Lithuania Urged to Review Campbell Case
NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
The Celtic League have urged the Lithuanian government to use its period as presidency of the EU to do more that pay lip service to human rights.
In correspondence to both the Ministry of Justice in Vilnius and also the Lithuanian Ambassador to London the League have called for a review of the circumstances surrounding the imprisonment of Irish man, Michael Campbell, and endorsed calls for his repatriation to Ireland.
Minister of Justice
Juozas Bernatonis
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania
Lietuvos Respublikos teisingumo ministerija
Gedimino ave. 30, LT-01104 Vilnius
E-mail: rastine@tm.lt
(Also):
Dear Ambassador Dr Oskaras Jusys
Michael Campbell
I am aware that on 1st July 2013 Lithuania took over the presidency of the European Union from Ireland for the next twelve months and recently the Lithuanian programme for the presidency was published in Brussels. Among the commendable priorities in the Lithuanian programme I noticed was the goal of working towards ensuring that that the EU institutions remain active in their protection of fundamental human rights both within the EU and abroad.
Over the last five years the Celtic League have been active in campaigning for the human rights of Irish prisoner Michael Campbell, who was arrested in Vilnius in January 2008 as part of a joint 'sting' operation, involving the UK and Lithuanian authorities. We believe that the methods used that led to the arrest of Michael Campbell were unlawful and that the reasoning behind his arrest was politically motivated.
In view of the fact that Lithuania holds the EU presidency for the next year and that one of its top priorities is upholding the human rights of the citizens of Europe, I would like to ask that you review the case of Michael Campbell in order to ascertain whether he was set up and his human rights were abused in the covert operation that led to his arrest and subsequent detention. Michael Campbell has always protested his innocence in attempting to procure arms for the Real IRA and has requested on numerous occasions that he is repatriated to Ireland.
We would like to urge you to consider this matter over the next few months, during the Lithuanian EU presidency, to make the most of the opportunity of using your term to make a difference to the lives of ordinary citizens.
Yours sincerely,
Rhisiart Campbell
General Secretary
Celtic League
CC
Dr Oskaras Jusys
Ambassador
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania
2 Bessborough Gardens
London SW1V 2JE
England
amb.uk@urm.it
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J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
06/08/13
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