In the last few months the people of Britain have witnessed an astonishing assault on their rights and freedoms. In July, people were beaten up by riot police on the streets of Edinburgh and people on their way to peaceful demonstrations at Dungavel and Gleneagles were systematically obstructed and harassed by police from all over the UK. In the aftermath of the London bombings, new laws have been proposed to limit freedom of speech and to give police and the Home office new powers over anyone they label as suspicious. And even before they get these new powers, the authorities are claiming the right under existing laws to deport people at will and to assasinate on suspicion. In order to get away with this, they are fostering brutalism, racism and Islamophobia. The recent wave of racist attacks are the fruit of this policy.

Meanwhile Bush and Blair continue their support of corrupt dictatorships in the Middle East and are strengthening their support for the state of Israel and its continued ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. Across the US, the UK and the world many thousands of lives have been devastated by detention without trial, torture and humiliation, while those who show dissent and strive for a better life, those who believe another world is possible are intimidated and imprisoned.

The story does not being on 9/11, however much Blair would like it to be true. SACC is organising this conference in order that campaigning groups and organisations in Scotland can explore how we got here, what is the history of the 'war on terror' and how, throughout history, emergency legislation has been used to suppress civil rights movements, trade unionists and dissension (morning Workshops ). The conference will also provide an opportunity to present, discuss and debate proposals on how, here in Scotland, we can together campaign and fight against the continued erosion of our civil liberties and the denial of human rights to members of our community (afternoon Workshops).

Never have the armies of the North brought peace, prosperity, or democracy to the peoples of Asia, Africa, or Latin America. In the future, as in the past five centuries, they can only bring to these peoples further servitude,the exploitation of their labor, the expropriation of their riches, and the denial of their rights. It is of the utmost importance that the progressive forces of the West understand this. - Samir Amin, Empire of Chaos

Programme

• 9.30am Registration
• 10.00-11.00am Morning Plenary "Britain 2005 - the assault on democracy"
• 11.15am - 12.45pm Morning Workshops "War, Terrorism, Human Rights and Civil Liberties"
• 12.45pm - 2.15pm Break
• 1.00pm- 2.00pm SACC AGM (lunch provided)
• 2.15pm -4.15pm Afternoon workshops "Communities, anti-racism and activism"
• 4.30pm - 6.00pm Afternoon plenary "Standing Together in Scotland"

Full Programme
pdf document (139KB)