Civil liberties - in brief (4)
01 November 1998
Belgium: Supreme court ruling "criminalises trade unions": The Belgian Raad van State (Supreme court) has condemned an amendment to Article 324 (the Belgian version of "criminal organisation" legislation). The Moureaux amendment would not allow Article 324 to be used against organisations with a political or trade union role. However, the court has advised the government that the amendment would "tear the heart" out of the new law. but Socialist Party MP, Moureaux, is standing firm behind his amendment and refuses to endorse Article 324 without his amendment. In the meantime the Franchimont bill has become law. This allows pro-active investigations (observation, bugging, tapping and following) of outfits deemed to be criminal organisations without any question of an actual crime being committed. Solidaire, 20.10.98.
UK: Amnesty to launch Human Rights Centre: Amnesty International is to launch a Human Rights Centre in London to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Centre will promote public awareness of atrocities around the world and visitors will be able to use the Centre to e-mail their views to governments. The Centre is scheduled to open in the summer of 2000 and Amnesty is seeking an office to house the Centre. Independent on Sunday 6.12.98.
UK: Met rights card outlines "responsibilities": Harrow Council and the Metropolitan police have produced a fold out card entitled: "Young people and the police: know your rights and responsibilities". There is certainly nothing new in the idea of rights cards, they were regularly distributed by police monitoring groups during the 1980s. The Met's excursion, however, may represent something of a set-back for the for the valuable guides. In the section "in the street" the advice reads: "The police can't make you answer any questions if you don't want to answer them, but remember, as a citizen, you also have a responsibility to help police to prevent crime and discover offenders". Predictably, the overall tone of the advice in the Met's card is far less frank and explicit in comparison to that issued by independent groups. More empowering advice on stop, search and arrest is available by sending an SAE to Lewisham Anti-Racist Action Group at LARAG, c/o Lewisham NUT, Room 7, Town Hall, Catford, London SE6 4RU.