Second Indymedia Server Seized in UK Within a Year

GarconDuMonde writes "For the second time within the past year, an Indymedia server has been siezed in the United Kingdom. This time it is the Bristol Indymedia server (currently redirected to the United Kollectives IMC site); this follows on from the Ahimsa siezure last October. The current siezure was carried out using a search warrant by the UK police at approximately 16:30GMT on June 27th, 2005. This was despite being warned by lawyers "that this server was considered an item of journalistic equipment and so subject to special provision under the law" (press release). Bristol Indymedia is currently being supported by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), Liberty and Privacy International. Other media organisations have declared their support."

Comments

Fascism Here We Come

[CommunistTroll]

Since the fall of the USSR, the capitalist west has had no rival, no alternative.

The West has become like Microsoft, with neither competition nor government powerful enough to stop it.

And as power corrupts, so we sink into fascism; for our rulers are no longer afraid of the population causing a revolution.

"Revolt?" they say "There is no other path to take. No alternate system to emulate. We are inevitable."

Fascism, here we come.

The US/UK Don't Even Obey Their Own Laws

[FreeUser]

You seem to have a romantic notion shared by a large amount of /. that because Sealand declares themselves independant that makes it so.

The "romantic notion" that a portion (perhaps but not necessarilly a "large part"--I'd love to know what statistics you're drawing on to conclude that) of slashdot has is that nations obey international law.

As the UK and US have proven in Iraq, it just ain't so, but many nations still would like to see that action as an aberration, not a norm.

Seeland played by all the international rules in establishing its sovereignty. It was an abandoned structure, in international waters at the time, that was laid claim to and created as a sovereign nation in accordance with international and martime laws. They may not have the wealth or clout of the Vatican to get recognized as such, but by the United Nations' own rules, they are an independent state.

So, if the UK, US, or anyone else should chose to invade Seeland, and if they should get the "blessing" of the rest of Europe or the UN to do so, the only thing it demonstrates is that the world's powers, and their servant states, aren't willing to even play by their own rules.

Which really, these days, is no surprise, but it is nevertheless very sad.