Von: "Paul Kneisel" <tallpaul@nyct.net> An: <proletarism@yahoogroups.com> Betreff: [proletarism] The Internet Anti-Fascist: Fri, 16 November 2001 -- 5:92 (#620) Datum: Freitag, 23. November 2001 05:58 __________________________________________________________________________ The Internet Anti-Fascist: Friday, 16 November 2001 Vol. 5, Number 92 (#620) [mailed Wednesday, 21 November 2001] __________________________________________________________________________ [Military tribunals in the US] 05) Conyers Calls For Civil Liberties Hearings UPI 14 Nov 01 WASHINGTON D.C. -- House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, D-Mich., said Wednesday a decision by President George W. Bush that terrorist suspects might face a military tribunal adds to questions about civil liberties. In a Nov. 14 letter to Committee Chairman Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., Conyers called for hearings on civil liberties, including an administration plan to monitor some defendants' communication with their lawyers, and the status of suspects detained in the government's investigations of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Conyers said Bush's Tuesday decision to establish military tribunals run by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld only adds to his concern. "Indeed, the very purpose of the directive appears to be to skirt the usual constitutional and criminal justice rules that are the hallmark of our democratic form of government." While Sensenbrenner did not return calls seeking comment, Conyers' request comes one day after United Press International reported that Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., might soon hold hearings on the new government policy on monitoring communication between defense attorneys and their clients, and the status of what lawmakers said could be 1,000 people detained by the government. Some of those detainees have reportedly been released. Leahy twice sent letters to Attorney General John Ashcroft on the issues on Oct. 31 and Nov. 9. "We also have received no cooperation from the Justice Department in our effort to obtain information regarding the 1,000 plus immigrants who have been detained in connection with the terrorism investigation, as reflected in a letter that several Democratic Members transmitted to the attorney general on Oct.31, 2001," Conyers wrote to Sensenbrenner Wednesday. "We would be remiss in our duties, however, if we did not also oversee the extent to which the Department may be abusing its authority and wrongfully targeting innocent Americans." - - - - -   06) "A coup against the American Constitution" Radio Interview With Francis Boyle KPFA 18 Nov 01 Good day, Yesterday, Dennis Bernstein, host of the incomparable Flashpoints program, on KPFA radio in Berkeley, interviewed Professor Francis Boyle, of the University of Illinois Law School, an expert in international and human rights law and a long-time champion and proponent of a foreign policy based upon decency and justice. The subject was George Bush's breathtaking order authorizing (potentially secret) military tribunals for foreign nationals suspected of "terrorism." Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the Flashpoints web site, where those suitably equipped can listen to yesterday's program via RealAudio. --- BEGIN EXCERPT Boyle: First this executive order must be considered in light of the massive assault by this administration...against the U.S. Constitution.. .one blow after another, after another.. this is one of the more outrageous... [C]learly aliens here legally are entitled to the protections of the Bill of Rights... [T]he Geneva Conventions of 1949 clearly apply to our dispute with Afghanistan...[T]rial protections must be adhered to...due process of law set forth in both of these treaties.. otherwise it is a war crime.. [T]his executive order is very dangerous... [We are, effectively,] saying to Al Queda, "since we're not giving you the protections.. then you can violate protections for U.S. military personel captured too" [The] problem is Bush has said that Al Queda is not entitled to prisoner of war protections.. thereby exposing our military to the same treatment: secret trials and executions Bernstein: a quiet coup? Boyle: [A] coup against the American Constitution...[T]he president and secretary of state are bound by the 4th Geneva convention overseas...[D]omestically they are bound by the Constitution of the United States.. yet this is exactly what this executive order is undoing.. [W]e're becoming a Banana Republic, with 'disappeared people'..[There are] reports a immigrant prisoner was tortured to death in a New Jersey lockup.. [W]hen will these government agencies start to turn these powers against the American people? That's the next step. END EXCERPT --- - In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. _______________________________________ Community email addresses: Post message: proletarism@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: proletarism-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: proletarism-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com List owner: proletarism-owner@yahoogroups.com Shortcut URL to this page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletarism