Nexus - 0213 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Guns are often drawn and if the ‘victim’ of the attack makes any sud- den move, he is often shot. This writer personally knows of at least a dozen individuals (none ever convicted of a traditional crime such as murder, rape, robbery, etc.) who have had their homes or businesses invaded by local, state or federal law enforcement SWAT teams in this manner. The expe- rience is terrifying for the individual, families, or employees involved. Shades of Nazi Germany, Red China, or the old Soviet Union! tionist, agreed to do a project to construct 10 ponds for migrating Guns are often drawn and if the ‘victim’ of the attack makes any sud- geese and wildlife on the Eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in den move, he is often shot. Maryland. Ellen was to build the $7 million, 103 acre wildlife sanc- This writer personally knows of at least a dozen individuals (none tuary on a 2,000 acre private estate. Ellen, who knew environmental ever convicted of a traditional crime such as murder, rape, robbery, laws well, got all the proper permits, and complied with all those _ etc.) who have had their homes or businesses invaded by local, state laws and regulations as written in 1987. However, in 1988, the defi- or federal law enforcement SWAT teams in this manner. The expe- nition of 'wetland' was expanded to include potholes that collect _ rience is terrifying for the individual, families, or employees water during rains. involved. Shades of Nazi Germany, Red China, or the old Soviet Ellen, who already had permits, was unconcerned with the new Union! regulations because the land was so dry that workers had to wear dust masks. However, Ellen was indicted for ‘wetlands’ violations TOWARD A STATE OF NATIONAL EMERGENCY after one government agency told him he could continue landfill Over the past few years, a number of references to a State of work and another told him he could not. Acting on the former, he National Emergency (or martial law) have hauled in two more loads of landfill (i.e., dirt). ™ been hinted at or suggested by government Angry federal environmental bureaucrats officials, congressmen, etc. usually to fight toured the land after three days of heavy rains : the drug war, crime, etc. Indeed, martial and a Ellen for “desecration of wet- Under a full state of law was imposed in Los Angeles (and was jJands". He was sentenced to six months in begged for by the public) to quell the mas- jail where he now sits. The owner of the emergency, tens or ao viet in the pare of 2 and could estate escaped jail as an accomplice 0 «n hundreds of thousands of have been declared nationally had the riots environmental (‘wetlands’) crime by paying a . is ped continued to spread during the summer of $1 million fine and making another $1 milion Americans (guilty of hate, 92. donation to the National Fish and Wildlife environmental, financial, or MARTIAL LAW, by definition, is "A Federation. ps z system of government under the direction gun control ‘crimes') are of military authority. It is an arbitrary POLICE STATE TACTICS likely t b * . ed kind of law, preceding directly from mili- US military and National Guard personnel Ikely to be imp risoned. tary power and having no immediate con- have been undergoing training and exercises stitutional or legislative sanction. It is for several years for house-to-house searches only justified by necessity, and supersedes (presumably for drugs or guns), for crowd all civil government. Martial law is built control, and for domestic ‘counter-terrorism measures’. Roadblocks on no settled principle, but is arbitrary and in truth no law.” are being randomly set up on highways around America by local, Suspension of the writ of habeas corpus (i.e., right to trial by judge state, or federal officials to conduct driver's licence checks or war- _ and jury and protection from illegal imprisonment) is a major ele- rantless spot checks of cars or their occupants for drugs, liquor, or ment of martial law. As Justice Blackstone wrote: “In this case, the firearms; local or state police or military helicopters are, with great- _ nation parts with a portion of its liberty and suspected persons may ly increased frequency, overflying cities, towns, neighbourhoods, __ then be arrested without cause assigned." and individual houses at low levels (looking for drugs, for surveil- The potential for a State of National Emergency or martial law in lance, or for intimidation purposes). America over the next three to five to seven years (perhaps to deal In late '91, an ‘urban warfare training exercise’ by the US Marines _ with riots, the war on crime or drugs, a financial/banking crisis or brought a dozen military helicopters swooping low over San _ some manufactured crisis) is a very real possibility. Indeed aspects Francisco rooftops, prompting hundreds of frightened calls to radio _ of a state of emergency (or martial law) and the suspension of con- stations and the local police, who denied any knowledge of the exer- _stitutional rights already exist in America today! Over a dozen cise. Hundreds of military vehicles (black and with no markings) | Executive Orders have been passed by Congress over the past few are being observed in various parts of the US, in many instances decades giving the President total dictatorial control over every manned by personnel in black uniforms (with no insignias). Denial aspect of American life if the President decides to trigger and imple- of any knowledge of these helicopters, vehicles or personnel from ment same. FEMA would then go into action, firearms would be local, state, and federal officials almost always follows frightened confiscated, and many (if not all) constitutional rights and guaran- enquiries from citizens. tees would be suspended. Over the past two years, as training and enforcement exercises Under a full state of emergency, tens or hundreds of thousands of have increased, SWAT teams in black Ninja suits and other govern- Americans (guilty of hate, environmental, financial, or gun control ment marshals and enforcement teams have had an increasing num- _‘crimes') are likely to be imprisoned. Perhaps this is why George ber of shootouts with innocent victims who are characterised by the Bush moved in recent years to double US prison capacity, and why government as ‘religious fundamentalists’, ‘white supremacists’, ‘left under a national security directive called “Rex 84", signed in 1984 or right wing extremists’, 'tax protesters’, etc. by President Reagan, eleven huge federal detention centres were In August '92, a mob of Federal agents surrounded the remote _ activated in California, Arizona, Arkansas, Wisconsin, New York, Idaho home of Randy Weaver (wanted on a misdemeanour warrant) Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida. ‘iwedinn hk ‘Cou wh a tere rpeenety = and ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AND COMPUTERISATION wealthy, partially blind Ventura County, California resident, Donald OF THE PUBLIC P. Scott, resulted in Scott being shot dead by Los Angeles County Computers and other high-tech breakthroughs over the past few Sheriff's deputies. No drugs were found, nor did Scott resist arrest. years have given the US (and other governments) the ability to lis- The general tactic (whether used by local or federal police offi- ten to, monitor, track, and keep citizens under surveillance (from the cials, or both) is to overwhelm (and intimidate) the ‘suspected’ cradle to the grave) that were not available to Hitler in Nazi money launderer, environmental or financial ‘criminal’, gun law vio- Germany or to the communists in Russia, China, or the East bloc lator, etc. by invading his home or business with a SWAT team _ until very recently. and/or federal marshals or agents numbering 10 to 20 or 30 people. In 1974, the government had 3.9 billion records of individuals ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AND COMPUTERISATION OF THE PUBLIC Computers and other high-tech breakthroughs over the past few years have given the US (and other governments) the ability to lis- ten to, monitor, track, and keep citizens under surveillance (from the cradle to the grave) that were not available to Hitler in Nazi Germany or to the communists in Russia, China, or the East bloc until very recently. In 1974, the government had 3.9 billion records of individuals Vol 2, No 13 - 1993 NEXUS¢17 GP