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Blair: Rule of law is paramount |
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Saturday, 02 August 2008 08:59am |
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©The
Star (Used by permission)
by Shaila Koshy
 KUALA LUMPUR: The rule of law is more important than ever before in today's
world of shifting economics and social forces, said former British Prime
Minister Tony Blair.
He said the rise of China and India, the throwing into chaos of traditional
ideas about political power residing in the West, Sovereign Wealth Funds and the
development of new business sectors implied adapt or get left behind. However,
he argued that the rule of law has gained a more important place.
Blair said this yesterday when speaking on “Upholding the Rule of Law: A
Reflection” at the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture at a hotel here. The
ballroom was filled to capacity.
He said his perception of the rule of law changed from when he was a lawyer to
when he became Prime Minister and was involved in “designing” laws.
“I started to understand the complexities of balancing intricate interests with
legal clarity, started to imagine the impact of the law on people, not from the
point of view of the lawyers arguing the case, but from the point of view of the
person in the street asking whether a law was just or unjust, sensible or
foolish, wise or ignorant.”
Blair's anecdotes of his time as premier touched on the times he was “absolutely
furious” or felt the need to “berate” the judiciary over the “ludicrous way”
they had made a decision and the creeping judicial tendency to make law rather
than interpret it.
“It must be remembered that judges simply do not bear direct responsibility if,
as a result of their decisions, governments cannot, for example, stop a
terrorist attack.
“The buck stops with the government, not the judges.”
However, when a staff member who had heard him railing the Lords for
substituting their judgment for his - in declaring Britain's post 9/11
anti-terrorist laws were contrary to the Human Rights Act - said he concurred
with him, the former premier said he replied: “It is right that they can; that
they are above me and not me above them.”
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