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Newslist Messages for
June 2000
LONDON BOMB PRODUCT OF BRITISH PREVARICATION There seems little doubt that the bomb attack in London, earlier today(1/6/00), is connected to a Republican group committed to continuingthe 'armed struggle'. There have, since the general IRA ceasefire, been a number of incidentsin Ireland but to date attempts to export that violence to Britainhave been frustrated. This new development, coupled with the factthat no warning was given, must be worrying to the British anti-terroristauthorities whose previous success against the IRA was generally basedon luck rather than judgement. There will no doubt be the usual round of empty condemnations of theattack. However, analysis of the situation since the IRA cease fireindicates that the British government in particular, via its prevaricationand continued willingness to accede to Unionist blackmail, has createda situation in which there is a drift back to 'armed struggle' bythose who originally forswore it. Irish media reports for many monthshave indicated this. Obviously, no one in Downing street was listening. This continuing, though spluttering, campaign of armed action couldhave been avoided had the British moved more swiftly on de-commissioningof its troops bases in Ireland and also embraced without prevaricationthe 'Patten' proposals for reform of the RUC. Instead we still havea substantial presence by the British Army in areas which must bethe natural recruiting ground for those suspicious of British intentions.Meanwhile, 'Patten' because of Mandelson's meddling has being seriouslyundermined. The bomb attack at Hammersmith Bridge, in which a small device attachedto a girder on the south side of the bridge exploded just hours beforeone of Sinn Fein's senior figures was due to arrive in London, isa warning that within the context of the peace process meaningfulprogress on demilitarisation must take place. There will be no Irish bombs in London when there are no British Troops in Ireland! J B Moffatt Secretary General 1/6/00 ============================= Date: Thu Jun 1, 2000 6:22am Subject: DAFYDD WIGLEY CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION DAFYDD WIGLEY HAS MADE HIS MARK ON THE INTER-CELTIC SCENE Dafydd Wigley, as well as being committed to Wales, has been a goodfriend of the inter-Celtic movement. His help, particularly in campaignssuch as that aimed at finding out the truth about the loss of theAer Lingus airliner near Aberporth range, has been invaluable. Dafydd Wigley, who has announced his decision to stand down as leaderof Plaid Cymru, had succeeded in recent years in transforming thefortunes of that Party to the extent that it has rattled the traditionalstranglehold that the labour Party had in parts of Wales. It is a measure of the man that his decision was greeted with concernwithin his own Party. They will struggle to find someone immediatelyto replace his talents. Paradoxically Labour, traditional politicalenemies of the Welsh nationalists, were boosted by the news. Wigley however knows that he will stand down at a time when the Partys'fortunes were never better and the transition to a new leader canbe accommodated. It is also unlikely that any new face at the topwill disregard the advice offered in the transitional period by DafyddWigley. Dafydd, as well as being committed to Wales has been a good friendof the inter-Celtic movement. Over the years he has repeatedly actedon requests for support from the Celtic League, particularly in respectof tabling questions in the House of Commons. Issues he has assistedus with include questions over low flying and other military relatedmatters and more recently he channelled queries from us about thefate of the Chair of Celtic at Humboldt University. For over a decadehe has also assisted our enquiries into the Aer Lingus airliner,lost in 1968 near the Aberporth range. Its fate is still the subjectof speculation and suspicion. Indeed, it was Wigley's incisive questioningof Junior Transport Minister Glenda Jackson that revealed that theDETR had destroyed (in 1994) the Air Accident report prepared by Britainat a time when questions were once again being raised about the issue. Dafydd also led moves to build a bridge between the nationalist movementsin Scotland and Wales at the time of devolution. A dynamic leaderof his party he has also stamped his mark on the wider Celtic politicalscene. A strong contender to succeed Dafydd as President of Plaid Cymru willbe Ieaun Wyn Jones. Ieaun, member of parliament for Ynys Mon (Anglesey),is also no stranger to the inter-Celtic scene. In February last yearhe addressed a meeting organised by the Celtic League/Celtic StudentsAlliance at Trinity College Dublin on "The Challenge of the Assemblyfor Wales". He described the establishment of the Welsh Assembly ashaving given Wales "a new image" which had reinforced the sense ofidentity of the Welsh people. He may now get the opportunity to leadthe Welsh towards greater change aimed at equalising the devolvedpowers in Scotland and Wales. Despite the barely concealed delight of the Welsh Labour Party overchanges to the leadership of Plaid Cymru their euphoria is likelyto be short-lived. The very fact that a change of leader in PlaidCymru means so much to their fortunes is a further indicator of howfar the Labour Partys' fortunes have slumped. Plaid Cymru is setting the agenda for Wales (as their counterpartsthe SNP are doing in Scotland). That bandwagon will take some derailing. J B Moffatt Secretary General 1/6/00 ============================== Date: Fri Jun 2, 2000 1:18am Subject: PRISONERS RIGHTS TRAMPLED CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION RIGHTS TRAMPLED FOR POLITICAL OR PRACTICAL EXPEDIENCY Five years ago, in the preface to our pamphlet "Human rights on theCeltic Fringe", we argued that whilst individual and collective rightsin the Celtic countries are notionally protected via Internationaltreaty the rights of individuals were still likely to be trampledon for political or practical expediency. The Isle of Man is about to embrace new Human Rights safeguards andyet this week in the case of convicted prisoner Stephen Galloway theState showed itself willing to trample on those rights. The Courtswhich should provide protection in such circumstances endorsed thisaction. Galloway's situation is straightforward. There is no need to citethis or that convention of the European Convention of Human Rights.He is quite simply being discriminated against. You do not have tobe a Lawyer or a learned Deemster (Manx High Court Judge) to establish that. Galloway, unlessan appeal is successful will be transferred to serve his time withthousands of prisoners who cannot be treated as he has been! TheStatement of Purposes and Values that the Isle of Man Prison say theyadhere to sets out their opposition to discrimination as a Principal. The Manx government has a problem, in that the rotten and overcrowdedjail we have has been condemned internationally, to ease this problemprisoners need to be transferred. If necessary the transfer is byforced relocation and it is in this that the discrimination is inherent. Ironically, the Deemster who heard his case, is likely to be one ofthose whose principlal role will be to interpret the new EuropeanHuman Rights law. If this is the case then, despite some recent "training"in human rights law, he appears to have failed the first test. There will of course be little sympathy for Stepehen Galloway withinthe Isle of Man. The attitude of many people towards convicted offendersis one of "lock them up and throw away the key". However this is allthe more reason that the rights of those in custody should be vigorouslydefended. Earlier this week the Manx Home Affairs Minister, Alan Bell, set out publicly the difficultiesthat would occur if the judgement went against the Department. Itbeggars belief that the Ministers comments in a community as smallas this were not noted by the Deemster. If this is the case then washis judgement influenced? J B Moffatt Secretary General 29/5/2000 ================================= Date: Sun Jun 11, 2000 9:42am Subject: WYLFA NUCLEAR PLANT CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION ALARMING FREQUENCY OF SHUTDOWNS AT WYLFA HSE reveal thirty unplanned reactor shutdowns in ten years Periodic shutdowns have plagued the Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey which is currently closed down again following problems with both its Reactors. Information, supplied by the British HSE to the Celtic League, indicatesthat the station has suffered unplanned shutdowns on 30 occasionsover the past decade. Reactor one has been closed down on 13 occasions and Reactor two on17 occasions. This excludes planned maintenance shutdowns. Recently the stations operators BNFL indicated their intention tocontinue operating the station for another twenty years, with a projectedclosure date in 2021. The Celtic League, along with other campaigning groups, believe thatthe UKs Magnox stations including Wylfa should all be more speedilyclosed. Recently the Irish government added its voice to the campaign.Enterprise Minister Joe Jacob assured the Celtic League that "incidentssuch as those at Wylfa serve to reinforce my concerns about the safetyof these Magnox reactors and my determination to have them closeddown" A major malfunction at the plant would of course pose a majorthreat and civil defence nightmare for the population of eastern Irelandand the Irish sea area. The frequency of the unplanned shutdowns revealed by the HSE is addedcause for concern. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 11/6/00 ========================== Date: Sun Jun 11, 2000 0:12pm Subject: DRUGS TROOPS GET MARCHING ORDERS CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION DRUGS TROOPS GET MARCHING ORDERS In the past month the Army has kicked out twenty soldiers for drugtaking. We ask how widespread is the problem and what are its implicationsfor operational deployment such as in N. Ireland? Last week another 13 British army soldiers were given their marchingorders for drugs offences. Their dismissal, which can be the subjectof appeal, comes hard on the heels of last months discharge of sevenmembers of a Welsh regiment. On that occasion we contrasted the BritishArmys apparent "tough" policy on drugs with the inertia over determiningthe future of the two Scots guardsmen who murdered Belfast man PeterMcBride The latest drug clear-out seems to indicate a serious level of drugaddiction within the armed forces, which the military are seriousabout tackling. However, the situation is not new. In 1994 a confidentialreport on drug taking at the RAF base at Odiham in the mid-eightieswas exposed. Odiham was home to the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet whichat the time detached units for service in N. Ireland and for generalduties around the UK. The report revealed that 19 servicemen werefound to be in possession of drugs following a "bust" at the base. Following those revelations we wrote, in November 1994, to Army HQin N. Ireland and asked did the "Joint Services Theatre Flight SafetyCommittee consider its implications and introduce any general monitoringof AAC and RAF helicopter flight crews and maintenance staff for possibledrug abuse". Headquarters Northern Ireland were unable to commentat the time but the MOD, to whom the correspondence was forwarded,dismissed the report as "nine years old" saying it had no relevanceto current operations. Pointedly however, the MOD avoided our questionabout general monitoring simply saying it was "constantly reviewingits programme on education". Fifteen years after the Odiham scandal, which was paralleled at thetime by other major drugs busts, it appears that the Services drugseducation programme is a failure. It begs the question as to whatlevel of drug addiction permeates the Services presently operationalin N. Ireland? J B Moffatt Secretary General 11/6/2000 ================================ Date: Sun Jun 11, 2000 0:56pm Subject: ERIKA OIL SPILL WILDLIFE APPEALCELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION The following appeal is taken from the current issue of the Celtic League Journal CARN BRETAGNE VIVANTE ERIKA OIL SPILL WIDLIFE APPEAL Following the Erika oil spill disaster Bretagne Vivante have set up anorganisation to help save the birds and to protect the environment in theaffected area. Many members of the group work hard to rescue the birds, take care of themand let them go free. The group is appealing for financial aid to help the birds to survive.Please send your contributions to: Bretagne Vivante - SEPNB,180 rue Anatole. France, BP 32, 29276, BREST Cedex, Breizh/Brittany, France. This appeal was published in the current isse of CARN the magazine of the Celtic League. For subscription details for CARN contact the Editor: Patricia Bridson,33 Céide na Grianóige,Ráth Cúil,Co. Átha Cliath,Éire ============================== Date: Sun Jun 11, 2000 0:56pm Subject: NEW MINORITY LANGUAGES WEBSITE CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION NEW LANGUAGES WEBSITE In early February a new website, based in Brussels, giving information onthe lesser-used languages in Europe opened. the address is: http//www.eurolang.net The service was established by the European Bureau of Lesser Used Languageswith the support of the European Commission. It provides, in English, up todate news on a range of issues affecting minority language speakers. Head ofthe service is John Walsh, previously news editor with TG4 in Ireland. Theservice will be free for two years This article was published in the current isse of CARN the magazine of theCeltic League. Unfortunmately the URL given was incorrect please note theamendmentFor subscription details for CARN contact the Editor: Patricia Bridson,33 Céide na Grianóige,Ráth Cúil,Co. Átha Cliath,Éire ============================ Date: Sun Jun 11, 2000 0:56pm Subject: BBC FEAR DRAGON CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION BBC FEAR DRAGON The BBC in London have asked BBC Wales to remove the dragon logo whichappears at the start of BBC Wales's television news. London believes it isto nationalistic. Reacting with surprise BBC Wales have said that they would give nocommitment to remove logo, though such designs are periodically changed. The request is part of a xenophobic response in England towards what areseen as over-enthusiastic displays of Welsh or Scottish nationality. Suchreactions have become more common since the granting of devolution to Cymruand Alba which seems to have caused someting of an identity problem amongsome of the English. This article was published in the current isse of CARN the magazine of theCeltic League.For subscription details for CARN contact the Editor: Patricia Bridson,33 Céide na Grianóige,Ráth Cúil,Co. Átha Cliath,Éire ======================= Date: Mon Jun 19, 2000 0:38am Subject: PRESS INFORMATION CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION NEW OPPOSITION TO SELLAFIELD POLLUTION The Manx parliament (The Tynwald Court) will hear a resolution next week calling for support and co-operation for calls by Ireland andDenmark to suspend or cease the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.The initiative by a Manx back bench MHK (MP), Brenda Cannell, willput pressure on the Isle of Man government to further develop an independentline over opposition to the nuclear plant. Support for the move wouldalso embarrass the British government which claims the constitutionalright to act for the Island on International Treaties and Conventions. Throughout recent years agencies in Ireland and the Isle of Man haveplotted levels of radioactive pollution including new dangers suchas the detection in the past decade of technetium-99 pollution inshellfish which are being carefully monitored. Additionally, threeyears ago research in the UK produced the worrying statistic thatthe closer children lived to Sellafield the higher the concentrationof plutonium found in their teeth and a fierce debate has raged aboutthe incidence of leukaemia caused in children who live in coastalareas near to nuclear plants. The uncertainties make it vital thata broad coalition of groups keep up the pressure. Environmental groups, such as the Celtic League, who have campaignedfor closure believe that a clear vote of censure, at the Ospar meeting,of the British governments re-processing operation could spell thedeath knell for Sellafield and de-rail attempts to privatise the accidentprone plant. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 18/6/00 ================================= CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION NEW ARMY DRUGS SCANDAL 'clear-out seems to indicate drug addiction within the armed forces,is approaching crisis proportions'. More British army soldiers are being given their marching orders lastweek for drugs offences. Their dismissal, can be the subject of appealbut an Army spokesman has said that only in "extremely exceptionalcircumstances" will they stay in uniform. The latest revelation comeshard on the heels of recent discharge of members of Welsh and Scottishregiment. On this occasion the culprits are members of the Kings Regimentwhich recruits in the north west of England and the Isle of Man. The further drugs clear-out seems to indicate drug addiction withinthe armed forces, is approaching crisis proportions. However, we revealedlast week that the situation is not new. In 1994 a leaked confidentialreport revealed drug taking at the RAF base at Odiham in the mid-eighties.Odiham was home to the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet which at the timedetached units for service in N. Ireland. The latest clear-out also has a connection to Ulster. It is understoodsome of the men involved were serving in Northern Ireland when thetest results came through and are being sent home. Five years ago the MOD assured the Celtic League it was "constantlyreviewing its programme on (drugs abuse) education". Obviously theeducation programme is not working with nearly 30 troops given theirmarching orders in the past four weeks! J B Moffatt Secretary General 18/6/2000 Date: Sun Jun 25, 2000 10:26pm Subject: NEW MANX GOVERNOR SAUDI LINKS CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION NEW MANX LT. GOVERNOR - THE SAUDI CONNECTION It was interesting to read that part of the background of the newIsle of Man Lt. Governor included service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1994-98) supporting the lucrative Defence contracts that theUnited Kingdom has struck in recent years. The Saudi Government isnot exactly in the forefront of democracy, tolerance and human rights.The extracts below are taken from the current US State Departmentassessment of Human Rights in the Kingdom. Air Vice Marshal Macfadyen clinched the Governorship of the Isle ofMan after being short-listed with a former Manx High Court Judge (Deemster).One contender therefore has spent the past few years working for theprinciples of law and justice, whilst the other has spent the pastfew years working with people whose respect for justice and humanrights is, on the basis of the US governments assessment, somewhatquestionable. As far as the Celtic League is concerned the position of Governoris an irrelevant feudal anachronism. Ironically, AVM Macfadyens recentspell in Saudi Arabia was in the service of one of the worlds mostdespotic feudal systems. The Air Vice Marshal was appointed this week and will succeed thecurrent Lt. Governor Sir Timothy Daunt KCMG in the Autumn. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General (attached) 1999 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor U.S. Department of State, February 25, 2000 SAUDI ARABIA "The Government commits and tolerates serious human rights abuses.Citizens have neither the right nor the legal means to change theirgovernment. Security forces continued to abuse detainees and prisoners,arbitrarily arrest and detain persons, and facilitate incommunicadodetention; in addition there were allegations that security forcescommitted torture". "The Government prohibits or restricts freedom of speech, the press,assembly, association, religion, and movement. Other continuing problemsincluded discrimination and violence against women, discriminationagainst ethnic and religious minorities, and strict limitations onworker rights". ==================================== Date: Mon Jun 26, 2000 2:01am Subject: HUMBOLDT FUNDING BREAKTHROUGH CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION BREAKTHOUGH IN CAMPAIGN TO SAVE CHAIR OF CELTIC STUDIES The campaign to retain the Chair of Celtic Studies at the HumboldtUniversity Berlin has received a tremendous boost with a commitmentby the Irish government of substantial funds to support the project. The Irish authorities have officially confirmed a commitment to provideIR£45,000 per year for a four year period. However, this is simplyan initial offer of support under maximum permissible budgetary regulationsand the Irish authorities have confirmed their understanding thatthe Humboldt project will be for a minimum of ten years. The grant is conditional on at least one other Celtic country matchingthe Irish offer and formal approaches will be made, by the University,to other administrations. At least one other Celtic country has indicatedthat it will consider seriously any formal approach and there is thereforeoptimism that the Celtic Department will continue. The Irish proposal which is in two components consists of IR£20,000per year (From the Dept. of Foreign Affairs Cultural Relations Committee)tofund an Irish language teacher plus IR£25,000 per year general fundingfrom the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Ironically the lifeline to this unique centre of Celtology comes onthe centenary of Celtic Studies at Humboldt. The Celtic League have campaigned vigorously on this issue and willcontinue until the Chair of Celtic is fully secured. At the inceptionof our campaign it was in most quarters assumed that the closure decisionwas irreversible. The future is now much brighter. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 26/6/00 ====================================== Date: Mon Jun 26, 2000 2:05am Subject: FORCED LANDING IN SOUTH ARMAGH CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION MORE PROBLEMS FOR OBSOLETE 'CHOPPERS' Another forced landing by an Army Lynx helicopter highlights the continuingdanger posed by machines which are obsolete and defective.The ratioof maintenance hours to flying time for these 'geriatric' helicoptersmust be staggering! In February the Celtic League wrote to the Defence Secretary askinghim to review operations by an Army helicopter with an identifieddefect. The type involved the Lynx helicopter has been involved intwo fatal crashes and inumerable forced landings over the past twoyears and following an incident at Gornji Vakuf, Bosnia, in Dec. 1998a defective part in the tail rotor drive was identified. This wasto be replaced on a phased basis over two years. However, the League suggested in correspondence, in February, to DefenceSecretary Geoff. Hoon two months ago that the decision carried potentialrisk. The MOD initially evaded the issue but subsequently followinga further spate of incidents on both British and Dutch military Lynxhelicopters a substantial number were grounded for urgent repair Now a further forced landing has occurred, in South Armagh, and quitefrankly it seems inevitable that if operations by the type are notradically reviewed a serious accidents is inevitable. Many servicepersonnel have been killed or seriously injured in accidents involvingthe type and, as it clatters in and out of hamlets and farmsteadsin the border area, it poses a substantial danger to the public. Question-marks also surround the operation of other types used extensivelyin the Province such as the Puma. This type also elderly is beingoperated well past its sell-by date. Two months ago there was a seriouscrash in the UK near Catterick when one of the machines lost powerand crashed injuring a dozen troops on board. Scores of incidentsinvolving the RAF and Army helicopter fleet have been concealed overthe years by a system which 'gerrymanders' the publication of information.The ratio of maintenance hours to flying time for these geriatrichelicopters must be staggering perhaps understandably the MOD havereleased no detail! Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 26/6/00 =============================== Date: Mon Jun 26, 2000 2:16am Subject: MORE DRUGS TROOPS SACKED CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION NEW ARMY DRUGS SCANDALFurther regiments follow Welsh in clear-out that seems to indicatedrug addiction within the armed forces, is approaching crisis proportions. More British army soldiers are being given their marching orders lastweek for drugs offences. The current round of dismissals started withthe discharge of seven members of a Welsh regiment. On that occasionwe contrasted the British Army's apparent "tough" policy on drugswith the inertia over determining the future of the two Scots guardsmenwho murdered Belfast man Peter McBrideTheir dismissal, can be the subject of appeal but an Army spokesmanhas said that only in "extremely exceptional circumstances" will theystay in uniform. The latest revelation comes hard on the heels ofrecent discharge of members of both Welsh and Scottish regiment. Onthis occasion the culprits are members of the Kings Regiment whichrecruits in the north west of England and the Isle of Man.The further drugs clear-out seems to indicate drug addiction withinthe armed forces, is approaching crisis proportions. However, we revealedlast week that the situation is not new. In 1994 a leaked confidentialreport revealed drug taking at the RAF base at Odiham in the mid-eighties.Odiham was home to the RAF Chinook helicopter fleet which at the timedetached units for service in N. Ireland.The latest clear-out also has a connection to Ulster. It is understoodsome of the men involved were serving in Northern Ireland when thetest results came through and are being sent home.Five years ago the MOD assured the Celtic League it was "constantlyreviewing its programme on (drugs abuse) education". Obviously theeducation programme is not working with nearly 30 troops given theirmarching orders in the past four weeks! J B MoffattSecretary General 19/6/2000 ======================================= KINYTRE CRASH 'CHOPPER' MAY EVADE SAFETY SPOTLIGHT IN PRE-TRIAL DEAL A court case concerning the reliability of transmission gears fittedto the Chinook military helicopter due to go to trial last week inthe United States has been deferred pending moves to settle the caseout of court. The action would have focused attention once again onthe safety of the type in which 29 people died at Kintyre in June1994.It was to be alleged that for several years, Boeing Co. knew oneof its subcontractors was supplying the Army with faulty gears forremanufactured Chinook CH-47D helicopters. A type similar to the RAFmodel. It was to be alleged that this led to a series of crashes.In February the US army temporarily grounded Chinooks pending removalof faulty transmission gears from the twin rotor helicopters. Themove was interpreted as likely to be helpful to the case against Boeingbrought by Brett Roby, a former quality inspector for Boeing supplierSpeco, a company that has since gone into liquidation. The move camesix months after a similar scare, in August 1999, that grounded Chinooksworld wide including the RAF fleet. Two weeks ago we divulged thatthe defect was identified at an RAF maintenance centre (In Scotland),over six months earlier, in February 1999. Despite this the RAF machinescontinued in operation.Roby's case, was filed in 1995 and joined in 1997 by the US JusticeDepartment. At the time US Attorney Dale Ann Goldberg, of ColumbusOhio, said:"To protect the lives and safety of our soldiers, we must be particularlyvigilant in ensuring that the critical parts used in military aircraftmeet the required specifications."A Boeing representative was quoted earlier this month as saying"The schedule of pre-trial proceedings and the agreed scheduled trialhave been vacated due to tentative agreements with respect to settlement".The Justice Department also confirmed the settlement talks.Obviously, the RAF and MOD will be equally anxious that any wellpublicised case over Chinook safety is avoided by a pre-trial dealso as not to focus attention once again on the Kintyre cover-up. ============================== Date: Mon Jun 26, 2000 2:58am Subject: COMMUNITY OPPOSITION TO TRANSMITTER CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION "COMMUNITY" AND THE VIEWS OF THE COMMUNITY STILL MATTER IN THE ISLEOF MAN The Celtic League has re-iterated its support for the fight by Bride Commissioners to block construction of a controversial radio stationon the northern plain (see attached). It has also praised the tiny authorities workin recenty years in monitoring development at the Ayres includingthe controversial landfill site.The League believe that despite all the technical arguments and counterarguments the issue is straightforward. Should the views of a smallcommunity be overridden by commercial interests simply for gain? TheLeague say that "planning Inspectors from the UK should by now beaware that "community" and the views of the community are somethingthat still matter in the Isle of Man.". They cite the numerous battlesthat local authorities throughout the Island have fought in recentyears to protect the environment whilst central government lookedthe other way. They ask "why should a community have planted withinit a commercial operation which is unsettling and indeed alarmingto that community?"The League also emphasis that the planning enquiry is only the firststep. If Central government via DOLGE try to impose development, asa resulted of any flawed judgement by the enquiry, against the wishesof the community the campaign will be directed at governments recordin failing to protect the Island against despoliation in recent years. J B MoffattSecretary General 22/6/00 Letter to Bride Commissioners: Audrey Green Clerk to Bride Parish Commissioners Cronk Mayn Beg RamseyIsle of Man IM8 3TA 22/6/00 Dear Ms. Green, Ref. Planning Enquiry Cross Field Radio Antennae to be sited on the Northern Plain. Thank you for your letter of the 12th inst. referring to the Planning Application for a radio station, to be sited at Bride, and the forthcoming Planning Inquiry.The Celtic League will not be submitting a detailed formal objection directly to the enquiry but would be grateful if the correspondence that you already have, dated 14/11/99 (attached), in which we outlined our reservations together with this letter could be included withthe Commissioners bundle.Can I start by placing on record our appreciation to Bride Commissionersfor the work that they have undertaken to date to scrutinise any developmentat the Ayres. Specifically, their ongoing monitoring of the landfilloperation which takes place there. Bride is one of the smaller localauthorities and yet in recent years it has had to deal with more thanits fair share of problems in the National Interest of the Isle ofMan. Its role in safeguarding this area, up to and including its forthrightopposition to this latest assault on the Ayres, is often overlookedby the Manx public generally.The area, from the Bride hills north and west to the coast of the Ayres, is one of the most important natural areas of the Isle of Man.This fact is recognised by the establishment of an area of Special Scientific Interest (SSI) there. The Commissioners desire that thislatest development should not go ahead is supported by a broad rangeof organisations and individuals throughout the Island.The obverse of this is that the only strong voices raised in supportof the development are the developers themselves. Obviously theirdriving force is not an interest in the ecology and environment ofthat area but purely Commercial factors.The Isle of Man, at the present time, enjoys unprecedented prosperityand as such there is no National Commercial Interest which justifiesthe approval of this application.I feel sure that during the course of the planning enquiry all mannerof detailed technical arguments will be advanced which seek to supportor oppose this application. However the single and most salient pointthat the planning enquiry should consider is in our view straightforward. The opposition of the local community, expressed via their electedrepresentatives i.e Bride Commissioners and the areas MHK and whetherthose views are counterbalanced by a National interest. When the landfill operation was mooted there was a very definite Nationalinterest argument, which although some of us did not endorse it wascogent.There is no such argument in relation to the IBC plans to site a CrossField Radio Antennae on the northern plain adjacent to an SSI. Theinstallation, despite all the bluff and bluster of its proponents,is aesthetically unattractive. It is technologically unproven. Thesafety factors relating to its operation are at the present time arenot verifiable.All these factors in themselves mitigate against the project but wewould re-iterate that the issue is much more simple.Why should a community have planted within it a commercial operationwhich is unsettling and indeed alarming to that community?Planning Inspectors from the UK should by now be aware that "community"and the views of the community are something that still matter inthe Isle of Man.The people of your Parish, via their Parish Board have expressed theiropposition and in our view that opposition can only be countered bya National Interest argument which neither the developer and the Isleof Man government can provide.We are somewhat sceptical of the value of planning enquiries. In recentyears many communities in the Island have had their views and feelingscast aside via such mechanisms. I will not list the local authoritiesand community groups that have fought 'tooth and nail' in recent yearsto resist the despoliation of the Isle of Man for commercial selfinterest.We trust that the campaign of Bride Commissioners to protect the aestheticsand environment of the northern plain against this and any other ill-considereddevelopment is successful.Should this development receive the endorsement of a planning enquirythat will not be the end of the battle. The Minister for Local Governmentmust, at the end of the process justify his endorsement of any approval.What would be the justification in this case? Despoliation of a uniquenatural area for gain and self interest. Yours sincerely, Bernard Moffatt ============================== Date: Mon Jun 26, 2000 9:10pm Subject: HARVESTER SALVAGE EXPOSES SAFETY FAILURES CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION SALVAGE EXPOSES FAILURE TO PROBE OTHER SINKINGS The salvage of the Solway Harvester ensures the sea tragedy will geta scrutiny denied to other sinkings. The Irish Sea is littered with the wrecks of vessels which sank, overthe past twenty years, often in extremely suspicious circumstances.Many theories and explanations were advanced for the sinkings, submarines,fouled cables and overloaded nets were just some of the causes suggested.Many a loss could have been resolved by the simple expedient of liftingthe wreck. Another Kirkcudbright vessel, the Mhari L (1985 - 5 Crew all lost), disappeared suddenly in fine weather just south of the Solway Harvester site. Suspicious damage to the wreck recorded on video-tape led tocalls for its salvage and examination, this was unheeded by the Britishgovernment. In the same area no real search was ever made for the MFV South Stack (1984 - 3 Crew all lost), a Welsh vessel from Anglesey,that disappeared without trace. Further east a Belgian vessel, the Tijl Uilenspiegal (1989 - 5 Crew all lost), sank without warning.The wreck site was investigated but calls to raise the vessel wererejected. The French vessel the Cite D'Aleth (1983 - 10 Crew alllost) a powerful 120' boat got out a brief 'Mayday', again despitesuspicious video evidence and family pleas, no attempt was made torecover the vessel. This week a Belgian salvage vessel on charter to the Manx governmenthas recovered the latest casualty. The families of those lost on theSolway Harvester and the community of Whithorn have suffered a grievousloss, but they have been able to bury their dead and in the next fewweeks they will get to know with what caused this loss. It may notbe much, but it is a small comfort. If a tiny country like the Isle of Man can do the right thing, whycould the governments of Britain, Belgian and France not have shown the same compassion? Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League ==================================== Date: Wed Jun 28, 2000 10:45am Subject: RADIO STATION NAVIGATION FEARS CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION RADIO STATION NAVIGATION FEARS - ANOTHER HAZARD TO FISHERMEN & MARINERS The Celtic League has written to the Irish government concerning plansto construct a powerful radio station on the north west coast of theIsle of Man. The plan is opposed by local authorities and by environmental groups,such as the League, for environmental and aesthetic reasons. The stationis to be sited adjacent to a designated area of Special scientificInterest (SSI) and there are also fears about the untried nature ofits technology. However, the League point out, in correspondence to Minister of StateHugh Byrne at the Department of the Marine, that there are also realfears that the stations frequency and power will affect radio navigationsystems for fishermen and mariners. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 28/6/00 Hugh Byrne TD Minister of State Department of the Marine Leeson Lane Dublin 2 Ireland Dear Mr. Byrne, I write with reference to plans to construct and licence a radio transmittingstation on the north west coast of the Isle of Man. The station which uses a comparatively untried technology (the socalled crossed field antennae system) is scheduled to broadcast onthe long wave frequency 279 kHz and will have considerable outputas the signal is aimed to reach audiences throughout Europe. I should make it clear that the Celtic League opposes the developmenton environmental and aesthetic grounds and supports the campaign ofthe Isle of Man local authority in the area, Bride Commissioners inits opposition. However, my reason for contacting you is to make yourDepartment aware that a concern has also been raised viz a viz theimplications of this stations interference with radio navigationalaids important to shipping. Whilst the company involved in the project disputes this view youwill see from the attached that The Northern Lighthouse Board hasindicated serious concern. A planning enquiry is currently scheduled, on the Island, and yourDepartment might like to consider any implications for the safetyof Mariners and make appropriate reservations to the British and Manxgovernments. Yours sincerely, Bernard Moffatt 28/6/00  Back to Celtic League News |