Dear Andy,
I just want to say thank you for your concise reports on the “war on terror”. Many of the men detained in the UK without charge or trial or held on immigration bail (tagged and allowed out of the house for 2 hours per day in a designated area) are my friends so I know many of their stories personally. I am constantly disgusted with the media for their lack of investigation before they write their articles on my friends and usually feel that I could write more accurately myself. Therefore I take a keen interest and I want to say to you that you are the exception, Andy. I have never found any flaws in your articles. You are very well informed. Keep up the good work. We need you.
I am adding the link for a recent interview with Faraj, a young Libyan friend who is now held on control orders in Leicester.
For your interest. http://www.cageprisoners.com/articles.php?id=21612
Yours in solidarity,
Ann

“Just skimmed an interview in the NS [New Statesman] about your new home secretary and a few remarks about the so-called 28-day detention proposal. My doctoral research was about SA and apartheid. Back then – even though Britain was not really an opponent of white rule – films were made and people complained about domestic security laws: BOSS, the SAP, etc. In a nice little film called A World Apart, Barbara Hershey plays a fictional character modelled on Ruth First, who spent 117 days in gaol under the 90-day detention law (going to show that even whites can occasionally be deprived of what they assume to be their rights). Perhaps people ought to be reminded that while Britain (and the US) were still committed to supporting white South Africa, this was accepted practice. Now of course that Britain and the US are supporting the old ally of white South Africa, the government of Israel, in its own grand apartheid scheme, they are drawing on a long-standing tradition. Mr. Vorster would be proud of the 28-day detention law, had he lived long enough to see the fruits of his labour. There can be little doubt that the majority of people who will be caught by the 28-day detention law will be of the – to use a sentimental expression – Non-European variety (Bantu would go too far here) and any really undesirable supporters caught on the wrong side of the colour line. Even the NS does not seem to notice that they basically underwrite a return to the world before “the winds of change” blew across Cape Point (admittedly requiring more than 30 years before white South Africans felt it on their backs).

Found your pieces in CP this week to be a good read. Would be nice if more people would be reading it too.”