The thought police would get him just the same. He had committed—would have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper—the essential crime that contained all others in itself. Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed forever. You might dodge successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get you.”
I am appalled that the government’s proposal to increase the pre-charge detention limit to 42 days – six weeks – scraped (thanks to the Ulster Unionists) through parliament by a majority of nine. As someone who used to serve people by law enforcement, this is a fast downward slope toward 1984, 25 years on.
The Bible says, “Remember those in prison as if you were in prison with them. Remember those who are mistreated as if you were being mistreated.”
So, put yourself in their shoes (plastic bags actually, and paper suits to wear). For 42 days.
I was once wrongly arrested (while in the police cadets – it’s a long story!), I was ‘in custody’ for about 15 minutes in total. The longest 15 minutes of my life – before the misunderstanding was cleared up and I was allowed to go free.
Today is 13th June.
42 Days from now is 24th of July.
You don’t see your family, friends, nobody. Guilty by association, prove yourself innocent.
Six weeks. On suspicion.
That’s a lot of scratches on the cell wall if you’ve done nothing wrong. An awful lot can happen in 42 days. Especially if you’re arrested on allegations of ‘national security issues.’ Apparently though, there’ll be ‘compensation,’ How do you compensate for suicides in custody I wonder? These proposals will do nothing to calm the fears of young Muslims who already feel targeted, alienated and labelled (Why? Surely there’s nothing to fear – unless you have something to hide).
Divide and rule?
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
Keep the ‘war on terror’ going, at home and on your street and wherever else we want it. No need for proof or actual evidence, when we have ‘sources’ confirm our suspicion, together with ‘credible information,’ ‘forensic tests..,’ ‘CCTV from the time…’
After all, don’t you trust the government?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uud2LeZF-7k&NR=1
Let’s pray the Lords about face this step toward totalitarianism. The right to petition for habeas corpus has been our society’s most efficient safeguard of the liberty of the individual. The government are tearing up fundamental principles of fairness and the protection of human rights. Benjamin Franklin said, “They who would give up an essential Liberty for temporary security, deserve neither Liberty or security.”