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Pacifica National Board Motion on Habeas CorpusWhereas the Senate, in passing S. 3930, has given President Bush extraordinary and chilling power to indefinitely detain and try prisoners in the so-called war on terror, And whereas the legislation strips non-citizen detainees of the habeas corpus right to challenge their own detention and permits use of coercive interrogation tactics such as stripping, hooding, hypothermia, and other objectionable techniques; And whereas, the bill immunizes US officials from prosecution for torturing detainees whom the military and CIA captured before the end of last year; And whereas, this legislation undermines fundamental constitutional provisions and the Bill of Rights, embraces police state methods, and continues the decay of American democracy; Therefore, the Pacifica Foundation empowers its Executive Director, in consultation with the organization's counsel, to use the resources of the foundation to educate and inform the public on the dangers of this legislation, specifically including: - the airing of a public statement about the issue on the five sister stations of the Pacifica Network as soon as possible - a press conference announcing Pacifica's viewpoint and intentions - consistent on-air coverage of the issue, including on air announcements of any legal proceedings in signal areas regarding this issue - where appropriate, developing educational alliances with journalists and legal organizations that are addressing this issue - filing amicus briefs in any relevant suits, and - any other appropriate measures that are consistent with Pacifica's historic mission. The Pacifica National Board also requests that the Executive Director, on a regular basis, collect reports from station managers and/or program directors on what local stations are doing concerning this issue, and report to the PNB at each meeting on what is being done at both the National and local levels. Adopted unanimously
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