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 Post subject: THE LOCKERBIE BOMBER.
PostPosted: Tue May 22, 2012 10:01 pm 
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THE LOCKERBIE BOMBER.

The First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond said the victims of the Lockerbie Bombing should be remembered, after the death of Abdelbaset Al Meghrahi.

Yes the victims should be remembered and so should their families who Alex Salmond, Kenny MacAskill and the Scottish Government f***ed over when they released Megrahi on compassionate grounds claiming “Look the man’s nearly dead, we give him 3 months, 33 months tops”.

But Mr Salmond did say that the investigation is still ongoing and other people could end up in jail. To which the Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill said “Brilliant, because I’ve not let anyone out of jail in ages” adding “and how long do you think it will be before America forgives me for making a t*** of Megrahi’s prognosis, I mean I’d love to go back to America and get totally p*ished out of my tits at Tartan Day”


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GOOD NEWS KENNY, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE STATES IN A COUPLE OF MILLENIA

source: http://www.rikkibrown.com/

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 1:07 am 
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Britain's former Labour government did “all it could” to help Libya secure the release of the Lockerbie bomber, Britain’s top civil servant said today.

Sir Gus O’Donnell concluded that a policy was progressively developed to facilitate the Libyans in their appeal to the Scottish government to release Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

Prime Minister David Cameron ordered Sir Gus to carry out a review of the papers following his visit to the United States last year.

In his report, Sir Gus said: “Policy was, therefore, progressively developed that HMG should do all it could, while respecting devolved competencies, to facilitate an appeal by the Libyans to the Scottish government for Mr Megrahi’s transfer under the PTA (Prisoner Transfer Agreement) or for release on compassionate grounds.”

Sir Gus said that he had not seen any evidence that the UK government ``pressured or lobbied'' the Scottish government for Megrahi's release.

He said that the paperwork showed that at all times the government had been clear that any decision to release Megrahi or transfer him to Libya was a matter for the Scottish government alone.

In his only meeting with the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in July 2009 - a month before Megrahi’s return to Tripoli – then prime minister Gordon Brown had made clear that he could not interfere.

“Nonetheless, once Mr Megrahi had been diagnosed with terminal cancer in September 20008, HMG policy was based upon an assessment that UK interests would be damaged if Mr Megrahi were to die in a UK jail,” Sir Gus said.

“The development of this view was prompted, following Mr Megrahi’s diagnosis of terminal illness, by the extremely high priority attached to Mr Megrahi’s return by the Libyans, who had made clear that they would regard his death in Scottish custody as a death sentence and by actual and implicit threats made of severe ramifications for UK interests if Mr Megrahi were to die in prison in Scotland.”


http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/britis ... 92542.html


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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:26 pm 
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Lockerbie bomber: Public figures demand inquiry into conviction

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Religious leaders, politicians and journalists have signed a letter calling for an independent inquiry into the Lockerbie bomber's conviction.

The plea comes two days after Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only person convicted of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103, died of cancer.

Former war correspondent Kate Adie and peace prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among the signatories.

The Scottish government said it did not doubt the safety of the conviction.

However, it also insisted the issues being highlighted in the letter were ones which should be looked at by a court, rather than by politicians.

A spokesperson explained: "The issues now being raised relate to the conviction itself, and that must be a matter for a court of law. Mr Al-Megrahi was convicted in a court of law, his conviction was upheld on appeal, and that is the only appropriate place for his guilt or innocence to be determined."

In 2001 Megrahi was found guilty of committing the 1988 atrocity which saw 270 people killed over the south of Scotland town of Lockerbie.

Letter in the Scottish Review

The Libyan bomber was returned to his home country on compassionate grounds in August 2009 after serving 10 years in a Scottish jail.

He was suffering from prostate cancer and was released by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill when it was thought he had only a matter of months to live.

Megrahi, who died in Tripoli on Sunday morning, always protested his innocence.

The 42 signatories of a letter which appeared in the Scottish Review magazine claimed Scotland's criminal justice system had become a "mangled wreck" as a result of the Lockerbie conviction.

It called on the authorities to have the courage to examine the judgement, and claimed the prosecution case held water "like a sieve".

The letter read: "If Scotland wishes to see its criminal justice system reinstated to the position of respect that it once held rather than its languishing as the mangled wreck it has become because of this perverse judgement, it is imperative that its government acts by endorsing an independent inquiry into this entire affair.

"As a nation which aspires to independence, Scotland must have the courage to look itself in the mirror."

First Minister Alex Salmond said there was still a live investigation and that the Crown Office never believed Megrahi was the only person responsible for the bombing.

A Scottish government spokesperson added that it was made clear to Holyrood in February that it remained open for relatives of Megrahi or the relatives of the victims "to ask the SCCRC to refer the case to the Appeal Court again on a posthumous basis, which ministers would be entirely comfortable with".
Signatories of the letter

Kate Adie (former chief news correspondent, BBC News)

John Ashton (author of Megrahi: You are my Jury and co-author of Cover Up of Convenience)

David Benson (actor/author of the play Lockerbie: Unfinished Business)

Jean Berkley (mother of Alistair Berkley: victim of Pan Am 103)

Peter Biddulph (Lockerbie researcher)

Benedict Birnberg (retired senior partner of Birnberg Peirce & Partners)

Professor Robert Black QC ('architect' of the Kamp van Zeist trial)

Paul Bull (Close friend of Bill Cadman: killed on Pan Am 103)

Professor Noam Chomsky (human rights, social and political commentator)

Tam Dalyell (UK MP: 1962-2005; Father of the House: 2001-2005)

Ian Ferguson (co-author of Cover Up of Convenience)

Dr David Fieldhouse (police surgeon present at the Pan Am 103 crash site)

Robert Forrester (secretary, Justice for Megrahi)

Christine Grahame MSP (MSP)

Ian Hamilton QC (Advocate, author and former university rector)

Ian Hislop (editor of Private Eye)

Fr Pat Keegans (Lockerbie parish priest on 21 December 1988)

A L Kennedy (author)

Dr Morag Kerr (secretary-depute, Justice for Megrahi)

Andrew Killgore (former US Ambassador to Qatar)

Moses Kungu (Lockerbie councillor, 21 December 1988)

Adam Larson (editor and proprietor, The Lockerbie Divide)

Aonghas MacNeacail (poet and journalist)

Eddie McDaid (Lockerbie commentator)

Rik McHarg (communications hub coordinator: Lockerbie crash site)

Iain McKie (retired superintendent of police)

Marcello Mega (journalist covering the Lockerbie tragedy)

Heather Mills (author and journalist)

Revd John F Mosey (father of Helga Mosey: victim of Pan Am 103)

Len Murray (retired solicitor)

Cardinal Keith O'Brien (Roman Catholic archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh)

Denis Phipps (aviation security expert)

John Pilger (campaigning human rights journalist)

Steven Raeburn (editor of The Firm)

Tessa Ransford (poet)

James Robertson (novelist)

Kenneth Roy (editor, Scottish Review)

Dr David Stevenson (retired medical specialist and Lockerbie commentator)

Dr Jim Swire (father of Flora Swire: victim of Pan Am 103)

Sir Teddy Taylor (UK MP: 1964-2005; former shadow secretary of state for Scotland)

Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Nobel peace prize winner)

Terry Waite (former hostage and envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-18162464

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:27 pm 
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Quote:
"As a nation which aspires to independence, Scotland must have the courage to look itself in the mirror."


I wouldn't argue with that.

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:07 pm 
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If I am reading this correctly, the Scottish Government only wants an inquiry into the procedures followed by the courts, leading to Megrahi's conviction.

Quote:
The Scottish government said it did not doubt the safety of the conviction.

However, it also insisted the issues being highlighted in the letter were ones which should be looked at by a court, rather than by politicians.

A spokesperson explained: "The issues now being raised relate to the conviction itself, and that must be a matter for a court of law. Mr Al-Megrahi was convicted in a court of law, his conviction was upheld on appeal, and that is the only appropriate place for his guilt or innocence to be determined."



However, what is needed is a full and independent inquiry examining every facet of the case against Megrahi.

Quote:
The 42 signatories of a letter which appeared in the Scottish Review magazine claimed Scotland's criminal justice system had become a "mangled wreck" as a result of the Lockerbie conviction.

It called on the authorities to have the courage to examine the judgement, and claimed the prosecution case held water "like a sieve".

The letter read: "If Scotland wishes to see its criminal justice system reinstated to the position of respect that it once held rather than its languishing as the mangled wreck it has become because of this perverse judgement, it is imperative that its government acts by endorsing an independent inquiry into this entire affair.


It seems Wee Eck and Mackaskill are not to keen on a full and Independent inquiry. I wonder why? :roll:


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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:21 pm 
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Skull wrote:

A full and Independent inquiry is what is needed, but Wee Eck and Mackaskill don't seem to be very keen. I wonder why? :roll:


I don't imagine any of the politicians concerned with any part of the case will relish such an enquiry. They all have a lot to loose.
The legal system is supposed to be free of political interference, Scottish, British or American.
Yet this whole affair has been political from start to end.

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:38 pm 
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gusmac wrote:
Skull wrote:

A full and Independent inquiry is what is needed, but Wee Eck and Mackaskill don't seem to be very keen. I wonder why? :roll:


I don't imagine any of the politicians concerned with any part of the case will relish such an enquiry. They all have a lot to loose.
The legal system is supposed to be free of political interference, Scottish, British or American.
Yet this whole affair has been political from start to end.


You would think that, if Salmond and MackAskill had nothing to hide, they would be pushing for a full and independent inquiry themselves, if only to restore credibility to their government and the Scottish Legal system, but that's not what they want. :shock:


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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:42 pm 
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Skull wrote:
gusmac wrote:
Skull wrote:

A full and Independent inquiry is what is needed, but Wee Eck and Mackaskill don't seem to be very keen. I wonder why? :roll:


I don't imagine any of the politicians concerned with any part of the case will relish such an enquiry. They all have a lot to loose.
The legal system is supposed to be free of political interference, Scottish, British or American.
Yet this whole affair has been political from start to end.


You would think that, if Salmond and MackAskill had nothing to hide, they would be pushing for a full and independent inquiry themselves, if only to restore credibility to their government and the Scottish Legal system, but that's not what they want. :shock:

I don't hear Bambi or Cyclops demanding one either. Perhaps Cameron will come out in favour?
Not likely. They all have dirty hands.

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:52 pm 
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This is a Scottish issue. It was our government and courts. This is exactly what I mean about transparency of Government. :-|


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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:57 pm 
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Oh and Gusmac, let's have a full and Independent Inquiry, and let the chips fall where they may. :-|


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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 5:48 pm 
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Skull wrote:
This is a Scottish issue. It was our government and courts. This is exactly what I mean about transparency of Government. :-|

This was far more than an exclusively Scottish issue, Skull and you know it.
It involved foreign policy, which a reserved matter under devolution. Westminster.

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 5:56 pm 
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Skull wrote:
Oh and Gusmac, let's have a full and Independent Inquiry, and let the chips fall where they may. :-|


I agree.
The enquiry should be thorough and complete, examining the roles of everyone who had a hand in this whole affair, be they Scottish, British, American, Libyan, politicians, bureaucrats or anyone else, past or present. No stone left unturned.

The bottom line here is this guy may not have been guilty, and that means the guilty parties are still out there.

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 5:59 pm 
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gusmac wrote:
Skull wrote:
This is a Scottish issue. It was our government and courts. This is exactly what I mean about transparency of Government. :-|

This was far more than an exclusively Scottish issue, Skull and you know it.
It involved foreign policy, which a reserved matter under devolution. Westminster.



Listen, with a fully independent inquiry open to public scrutiny, everyone is held to account, and that's exactly the way it should be.

What's your problem? :?


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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:02 pm 
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Skull wrote:
gusmac wrote:
Skull wrote:
This is a Scottish issue. It was our government and courts. This is exactly what I mean about transparency of Government. :-|

This was far more than an exclusively Scottish issue, Skull and you know it.
It involved foreign policy, which a reserved matter under devolution. Westminster.



Listen, with a fully independent inquiry open to public scrutiny, everyone is held to account, and that's exactly the way it should be.

What's your problem? :?


No problem. Perhaps you missed this bit?
gusmac wrote:
Skull wrote:
Oh and Gusmac, let's have a full and Independent Inquiry, and let the chips fall where they may. :-|


I agree.
The enquiry should be thorough and complete, examining the roles of everyone who had a hand in this whole affair, be they Scottish, British, American, Libyan, politicians, bureaucrats or anyone else, past or present. No stone left unturned.

The bottom line here is this guy may not have been guilty, and that means the guilty parties are still out there.

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PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:28 pm 
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I did miss it. :oops:


However, I don't think your chum, wee Eck, will be up for a full inquiry, do you? I think this sort of proves my point about the people you want to run the country.

These people don't care about Scotland or the likes of you and me. I honestly think you would be lucky to find a pulse. :-|


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