Report says US planes at Shannon should be inspected

sligo | anti-war / imperialism | news report Friday December 23, 2005 15:34 by John McGowan

The Irish Human Rights Commission has called for US planes landing at Shannon to be inspected by the Government.

The Commission expressed concern at reports that planes carrying prisoners to illegal detention camps were they might be tortured were landing on Irish soil.
The Department of Foreign Affairs responded by again denying any knowledge of such flights. In a statement released today a Department spokesperson implied that the Government was happy to accept US assurances that Shannon was not being used to transport victims of torture.
Mounting evidence from across Europe, North Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq suggests the practice of so called ‘extraordinary rendition’ is common place.
‘Extraordinary rendition’ involves the transportation of peoples apprehended by the US (and possibly British forces) to illegal detention centres in countries prepared to turn a blind eye to torture. Evidence is then extracted from prisoners (who have no knowledge of were they are, why they have been arrested or access to a lawyer) through torture. The practise has been universally condemned by human rights groups, the US judiciary and a majority of US congress.
The Irish Government has consistently denied any knowledge of US flights involved in ‘extraordinary rendition’ passing through Shannon. But claims that it would not, under any circumstances, allow such flights to pass through Shannon. It appears the Government has decided to ignore the evidence collected by Human Rights Groups and Peace Activists that flights have passed through Shannon. A Europe wide enquiry into the affair is due to take place with findings to be published in the new years.
Commenting on the Human Rights Commission Resolution today a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said that: “The Government will study the Human Rights Commission's resolution carefully and respond in due course. As has been made clear on numerous occasions in the Dáil and elsewhere, the Government cannot permit, has not permitted and will not permit so-called extraordinary renditions to be carried out through Irish airports or airspace. It has also been made clear that the appropriate authorities will act if there is specific and credible information regarding particular aircraft of the type in question. Once again, however, the Government recalls that it has, on numerous occasions, received explicit, unambiguous and unqualified assurances from the US authorities that no prisoners have been transported through Irish airports, nor would they be, without the express permission of the Government. These assurances have recently been reiterated at a very high level. In the European context, these assurances are of a particular completeness and clarity. The Government would also emphasise that it is co-operating fully with a Europe-wide enquiry on these issues being carried out by the Council of Europe. In the New Year, it will be providing a comprehensive response to the questions posed by the Council of Europe.”