Amnesty condemns US-led war on terror

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has been urged to use the EU Presidency and next month’s meeting with George Bush to tell the US president to stop what is described as the undermining of the legitimacy of international and human rights laws.

Publishing its annual report yesterday, Amnesty International attacked the US-led “war on terror” and also the “callous, cruel and criminal attacks by armed groups such as al-Qaida.”

The response of governments to the security threat posed by certain groups is frightening, said Sean Love, Amnesty’s Irish executive director.

“Governments are losing their moral compass, sacrificing the global values of human rights in a blind pursuit of security. The failure of leadership is a dangerous concession to armed groups,” said Mr Love.

European governments, notably Britain for its internment without trial of suspects, and Spain for failing to safeguard the rights of suspects held under “anti-terror” legislation, were singled out.

The Irish Government, and specifically Foreign Affairs minister Brian Cowen, was praised for its strong criticism of the Israeli offensive on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Mr Cowen condemned what he described as the targeting of innocent children.

Amnesty praised the Government’s support for the International Criminal Court.

In its report on Ireland, Amnesty referred to the lack of psychiatric services within the prison system, misconduct allegations against gardaí, concern over the Special Criminal Court and the lack of checks on Irish-based companies involved in the international arms trade.

Mr Love also said he was concerned over what Amnesty believe is growing institutional racism. There is also concern about the inadequacy of the system for reporting, recording and prosecuting racist crimes.