Thame Amnesty – October Newsletter

Thame Amnesty – October Newsletter (11/10)

o Charities’ Fair – Saturday 6th November
o AIUK Policy Review
 ‘War against terrorism’
 Colombia
 Asylum
o Next Meeting – Wednesday 27th October
o Other Dates for your Diary
Charities’ Fair – Saturday 6th November
THE Thame Charities’ Fair is on Saturday the 6th of November, from 10am to 2:30pm. We need some volunteers to man the stall during this time, and (ideally) to help with the set-up and clearing -up afterwards. On the stall, we want to sell some home-produced goods (cakes, biscuits, jams etc…), but if you have any ideas of other goods to sell, we would like to hear from you! Please get in touch with Owen Davies on 214466. Similar to the stall on our summer street collection, there will be some Amnesty leaflets and info, and a petition to sign for any interested parties.

AIUK Policy Review
We’ve had a copy of the AI policy review from the UK headquarters this month. The policy review covers Amnesty’s stance on a variety of topics, starting with the main campaigns for the year (Stop Violence Against Women & Arms Control), but also including summaries on topics such as the ‘War against Terrorism’, Asylum, Colombia, and the situation in Darfur. The policy review is aimed at summarising the position that AI takes on these issues, and clarifies the requests that AI makes of the UK government in respect of these topics.
‘War against terrorism’
Amnesty condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks such as the Bali and Madrid bombings, but finds itself devoting an increasing amount of time to resisting the backlash against human rights resulting from the pursuit of the ‘War against terrorism’. Terrorist acts are already prohibited by national and international law, and the addition of sweeping national security powers has lead to a destabilisation in the human rights situation in many countries. The new powers being allowed in the name of the ‘War on Terrorism’ commonly include detention without charge, or on the basis of secret evidence, and provisions for prolonged incommunicado detention; well known to facilitate torture.
For example, in India, the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (2002), gives immunity from prosecution for officials ‘acting in good faith’ against terrorists. In the UK, under Part 4 of the 2001 Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act (ATCSA) 2001 foreign nationals can be detained indefinitely without charge. As of July 2004, there were 13 individuals being held under this act.
AI is calling on the UK government to ensure that evidence which may have been obtained under torture cannot be used in legal proceedings, and to repeal Part 4 of the ATCSA.
Colombia
AI is very concerned about the situation in Colombia, partially due to the impact of legislative changes on human rights in the country as a result of the ‘War against terrorism’. Since the implementation of President Alvaro Uribe’s ‘democratic security’ suite of policies, there has been a systematic undermining of the Colombian citizens’ human rights, but the conflict between the government, the FARC guerrillas and the right-wing paramilitaries continues. The weakening of key institutions such as the Constitutional Court has added to the general climate of impunity in the Country. In December 2003 congress granted police powers to the armed forces, allowing them to detain individuals and raid homes without judicial authorisation.
In the Policy Review, AI calls on the UK government to cease transfers of military and security items and to urge the Colombian government to amend or draft legislation to end the climate of impunity in Colombia.
Asylum
AI’s main concern regarding the UK’s implementation of Asylum policy is that the quality of the initial asylum decision for an individual is not sufficiently high. In 2003 more than 16,000 asylum decisions were overturned on appeal. Resources should be focussed on getting good-quality, defensibly asylum decisions and to ensure that asylum seekers have early access to good-quality legal advice. Section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 allowed the Home Secretary to deny state support to adults who apply for asylum after arriving in the UK, but could not convince the Home Office that they did so ‘as soon as reasonably practical after … arrival in the UK’. AIUK calls on the government to ensure that every asylum seeker has fair and satisfactory access to the asylum procedure, and that there is independent judicial oversight on any decision to detain asylum seekers.
At the Swan Inn, Upper High Street, Thame.
We will take part in an action regarding the military commissions set up by the US government for the Guantanamo Bay detainees. There will also be actions focussing on Guatemala and Iraq as part of the Stop Violence Against Women Campaign, and an update on the Arms Control campaign.
Other Dates for your Diary
Saturday February 5th: Amnesty’s Regional Conference in Aylesbury (… and Wales v England in the Six Nations)

We meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month (except August and December) at 8.00pm in the room above the Swan Inn on the Upper High Street . For more details contact John Evans 01844-291424, john@haddenhamduckpond.org.uk