Human Rights in an Age of Terrorism
Around the world thousands of people are imprisoned without charge. Most are activists or opponents of their country's government. Many are tortured. Many are executed without a trial, or die from abuse and neglect while in prison. All have had their human rights violated. Until recently these victims were mainly found in countries with repressive regimes.
However, since the 'war on terrorism' was declared by the US, after 11 September, 2001, many countries have enacted anti-terrorism laws. They are of the same type passed in Germany's Third Reich and in South Africa during Apartheid. Though claimed to deter terrorism, they in fact undermine human rights and foster community fear. So when individuals are charged, few will speak up and question whether rights have been infringed, especially if they belong to a minority group. Once initial restrictions are in place, further draconian measures can be more easily enacted. The result is that liberal democracies are turned into repressive regimes.
An early post 9/11 example, was the arrest and imprisonment by the US of hundreds of 'suspects' who just happened to be of Middle eastern in appearance. Most of these unlucky individuals have now been released without charge, though they received no apology or compensation for the trauma and inconvenience they suffered.
Of greater concern is the detention, by the US, of hundreds of so-called enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. These prisoners are in a limbo of being neither under the Geneva Convention for war, nor under any country's legal jurisdiction for the purposes of getting a fair trial. The Australian, David Hicks, being one example.
Here in Australia we have the case of Jack Thompson, an Australian born convert to Islam, who travelled to various Muslim countries, including Afghanistan, prior to September 2001. On suspicion of having links with terrorists, he has been arrested, tortured and charged, under the first set of Australian anti-terrorism laws. Guilty or innocent Thompson's human rights have been violated. A group of high profile civil libertarians are now working to see that he gets a fair trial.
Under the new laws proposed by the Howard government there will be much secrecy surrounding arrests, imprisonment and charges, and those who speak out against these laws, or in defence of those charged, are likely to find themselves under the surveillance of security services. Australia will become yet another repressive regime, and as history shows terrorism will be increased rather than be quelled.
As Dr Mary Robinson, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights argues 'basic human rights must not be sacrificed in the fight against terrorism, and that human security, human development and human rights are mutually dependent and must be given equal priority.' [Radio National, 'Encounter'. Sunday 30 October.]
