ALBA/SCOTLAND: STRATHCLYDE POLICE HYPOCRITES - PROTESTERS ARE FAIR GAME BUT THE CIA?

The Assistant Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police, George Hamilton, has old the Guardian newspaper that the force had "a responsibility to gather intelligence".

He was commenting following revelations in the newspaper that an undercover officer had offered money to protesters belonging to the group `Plane Stupid' which campaigns against Airport expansion.

He told the paper that,: "Officers from Strathclyde Police have been in contact with a number of protesters who were involved with the Plane Stupid protests including Aberdeen airport."

He went on:

"The purpose of this contact has been to ensure that any future protest activity is carried out within the law and in a manner which respects the rights of all concerned."

Not surprisingly `Plane stupid' which engages in direct action, but uses non-violence, believes the Police are trying to disrupt the legitimate right to protest of environmental groups.

It also occurs to us that ACC Hamilton is being somewhat disingenuous when he says his Force has a `responsibility to gather intelligence' and is selective in how it applies that strategy.

When Strathclyde Police were alerted to the fact that people were being forcibly transferred (Rendered) by the CIA through airports in Scotland (in the Strathclyde Police area) they failed to take action or `gather' any `intelligence' to end the Rendition. Indeed it is unreasonable to assert that being aware of these illegal actions and doing nothing they were complicit.

Strathclyde Police need to be held to account for their recent undercover activities and they also need to be pressed further on their complicity with CIA wrongdoing in their Force jurisdiction.

In some countries arrest warrants have been issued for CIA operatives involved in rendition - meanwhile in Scotland Strathclyde Police `sit on their thumbs' over the issue.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

25/04/09