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www.thewordmedia.org.uk POLITICS AND EVENTS February 2017. 7

Where Syria is concerned reports What Do

from Amnesty and Human Rights You Think

Watch cannot be taken at face value By Joe Nagle

One way to stop extra-judiciary abuse of pris-
By Brendan O’Brien oners by guards and other prisoners, is to allow all
convicted felons to keep their vote registered at
Where Syria is concerned reports the local regions. Probably best to have their own
from Amnesty and Human Rights Watch ministry of prisons, with representatives over a
cannot be taken at face value. We have set number of secure establishments. Their vote
been getting a stream of propaganda from could weaken or strengthen a governing party.
our government, media and NGO’s since Also, to allow respected organisations such as
the war started. Some of it is manifestly the Quakers, who are very active in prison reform,
false, e.g. the claim by Boris Johnson that to have access to prison whenever they wish to
ninety five percent of the deaths in Syr- check on conditions, the mood of the inmates and
ia have been caused by Assad. However, to talk to individuals in complete privacy.
regardless of the truth or otherwise of However it is done, to have people responsible
the charges laid against Assad the over- for their welfare.
whelming need is to bring peace. My point?
Their punishment is set by the courts, which
There is greater hope for peace in Syria is prison for a set time. The sentence does not
now than at any time since the war began include having to endure abuse by guards or psy-
and our government has officially sup- chotic fellow inmates. They are also wards of the
ported the Russian led peace process at state, like orphans, and their welfare is the respon-
the UN. However what is our government ly on in this war Barack Obama should course justice should be served, if there sibility of the state and the government of the day.
doing in practice? Are we still giving non have engaged in talks with Putin over Syr- is justice for Syria many others, includ- That said, it is fairly obvious that most guards
lethal aid to moderate rebels? I have been ia. The Daily Mail and others said David ing those who de facto supported Islam- just do their job as set by their remit; and most
asking my MP that question for weeks Cameron should have used his influence ic State should be in the dock. There are prisoners just want to do their time and get out as
with no answer. Have we pressed America to bring this about. Is Theresa May making times when justice has to give way to the soon as possible in one piece. Prison office work is
and Saudi Arabia to stop giving arms to re- any effort to get Trump and Putin working need for peace, as was recognised in this hard and unpleasant.
bels? There have been no reports that they together for the sake of peace in Syria? Is country and many others in recent years). By all means, if you want seriously angry peo-
have stopped doing so in spite of a well our government doing the best it can to ple to eventually be free with extreme resentment
supported ceasefire. Boris Johnson said make this fragile peace process a success The UK government has massive in- against the system that allowed them to be so
that we have to accept Assad taking part or is it quietly working to undermine it, fluence over what happens in Syria and abused, just carry on in the same old way.
in elections, recently he seems to have e.g. by pushing for Assad to be hauled be- has played a destructive role backing What do you think?
backtracked on that statement. From ear- fore the International Criminal Court? (Of America all the way. It is time for change.

Theresa’s Secret
Theresa May is enjoying steadfast popularity among all sources of main stream media, and even the Tory Party rank and file. But the affection of her colleagues is not enough for
Theresa and there is there is still one more heart she wishes she could win. If anyone finds out it’s Jeremy Corbyn’s, she’ll be ruined!