By Damion Mitchell, Staff Reporter 
Aub
LAWYERS ACTING on behalf of Campaign for Global Justice (Jamaica) are preparing a submission to Government requesting that it withdraws the proposed Terrorism Prevention Bill, Beth Aub, a member of the organisation told a forum at the University of the West Indies at Mona in St. Andrew yesterday.
According to Campaign for Global Justice, the Terrorism Prevention Act would result in the rights of innocent Jamaicans being severely infringed. "The Terrorism Prevention Bill if passed into law will make every single act of civil disobedience a terrorist act," said Mrs. Aub, adding that the Bill also provided for an individual to be deemed a terrorist if he/she whether knowing or unknowingly associates with a perceived terrorist.
Section (3) of the Bill defines a terrorist act as "serious interference with or serious disruption of an essential service facility or system whether public or private."
Mrs. Aub also said that the Bill made provision for persons to be arrested on the suspicion that there was an intention to commit any perceived terrorist action, "But how can you convict someone on intent?" she questioned.
To further compound the situation, she said that evidence brought against a person accused of terrorism, would not be disclosed neither to the accused nor his lawyer because of reasons associated with "state security".
COMPLIANCE WITH US
And noting that support for the Terrorism Bill would mean compliance with demands from the United States of America, Mrs. Aub said that under the act, mandatory sentencing for those found guilty would be death. However, the Privy Council does not support capital punishment.
Yvonne Sobers, head of the Families Against State Terrorism (FAST) said that the bill which represents a Commonwealth model, drafted by a committee including representatives from Britain, Australia and Canada, was an attempt to "pull the plug" on democracy.
"It is particularly sad that we are going into this thing when a number of countries are going against it," she said.
For his part Lloyd D'Aguilar a member of the Campaign for Global Justice, said that the Terrorism Prevention Bill was designed to give more "power" to the Government and that such an Act was unnecessary as present criminal and civil laws address all offences and the respective penalties.
The Terrorism Bill was tabled in Parliament recently. Members of the public have until December 31 to make submissions to facilitate its passing by March of next year.
