Europe in 'state of denial' over role in US rendition and secret detention

by EINN Tue Jun 24, 2008 15:21

Another suspect aircraft, N54PA, passed through Shannon this morning, on its way from Portalnd, Oregan, via Gander, to Trieste.

More info at
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88036?author_name=EINN&...31158

by Amnesty 1 Tue Jun 24, 2008 15:32

Pictures from today's launch.

by md higgins - labour Tue Jun 24, 2008 16:40

Michael D Higgins, Labour Party President and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, in welcoming the most recent Amnesty International report on the likely use of Shannon by aircraft involved in extraordinary rendition, has called on the government to finally take action, by at least announcing the initiation of an inspection scheme for such planes as have been listed as being involved in such illegal activity as extraordinary rendition.

“It is just about two years ago that the Dáil had an opportunity of responding to a previous Amnesty International report, and also to the fact that three suicides had taken place in Guantánamo, in a Private Members Resolution which I proposed on behalf of the Labour Party which called for inspections. That Resolution was defeated by 69 votes to 55.

“Of the 270 prisoners detained in Guantánamo, some are now being held outside of any legal process for almost six years, with 185 being locked up for 22 hours out of 24. The outrage that is Guantánamo is not unique. There are violations taking place in other sites to which people have been transported on planes that have been serviced in Shannon.

“Relying on diplomatic assurances when it comes to complying with the UN Convention Against Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Punishments has been regarded as insufficient by the foremost legal experts such as the Venice Commission in December 2005, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture – and yet the government relies on such. Indeed, the Irish Human Rights Commission (government appointed) has asked the government to initiate inspections.

“The reputation of Ireland is damaged by this equivocation. Neither could it be regarded as an unfriendly act to explain to the United States’ authorities that inspections are being implemented so as to ensure Ireland’s appropriate and fullest compliance with international law.”

by paul o toole Tue Jun 24, 2008 20:13

Vincent Brown on his show on tv3 last night gave a FF'r (whos name slips me right now) an easy ride over the question of rendition, supporting the US/K and illegal invasions using Shannon Airport to facilitate this.
The Fianna Failer said that .....'it was in the remit of the Gardai to inspect planes'.....
Brown went no further..
Amnesty and Lobour's Michael D diddnt do much either in the way of questioning this fallacy of the 'War On Terror' and Shannons use to facilitate this.
It was a lost oppertunity.....one wonders...
No one questioned Bushes massacre of 1,200,000 innocent people supported by the Irish Government.

by anon Wed Jun 25, 2008 04:32

John Gormely I have always said, even when I was on the Opposition benches, that one cannot speak of Ireland as being neutral in the traditional sense. When we speak of military neutrality, we should more accurately speak of Ireland as being non-aligned. Ireland is in the same position as those Scandinavian countries which are known as former neutrals. There was never a question of the Lisbon treaty affecting Ireland’s non-aligned status in any way. Unanimity is required if that is to change. I suppose there was a failure to communicate those facts. As I went from door to door - I said this to reporters at the time - I was convinced that the people of my constituency would vote in favour of the treaty and that turned out to be the case, but I was not sure about other parts of the country.

http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=DAL20080618...#N437

So apparently our neutrality is just aspirational, just an international informal agreement of convenience, so could it be not said that our non-alignment is aspirational and just an international informal agreement of convenience, and that we clearly and actively aligned, allowing the transport of of belligerent US troops and confirmation that we handing over all our info on Russian air transit to the cia in the past shows this.

RBB was on Primetime time with the minister of foreign affairs, rare opportunity he got anything out of MM (can't find it on rte.ie to re-watch), and the issue of militarism came up a lot did we learn anything new did any gov minister say anything interesting , I don't think so.

http://www.reprieve.org.uk/documents/2008_06_10Mohamed-...a.pdf

The twelve US personnel listed as passengers on the plane when it stopped off in
Palma De Mallorca have been the subject of an inquiry in the Balearics, and are the
subjects of Interpol arrest warrants by the Munich Prosecutor’s Office in Bavaria for
their involvement in the kidnap and abuse of German citizen Khaled El-Masri.38
Binyam Mohamed is rendered a second time by US personnel
Early 16 January 2004, N313P left Washington for Shannon, arriving the same
morning.39 The Boeing and its twelve crew stayed overnight at Shannon before
35 A

from well-known science-fiction
productions, such as Bladerunner and Star Trek.62 Valles confirmed that most of
the individuals who returned to Palma de Mallorca from Romania after the rendition
circuit were the same people who stayed in the hotel earlier in the circuit. This
indicates that the “rendition team” remained on the plane throughout its trip.63

criminal kidnappers came through shannon.

Gabh mo leithscéal Gardai. Did any of these people pass through Shannon?

James Fairing, US passport number 402678113, pilot
• Jason Franklin, US passport number 900356543
• Michael Grady, US passport number 900356661
• Lyle Edgard Lumsden III, US passport number 900412531
• Eric Matthew Fain, US passport, crew
• Bryam Charles, US passport number 40103674566
• Charles Goldman Bryson, US passport number 086430334, crew67
• Kirk James Bird, US passport number 045030262
• Walter Richard Greesbore, US passport number 400962633
• Patricia O’Riley, US passport number 400962233, crew
• Jane Payne, US passport number 401036479
• James O’Hale, US passport number 017123652, crew
• John Richard Deckard, US passport number 900150778
• Hector Lorenzo, US passport number 900142900

The first crime that the US rendition crew committed, then, was to file false
information with the flight.

"The report highlights six cases, three of which have links to Shannon Airport.
In the case of one man, Abu Omar, the report says the aircraft that took him from Germany to Egypt eventually returned to the US through Shannon.
In the case of another man, Khaled al-Maqtari, the report says the plane which took him from Iraq to Afghanistan had previously stopped in Shannon.
And in a third case, Amnesty says the aircraft that took Khaled el-Masri from Macedonia to Afhganistan had also stopped at Shannon.
In response, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Government is completely opposed to the practice of the rendition of prisoners.
In a statement, it said no evidence has ever been produced that any person has ever been subject to extraordinary rendition through Ireland."

that's not what we ask DFA.

by The Clown Wed Jun 25, 2008 15:20

"European governments are in a state of denial and have been sidestepping the truth for too long," said Amnesty International."

Correction: "European governments are PRETENDING TO BE in a state of denial and have been sidestepping the truth for too long," says The Truth.

by anon Thu Jun 26, 2008 05:34

actively preventing torture begins at home...

Govt pleas to end torture
Ireland would continue to help eradicate torture through its lobbying at EU and UN level as well as at the International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Mr Martin said.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhgbqleycwkf/

by HRI Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:01

"Ireland would continue to help eradicate torture through its lobbying at EU and UN level as well as at the International Criminal Court, the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Mr Martin said." (Republic of Ireland Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin at http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhgbqleycwkf/ on June 25th 2008.)

What about all the all the military (and military associated) aircraft coming and going through Shannon Airport? -- which several well informed people, and some well informed human rights organisations as well, strongly suspect are being used (in part at least) to transport people to and from torture sites in different parts of the world?

Allowing for these suspicions, why are the planes in question not being respectfully and routinely searched by the appropriate Republic of Ireland officials? -- if for no other reason than to prove to the world that The Republic of Ireland is not involved, and does not wish to ever be involved in any activities which supports the torturing of fellow human beings?

However sincere, soothing, and well intended Minister Martin's words might be, what good are they to anybody if he and his colleagues in our Government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial) fail to actually "WALK THE WALK" regarding "the International Convention Against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which Ireland ratified in 2002"?

by Shannon CIA watch Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:58

It is now time we all WALKED the WALK at Shannon airport, in a variety of ways including boycotting Shannon airport until UN military and CIA torture planes are permanently banned from refuelling at Shannon.
There is no justification for facilitating crimes against humanity.

by bb Fri Jun 27, 2008 03:01

EU countries obstructing investigations into CIA renditions, report says

http://euobserver.com/22/26389

"Even where prosecutors in Italy and Germany have carried out investigations leading to efforts to hold CIA operatives to account for abductions ... their initiatives have been undermined by their own governments," the report says.

ps

http://www.galwaynews.ie/4134-amnesty-international-dis...ition

by anon Fri Jun 27, 2008 20:35

"On Thursday, 26 June, Amnesty activists and volunteers held a demonstration on O'Connell Street, Dublin calling for an end to torture and the closure of Guantanamo Bay Detention Centre.

http://www.amnesty.ie/live/irish/article.asp?id=21595&p...ge=00

live images of protest

by San Patricio Wed May 06, 2009 14:47

"Many thought Correa [President of Ecuador] was joking when he said during his presidential campaign that he would be willing to keep the US military base at Manta if Washington would allow Ecuadorian troops to be stationed in Florida. But he wasn't, and the [America] base [in Ecuador] is scheduled to close later this year."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009...onomy

SO: Stopover Rights for Irish Armed Forces in USA, anyone?

by Fred Johnston Fri May 08, 2009 14:16

Meanwhile, all discussion has been dropped from Irish media about the fact that the US now has a PERMANENT base in Shannon Airport; not only are we complicit now in renditions, we are complicit in the wars that an increasingly imperialist US culture wishes to extend to the world. Thankfully, however, President Obama has put paid at last to the ludicrous Irish belief that there existed a special relationship between Ireland and America, by creating a situation whereby even more US companies will leave Ireland. It was once a constant rant that protestors at Shannon were threatening US jobs in Ireland. Now the truth hits home. The US doesn't care. But if the Irish government had guts and a sense of patriotism they would order the US military out of Shannon and our of Ireland. So why has teh media stopped talking about this loss of sovereignty?