Letter in Guardian: 'We must not renege on war crimes laws'

Monday, 18 January 2010 13:01

The Guardian on Saturday printed a letter signed by politicians, lawyers, human rights activists, academics trade unionists and British Muslims expressing their shock at the government's attempt to tamper with the law on universal jurisdiction to provide visiting Israeli officials suspected of war crimes with immunity in the UK.

The letter reads:

'We are shocked at suggestions by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister Ivan Lewis and foreign secretary David Miliband that Britain may consider changing its laws to avoid any future attempts to prosecute suspected war criminals, Israeli or otherwise. The UK must not renege on its international treaty obligations, particularly those under the fourth Geneva convention to seek out and prosecute persons suspected of war crimes wherever and whoever they are, whatever their status, rank or influence, against whom good prima facie evidence has been laid. We reject any attempt to undermine the judiciary's independence and integrity. A judge who finds sufficient evidence of a war crime must have power to order the arrest of a suspect, subject to the usual rights to bail and appeal.

'The power to arrest individuals reasonably suspected of war crimes anywhere in the world should they set foot on UK soil is an efficient and necessary resource in the struggle against war crimes, and must not be interfered with (Report, 6 January). Nor should the government succumb to pressure from any foreign power to alter this crucial aspect of the judicial process. We urge the government to state clearly that it will not alter the law on universal jurisdiction and will continue to allow victims of war crimes to seek justice in British courts.'

If you haven't done so, we remind you again to write to your MP and impress upon him/her that any change to the law will undermine our reputation as an impartial arbiter in the Middle East conflict, reinforce views of double standards in our approach to states in the region and confirm accusations of our possessing hypocritical views on upholding law and human rights.

You can read the ENGAGE letter to the Foreign Secretary urging no changes to the law here.

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