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Newslist Messages for
March 2001
ARMY INEPITUDE IN FACE OF DISEASE THREAT A week ago the Celtic League said: "with the entire British Isles on the alert to eliminate the threat posed by the spread of foot and mouth the Ministry Of Defence should take urgent action to ensure it plays its part". The comment was made in the context of the decision by the British Army to continue foot-patrols across farmland in South Armagh. Farmers in South Armagh, already concerned at the spread of other stock diseases by patrol activity, were also calling for foot patrols to be suspended until the situation stabilised. At the time, the military were well aware of the danger that their activities posed. They had for example announced a suspension of training on exercise areas in Gt. Britain. Today, the military authorities in N. Ireland have announced that they are to "modify" patrol activity. Their response, following an outbreak of the disease in S. Armagh, still shows a failure to grasp the seriousness of the situation. In any case their ineptitude and disregard of the threat posed may make even this "modification" move ineffectual. With the disease outbreak in S. Armagh confirmed, if it does spread across the border the impact both North and South may be catastrophic. It surely is not to early to ask why prudent measures, adopted by the military in England and Wales, were not extended to N. Ireland before the disease took hold? Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 01/03/01 ========================== HYPOCRISY OF NEW TERROR LAW The Celtic League have hit out at new so-called anti-terrorism legislation in the UK which they say will be used to perpetrate abuse against ethnic minorities. Yesterday, the UK Home Secretary, Jack Straw, outlawed 21 groups. A high proportion of these groups were associated with Ireland or with Islamic countries. The Government also outlawed the Basque separatist group ETA. The League say the the legislation based on its precursor the Prevention of Terrorism Act will be used by the British security services to target legitimate groups. They also attack the hypocrisy of the British government pointing out both they and other governments have been themselves indicted for involvements in terrorist acts. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 01/03/01 Text of protest to British Home Secretary below: The United Kingdom Home SecretaryMr. Jack Straw MPThe Home OfficeQueen Anne's GateLondon SW1H 9AT Dear Home Secretary, Ref: Terrorism Act - Proscription of Organisations We understand, from media reports, that you have, under the aegis of new Terrorism Provisions, issued orders proscribing a number of organisations. The information we have seems to indicate that in addition to proscribing Irish / Ulster organisations, which were previously listed under the prevention of Terrorism Act, you have extended these more draconian provisions to a large range of Islamic groups and also some groups operating in Europe. The Celtic League is totally opposed to violence as a means of resolving political conflict or achieving self determination. However, we would be extremely naive if we did not recognise that in some instances National groups are left with little alternative because of racial intolerance shown towards them as an ethnic group or because of a failure to provide political structures and institutions which enable conflict resolution in a meaningful manner. It is particularly ironic that your government is using the failed apparatus of previous administrations to resolve the perceived threat of 'Irish terrorism'. The Prevention of Terrorism Act, POT, which proceeded this legislation, was thoroughly discredited. It was quite blatantly used as a racist instrument by agencies of the British State particularly at entry ports to the UK from Ireland to harass and intimidate innocent people. The POT provisions were also the precursor to some of the most iniquitous miscarriages of justice that the British State has ever perpetrated. We note that you were advised, in the compilation of your 'Proscribed Organisations List', by the military intelligence services of the United Kingdom. This is hypocrisy of the highest order for in fact some elements of your security services have a track record of involvement in terrorist outrages perpetrated both in Ulster and in the Republic of Ireland. In this regard the British government has common guilt with the government of Spain which orchestrated a series of outrages and killings in the Basque country, running a paramilitary terrorist structure, the GAL, which killed Basque nationalists. Paradoxically, we note that you have chosen to outlaw the Basque separatist group ETA despite the fact that ETA and other Basque Nationalist organisations have indicated that they would accept meaningful structures for non-violent conflict resolution. Some of the Islamic organisations listed we have limited knowledge of and therefore we will restrict our comment in respect of these. However one is left with a concern on studying the list that it appears to include groups who have a genuine struggle against great injustice and abuse of human rights. The list also gives us cause to suspect that the inclusion of so many Islamic groups, who have carried out no abuse of UK law, could be the harbinger of oppression of the Muslim community similar, to that which the Irish community in Britain suffered following the introduction of the Prevention of Terrorism legislation. We have no doubt that the Home Office, and the British government, introduced this legislation with good intentions. However, the manner in which it is structured, the ethnic approach in which it is directed and the experience of previous exercises of this type, we believe it will prove iniquitous. It is a Charter for the abuse in the United Kingdom by the Security Services of minority and ethnic groups. We oppose it. We will continue to speak out against it. We will continue to speak out on behalf of groups, both in the Celtic countries and globally, who are forced by the intransigence of Nation States or power blocs to defend themselves. Yours sincerely, J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 01/03/01 ====================== WHOSE 'NATIONAL' NEWS? A debate about the continued centralised control of news from the BBC has raged in Scotland since devolution was achieved. It begs the question, is the BBC, as it is currently structured, relevant to the changed and changing political circumstances of the United Kingdom? The agenda now being pursued politically in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff is not the political agenda formulated, as the current First Minister for Wales put it, "around dinner tables" in London. The BBC, because of the centralisation of what it terms "the National news", also tends to lose any sense of objectivity. This was particularly apparent in respect to Northern Ireland where attempts for many years to achieve in-depth and objective examination of the root cause of the problem consistently failed. The "Regional" operations of the BBC, which should now theoreticallyproduce high quality news programming to meet the new "National" needs ofScotland and Wales, cannot deliver whilst this centralised mind-set withinthe London Offices of the BBC hold sway. Pointedly, in this context, wehave not mentioned BBC N. Ireland because, unlike the Regional operations in Scotland and Wales which seem anxious to break free from the grip of"Broadcasting House W1A", the Ulster brethren seem unable to shake off their "Radio Orange" persona. The BBC, dreamt up in the days of the Empire, has almost certainly had its day. It seems unable to make the transition necessary to service, from a news and current affairs perspective, the needs of this somewhat less, United Kingdom. Secretary General Celtic League 03/03/01 ================== BNFL OF THE RAILS AGAIN It has been revealed that a train, carrying nuclear fuel flasks, came off the rails near Dunbar in Scotland on Friday 2 March. The incident is the latest in a series which have occurred involving these transports and it highlights the dangers posed in transporting dangerous radiation waste of this type throughout the United Kingdom by rail. As usual, BNFL have played down the accident. A spokesman for their rail subsidiary, Direct Rail services, said "It was a very minor derailment which happened at low speed and not on the main line." Last August a rail wagon containing low level nuclear waste was derailed near the Sellafield plant in Cumbria. That incident was described as "very minor". Public concern about the dangers posed by these transports is kept in check by the dearth of information that both the industry and the Environment Agency provide. Most people are unaware that nuclear traffic of this type passes through cities and main conurbations in the UK on a regular basis. The train involved in the latest incident was collecting waste from the Torness nuclear power station in Scotland. Secretary General Celtic League 03/03/01 ===================== NATIONALIST PARTY FAILS PEOPLE CLAIM A failure by the Nationalist Party in Wales to confront the dangers posed to the Welsh language and culture by unrestricted immigration could lead people to turn away from politics and return to direct action it has been claimed. Former Plaid Cymru member Dewi Prysor's comments came after Plaid Cymru failed to support comments made by councillor Simon Glyn who had warned about the effects of immigration by English speakers in to the predominantly Welsh speaking areas of north-west Wales. In the past there have been periodic outbreaks of direct action and in the 1970 & 80s a campaign of arson attacks against holiday homes occurred. Mr. Prysor said that many other nationalist were dismayed that the Party was not standing by councillor Glyn's remarks. He said that the Party had "finally turned its back on the plight of the language". He also said that the Party's statement, renouncing curbs on immigration, "speaks the sad language of turncoats and cowards". Many, both within Wales and in the wider inter-Celtic movement, may disagree with Prysor's condemnation of Plaid. However, he makes some pertinent points which the Plaid leadership should take heed of. Immigration control is an established facet of policy for most countries. Indeed, the British Labour and Conservative Parties vie with each other to promote the toughest policy. Plaid could have turned what they seem to have perceived as potentially embarrassing remarks from councillor Glyn to their advantage by attacking the hypocrisy of Labour. They could still go on the offensive and point out that protective immigration control for parts of Wales is less repugnant than the avowedly racist immigration controls implemented by Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw in the United Kingdom as a whole. Secretary General Celtic League 03/03/01 ==================================== NORWAY BARS BRITISH TROOPS Last week the Norwegian government barred British troops from participation in a NATO exercise (Exercise Joint Winter 2001) because of concerns over foot and mouth disease. Approximately three hundred troops had been scheduled to join 1500 British troops, already in Norway since before the foot and mouth outbreak, but strict measures introduced by Britain's NATO partner saw led to their deployment being cancelled. In addition, a quantity of equipment to support the troops already in Norway including helicopters was subject to restriction. The helicopters, it is reported, were thoroughly disinfected before being allowed in. Paradoxically, whilst the British and Norwegians are cooperating so thoroughly to eliminate risk, military deployment by the British Army is continuing in the area around the contaminated farm in South Armagh. Furthermore, military helicopter traffic between Britain and Ireland - which occasionally drops in at the airfield in the Isle of Man - appears to be unaffected. The helicopter units are deployed as part of the military effort in N. Ireland in the contaminated area. A few days ago the Celtic League received an e-mail from the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Group which confirmed that foot patrols and dozens of helicopter landings were taking place in the South Armagh area. The situation poses a two-way threat. Military traffic between Britain and Ireland could give the disease a free ticket to enter uncontaminated areas. Perhaps we are overreacting, However it seems strange that NATO can agree restrictions on military exercises and equipment several hundred miles away from the United Kingdom in Norway whilst it is "business as usual" in the UK. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 14/03/01 =========================== DRUG REPORT GELLING 'IN THE DARK' Manx Chief Minister Donald Gelling, who recently launched a campaign against drug abuse, has no information on the importation into the Isle of Man ten years ago of a quantity of drugs which was the subject of an enquiry by the United Kingdom DPP. The Celtic League Secretary General wrote to the Chief Minister five months ago saying: Ref. Drug Strategy I draw your attention to the attached correspondence between the UK MP George Foulkes and the British Home Secretary in 1991. The matters referred to relate to allegations, made in 1990, that as part of what was assumed was a bungled police operation a large quantity of drugs were allowed into the Isle of Man. The story first surfaced in a Manx free-sheet (the Manx Herald ) in January 1990 and although the allegations were in part denied it was confirmed, by HM Inspector of Constabulary (HMI), that the 'incidents' was subject to investigation. This latterpoint was confirmed by the Home Office a year later. Both HMI and the Home Office confirmed that a report was prepared by the United Kingdom DPP but no prosecution was undertaken. The DPP report has lain 'under wraps' for the past decade. The strategy produced by your Office recently would seem to set the time frame for the present serious drug problem as a decade old (Ref. Drug Strategy Chapter 1 Pages 7/8). It does seem prudent thereforethat any suggestion that quantities of illegal drugs were allowed into the Island during a period which coincides with the expansion of the drugs scene should be examined - crucial to such examination would be further consideration and release of the DPP report. Could we ask if you will consider this. I appreciate that as no prosecution resulted it would be improper for the names of those involved to be identified should the document be released." Mr. Gelling has replied saying he has no information on the incident to which we refer. However correspondence that the League have from the then British Home Secretary Kenneth Baker to Labour MP George Foulkes clearly says: "in July 1989 a man was arrested (in the United Kingdom) whilst committing an offence of burglary. When interviewed he made a number of allegations against officers of various United Kingdom Police Forces but also claimed that an officer of the Isle of Man Constabulary had permitted him to import a quantity of cannabis resin into the Isle of Man. Subsequently, a report was submitted to the Director of Public prosecutions for England and Wales" It seems peculiar that the Manx Chief Minister is 'in the dark' over this and apparently cannot get sight of the report after ten years? Bernard MoffattSecretary GeneralCeltic League 14/03/01 ================== NUCLEAR PLANT RESTART POSES IRISH SEA THREAT The controversy surrounding the possible restart of the Wylfa nuclear power station on Anglesey continues. The elderly station was closed down last April with defects on both reactors. The stations operators, BNFL, anxious to restart power generation because the station is reputably losing up to £400,000 per day have rejected the safety concerns. However, this week in a report to the Welsh assembly it was alleged that repairs to allow the station to restart its reactors would not address the serious safety deficiencies which exist. It is feared that a failure of weakened welds within the reactor could spell disaster. Internationally-recognised nuclear safety expert, John Large, highlighting the potential danger of defective reactor welds and the deterioration of other vital reactor components, said: "The 'worst case scenario' accident for Wylfa was, in fact, far more serious than had previously been admitted by the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII). If Wylfa is allowed to re-open, a failure of the welds and the weakened reactor components could combine to result in uncontrolled, large-scale releases of radioactivity." The Celtic League has long criticised the operational safety record of the Wylfa plant. Last year we revealed that the station had suffered 30 unplanned emergency shutdowns during the past decade as the plants operations continue beyond the expiry of its original service life. 16/03/01 ==================== PROTESTERS STRIP SEARCHED The Celtic League have written to the Chief Constable of Strathclyde Police seeking information on why a group of Irish women involved in a peaceful protest at the Faslane nuclear base in February were strip searched after their arrest. In a letter to Sir John Orr the League say: "We understand that a number of Irish women detained at a peace demonstration against the Faslane nuclear base on February 12 were subsequently subjected to strip searches. Could you explain why persons arrested at peaceful protests of this type are subjected to strip searches. Could you also clarify how many persons (male and female) were subjected to strip searches after the recent protest". The Irish government are also seeking an explanation for the incident and there is a concern that the human rights of the women may have been violated by the police action. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 16/03/01 ================= GILLIGAN GETS 28 YEARS! Dublin mobster peddled drugs and made a fortune but who were his bankers and why have they not been exposed? The acquittal of Dublin mobster John Gilligan on charges connected with the murder of Dublin journalist Veronica Guerin has been made more palatable to a shocked Irish public by his conviction and twenty-eight year sentence on drugs charges. Gilligan was part of a network of criminals who, using the drugs trade, have destroyed communities in Dublin and Ireland all the while growing rich on the proceeds of their crime. Anyone who stood in the way of these gangs is mercilessly swept aside. The murder of Veronica Guerin showed just how far the drugs cartels were prepared to go. However, the tentacles of the evil empires built up by Gilligan and others could not have existed for long if they had not been able to disperse and launder the proceeds of the drugs trade. Gilligan's crime empire had a turnover of £40 million and the proceeds were launderedacross Europe and in the off-shore centres. Last year the Celtic League wrote to Irish Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue, after another of the Dublin criminal fraternity, Thomas Meehan (related to Brian Meehan already convicted for the Guerin slaying) was reported to have opened a bank account in the Isle of Man. This was used as a "stepping stone" to accounts in Vienna. The Dublin criminal Mafia use the international financial sector to "grease the wheels" and hide the proceeds from their crime and we urged O'Donoghue to name banks involved in this business. Unfortunately, the Irish Justice Minister did "not consider it appropriate for the naming in public of any such institutions in a context which would infer involvement in money laundering". It seems that this failure to "Name and Shame" banks involved in handling the accounts of people subsequently connected to serious crime is to continue. It is an insult to the memory of Veronica Guerin that the banks who profited from laundering the proceeds of the drugs Mafia she tried to expose have not been forced to account for their sloppy procedures. Today the financial services sector speaks eloquently of regulation and meeting best international standards but at the time the drugs business was created by mobsters such as Gilligan that same sector were his bankers! Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 17/02/01 =================== DU CONTAMINATION TO CONTINUE The value of sea fisheries as a source of unmodified and uncontaminated protein is likely to increase dramatically. The coastal communities in Cumbria, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man should speak with one voice to seek an end to all military testing in the Irish sea area. The government Defence quango DERA (DEFENCE EVALUATION & RESEARCH AGENCY) has insisted that the testing of depleted uranium rounds poses no environmental threat. The statement comes in correspondence to the Celtic League, who had written to the Defence Secretary, Goeff Hoon MP, calling for a moratoriumon the firing of DU rounds into the N. Irish sea. In our correspondence to the Defence Secretary we stated: "We refer to current concerns about the radiation pollution associated with the use of depleted uranium munitions. We understand that for many years ordnance of this type has been test fired from ranges on the coast of SW Scotland and Cumbria. Can you provide an indication of the quantity of ordnance fired from these ranges during the period that depleted uranium rounds have been in use? In the light of the concerns about the environmental impact of these munitions will the MOD or the Environment Agency be carrying out a new study to ascertain if this material, the debris from which the MOD did not recover, poses any long term threat to the marine environment." In their response DERA confirm that firing of DU rounds has taken place into the Solway Firth. They say that environmental monitoring, since the 1980s, on sea water and sediment and on shell fish samples has never shown any concentration of DU beyond natural background levels. Pointedly, they do not mention recent environmental monitoring which had to be aborted when the test rig was "lost" in bad weather. They say that testing of the DU rounds will continue and a moratorium "is not feasible". Depleted uranium weapons are currently in focus following revelations that troops and civilians exposed to them in the Balkans and Iraq have contracted cancer. A number of deaths are alleged to have occurred. The Celtic league recognize that test firing into the sea would reduce any threat. However, it is a concern that an area, already heavily polluted with radiation by the BNFL facility at Sellafield, has this added environmental pollutant. The Solway coast and bay area is a key nursery area for some species of sea-fish. The League are not satisfied that the MOD have demonstrated that the accumulated pollution caused by the extensive testing in the area will not pose a long-term threat. The DU testing is a continuation of a long history of weapons-testing in the N. Irish sea area which has contaminated many valuable fishing grounds with toxic pollutants or dangerous unexploded munitions. Paradoxically, due to the successive scares surrounding agriculture the value of sea fisheries as a source or unmodified and uncontaminated protein is likely to increase dramatically. The coastal communities in Cumbria, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man should speak with one voice to seek an end to all military testing in the Irish sea area. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 17/03/01 ======================= DPR FIASCO HIGHLIGHTS GOVERNMENT INEPTITUDE The Chief Ministers comments about Manx Data Protection legislation show how increasingly out of touch he is with the need for organisations and business to function effectively in an increasingly electronic communications environment. It is the ineptitude of government, in addressing this area, that have lead to the difficulties created through current interpretations by the Office of the DPR. It is also clear that the changes currently in the pipeline have only been generated by problems inherent in current DP law and the government is therefore as usual being reactive rather than pro-active. The current data law was produced a decade and a half ago. In the meantime electronic communications have transformed the globe. A range of organisations have experienced difficulties with the current data protection legislation. However, Mr. Gelling and his colleagues unaffected directly by the difficulty are adopting a head in the sand attitude which unfortunately is becoming a characteristic of the dying days of this administration. Mr.Gelling assures us a new Act will ease the burden on organisations and businesses in respect of registration but the very fact that these difficulties arose are indicative of government clumsiness This issue also calls into question if so called e-initatives announced by the government are more spin than substance. J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 23/03/01 ===================== IRISH SEA DISASTER QUESTIONS STILL REMAIN Thirty-three years after the Irish seas worst air crash questions still remain unanswered about the possible involvement of the British military in the tragedy. Following a review of evidence last year the Irish government has established a further expert enquiry but this is still to report. On Sunday March 24th 1968 an Aer Lingus Viscount airliner with 61 passengers and crew on board crashed in the Irish sea, whilst on a routine flight from Cork to London. The crash occurred over the safety area which surrounds the British Aberporth missile testing range. This fact, coupled with the presence in the area of several naval units, has led to suspicions that a rogue missile or target aircraft caused the crash. The British government have always denied the involvement of the Aberporth range, which they say was closed on the day. However, the British case has not been helped by their having destroyed or lost crucial records. Last year the Celtic League wrote to the British Embassy pointing out that once again, inaccurate information had been supplied by Britain to the inter-governmental review of evidence. Again, in January of this year, we re-iterated our concerns. It is clear that a grave catastrophe overcame the Aer Lingus plane that Sunday morning, over thirty years ago. It fell out of control from eighteen thousand feet taking several minutes to reach the sea. During that period the airliners crew were unable to send any emergencyMayday call to alert air traffic controllers as to their fate. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 23/03/01 =================== 'SNOOP' POWERS - MINISTER TIGHT-LIPPED Manx Home Affairs Minister, Allan Bell MHK, is remaining tight-lipped about police powers to use surveillance equipment during investigations. The Celtic League wrote to the Minister in December last year (see below) asking what section of current Criminal Justice or Police Powers legislation regulates the operation of such equipment. Despite several telephone calls to the Department of Home Affairs the query remains unanswered. Twenty years ago the Celtic League highlighted the abuse of human rights which is posed by lack of regulation. We specifically citing UK Home Office guidelines which at that time were followed in the Isle of Man. Despite changes in the United Kingdom no publicised rules have been issued in the Isle of Man nor does the practice appear to be covered by Manx criminal justice legislation. Both the Department of Home Affairs and the Police need to get their act together on this. A judgement last year in the European Court of Human Rights (Khan v The United Kingdom Application No. 35394/97) found that the operation of unregulated surveillance in a clandestinefashion can pose a breach of several of the Conventions articles destined to protect individual freedom. Meanwhile it is ironic that Mr. Bell is exercising his "right to silence" on the issue as this is a right that he removed from suspects in recent criminal justice legislation enacted in the Isle of Man. Bernard MoffattSecretary GeneralCeltic League 23/03/01 (Below: Correspondence to Minister Bell - December 2000) Mr. Alan Bell MHKMinister for Home AffairsDepartment of Home AffairsHolmfieldDouglasIsle of Man Dear Minister, Could you advise what section of current Criminal Justice or Police Powers legislation regulates the operation of police undercover operations. Specifically, is the use in such operations of surveillance equipment regulated by statute? For information, I understand that in the early 1980s the then Chief Constable of the Isle of Man issued a version of a Home Office guideline covering these matters. However, subsequently in the United Kingdom when this "guidance" was made public it was held to be deficient and newprocedures introduced. However, as far as I am aware, no parallel moves to control usage of mechanical or electronic devices in aural or visual surveillance operations was introduced here. At the time of the introduction of guidelines in the UK it was generally accepted that there was a need for such sensitive operations to periodically be mounted by the police - the primary purpose of aural and visual surveillance being to help confirm or dispel a suspicion of serious crime, and not to collect evidence. As you are aware there have been several fairly weighty tomes of police procedure and criminal justice legislation introduced on the Isle of Man in the past decade. Could you please indicate which legislation controls this sensitive area of police operations. Yours sincerely J B Moffatt Secretary General 27/12/00 ======================= BRITISH - IRISH COUNCIL HAS NO CREDIBILITY The establishment of the British - Irish Council with its involvement of the devolved parliaments and assemblies in Scotland Wales and Ireland and the inclusion of Mann and the Channel Isles was greeted by many (including the Celtic League) as one of the most positive spin-offs of the British Irish peace process. However, the early promise of both the main institution, and the sectoral groups it spawned, has been squandered because of the general inertia in the British Irish peace process. Another and more disturbing aspect, which must call into question the Council's future credibility, is the way in which the participating States have let this occur. The British (mainly) and Irish governments have been able jointly and unilaterally to adjourn or postpone the meetings. This has been down without any serious protest from the smaller governments such as the Scots parliament, the Assemblies or the Manx and Channel Islanders. It is clear that the British - Irish Council was, what some of its critics dubbed it at the outset, a stunt by the Blair and Ahern on the back of the peace process. It should now be left to die. Plainly the the Scots, Welsh and Manx governments did not have the collective will to overrule Blairs hijack of its agenda. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 23/03/01 ===================== POLICE MISSING CASH - DEJA VU Several weeks ago the Police announced that they were carrying out an 'intense' review of procedures following an incident, last summer, when a large sum of money went missing from Ramsey police station. An investigation carried out into the loss had failed to turn up either the cash or any explanation as to how it disappeared. Ironically, despite the fact that far less serious instances of mal-adminstration, in other areas of the public service, can cost people either promotion or their jobs, no one apparently is being held to account. Indeed, the Police hierarchy seem to be almost dismissing the issue as a problem that can be addressed by improvements to procedures. They seem to have forgotten that last September they were promising the public that the investigation would remain open until it was 'satisfactorily' closed. There is an element of deja vu about all this. Four years ago (1996), following an alleged theft of sports Club Funds, the police set in train "improvements in the regularity of checks and general administration" and hoped that the loss "though upsetting and expensive, will not be allowed to be repeated". At that time enquiries into the allegation were not pursued because "it would be distressing to all concerned to be singled out and interviewed without real hope of a successful outcome". Patently the constabulary are not always so sensitive about the distress to individuals their enquiries might cause. Indeed, to be realistic any chance of achieving successful policing would evaporate if the police were to apply such a "pussyfooting" attitude as a general rule. It really is not good enough. A determined effort needs to be be made to find where the cash at Ramsey, and any other cash lost in recent years, has gone to. Police forces that lose money from police stations lose something else - credibility! Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 23/03/01 ================= MILITARY BASE POLLUTION - ARMY IS CLEANING UP ITS ACT CLAIM The Ministry of Defence have revealed that they have carried out a considerable programme of work to eliminate environmental pollution caused by temporary British Army base structures in South Armagh and other areas of N. Ireland. They have also assured the Celtic League that "the Army in South Armagh takes all possible precautions to prevent pollution" and if pollution does occur " a remedy is sought and the matter speedily resolved". They also go on that "remedial action has included removal and disposal, and / or bio remediation of polluted soil". The Celtic League has campaigned for over a decade to highlight the problems posed by poor environment policy pursued by the military at bases throughout the Celtic countries. We specifically cited locations in Scotland, Wales and the temporary military installations in N. Ireland. Eight years ago we prepared a critique of MOD deficiencies and this subsequently led to the issue being raised in the British parliament with, the then Defence Secretary Michael Portillo. Action and openness was promised but the MOD show a distinct reluctance to highlight the extent of the problem or details of the action taken. Temporary structures in N. Ireland pose particular problems because of their hasty and poorly planned construction. The League have long suspected that domestic waste and lubricant pollution could cause serious problems. It is particularly interesting that the MOD confirm that work only took place over the past three years to correct deficiencies as many of these installations have existed for a decade or more. It is also disappointing that investment in this type of infrastructure continues despite the period of time which has elapsed since the Good Friday Agreement. Whilst the Celtic League welcome this latest information we will be pressing the MOD for more site-specific detail about the extent of pollution and the nature of remedial work carried out. The South Armagh installations are all in upland or hilltop locations and any potential pollution must be a source of more widespread contamination of water catchment areas. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 24/03/01 ====================== Mr. Jack McConnell MSPMinister for Education The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP 24/03/01 Dear Minister, I am writing to you on behalf of the Celtic League to express our concern at the current shortage of Gaelic teachers which is strangling the development of Gaelic education at present. If teacher supply is not substantially increased with immediate effect then there can be little doubt not only that growth in Gaelic medium education will be impossible but also that existing Gaelic units will close. We would appreciate clarification of the following issues: (1) Can you assure us that the Gaelic medium teacher training course in Lews Castle College on the Isle of Lewis will begin in September 2001 as previously announced by the deputy minister with responsibility for Gaelic? (2) When does the Scottish Executive intend to make the Gaelic medium teacher training course available in other venues such as Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Inverness College as also promised by the deputy minister with responsibility for Gaelic? We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, J B Moffatt Secretay General Celtic League c.c Alasdair Morrison MSP, Deputy Minister for GaelicJamie McGrigor MSP, Scottish Conservative Gaelic SpokesmanJohn Farquhar Munro MSP, Liberal Democrat Gaelic SpokesmanMike Russell MSP, SNP Gaelic Spokesman ======================== RENEWED CALL TO SCOTS OVER HUMBOLDT PROJECT The Celtic League has urged the Scottish government (see below) to firm up support for the project to retain the Department of Celtic Studies at the Humboldt University Berlin. The Celtic department at the Berlin University has played a pre-eminent role amongst continental universities in supporting the languages and culture of the Celtic peoples. This year it celebrates its centenary. Both the Irish and Manx government have already indicated their willingness to support the project financially and its hoped that the administrations in Scotland and Wales will do likewise. Bernard MoffattSecretary GeneralCeltic League Henry McLeish MSPFirst MinisterScottish ExecutiveSt. Andrew's HouseRegent RoadEdinburgh EH1 3DG 24/03/01 Ref: Celtic Studies at the Humboldt University - Berlin Dear First Minister, For some years now the Celtic League have been supporting the campaign to retain the Chair of Celtic Studies at the Humboldt University, Berlin. When we first started our campaign the closure of this pre-eminent centre of learning seemed inevitable. However, there was a considerable weight of support, in principle, elicited from a wide range of sources to retain the Celtic Department at Humboldt. In Scotland your predecessor, the late Donald Dewar, was one of the first to support the campaign. He said that he recognised the importance of Celtic Studies, " in particular in the light of the great interest shown by many German students and academics in the field of Scottish Studies". Indeed this was the case and some of the early work at Humboldt at the beginning of the last century was involved in recording the various Celtic languages, including Scots Gaelic. However, the focus of the Celtic Department has been broadly based and considerable work has also been carried out in the area of literature and folklore. The initial wave of support, in principle, has been recently translated into practical commitment. The Irish government has pledged a considerable sum of money and the Manx government has also indicated a commitment to financially support the project. I am writing to request that the Scottish Executive also throw their weight behind the project by way of a financial commitment. I should stress that the Celtic League is simply supporting the campaign by academics and students to retain this seat of learning. Any commitment on the part of the Scottish people should be directed to the University authorities. (Prof. Dr. J Mlynck, Humboldt University, Unter den Linden 6, D-10099) I do hope that the Scottish Parliament and Executive will translate the initial interest shown by the former First Minister into a practical programme of support. Yours sincerely, J B Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League Mr. Brian Monteith MSP, Conservative Spokesperson on Education, Arts,Culture and SportMr. Ian Jenkins MSP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Education, Arts,Culture and SportMr. Jack McConnell MSP, Minister for EducationAlasdair Morrison MSP, Deputy Minister for GaelicJamie McGrigor MSP, Scottish Conservative Gaelic SpokesmanJohn Farquhar Munro MSP, Liberal Democrat Gaelic SpokesmanMike Russell MSP, SNP Gaelic Spokesman ===================== AOL ON THE LINE Welsh language activists are challenging major multi-national Internet provider AOL for it failure to provide a Welsh language option with its service. A spokesperson for AOL said in response to criticisms: "At AOL UK we are keen to provide content of interest to all of our members. The AOL brand is global - however the content and services we deliver are produced by local teams in each country. The vast majority of the population of the UK are not Welsh speakers, therefore I'm afraid it is simply not economically feasible for us to produce bespoke AOL software for Welsh speakers". However, this rather patronising argument, and also an assertion that all Welsh AOL users will understand English anyway, has been furiously rejected by AOLs critics who point out that other languages including Celtic languages such as Irish are catered for. The full debate which promises to continue until AOL see the error of their ways can be monitored on: http://hometown.aol.com/beatboxtaffia/myhomepage/profile.html League members should support the campaign and also those with links to National languages organistions should add their voice. Developments in computer technology and the Internet should be used to support indigenous language not diminish them. Bernard MoffattSecretary GeneralCeltic League 25/03/01 =================== DAIL PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE QUERY The Celtic League have written (attached) to the Chairman of the Irish parliaments Public Account Committee, Jim Mitchell TD, asking about the committees enquiries into Irish bank deposits in the Isle of Man. The League have also welcomed comments made by Mr. Mitchell last year in which he suggested that there should be stiffer penalties for tax evasion. We have also expressed our disappointment that Banks which are utilised for financial crime are not named. We cite a specific case, which we drew to the attention of Irish Justice Minister John O'Donoghue TD last year, of a money laundering conviction. The Justice Minister told the League that as "no financial institution was convicted of an offence" he did not "consider it appropriate for the naming in public of any such institution". Quite frankly this is not good enough. It enables financial institutions to evade their responsibilities by pleading ignorance. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 25/03/01 Mr. Jim Mitchell TDChairmanPublic Accounts CommitteeDail EireannKildare StreetDublin 2Ireland 25/03/01 Dear Sir, I understand that in December of last year the Public Accounts Committee of the Dail expressed concerns about the level and nature of deposits held by Irish banks in the Isle of Man. I draw your attention to correspondence forwarded by the Celtic League recently to the head of the Isle of Man Financial Supervision Commission. We have asked what action, if any, has been taken following the increasingly frequent references to Manx financial institutions at proceedings both in the Irish High Court and other judicial enquiries in Ireland. Indeed, in a quote attributed to you in one of the Irish newspapers you refer to these matters. You are also quoted as saying that where tax evasion is concerned "it is time for jail terms to be enshrined in legislation to get the message across that tax evasion is no longer fashionable". We share your concern that penalties for tax evasion and financial crime generally should be stiffened. However, it is disappointing that the present administration in Ireland take a less robust stance. In May 2000 we wrote to the Irish Justice Minister, John O'Donoghue TD, asking if he would publicly name banks involved in handling criminal assets. He declined to do so. (I enclose a copy of his letter with the other enclosures.) I understand that your committee was to call evidence on the question of Irish - Manx financial links in January. Could you advise if your enquiries into these matters are now concluded and if any report of the conclusions reached is publicly available. I look forward to hearing from the Committee in due course. Yours sincerely, Bernard Moffatt 25/03/01 cc Mr. John O'Donoghue TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform ===================== ANOTHER LOW FLYING TRAGEDY Just weeks after the Celtic League highlighted the danger posed by low flying exercises over TTAs in Scotland and mid Wales, two USAF F-15s have crashed with their crews in the Highlands. A search for survivors was called of last night. In January we warned that operations by RAF aircraft many of which are approaching obsolescence posed a risk not only for aircrew but also to civilians in the TTAs. (See Celtic League newsgroup report athttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/215). Questions have also been raised in the US about the age and operational effectiveness of some military types. A series of continuing crashes of US Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft have caused the media and community groups to query if US aircraft are also being operated past there sell-by date. In July last year National US media network CBS posed this question. One of the F-15s which has disappeared in the Scottish Highlands was reportedly in difficulty prior to the crash. These aircraft have now been operational for almost quarter of a century and it is questionable if these types and comparable RAF machines such as the Tornado are now past there sell by date. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League27/03/01  Back to Celtic League News |