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Under capitalism, starvation, war, poverty and environmental destruction blight the lives of millions the world over. At the same time the enormous wealth, resources and human talent that exists in the world is squandered. |
The Banning of ‘Extremists’ could be used against the LeftZena Awad
As part of the new anti-terrorism legislation, ‘radical’ groups with ‘extremist tendencies’ will be facing scrutiny. Student societies described as ‘extreme’ are facing a possible ban from university campuses. Universities will this summer receive a 60-page document telling them how they should ‘respond to extreme political or religious activity’ and advising institutions to set up a ‘response team of senior managers’ to deal with any ‘extremist incidents’ on campus.
Socialists understand the need to stop anyone who takes part in or plans violence from organising on our campuses. However, university authorities and the police already have enormous power to act on this. The danger of this legislation is that it will not be used for that purpose but will prevent discussions of ideas.
The authority to ban ‘extremists’, in the hands of management, could be used to stop left-wing societies from getting organised on campuses, campaigning against the war in Iraq and fighting attacks on civil liberties. This would do most managements and vice-chancellors a favour as they can push through cuts and privatisation of education without the threat of an opposition mobilised by political groups like Socialist Students.
This could also be used as against Muslim societies on campuses and would be an attack on the right to practice religion. Socialist Students campaigns for the right to get organised on campus while building a movement uniting workers and young people against terrorism, war and racism.
But what about groups like Hizbul-Tahrir (Hut) – Liberation Party? Hut was banned from campus by the National Union of Students (NUS) after the Union of Jewish Students (UJS), a right-wing-led association within the NUS, made complaints about them being anti-Semitic. Hut has also openly supported the method of suicide attacks in Israel. Should we support the ban of Hut? Socialist Students argue that we shouldn’t while we condemn the methods of suicide bombings killing civilians.
These terrorist attacks kill Israelis indiscriminately, most of whom do not agree with Sharon’s racist policies against and repression of Palestinians, with many involved in battles against his domestic policies. Supporting these terrorist acts does nothing to advance the struggle of the Palestinians against the Israeli occupation. However we would not support the banning of Hut from campus anymore than we would that of New Labour which is responsible for the deaths of over 100,000 civilians in Iraq as a result of the state terror against its people!
Hut has other reactionary ideas – anti-working class, homophobic and sexist views – found in all kinds of right-wing political religion. However, we do not favour preventing Hut from organising on campus, as long as they are not violent or intimidating other students. Their ideas can be taken up politically, by arguing for working-class unity against imperialism linking all oppressed groups in struggle.
Socialist Students are confident politically to take up and campaign against war and terrorism on campuses and to mobilise a movement that will cut across any reactionary or racist ideas. After all, the Tories and New Labour often come out with reactionary anti-working class and racist ideas!
The policies of Bin Laden and Sharon, of Blair and Bush, are not in the interests of the majority. The trade unions and NUS need to move towards forming a new mass workers’ party that will unite the movement against terrorism, war, sexism, homophobia and racism and where links can be made to fight for a socialist transformation of society.
Teenager wins against curfew ruling:Defend our Civil Liberties!Luke Aylward
A recent high court case saw a teenager overturn a curfew imposed by a local council. This is one of many recent stories related to Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and how they infringe civil liberties.
A 15-year-old from South London recently won a High Court victory over his local council’s decision to impose a curfew on all under-16s. The use of dispersal zones in the Richmond area was deemed by the court to be a breach of his human rights.
This is part of the ASBO ruling, where young people are given curfews if they break them. Richmond Council, where the teenager (known in this case as "W") lived, had imposed a curfew on under-16s which meant that anyone seen outside in the area after 9pm was taken home by police.
There are as many as 3,000 curfews like this imposed in town centres across the country. As a result of these curfews, many children who want to engage in peaceful activity that doesn’t disturb people in the surrounding area, can’t.
The measure was used by Richmond Council to tackle ‘anti-social’ behaviour. The government’s definition of anti-social behaviour now stretches as a far as wearing a hooded top and being under the age of 18. This is part of the reason why we oppose ASBOs
ASBOs are ultra-authoritarian orders given out to various groups of people for various ill-founded reasons. Under ASBOs, activists are not allowed to fly-post in certain urban areas, curfews are imposed on innocent people, and the right to protest has been removed.
The use of ASBOs is part of a severe attack on civil liberties by the government. Another, even more draconian infringement of rights is the new legislation introduced in the name of fighting terrorism, which in fact does nothing to protect ordinary people from terror. Under these laws, relatives of suspects lose all privileges like communication with the outside world. Also, control orders imposed on suspects mean that potentially innocent people have to wear electronic tags and cannot leave their homes.
We demand the right to protest! We are against ID Cards, as they infringe civil liberties. We oppose ASBOs, as they are imposed on innocent people. No to the control orders imposed on suspects and their families!
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