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more about the US-UK Extradition Treaty
To: ifcnewslist@yahoogroups.com
From: Irish Freedom Committee NewsList
<IFCNewsList@irishfreedomcommittee.net>
Date: Sat Sep 30, 2006 12:31 pm
Subject: US-UK Extradition Unanimously Passed by US Senate
US-UK Extradition Unanimously Passed by US Senate
Saturday September 30, 2006
In a "democracy" that can unilaterally suspend habeas corpus, condone the torture of innocents, permit warrantless domestic spying on its
citizens, penalize the right to speak out against tyranny, and
wantonly shred the rights instilled by the US Constitution; it can hardly come as a surprise to read that the US Senate has unanimously
passed the US-UK Extradition Treaty. Good work to all of us who
fought so hard to preserve our Constitutional rights, but the lesson learned is that we cannot fight a dictatorship.
The US-UK Extradition Treaty now awaits the stroke of a pen by "King" GWB to pass into law.
- Irish Freedom Committee
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http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aEgU_TIgfK1U&refer=home
Senate Unanimously Ratifies U.S., U.K. Extradition Treaty
By Carlos Torres
Sept. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The Senate early today unanimously ratified an extradition treaty between the U.S. and the U.K., three years after it
was signed, according to the U.S. embassy in London.
The treaty, which speeds extradition of prisoners between the two countries, was negotiated in 2003. The British have granted the U.S.
some of the pact's benefits pending ratification by the Senate. The
lack of U.S. approval had become a political issue in the U.K., highlighted by protests in July over the extradition of three British
bankers accused of fraud in the Enron Corp. scandal.
The British bankers were sent to face trial in Houston after fighting extradition for three years. They pleaded not guilty to fraud charges
July 14. The bankers are accused of bilking their former employer,
Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc's Greenwich NatWest subsidiary, of millions of dollars from the sale of an Enron off-the-books partnership.
``We can now have a fully modernized extradition relationship that helps to protect citizens of both of our countries and to improve the
administration of justice,'' Robert Tuttle, U.S. ambassador to Britain, said in a statement on the embassy's Web site.
British Home Secretary John Reid said he was ``delighted'' senators had backed the treaty, Agence France-Presse reported.
``The treaty is an important measure in our fight against serious international crime,'' Reid said in a statement, AFP reported.
The treaty, first sent to the Senate for approval in April 2004, lowers the level of proof the U.S. must show to win extradition of a
suspect. It also permits temporary surrender of fugitives for trial who are already serving a prison sentence in the other country.
Ratification had been slowed by complaints from some Irish- American groups that the treaty would create new legal jeopardy for U.S.
citizens who opposed British policy in Northern Ireland.
To contact the reporter on this story: Carlos Torres in Washington
ctorres2@bloomberg.net .
Last Updated: September 30, 2006 12:15 EDT
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6116254,00.html
US approves extradition treaty
Press Association
Saturday September 30, 2006 2:33 PM
Home Secretary John Reid has welcomed the approval by the US Senate of a controversial extradition treaty with the UK.
He said he was "delighted" at the backing of the measure after diplomatic pressure in the wake of the outcry over the "Nat West Three".
The bankers were flown to the United States to stand trial on fraud charges relating to the collapsed energy giant Enron under a
fast-track procedure that became law in Britain in 2002.
But the move was bitterly attacked by opposition parties because senators had yet to ratify the treaty, meaning reciprocal arrangements
for the extradition of US nationals to the UK were not in place.
The treaty still requires the formal approval of the US president, George Bush.
Angry peers voted, at the height of the controversy, to suspend the UK's extradition arrangements with the US until the Senate signed up.
And although MPs never had an opportunity to ratify that decision, the Commons witnessed a rare three-hour emergency debate.
Earlier this month, businessman Jeremy Crook became the latest Briton to be extradited under that had been dubbed a "one-way" treaty.
The former European vice-president of software firm Peregrine Systems denies fraud charges.
Mr Reid said: "I am delighted that following the last few months hard work including discussions with my counterpart, and Patricia
Scotland's visit to the US over the summer we have succeeded in getting Senate agreement to the US-UK extradition treaty.
"The treaty is an important measure in our fight against serious international crime. Crime does not respect borders and in this modern
age it is vital that law enforcement officers around the world have
the tools available in order to help fight crime in the 21st century."
© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2006, All Rights Reserved.
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