under the Prevention
of Terrorism Act (the draconian anti-terrorist legislation that was
supposed to thwart the IRA) were convicted of any crime.
The legislation introduced in the wake of 9/11 has been no different
– of the 700 arrested only 17 have been convicted of any offence, and
only three have been convicted of offences relating to terrorism. This
is despite the post-9/11 legislation lessening the prosecution’s ‘burden
of proof’.
Draconian legislation
JUST AS 9/11 was the reason given for the Patriot Act in the US,
introducing a new raft of repressive measures, the 7 July bombings in
London are being used to justify a whole raft of draconian legislation
and measures, including ‘shoot-to-kill’. Other measures include tapping
phones and mobile phones, and keeping records of phone calls, along with
storing all suspects’ internet correspondence.
The Asylum and Immigration Bill has also been amended, to include
legislation which allows the deportation of so-called ‘international
terror suspects’. These suspects have no right to a trial, or to see the
evidence against them, and only have a "trusted special
advocate" (i.e. a government-appointed lawyer) as a form of legal
defence. A panel of three judges will decide if a suspect is guilty or
not. Some of the accused will be deported to countries where they could
face torture and death by repressive regimes.
These measures will not prevent terrorism, anymore than draconian
legislation in the past defeated the IRA. On the contrary, they will
increase the alienation of young Muslims, and make it easier for
reactionary organisations like al-Qa’ida to recruit a tiny minority of
Muslims to their ideas. If the government is serious about minimising
the risk of future attacks, why is it unwilling to support the railway
workers’ union (RMT)’s demands for increased number of station staff and
the reintroduction of conductors?
The socialist fully supports these demands. However, implementing
these measures would mean a turn away from the privatisation of
transport and the drive to run it at a profit, and is therefore
repugnant to New Labour.
Instead, the government is strengthening repression. It is not just
Muslims who will be affected. Democratic rights, like the right to
organise and demonstrate, are being eroded. The Terrorism Act of 2000
has already been used against anti-war campaigners, including in
relation to protests at military bases at Fairford and Welford. Blair
also threatened to use it to put protesters at the Gleneagles G8 summit
under house arrest.
The trade union movement must campaign against repressive legislation
that has already been introduced, and the new raft that will follow 7/7.
Trade union activists should fight for this to happen. Repressive laws
will ultimately be used against trade union and workers’ struggles.
Blair has already demonstrated his willingness to equate socialists
with terrorism with the outrageous comments he made "likening
Islamic extremism to the Trotskyist Militant Tendency". (the
Guardian 18 July).
Of course, the Militant Tendency, now the Socialist Party, has always
condemned terrorism; both the terrorism of individuals and groups,
whether in Britain, Ireland or internationally, and the state terrorism
of the US and British governments that is estimated to have resulted in
the death of 100,000 civilians in Iraq.
Only a united working class movement, with socialist policies, can
end injustice, discrimination, and imperialist occupation and terrorism.
This includes opposing repressive, anti-working class legislation. The
socialist is campaigning for the calling of national and local
demonstrations, bringing together workers from all sections of society,
with a clear programme of opposition to terror, to war, to racism and to
increased state repression.
