Civil Liberties - in brief (3)
01 September 1998
UK/Spain: ex-Chilean dictator arrested: The former Chilean dictator, General Augusto Pinochet, who is London for surgery, was detained by police in October, pending an extradition application by Spain. Spanish legal representatives approached British authorities concerning the tyrant's role in atrocities and acts of genocide carried out during his 17-year dictatorship. The request was based on the European Convention on Terrorism, which requires signatories to provide mutual assistance. Under the 1989 Extradition Act the Spanish will have to provide evidence against Pinochet and Home Secretary, Jack Straw, will decide if it is sufficient to justify extradition. Pinochet rule came to an end in 1990, when he retired, receiving immunity for past-crimes and the position of senator-for life. He retained control of the Chilean army until earlier this year and has played a key role in establishing arms links with UK companies on the basis of his friendship with former prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, forged during the Malvinas war. Guardian 14.10.98.
UK: Multi-agency stop checks a "gross invasion of privacy": Liberty is investigating the possibility of mounting a legal challenge to the deployment of investigators from the Benefits Agency (BA) and immigration authorities at "routine" police checks. "Operation Mermaid" on October 1 was the latest clampdown in which drivers stopped for roadside vehicle checks faced questions from BA and immigration officials. The scheme has been piloted by a number of forces over the last two years, with "Mermaid" involving all 52.
During September, ticket inspectors on London's underground and railway systems were accompanied by Metropolitan and British Transport police, immigration officials and truancy officers in "Operation Elliot". While in July, benefits officials joined police in stops of people going to the Glastonbury Festival. Cyclists have also been targeted, while customs officers have been involved in some of the operations. Liberty have described the checks as a "gross invasion of privacy" and question the legality of this use of police powers. The age-old police line is that those with nothing to hide have nothing to fear, yet discrimination in the use of similar powers such as stop and search render this a hollow claim. Problems will also be compounded by people's lack of knowledge of their rights. Liberty, Autumn 1998; Big Issue, 7.9.98; Independent, 13.8.98.
Northern Ireland: CAJ wins human rights award: The Belfast based Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) was awarded the Council of Europe's human rights award in June. The award is intended to "uphold the merits of a person, group of persons, institution or non-governmental organisation which has been active in promoting or protecting human rights in accordance with the principles of individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law." CAJ director, Martin O'Brien, said of the award: "CAJ is very pleased to receive this prize which comes at such a crucial time for the protection of human rights in Northern Ireland. While the Agreement has strong language and a number of mechanisms specifically designed to protect human rights the task ahead is to translate this into reality."
UK: Anti-racist group launches new rights card: A community initiative led by Lewisham Anti-Racist Action Group has responded to high levels of police stop and searches in the area through the production of 14,000 cards informing people of their rights before, during and after a search and in the event of an arrest. The area, in south-east London, has a higher rate of stop and search than the city average, with the black community disproportionately harassed in this way (Statewatch research showed that black people in London were more than four times more likely to be stopped and searched than their white counterparts during 1996/97, see vol 8, no 3 & 4). The "Stop, Search, Arrest: Know Your<