CPT Urged To Probe Scottish and Irish Police Inertia on Rendition Torture Issue

News from Celtic League Press

The Celtic League has urged the European Committee on the Prevention of Torture (CPT) to probe the apparent reluctance of police forces in Scotland and Ireland to probe rendition flights which led to those detained being tortured. (see attached).

The League allege that Irish police are `sitting on their thumbs' over the issue and Scottish police are deferring to political and intelligence pressure from London (see earlier posts on CL NEWS).

Secretariat of the CPT
Council of Europe
F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex
France

09/09/12

You will recall correspondence from the Celtic League in 2004 relating to the issue of extraordinary rendition and the failure of police forces in Ireland and Scotland to address this matter. We have subsequently returned to the issue on a number of occasions and have recently written to authorities in both jurisdictions (copies enclosed).

You will see that new evidence uncovered in Libya links aeroplanes known to be involved in these activities to stopovers during the rendition period at airports in both Scotland and Ireland.

We are concerned that despite increasing evidence that detained persons were transported (against their will) through the jurisdictions of the police services involved no serious attempt was made to ensure their well being whilst in the jurisdiction of the relevant (police) force area.

I refer to your correspondence to us dated 27th December 2004 and would ask what steps the CPT has taken itself to address this issue?

Police forces who facilitate the unlawful detention of persons on their territory (albeit briefly) whilst those persons detained are being `rendered' to a place of torture should surely have their conduct questioned.

I ask again what steps are the Committee taking?

Yours sincerely

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information

For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:

General Secretary, Celtic League:

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The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.

ISSUED BY THE CELTIC LEAGUE INFORMATION SERVICE.

09/09/12