The NatWest 3 bankers David Bermingham, Giles Darby and Gary Mulgrew are a few months ahead of Gary McKinnon in the same unfair process of extradition to the USA. They have been refused leave to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, although Gary McKinnon, and probably Babar Ahmad will have stronger grounds for any such appeal.
However, there is some serious disquiet amonst senior British businesmen, including Sir Digby Jones, the head of the Confederation of British Industry, about this unfair UK-USA Extradition Treaty.
There is a march or demonstration set for tomorrow Thursday 29th June, possibly risking arrest under the controversial Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 Designated Area around Parliament Square (the Home Office is within the reduced freedom to demonstrate zone):
See ParliamentProtest.org.uk for more details.
Karl Watkin isn't just talking about it, he's organising a dignified demonstration of businesses' concern (that's a march to you and me) this THURSDAY 29th JUNE AT 5pm from the Institute of Directors in Pall Mall to the the Home Office in Marsham Street in Marsham Street, a short distance away.A letter, addressed to the Home Secretary, will be delivered that expresses the extreme unease among the business community at the UK's extradition arrangements with the US. This concern has been highlighted in particular by the case of Ian Norris, the former chief executive of Morgan Crucible plc and the possible imminent extradition of “The NatWest 3” all of which is thrown into even sharper relief by the current OFT/Department of Justice probe into alleged price fixing at BA.
UPDATE:
It appears that one of the organisers of this demonstration has been warned by the Police that anything except business suits i.e. tshirts, placards, slogans etc. will not be tolerated !
The police are taking this v. v. seriously and I have been warned in no uncertain terms that any signs of protest (including slogans, banners etc) and we will be stopped and face arrest.
The aim of any of Gary McKinnon's supporters amongst the business community (or those who are willing to wear a business suit on what promises to be a warm summer evening) should be to get interviewed by the print and broadcast media, and not to get themselves arrested, which would let the Home Office off the hook, by diverting media attention from the issu of the unfair USA-UK Extradition Treaty.