From: [log in to unmask]: "Statewatch mailing list"@unn.ac.uk
Sent: 20/09/01 16:15
Subject: STATEWATCH: EU plans to combat terrorism may also cover protests
STATEWATCH press release, 20.9.01.
EU PLANS TO COMBAT TERRORISM MAY ALSO COVER PROTESTS
In the wake of the tragic events in the USA the European Commission has
put forward a proposal for a "Framework Decision on combating
terrorism" which is being discussed today at the special meeting of EU
Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Brussels.
An analysis of the proposal would appear to show that the intention is
to extend the definition of "terrorism" to cover public order
situations.
Tony Bunyan, Statewatch editor, comments:
"The response of the EU to the tragic events in the US needs to be
examined with great care. The definition of terrorism is very similar
in its scope to the UK Terrorism Act which is drawn so wide as to
endanger legitimate dissent.
The European Commission proposal on combating terrorism is either very
badly drafted, or there is a deliberate attempt to broaden the concept
of terrorism to cover protests (such as those in Gothenburg and Genoa)
and what it calls "urban violence" (often seen by local communities as
self-defence). If it is intended to slip in by the back door draconian
measures to control political dissent it will only serve to undermine
the very freedoms and democracies legislators say they are protecting"
For full report see:
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2001/sep/14eulaws.htm>
Also on Statewatch News Online:
DATA SURVEILLANCE INTRODUCED IN UK & USA
On Thursday 13 September, in the wake of the attacks in the USA, the UK
government asked all communications service providers to retain details
of: i) all logs of emails sent and received (not the content of those
emails); ii) all logs showing the allocation of dynamic IP addresses
(internet usage) and iii) telephone networks are asked to keep logs
identifying source and destination and times of all calls made or
routed through their networks.
The Director of Europol, Jurgen Storbeck, told the German newspaper
Mitteldeutschen Zeitung that not all EU member states were prepared to
exchange telecommunications data. The problem, he said, was to balance
civil rights and freedom with security needs and that "Only by total
surveillance is there a chance of total control" which would be
unacceptable.
Includes Statewatch reports on telecommunications surveillance and
full-text of letter from the UK National Hi-Tech Crime Unit.
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2001/sep/11retorder.htm>
INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS CANCELLED
Following the attacks in the USA on 11 September the planned joint
annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World
Bank planned for 29-30 September in Washington is being cancelled.
In Europe the planned conference organised by the Netherlands police in
the Hague, 3-5 October where "experts" had been called together to
discuss: "Maintaining public order, a democratic approach" has also
been cancelled.
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2001/sep/08cancel.htm>
ECHELON & GENOA
The plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 5
September adopted the report on the Echelon spying system and has a
discussion on events in Genoa.
The central issue of the UK's involvement in the Echelon system remains
unanswered - it is the only EU member state in Echelon and gathers
commercial and political intelligence through it.
The debate on the confrontations in Genoa between police and protestors
and on the police raids in the parliament was to say the least mixed.
Some speakers wanted closer police cooperation on law and order, others
were critical of the police role. Some were sorry too little attention
was paid to the Summit itself, others that the Summits were not the
solution to world poverty.
The parliament's Committee on Ctizens' Freedoms and Rights is to draw
up a report on Genoa and policing.
[Includes report from the debate in the European Parliament, the full-
text of the adopted report, the Resolution and the European
Commissioner's speech on Ecehelon.]
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2001/sep/023link.htm>
News in brief
<http://www.statewatch.org/news/2001/sep/Newsinbrief.htm>
"Stop the TABD (Transatlantic Business Dialogue) - Democratic
Alternatives to Neoliberal Governance" , TABD Counter-summit, October
12-13, Stockholm
National Civil Rights Movement: International Festival for Peace,
Justice and Human Rights, 10-11 November 2001
Initial reaction of the Belgian Presidency of the EU on the issues to
be considered at the planned intergovernmental conference on future
Union structures
European Commission proposal for a Directive on laying down minimum
standards for third country nationals and refugees
Campsfield hunger strikers' statement, 9 September 2001
Press statement on the court decision on the Oakington detention centre
______________________________________________________
Statweatch: Monitoring the state & civil liberties in Europe
Online news service: <http://www.statewatch.org/news>
Statewatch, PO BOX 1516, London. N16 0EW. UK
Phone: 0044-(0)20-8802-1882
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______________________________________________________ Monitoring the
state & civil liberties in Europe Online news service: Statewatch, PO
BOX 1516, London. N16 0EW. UK Phone: 0044-(0)20-8802-1882 Fax:
0044-(0)20-8880-1727
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