Irish Government Ministers Complicity in Torture
The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) expressed its concern and outrage today at information concerning former Foreign Minister Dermott Ahern’s meeting with former US Ambassador Foley in 2007. The information, which is revealed in a released Wikileak’s cable relates to the Irish Human Rights Commission’s (IHRC) demand that the Irish Government inspect aircraft landing at Shannon Airport that were alleged to have been involved in so-called extraordinary rendition flights for movement of prisoners to Guantanamo and elsewhere, where many of them were tortured.
The leaked cable reveals that at a reported meeting between Ahern and Foley, Ahern had "seemed quite convinced" that the United States had operated "at least three flights involving [prisoner] renditions" through the airport, before or after conducting renditions elsewhere."
Irish Government Ministers Complicity in Torture
The Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) expressed its concern and outrage today at information concerning former Foreign Minister Dermott Ahern’s meeting with former US Ambassador Foley in 2007. The information, which is revealed in a released Wikileak’s cable relates to the Irish Human Rights Commission’s (IHRC) demand that the Irish Government inspect aircraft landing at Shannon Airport that were alleged to have been involved in so-called extraordinary rendition flights for movement of prisoners to Guantanamo and elsewhere, where many of them were tortured.
The leaked cable reveals that at a reported meeting between Ahern and Foley, Ahern had "seemed quite convinced" that the United States had operated "at least three flights involving [prisoner] renditions" through the airport, before or after conducting renditions elsewhere."
Despite seeming “quite convinced” of this unlawful act, Dermot Ahern, along with Brian Cowen and Bertie Ahern, was happy to publicly declare that he accepted the word of the United States Government that no such flights had occurred. In so doing, it is likely he has been guilty of knowingly misinforming the Irish people, given that he either knew or should have known that Shannon airport was used extensively to refuel CIA and other rendition flights.
In the cable exposed by Wikileaks, Ambassador Foley further states that: "Ahern noted that he had put his neck on the chopping block and would pay a severe political price if it ever turned out that rendition flights had entered Ireland or if one was discovered in the future. He stated that he could use a little more information about the flights.” Ambassador Foley stated that he believed: "Ahern seemed to be fishing for renewed assurances from the Ambassador that no rendition flights have transited Ireland, or would transit in the future."
It should be noted that no such renewed assurances were given, indicating that the US Ambassador may have had information to the contrary. Ahern was clearly far more concerned to protect himself from putting "his neck on the chopping block" and paying a "severe political price if it ever turned out that rendition flights had entered Ireland or if one was discovered in the future".
Jim Roche, IAWM PRO said today:
“It is an open secret in Ireland that Shannon Airport has been used by planes involved in extraordinary rendition. Respected groups such as the Irish Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and Shannonwatch have all documented this. For example, Amnesty International brought evidence to the Irish Government’s attention in 2005, in the form of flight logs, showing that six planes known to have been used by the CIA for renditions had made some 800 flights in or out of European airspace, including 50 landings at Shannon airport. The Irish Government did nothing then and has done nothing since.
The Government Committee set up in November 2008, with the ostensible purpose of examining possible legislation and practice for the examination of flights passing through Irish airports that are suspected of rendition, has seldom met and has been totally ineffective. The committee is made up of Brian Cowen, Dermot Ahern, Micheál Martin, Noel Dempsey and John Gormley. It arose as a result of commitments made in June 2007 in the ‘Programme for Government 2007 – 2012’, where the new Irish Government declared that it is “completely opposed to the practice of extraordinary rendition”. So why does this Committee do nothing when strong evidence of extraordinary rendition is presented to it and why did Dermot Ahern publicly declare that he believed the assurances from the US Government when he clearly suspected that "at least three flights involving [prisoner] renditions" had passed through Shannon Airport?
It is outrageous that an Irish Government Minister should prioritise his own political status over and above the well being, security and human rights of vulnerable prisoners on route to being tortured. Irish Government Ministers have solemn legal international obligations to prevent torture and crimes against humanity. They have failed to live up to these obligations and have put all their efforts into preventing the truth on these matters from being revealed to the Irish public, so as to protect their own political reputations.”
This recent exposé reveals yet again the complicity of the Irish Government in the farcically named ‘War on Terror’ and demonstrates the usefulness of Wikileaks in exposing hypocrisy, lies and corruption in the search for peace and justice in the world”.
Link to Wikileaks cable: http://www.wikileaks.ch/cable/2007/12/07DUBLIN916.html
Richard Boyd Barrett, Chair IAWM, 086-7814520
Jim Roche, PRO IAWM, 087 6472737
