'War on terror' exacts heavy toll on travellers

[Jesus Jones]

• Published: 25/01/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: Business

A report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council last week paints a shocking picture of how the "war on terror" has affected the global movement of people. It says that surveillance, watch-lists, racial profiling and biometrics, "once the exception have now become customary" and warns the situation could get worse unless safeguards are built in now.

Enacted with virtually no public debate and often in violation of local and international constitutional, human rights and legal protections, these measures are creating serious problems for innocent people as states begin to share information with virtually no check-and-balance mechanisms, says the report. Having sat quietly on the sidelines, the travel industry is now set to pay the price of these worsening hassles.

However, it still has time to follow through on the report's main recommendations. It could start with a vigorous public debate about these growing curbs and ensure that judicial, privacy and data-protection safeguards and check-and-balance measures are in place to ensure legal recourse, transparency and accountability.
Although couched in diplomatic niceties and politically correct language typical of UN reports, the document paints a grim picture of how security agencies have trampled on fundamental democratic rights and personal freedoms.

'War on terror' exacts heavy toll on travellers

[StrontiumDog]

Shocker!

Bin Ladin owes us.

[larvidchr]

I thought it was the terrorists that was to blame no terrorists- no war on terror

[blackgang]

No, you have it wrong,, terrorists are just freedom fighters, it is those dirty god worshipping neo-con right wingers that are to blame.

[Mr R Sole]

How can the world have a WAR on a noun???? What a crock....

I always say salam Lickum when I enter Malaysia on visa runs!!!!!! Works a treat...Wallikum salam....or just plain Good morning...as they speak bloody perfect English..compared to there up their own arse's Thai immigration...you'd be lucky to get a.......... from them!!!!

As for travelling around...ain't done that much in the past 5yrs...is it really that bad..or is it that bad if you are....well Asian/Muslim!!!! sterotyping at it's worst again....

Then again I wouldn't wanna sit next to these on a plane..maybe get the next one!!!

Oh look he can wear what he wants!!!!!!



Yakshamash....

[ItsRobsLife]

Homeland security, the fastest growing business in the US, how you gonna reverse that..?

[Mid]

'War on terror' exacts heavy toll on travellers

well knock me down with a feather ,

as I've said prior

the terrorists have won ,

it's not even necessary for them to actually blow up a plane anymore

the simple threat does the job

and ffs best you don't mention that b word round plane or airports .