Euro Parl dismisses cynical FF whitewash attempt on CIA flights

international | anti-war / imperialism | press release

Wednesday February 14, 2007 14:51

by PdeR - labour

In today's marathon vote on the Parliament's inquiry into CIA renditions and secret detention centres in Europe, all the Fianna Fail/UEN amendments were defeated.

Fianna Fail amendment No. 38 which sought to create the fiction that the problem is an outdated Chicago Convention, when in fact the problem is that Ireland has failed to implement article 3 of that Convention in defence of sovereignty, was defeated by a 90% vote against. Indeed both Spain and Portugal have recently introduced new inspection regulations to deal with this scandal in their jurisdictions.

The European Parliament accepted de Rossa's proposal to call on all Member States to ban or implement an inspection regime of CIA flights.

Fianna Fail made strenuous efforts to remove key facts and criticisms from the report relating to Ireland and the other EU states which are known to have colluded with the illegal CIA rendition programme. The report now also includes a new criticism of the UK Secretary of State Margaret Becket who has admitted the UK knew of the illegal rendition programme and secret detention centres before President Bush had made his public admission.

The report maintains its statement of serious concern regarding the 147 landings at Irish airports, of CIA operated planes, and names the 9 men, which were established to have been illegally detained, and transferred for torture to third countries, on planes which have landed in Ireland.

Meanwhile Joe Costello TD (Dublin Central) commented, "The committee hearings that led to this report clearly established that the Irish Government was complicit in the US war effort in Iraq. They totally failed to conduct random searches of these flights, which were subsequently used for the purpose of transferring prisoners for torture. Following the European Parliament vote, the Government has little option but to establish a Dail investigation that could be undertaken by the European Affairs Committee. The public has a right to know what their airports are being used for, the extent of the Government's knowledge of what has been going on, and if they ever either opposed or acquiesced to US demands

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Comments (5 of 5)

Which Irish MEPS voted which way.

by anon

Fri Feb 16, 2007 02:05

GUBU'ers/eurotribers manage to find the debate and the vote http://www.sarahcarey.ie/2007/02/15/that-ep-vote-on-er/
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2007/2/14/13346/7186#8

Here are the final results:

FOR (i.e. the good guys)

Coveney, Higgins, McGuinness, Mitchell (all FG), McDonald (SF), De Rossa (Labour), Harkin and Sinnott (Ind).
(Coveney was actually on the committee so 3 cheers etc).

AGAINST (i.e. the toads)
surprise surprise….
Aylward, Crowley, O’Neachtain, Ryan (all FF).

The vote list
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sce/data/votes_results/do...4.pdf

if Ireland was Switzerland (and neutral)....

by redjade

Thu Feb 15, 2007 19:48

Switzerland approves probe of CIA flight
By ALEXANDER G. HIGGINS, Associated Press Writer Wed Feb 14, 2:53 PM ET

GENEVA - Switzerland on Wednesday followed Italy and Germany in raising the threat of criminal prosecution of CIA operatives involved in anti-terrorism operations in Europe.

The Swiss Cabinet authorized the start of criminal proceedings against those responsible for the abduction in Italy of an Egyptian Muslim preacher allegedly taken on CIA flights through Swiss airspace.

Switzerland, which has cooperated closely in U.S. investigations and attempts to shut down terrorists' funding networks, has generally avoided open disputes with the U.S. government. But the wording of the seven-member Cabinet's statement was sharp.

"In the view of the Federal Council, the use of Swiss airspace for an abduction cannot be tolerated," the statement said. "There is evidence that basic norms of international law were violated."

Daniel Wendell, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in the Swiss capital, Bern, said he was aware of the decision but had no specific comment.

more at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070214/ap_on_re_eu/switzer...ights
archived at
http://groups.google.com/group/miscrandometc/browse_thr...332c8

Internationally Sullied

by Anarchy Rules - Cosantoiri Siochana

Thu Feb 15, 2007 08:21

I remember many Irish politicians including: Bertie Ahern, Dermot Ahern, Michael McDowell, Mary Harney, Brian Cowen and a plethora of others, not just limited to the parties in government either - I remember them offering the excuse, that to refuse the US the facilities in Shannon, for God knows what, would sour our relationship with America.

President Mary has gotten through all of this saying little or nothing whatsoever on the subject, for as long as the CIA have used Shannon. Remember that Mary is the Commander in Chief of the Irish army. The very same army that regularly guards suspicious flights in Shannon.

Well despite the practice of Omerta, by those who should set example in this country, the shit is hitting the proverbial fan, and not only is our reputation sullied in America, it's being sullied as I type, in the four corners of the Globe. Media outlets around the planet are currently jumping on the sensationalist news, and Ireland is being mentioned big time.

I don't think this will have much of an effect on foreign investment with regard to multinationals and the like. However, Ireland's image with the little guys (the vast majority of humanity) will be noticably darkened. This was an image cultivated by many generations of our forefathers who left our country and made the world a better place to live in.

Here's some of the international news:

Canada: "Germany and Ireland were named as being most likely to allow rendition flights to use their airports or airspace. Ireland is accused to allow 147 of these flights to stop at its airports unchecked." http://www.torontodailynews.com/index.php/WorldNews/200...ights

US: "The report admonished 11 countries for having a role in CIA flights: Germany, Sweden, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark, Turkey, Macedonia, Bosnia and Romania." http://www.startribune.com/722/story/1003221.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/20....html

Scotland: "The UK is also one of the three countries, with Germany and Ireland, where the volume of CIA flights was greatest." http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=244632007

Greece: "However, the starkest criticism of the UK, Ireland and Poland was watered down after fierce lobbying by national capitals." http://www.euro2day.gr/articlesfna/28699983/

China: "The report named 13 EU nations -- Austria, Britain, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden -- along with Bosnia, Macedonia and Turkey." http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2007/02/...49142

Iran: "The report also gives detailed evidence of investigations of illegal rendition or CIA flight cases involving Germany, Sweden, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bosnia and Romania." http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-20/07021428851942....html

Claudio Fava the author of the report that the European Parliament voted on told them yesterday, "It is the rigorous analysis of five years of excesses and abuses often tolerated in the name of the fight against terrorism." http://english.people.com.cn/200702/15/eng20070215_3503....html

Riccardo Noury of Amnesty International has said that it would be hard to prove the deliberate complicity of Governments, and that because of this, the Hague will probably not be used. He reckons the countries involved will most likely be asked to compensate the victims. http://www.axisglobe.com/article.asp?article=1222

I don't agree with Riccardo, I think the truth always finds a way. I see lots of folks being tried in the Hague in the very near future. The fact that Shannon, for example, is still being used by the US, carte blanche, speaks volumes of the brazen culpability of the Irish Government. How long will it be before another suspicious aircraft lands in Shannon, and the authorities look the other way, and say nothing?

Each time they say nothing, it gets louder.

Irish kidnap and torture collusion. Ahern: its everybody elses problem but ours

Wed Feb 14, 2007 20:42

Press release on the CIA rendition debate and amendments agreed
http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/feb/ep-cia-report-p...l.pdf
The national governments specifically criticised for their unwillingness to cooperate with Parliament's investigations were those of Austria, Italy, Poland, Portugal and the UK. The report also gives detailed evidence of investigations of illegal rendition or CIA flight cases involving Germany, Sweden, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, Denmark, Turkey, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Bosnia and Romania.

IRELAND
121. Welcomes the testimony given to the Temporary Committee by the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Irish Government as well as his unequivocal criticism of the process of extraordinary rendition; notes the fact, however, that he failed to answer all the questions in relation to the concerns that Irish airports may have been used by CIA aircraft travelling to or from extraordinary rendition missions (as in the case of Abu Omar);

122. Thanks the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) for its testimony to the Temporary Committee and endorses its view which considers that acceptance by the Irish government of diplomatic assurances do not fulfil Ireland's human rights obligations, which oblige the government actively to seek to prevent any actions that could in any way facilitate torture or ill-treatment in Ireland or abroad; regrets the decision of the Irish Government not to
follow the IHRC's advice on this matter to date; notes that there is continuing dialogue between the IHRC and the Irish Government;

123 Changed at plenary. Notes the 147 stopovers made by CIA-operated aircraft at Irish airports and expresses serious concern about the purpose of those flights which came from or were bound for countries linked with extraordinary rendition circuits and the transfer of detainees. Deplores the stopovers in Ireland of aircraft which have been shown to have been used by the CIA, on other occasions, for the extraordinary rendition of Bisher Al-Rawi, Jamil El-Banna, Abou Elkassim Britel, Khaled El-Masri, Binyam Mohammed, Abu Omar and Maher Arar and for the expulsion of Ahmed Agiza and Mohammed El Zari.

124. Notes the absence of Irish parliamentary scrutiny of either Irish or foreign intelligence services and the potential that this creates for abuse;

125. Considers, that, in the absence of a system of random searches, a ban should be imposed on all CIA-operated aircraft landing in Ireland;

126. Urges the Irish Government, in view of the findings of the Temporary Committee, to agree to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the use of Irish territory as part of the CIA rendition circuit.

The final ful report finally http://www.statewatch.org/news/2007/jan/ep-cia-renditio...t.pdf

Ahern has started to blame everybody but the Irish governement who he constantly forgets have a proactive obligation to stop torture and disappearnaces.

Ahern blames EU parliament for unchecked 'terror' flights.
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=13709978&p=...10066
Mr Ahern said his suggestion to reform the regulation of civil aviation and the system of flight classification had been ignored. He said the 60-year-old Chicago Convention, which allows transit flights through Europe without any information on passengers, crew or cargo, should be reviewed.

The report found Mr Ahern failed to answer some questions during the year-long probe into CIA activities.

AHERN PEDDLING FALSE ALLEGATIONS ON CIA REPORT
http://www.derossa.com/asp/showdoc.asp?AREA=3&ID=1877
“There are no fewer than 28 paragraphs of general proposals for dealing
with the issue of renditions and the defence of human rights, and the
ongoing efforts of all European states to counter international
terrorism.

What question did Ahern fail to answer I haven't found an English translation of the questions from December. http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80576
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_pag...n.htm

The CIA, Ireland, and Human Rights.
Article in Irish Examiner Tuesday February 13th 2007
http://www.derossa.com/asp/showdoc.asp?ID=1898&AREA=201

Council welcomes call for Dáil enquiry into rendition flights
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=210412710&p...13470
“This vote by the Strasbourg Parliament makes clear that no European country is entitled to rely upon “diplomatic assurances” from the United States authorities as a safeguard against collusion in these unlawful prisoner transfers”, said the ICCL’s Director, Mr Mark Kelly.

EU MPs pressed to dilute CIA report amendments not passed.
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no...id=21
The European Parliament’s main group, the conservative European People’s Party, wants to change the report to say there is limited hard evidence to substantiate the abuse accusations.
It also wants to add a paragraph saying the CIA has the right to land in the EU as long as it does not break the law.
The assembly’s second largest group, the Party of European Socialists, tabled an amendment to remove the sanctions threat and leave to EU states the decision to launch the probe or not.

Ireland fails to sign UN treaty on renditions
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80997

31st January FF senators block senate committee of inquiry again
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.aspx?F=SEN20070131...2#H12

North Carolina: Stop Rendition Flights ACLU meeting and "Torture Outsourcing Prevention Act" (H.R. 952).
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/2/12/192145/251

The Ahern Shuffle

Wed Feb 14, 2007 18:11

Dermot Ahern ASSURES the EU that no Renditions occurred on, or went through Irish territory.

He did this despite the fact that not one singular investigation backs him up. In fact the only evidence that he could offer is the assurances he and his co-conspirators accepted from the US. Which thankfully, the EU had already condemned.

Mr. Ahern has denounced the EU's working figure of 147 suspected flights as "grossly inflated," despite the fact that the 147 figure is itself a grossly underestimation. Mr. Ahern has also accused the EU parliament of not acting to ensure that Rendition flights were not permitted within European boundaries. Talk about having some neck. Mr. Ahern and his clique of co-conspirators are a primal example of the reason why human rights violations were permitted to happen in Europe, and they are the causal reason that they happened on Irish soil.

It is noted that Shannon Airport is still open to the American War Machine. There has been no announcement to say otherwise or to say that inspections will commence. So much for Ahern's rhetoric. Didn't believe it then don't believe it now.

See you soon in the Hague.

Related link: - http://www.irishexaminer.com/breaking/story.asp?j=21041...19118

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Euro Parl dismisses cynical FF whitewash attempt on CIA flights

Comments (5 of 5)