British government attacks free speech

This video from England says about itself:

10 July 2012

4th of July Independence FROM America demonstration at the US base at Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, organised by CAAB: the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases.

We hear a lot about US occupations of other countries, but little about the military occupation of Britain by the US. Menwith Hill is run by America as a spy base, with the ability to listen in to all our phone calls and intercept our emails, and claims the name ‘RAF Menwith Hill‘ rather than the more appropriate ‘USAF’ on account of its sole British military officer. All the rest are American.

By Peter Lazenby in Britain:

New anti-protest law is an attack on democracy

Wednesday 8th January 2014

Government revives 120-year-old legislation to stop campaigners targeting US military bases

A Labour MP launched a scathing attack yesterday on the introduction of new draconian laws targeting protesters at US military bases in Britain – without Parliament’s approval.

The government is using legislation enacted over 120 years ago to bypass Parliament and leave protesters open to “arrest without warrant.”

Leeds North East Labour MP Fabian Hamilton, who has challenged the laws in the Commons, branded the laws “outrageous and undemocratic” and said he believed they were being implemented at the behest of the United States.

The laws ban activity such as putting up a tent near the bases, using a caravan, taking photographs and bizarre “offences” such as failing to clean up after a dog defecates.

Peace campaigners say two of the US bases targeted for the laws are currently unoccupied and unused.

They fear the laws are being introduced to prepare the ground for the bases’ use as the US military steps up deployment of unmanned drones to attack targets around the world.

The two deserted bases are at Croughton near Milton Keynes and an adjacent site at Barford St John.

Nominally the two are RAF bases, owned by the Ministry of Defence, but like dozens of other such bases in Britain they are handed over to the United States military.

The by-laws are being introduced at 150 military facilities by the Ministry of Defence through the Military Lands Act 1892, which enables it to bypass Parliament.

Long-time peace campaigner Lindis Percy said the by-laws themselves are not draconian – by-laws carry limited punishments, and exclude imprisonment.

But Ms Percy, who is co-ordinator of the Yorkshire-based Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB), queried why the laws were being introduced, particularly at unused bases.

Ms Percy said: “I went to Barford St John a couple of months ago. It was very insecure, just a sheep fence. The security cameras are not working. There is nobody there.”

She said one “obvious answer” for the new by-laws was an anticipated increase in deployment of drones for US warfare.

And Mr Hamilton said: “I think that is a very plausible explanation. I would not be surprised.”

Mr Hamilton, who has raised questions in the Commons about the lack of accountability of US bases in Britain many times, said: “We have handed over parts of England to a foreign power with no legitimacy or democratic accountability to the people of this country. Part of the sovereign territory of our country is no longer under the control of democratically elected representatives.

“Who has debated introduction of these by-laws? No-one. I think it is outrageous. I am not being anti-American. I just care deeply about accountability and democracy. The Americans would never allow this to happen on their territory.”