'JUSTICE BE DAMNED??'

A letter from Frederic Forsyth on the EU arrest warrant (Telegraph 17.12.01) said it all. If a British newspaper criticised, say, treatment of British plane spotters by the Greeks, its Editor could be extradited abroad and detained for as long as the regional prosecutor or magistrate saw fit.

All that would matter is (1) that the European edition was available in Greece (2) that a suitable 'crime' (e.g. 'xenophobia') existed in Greece - no equivalent need exist in the UK (3), just one man's personal opinion.

Forsyth concluded "Pretending to combat terrorism, this new measure abolishes habeas corpus (guarantee of a fast public trial), presumption of innocence, the Magna Carta and half of the Bill of Rights of 1689".

WAR ON FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY
Melanie Phillips also pointed out that the list of crimes, including 'corruption', 'computer crime' and 'fraud', can include simply making careless errors, without intent to deceive. We also note the EU definition of 'fraud' as "any offence against the financial interests of the EU" (Corpus Juris book, 1997).

'Terrorism' is grounds for extradition, but in December, EU leaders agreed a catch-all definition - which might cover peaceful but spirited demonstrations. An offence covers 'intimidating' people or institutions, aimed at 'seriously altering or destroying their political, economic or social structures'.
New Alliance - New Year 2002