[IMC-UK-Features] proposal - BNP Threat

Thu Nov 27 07:31:30 PST 2008

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hi,

for speed's sake, i am forwarding the text as proposed in legal list
even though i do not agree with it. however i respect the objections
to remove any para from this text and if there are no objections in 4
hours, i will publish it as a feature in front page.

ana

BNP Threatens Free Media

Indymedia is yet again facing legal threats to prevent the free flow of
communication, this time from a political movement known for its
hostility to free speech. On the 21^st November Indymedia received an
email from someone claiming to be a legal representative for the British
National Party, threatening to take legal action on a number of bases
for publishing information on BNP members.

After the hilarity of the “little Fuhrer”, Nick Griffin, running to the
safety of the Human Rights Act to try to prevent the publication of
members’ details, Britain’s fascist party has resorted to threats.

The letter sent to Indymedia by Lee John Barnes LLB (hons), from the
“BNP Legal Affairs Unit”, threatens to take legal action, on the basis
of theft, data protection and contempt of court, unless the list of
members is removed.

The “lawyer” also attempts to shoehorn his charges into the form of
anti-terrorism legislation, “The use of this information we feel is
being hosted on your site for use only to incite acts of harassment,
incite violence and direct targeted attacks against our members in the
Leeds area”. He then goes on to explain the sections of the Terrorism
Act under which Indymedia would be charged.

Indymedia rejects any accusation that the information could be used to
incite violence and has strived to remove any comments that may be seen
as incitement. One volunteer explains that there are many legitimate
uses for the information, “for individuals to be able to check that
their doctor, teacher, nurse etc. isn't a member of the BNP”.

Indeed, Merseyside Police has already used the information in such a way
to dismiss an officer, Pc Steve Bettley, who has been exposed as a
member. A spokesperson for the police said: “Chief Constable Bernard
Hogan-Howe has reiterated our position that membership of the British
National Party is totally incompatible with the duties and values of
Merseyside Police”.

Most incredibly Mr Barnes then explains, “I will also be issuing a
request to our internal investigations team to initiate actions to
collect your home addresses, contact details and financial details
relating to you personally as persons running or hosting the Indymedia
website”. Internal Investigations? Once the BNP has this information, it
“will be used to initiate legal actions upon yourselves, to initiate
financial sanctions against your company and also will be publicised on
various websites so that people may contact you and address any legal
issues they may have”. Pot, kettle, black?

[pic]

Caption: Mr Lee John Barnes, incoherent Legal Director extraordinaire

Indymedia’s legal volunteers have been somewhat baffled by Mr Barnes’s
email. One volunteer explains, “the BNP has been terrified by the fact
that its members are being outed. You might expect these proud
nationalists to wear their membership with pride, but then again I
think we are starting to see the truth about the BNP – they are a
bunch of, scared thugs, and are clearly utterly incoherent and
amateurish… but then that is what they are all about”.

Indeed, it seems to Indymedia that the BNP’s “Legal Affairs Unit” is
about as impressive on law as its Policy Unit is on policy. Mr Barnes
– now Director of the unit – proudly displays his incompetence in
noting that the list of ALL members in the country leaves room for
concern only for “our members in the Leeds area”.

The references to the Terrorism Act were described by Indymedia Legal
as “plain stoooopid”, and it is doubtful that any qualified legal
practitioner would make such claims. The threat may have joined the
growing list of worrying misapplications of the Terrorism Act had it
not been so laughable.

Mr Barnes’s threat to post personal information about Indymedia
participants may in itself be illegal – it certainly would cause a
registered legal practitioner to loose his credentials. Perhaps then,
it comes as no surprise that the Law Society confirms that Barnes is
NOT a qualified lawyer at all.

In fact, Mr Lee John Barnes LLB (hons) is an incoherent, buffoonish
mystic who could well be charged with incitement himself.

Believe it or not, the Mr Barnes lists his favourite music as
Morrisey, Sinatra, Manic Street Preachers, Public Enemy and the Sex
Pistols! But then fascists have always tended to like
self-flagellation (for those of you unfamiliar, the bands range from
the left to the far left!)!

http://www.blogger.com/profile/16093052197059748663

If that weren’t enough, Mr Barnes’s mysticism should impress. In Mr
Barnes’s fantasy world, he hails from “The Barnes Clan”, which “are of
the Bjeorn bloodline - Bjorn meaning bear was changed to Barnes - and
this is the surname of those that were once the Berserkers - the
bodyguards of Norse kings and the fiercest men in battle”. Yes, indeed.

http://leejohnbarnes.blogspot.com/

Such is Mr Barnes’s buffoonery, there are now whole web sites
dedicated to “all things that are John Lee Barnes LLB (hons)”
http://weloveleebarnes.blogspot.com/ and to particular instances of
his buffoonery http://www.ministryoftruth.org.uk/2006/10/29/

More sinister material can be found elsewhere. Particularly disturbing
is Barnes’s claim that, “This is not a game we are playing, this is a
war and in times of war unquestionable obedience and loyalty to the
commander in the field must come first, The 'First Law Of Nationalism'
is - If you work with the enemy, then you are the enemy.”

http://www.joechapman.org/thebnp/bnphistory.htm

http://leejohnbarnes.blogspot.com/

http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2008/05/lee-barnes-lays-down-law-to-challengers.html

see also

http://ambientroutmask.livejournal.com/39557.html
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