TONY Blair's so-called anti-terror laws, especially the new powers of detention without trial, have sparked a huge debate, not least on the Evening Press letters page.
What strikes me is that while your correspondents disagree about Mr Blair's motives, on the law itself we are almost all on the same side - against.
For centuries our claim to be a free and democratic society has rested on basic civil liberties to which every one is entitled.
The oldest, and perhaps most important of these, is the right to due legal process, i.e. not to be imprisoned or otherwise punished without a fair trial before a jury with presentation of evidence.
This most basic freedom was fought for and won centuries ago as part of Magna Carta. It is this which the Government is now attempting to take away. This is an alien and terrifying prospect.
History teaches us no government should be given the power to lock up people up without trial. The temptation to abuse such power is too great.
Think of South Africa under apartheid, Russia under Stalin - even Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
Everyone who fears this attack on our basic freedoms needs to continue to protest until the right to trial is restored.
I also suggest joining Liberty, the respected campaign group which defends these basic civil liberties.
Liberty can be contacted at info@liberty-human-rights.org.uk or on 020 7403 3888.
Ben Drake,
Danum Road,
York.
Updated: 09:30 Friday, March 18, 2005
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