Freedom of speech RIP

Hello,

You may or may not know but there is a new law coming into practice anytime soon in the UK. It is also a warning to those on this site from the UK.

Anyone who supports terrorism with words on the internet or in speeches can be deported. The definition of terrorism has not been set so i advise that everyone uses their words cautiously.

The state is strangling our freedoms one by one. It is enroaching on our everyday lives. If i am banned from this site or cannot get hold of anyone. Be ready for mid 2007.

Where too if we're British citizens?

Do you think civil liberties in the UK will be eroded as they were in post-9/11 America?

Plus, what do you think this will mean for the communist movement in the UK? The government may see the revolutionary as terroristic.

SAC, im not sure. Perhaps the states or maybe a neutral country like Ireland. Its up to diplomats now. Perhaps they will just send people to specially built "rehab centres" like the H blocs.

xphile,

To be honest, i have been trying to warn people of these dangers since i joined this site. No one really cared then and now its finally starting to dawn on people. Arrests have already been made under the terrorism act of 2001. Communists have been arrested and their houses raided. Anarchists at Edinburugh were resisted using that piece of legislation. It is just getting worse.

Our civil liberties have already suffered and there is now nothing in the way of more being taken away. If you can be deported for standing up to them then it looks like game over... for now...

We are the generation

Slim. HRA.

The problem with these proposals is the fact that the definitions of terms such as "glorifying" and "justifying" terrorism are incredibly ambiguous and set a sort of net by which the government can clamp down on those who try to understand the phenomenon of acts such as suicide bombings.

It is another method by which this country is eroding away our "freedom of speech."

The United Kingdom i think we can all agree is no longer a democracy. It is now a police state. It will only get worse. With no verbal opposition the government are unstopable.

We must prepare for the war that will end this. We are the generation that has been given this task. No one can stop the people. Once they are motivated, the impossible will be possible.

In that case I'll see you 50 or so miles down the road.

What is the best response then to this erosion of civil liberties?

We cannot stop it now. The only way is to exploit it and educate the people about the corruption of the state.

Our response will come in 2007 with revolution.

why 2007? Whats so special about that year?

Police state? This is bloody england not one of the koreas......

I seriously doubt this law will ever apply to communists either, unless protestors who incite riot, the law is designed for muslims.

oh and if the people of england can be motivated, thatd be a miracle, ha i can just see the chavs storming downing street now, or maybe some yuppies tearing down buckingham palace.

If the government can use it agaisnt us, they will. Dont think they'll use it just for one group.

The radical left seems pretty low as a threat in the governments eyes. I mean, we dont have a history of violent struggle, couple of protests, couple o race riots stuff like that, but we dont go about blowing stuff up or owt. Now after 7.7 and the failed attacks and all that hoo haa they more have it in for some muslims than us lot.

i would hardly say the uk is a police state. freedom of speech eroded? possibly eroded, but i'd say that i'm happy not to be allowed to go around publicy endorsing major terrorist attacks. but i'd hardly say it has been destroyed.

do you really think that the people will mobilise due to not being allowed to endorse terrorism?

i'm afraid that people need to be realistic. there IS/WAS a terrorist threat, and therefore we have to act accordingly. yes, there is a lot more to do, but i see exactly where they are coming from with these measures.

Well i think that this is dagerous. It brings to mind two famous quotes, 'I may disagree with what you say but i will defend to teh end your right to say it.'

And the one you all know that beings with first they came for the communists and so on.

This is totally unfair against communists. I know of a lot of people here on RevLeft who spoke out against the 7/7 bombings. I don't think anyone in their right minds, communist or not, would support indescriminate killing.

Xphile,

2007 is when i turn 18. The war will start on my birthday. It will show the international community that i am officially an adult and can be held responsible for my actions.

MiniOswald,

Whether you like it or not; terror laws have already been used against communists in the UK. Anyway, it doesnt matter whether they aim for communists or muslims, they are still citizens and should not be targetted at all for their religion. We should stand by them.

Also, no history? What about the massive anti thatcher strikes and protests of the 80s.

Another point, whether its as bad as korea or not, it is not justified and is still a crime against the people. One which we have the power and ability to fight. We are more fortunate than those in many countries but it does not mean we should accept the surrender of our freedoms.

Kingbee,

I see where the laws are coming from but the latest one is coming in coincidence with many others. They are unjust and dangerous. You are at the mercy of the state. In a country that doesnt trust Blair, can you truly say you can trust them with this power?

Clenched Fist,

Nice quote.

SAC,

Your statement isnt entirely correct. This is not totally unfair against communists.

It is a threat against all who question visibly corrupt policies of the state. A threat against democracy. Against justice, freedom and a threat against the pursuit of happiness. A crime against humanity.

We are the generation.

Slim. HRA.

Hey, it was almost certain that the UK would react to these attacks just as America reacted. Say bye bye to any of the civil liberties you have left.

I think I'll be visited by DHS or FBI or NSA sometime in the near future. It's unavoidable, especially with our "USA PATRIOT ACT". What a joke.

Anyways, this was bound to happen. Sucks, doesn't it?

This is the war of our generation. It is up to us to stop it.

I agree with most of the sentiments expressed in this thread, but I thought it was interesting that you should say this:

According to a recent poll, the two aren't mutually exclusive. Over 70% were in favour of more authoritarian measures at the expense of civil liberties.

To be fair, since when has Britain ever been a democracy?

i think its interesting in how the legislation will be applied to revolutionaries, it means we will have to more accurate in what we say, and hopefully will deter people (some honest) into going down the road of individual terrorism, which has never workeed for the revolutionary cause, hurt innocents, and isolated us from the masses.

If anything, what is more democratic than a revolution? Where the mass of people gain class consiousness and take the decision making process into their own hands :)

This gives more reason for revolutionaries to get more involved in the community, and stop being so isolated from it, drawing the wrong conclusion for methods, revolutionaries must work in all mass organisations of the people, be it in the political parties, unions and student organisations, to get people to draw revolutionary conclusions