Author: Vijay Dutt
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: December 30, 2003
URL: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5983_512358,00430004.htm
Britain continues to be one of the
safest havens for terror groups. Not one suspect has been extradited despite
nearly a dozen friendly countries, including India, naming wanted fugitives
and making repeated requests.
Besides India, requests have been
made by the US, France, Russia, Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia and Turkey.
India has been complaining for years about the fund-raising and recruitments
going on in British mosques for "creating mayhem" in Kashmir.
The money for the bomb blast in
Vijaywada, from where Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani was contesting election,
was said to have been partly collected in a mosque in London. A tip-off
about such collections was allegedly passed on to the Indian intelligence
by Scotland Yard. The Home Office also estimated that over 200 recruits
were sent out for fighting in Chechnya, Afghanistan and Kashmir.
But when the Indian Government sent
a security team to London earlier this year with full details on wanted
men allegedly involved with terrorist groups operating in Kashmir, it was
not allowed to question the suspects.
The team was also not permitted
to see the dossier with the British security on these men. Reports are
that so far none of the men named by the Indian Government have been arrested.
But most friendly countries including India have avoided public row and
have continued to put diplomatic pressure.
In the late 90s the French had complained
that Algerian plotters had a safe house in Wembley, north London. Moscow
has said that Chechen rebels are in Britain. Tunisian officials allege
that several leaders of the outlawed al-Nahda party are also here.
The legal system is being blamed
for delays in extradition of suspects. But sources allege that Tony Blair
and Blunkett who had promised after 9/11 that they would speed up extradition
of terror suspects sheltering in Britain, have failed and reneged on their
pledge. Not one suspect has been sent out, instead £7 million has
been spent on their legal aid.
A diplomat is quoted saying that
the " system in the UK has now gone beyond farce". He complained that trials
in his countries are held up because key figures are stuck up in Britain.
Another diplomat said the law must
take its own course but the fact that wanted men remain free for years
doe not fit with Blair's pledge to end Britain's reputation of being a
haven for terrorists.
The new extradition laws that come
into effect from January 1, apply only to EU countries and do not affect
al-Qaeda or other suspects seized after 9/11 in other countries.
Home Office said that it was impossible
to say when the first extradition would be possible. Although the official
stand is that the average time to extradite some one is 18 months.
Most embassies ask why then it takes
so long to process their requests. The wonder is that even five requests
for extradition by the US after 9/11 are said to be still pending.
