Terrorism And The Diy Activist

A new Prevention of Terrorism Bill is making its way through Parliament, and looks set to become law in Autumn. It extends the laws which have been misused against the Northern Irish people to the rest of the UK population, with some added vagueness for good measure.

A key problem for activists is the under-definition of terrorism. The new definition is "the use of serious violence against persons or property, or the threat to use such violence to intimidate or coerce the Government, the public or any section of the public for political, religious or ideological ends."

Terrorism will also mean the use or threat of using action which creates a risk to the health and safety of people. In the light of the media hysteria about ALF and RTS, this means virtually any activist is at risk of being classed a terrorist some of the time. Note also police comments about feeling threatened in protest or eviction situations.

What does 'serious' mean? Whatever they want it to mean. And 'Violence to property' - what, like breaking animal snares or digging up GM plants? GM crop-pullers will be classed the same as the Soho nail bomber.

There are other worrying elements in the bill. People supporting struggles abroad (like the Zapatistas or the Kurdish resistance in Turkey) will be included. There is a danger that refugees from oppressive regimes will become a legitimate target of the police merely because they support the overthrow of that regime.

The main points for activists to note about the Bill, are the proscription of organisations, the power within 'cordoned areas' and the new powers of stop and search and detention.

Proscribed Organisations

Membership of a proscribed organisation can carry a 10 year sentence, support for such an organisation also being an offence. An organisation can be almost anything, however informal or small. Support could mean something as ordinary as wearing an ALF T-shirt!

Cordoned Areas

Any policeman can declare any area cordoned if it's deemed 'expedient'. Anyone who doesn't leave the area is open to a 3 month prison term. (Adjacent premises are included in the cordoned area. Note also tents and vehicles are defined as premises.)

New Powers of Stop, Search and Detain

Anyone can be stopped and searched on the grounds of 'reasonable suspicion 'of involvement in terrorist activity (see above.) Such a person can be held for up to 48 hours without anyone being told, including solicitors. The period can be extended to 7 days, following a hearing in the detainee's absence.

Sympathy with terrorism is also vaguely defined. Knowing about things, using other people's property, handling money and so on, are all offences. The wording of the Bill is ambiguous and open to misuse through interpretation. The thinking behind the Bill is clear enough. It seeks to extend the state's powers by redefining as much activity as possible as 'terrorism', thus making everything from fluffy protest to full-on direct action vulnerable.

A number of public meetings and demo's will be happening throughout the country in the next few months.

Contact: your local activist group, or Protest Forum, Flat 7, 10a Airlie Gardens, London, WA8 7AL. 0171 727 0590. Web http://www.blagged.freeserve.co.uk/terrorbill/index.html