So Now We Are Terrorists

The Terrorism Act received Royal Assent on 20 July 2000 and will come into force in the UK mainland in Spring 2001. While things look grim, there have been a number of amendments. However, the real fight against the labelling of wide sections of dissidents and activists as ‘terrorists’ - has only just begun.

Hardly a day goes past now without someone, be it farmers or biotech corporations complaining about their fields being decontaminated of GMOs, or politicians complaining about their conferences being blockaded, calling their opponents ‘terrorists’. Sometimes the words ‘terrorist’ and ‘activist’ are used interchangeably. This, the ultimate in political exclusion, must be challenged or our society will become even more undemocratic. In truth, as we all know, the Act has little to do with preventing terrorism. The new definition of 'terrorism' is expressly designed to apply to people who do not carry guns or advocate the use of violence against others. The purpose of this Act is to halt the convergence of struggles that are taking place worldwide.

"Section 12 (2) *A person commits an offence if he arranges*, manages or assists in arranging or managing *a meeting** which he knows is - (a) to support a proscribed organisation, (b) to further the activities of a proscribed organisation, or (c) to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation. (3) A person commits an offence *if he addresses a meeting** and - (a) the purpose of his address is to encourage support for a proscribed organisation or to further its activities, or (b) he knows that the meeting is to be addressed by a person who belongs or professes to belong to a proscribed organisation. (4) In subsections (2) and (3) *"meeting" means ** a meeting of *three or more persons**, whether or not the public are admitted. (5) *A person guilty** of an offence under this section *shall be liable** - (a) on conviction on indictment, *to imprisonment for** a term not exceeding *ten years**, to a fine or to both."

Terrorism Act, 2000ad.