This article is from page 2 of the 2006-01-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
AS THE Council of Europe supports calls for greater transparency on the US use of Shannon Airport, peace activists have hit out at the government’s failure to carry out an investigation on the matter.
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights Alvaro GilRobles said he supports calls by the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) for greater transparency on the use of Shannon, and the possible transportation of prisoners through.
The IHRC has, in the past, said the government had a positive obligation to ensure prisoners were not being illegally transported.
Peace activist Ed Horgan said he supports calls for investigations to be carried out. Mr Horgan, along with other peace activists, have met with the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, and have detailed reports to the Minister for Justice, the Council of Europe, the UN Commission for Human Rights and the European Parliament.
“We have outlined that Ireland is in breach of the UN Convention on Torture. We are pleased the matter is getting attention, but it is belated and it has taken three years, during which many people have been tortured,” said Mr Horgan.
He said however the increased number of troops passing through Shannon – more than 330,000 during last year – is, in some respects, more important than the torture issue.
“Virtually all of the troops going to the Middle East are going through Shannon. That is inexplicable. Ireland was a neutral country. Other European countries have said ‘no.’ The number of troops passing through Shannon is doubling each year,” he added.
Meanwhile Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan’s criticism of the US for its lack of transparency over the use of Shannon has been described as his party colleague Clare Deputy Tony Killeen as “interesting”.
“It isn’t clear to me on what basis he doubts the veracity of Condoleeza Rice’s undertakings to Dermot Ahern,” said the Junior Minister.
“I have always said if people have evidence of prisoners being transported through the airport, they should come forward. I certainly don’t have the resources to check out these flights. The down side of it is the day you decide to do such checks, you are effectively calling a friendly government a liar,” added Deputy Killeen.
Commenting on the increased number of troops passing through Shannon, he said, “I’m not so sure how the numbers impact on the principal. If you are opposed to troops passing through, surely you are as much opposed to 1,000 as 100,000.”