British Court Rules Freezing Terror Suspects' Assets 'Unlawful'

VOA News 27/01/2010

Britain's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that government orders freezing the assets of terror suspects are unlawful. The decision comes only a week after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that certain stop and search powers of Britain's police are also illegal.

The Supreme Court ruled that financial restrictions on five suspected terrorists were a breach of their human rights.

The order to freeze the assets of suspected terrorists was made by the treasury in 2006, in order to inhibit the financing of international terrorism.

But the orders were not voted on in Parliament and Wednesday the Supreme Court said Britain's government would have to obtain parliamentary approval for 'far reaching measures' to combat terrorism.

In response, a spokesperson for the treasury said it would introduce fast-track legislation to make sure their power to freeze assets won't be interrupted.

Eric Metcalfe is human rights policy director at the legal human rights group Justice. He says Wednesday's ruling represents a critical defense of the democratic principle in Britain.

"This is a democracy governed by the rule of law and it is profoundly important that democratic representatives deliberate in a proper manner about how laws are made and whether the right balance has been struck," he said.

Little help for migrant labour

Bangkok Post 22/01/2010

Despite the cabinet's decision to extend by another two years the nationality verification deadline for migrant workers, the problems of underground labour and exploitation will not go away.

It is estimated that there are about 2-3 million migrant workers in Thailand, mostly from repressive Burma. The deadline extension will allow the registered workers, numbering about a million, a two-year grace period to have their nationality verified and passports issued by their governments as preconditions for obtaining work permits here.

But there are still many stumbling blocks ahead.

To start with, the Thai authorities are not equipped to help the workers deal with a complicated system which concerns various agencies as well as the governments from the workers' countries of origin.

In addition, if the Burmese government still refuses to speed things up by processing the nationality verification requests in Thailand and still requires the workers to travel back and forth to Burma, the chances of meeting the deadline are zero.

Party gifts may pose problem

TheNation 08/01/2010

The National Anti-Corruption Commission will launch an inquiry into possible violation of a gift ban involving Pheu Thai MPs, NCCC member Somlak Judkrabuanphol said yesterday, reminding opposition lawmakers anyone found guilty faced disqualification and a three-year jail term. The main opposition party organised a New Year's party on December 23, during which a number of computer notebooks, expensive watches and the grand prize of a pickup truck were given as gifts to Pheu Thai MPs.

Under the anti-corruption law, political office holders are banned from accepting gifts valued at more than Bt3,000.

"The law is clear - officials, including senators and MPs - are prohibited from accepting gifts worth more than Bt3,000 and they are obliged to report such gifts [even if] received under circumstances deemed unavoidable," Somlak said.

She said she would check whether the opposition MPs had reported any gifts to the House speaker. The ban has been in effect for years but a large number of office holders continue to ignore its enforcement, she said.

Ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra was convicted on the Ratchadapisek land case and incumbent Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva voluntarily returned a pair of elephant tusks after he realised their value, she said.