European Tribune

I'm afraid that the British have an alrming habit of indulging foreign dignataries whims about security. At a previous visit by the Chinese premier protesters were invited to stand in a particular place opposite where the Premier would be. Then just before he arrived a large bus drew up to shield him from the protesters.

The police have always taken the view that protesters are a problem who have waived their civil rights. That they are protecting the law-abiding community from troublemakers and anything goes.

Miners were subject to internal exile during the Thatcher era, even tho' such a measure is illegal. Anti-nuclear protesters have always been subject ot obstruction on spurious grounds that, months later, will be declared unConstituional by a judge. But of course by then it won't matter.

We aren't allowed to protest in London except with the expressed permission of the Metropolitan police. Only one person at a time is allowed to protest outside parliament.

We are not citizens, we are subjects. We do not have rights, we are accorded privileges that may be suspended at the whim of the Executive. So allowing a gang of foreign secret service agents to beat up troublemakers is okay by them, the more the merrier.  Whatever we try to do in a protest at any useful time will be prevented, but it's not a police state, we will get an official apology at some future point (when it no longer matters).

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Apr 9th, 2008 at 10:01:53 AM EST
Helen:
We are not citizens, we are subjects.

We've been citizens since 1949 when the British nationality act 1948 came into effect.

Unfortunately it does appear to9 be a law that the authorities are at liberty to ignore.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Wed Apr 9th, 2008 at 10:17:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I've heard that lots of times. However, I certainly haven't noticed they are willing to allow rights. If they are suspended at the whim of the Executive, then they are only privileges. If we only have privileges, we are not citzens.

Therefore the law is either not applicable or the police act above and beyond the law without restraint or let and we have a police state. But then again, if they can execute Brazilian electricians on the streets of london and then lie gratuitously about it I think we've answered the question on the State of Britain..

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Apr 9th, 2008 at 11:07:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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