ZGram - 3/4/2004 - "Two items of importance: TASC hearing /
Excerpt from Wired Interview with Architect of the Patriot Act"
zgrams at zgrams.zundelsite.org
zgrams at zgrams.zundelsite.org
Thu Mar 4 15:08:49 EST 2004
ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny: Now more than ever!
ZGram - March 4, 2004
Good Morning from the Zundelsite:
I have two items to report:
The first one is important for CSIS-Watchers:
Come to Court for Arab Secret Trial Detainee
Mon., March 8, 9:30 A.M., Federal Court of Canada, 330 University
Avenue, Canada Life Building, just north of Queen St. and Osgoode
subway, west side of street. Come to court and support the motion to
reopen the bail hearing for Secret Trial Detainee Mohammad Mahjoub,
held without charge or bail on secret evidence neither he nor his
lawyers are allowed to see, since June, 2000.
Mr. Mahjoub's life is in grave danger if deported to Egypt. Although
a security certificate was upheld against him, no proof has ever been
publicly shown that Mahjoub is even remotely connected to
organizations which CSIS alleges he is involved in.
A victim of torture while in Egypt, Mahjoub came to Canada seeking a
peaceful, quiet life, and has three children and a partner he misses
terribly.
For more info: Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada, tasc at web.ca,
(416) 651-5800, www.homesnotbombs.ca
=====
Here is my caveat: I have not the faintest idea who this man is, who
his friends are - but NO ONE in a democracy ought to be victimized by
secret trials and secret hearings! No one! It is an absolute
disgrace - a stain on Canada!
If you are in the area, attend this hearing - and report to me what was said.
Thank you!
=====
The second item is an excerpt I lifted from Wired News from an
interview with Viet Dinh, a Vietnamese attorney who seems to have
been the major architect responsible for the Patriot Act:
[START]
Wired News: An estimated 5,000 people have been subjected to
detention since 9/11. Of those, only five -- three noncitizens and
two citizens -- were charged with terrorism-related crimes and one
was convicted. How do we justify such broad-sweeping legislation that
has resulted in very few terrorist-related convictions?
Viet Dinh: I've heard the 5,000 number. The official numbers released
from the Department of Justice indicate approximately 500 persons
have been charged with immigration violations and have been deported
who have been of interest to the 9/11 investigation. Also,
approximately 300 individuals have been criminally charged who are of
interest to the 9/11 investigation. Of the persons criminally
charged, approximately half have either pled guilty or been convicted
after trial.
It may well be that a number of citizens were not charged with
terrorism-related crimes, but they need not be. Where the department
has suspected people of terrorism it will prosecute those persons for
other violations of law, rather than wait for a terrorist conspiracy
to fully develop and risk the potential that that conspiracy will be
missed and thereby sacrificing innocent American lives in the
process. [Emphasis added]
(The full interview is at
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,62388,00.html)
[END]
To paraphrase: If a person is "suspected" of setting fires (no
evidence necessary - suspicion is enough!) it's quite okay to arrest
that person for, let's say, fudging on an Income Tax return, a wide
enough net to catch most anybody?
Same for "immigration violations." A wide enough net to brazenly
incarcerate the "enemies" one needs?
When I read it to Ernst, he commented dryly - and here I quote from memory:
"Imagine! That's what America imported right from the Viet Nam war!"
=====
=====
Reminder:
Help free Ernst Zundel, Prisoner of Conscience. His prison sketches
- now on-line and highly popular - help pay for his defence. Take a
look - and tell a friend!
http://www.zundelsite.org/gallery/donations/index.html
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