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Newslist Messages for
May 2001
STRANGE GOINGS ON AT CRIGGION Almost a year ago we directed a fairly straightforward enquiry tothe Ministry of Defence following an incident at the VLF Criggioninstallation on the Welsh /English border. The facility, operated on behalf of the MOD by British Telecom, wassealed off in May 2000 following what appears to have been eitheran accident or sabotage at the facility. Criggion is a large multi-array Aerial complex which has a scarcelyconcealed role supporting communications with the British nuclearballistic submarine fleet. It may also be involved in supporting theUS ballistic missile submarine force. Having unwittingly found itself in the news we thought it was a usefulopportunity to make some pertinent queries about the potential healthimplications of the vast aerial array complex. However, the MOD seem reluctant to talk about the base, its role orany harmful health spin-off from its operation. Two queries to theMOD Directorate of Safety. Environment and Fire Policy, eventuallyresulted in a reply saying that the matter had been passed to theDefence Logistics Organisation (DLO). That was three months ago andsince then nothing has been heard. For a body which has a specific role connected with communicationsthe DLO seems strangely uncommunicative. So what did go on at Criggion? Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 02/05/01 CELTIC LANGUAGES - RIGHT TO SURVIVE "Some of Ireland's most idyllic beauty spots may soon be off limitsif local inhabitants get their way and stop outsiders from movinginto Irish-speaking regions" The above, rather emotive, introduction accompanied an article inlast weeks Irish edition of the Observer newspaper. The article outlinedconcerns in the Gaelic-speaking areas of Ireland that the influx ofnew residents who were not committed to learning the Irish languageposed a long term threat to the survival of the Gaeltacht. The article provided background and quotes from Gaeltacht residentswhich basically pointed out the pitfalls of unrestricted developmentfor new residents with no commitment to the Gaelic language. What is particularly interesting about the article however is notwhat it says but the manner in which the debate was structured. There has, for example, been none of the emotive rhetoric and slanderousattacks which occurred when broadly similar concerns were aired inWales by Plaid Cymru Councillor Simon Glyn two months ago. Glyn was labelled a racist for remarks which the Celtic League correctlypointed out were simply a sensible analysis of the threat posed tothe culture of a community which is subjected to untrammelled growth.Any sensible debate was further de-stabilised by the craven attitudeof Plaid Cymru. In the face of unreasonable attacks from the LabourParty, which tried to equate a desire to protect a unique and culturallydifferent community from destruction with racism, they failed to supportGlyn. The position surely is that those who deny the right of the Celticpeople to protect the last areas in which Gaelic, Welsh or Bretonis spoken as the native language are the real racists! Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 02/05/01 OFFSHORE FINANCIAL EXPOSURES HALTED An Internet site which threatened to expose the seamier side of Manxoff-shore business has had to remove its net page. An Isle of Man Internet site has been removed for the second timethis year following action by its service provider. The Manxman site which acts as a host site for several nationalistand cultural groups has had its own site pages removed following actiontoday. It is not clear if the server acted unilaterally or if theyhad their hand forced. The site had been carrying a series of articles which exposed theoperation of financial service providers on the Island. It was providinga series of links to articles, on the Internet, critical of Manx companiesactivities. These related to money laundering and the arms trade,amongst others. It was also carrying articles critical of severalprominent Manx government figures. Earlier this year the site was removed following criticisms by theIsle of Man's data protection regulator. There is no apparent linkbetween the two moves. However, the Celtic League regard the censorship situation on theIsle of Man as critical. It certainly appears that anyone who wishesto speak out against the seamier side of the Islands financial servicesbusiness is subjected to harassment. There also appears to be a patternemerging which is aimed at denying organisations and individuals mediaoutlets. The Celtic League will be writing to Manx Chief Minister, Donald GellingMHK, asking what steps he intends to take to protect freedom of speechon the Isle of Man. Before its removal, Manxman was threatening to publish links to severalhundred sites which they said exposed a side of the Isle of Man'sbusiness which the government wish to conceal. Later this week Manx nationalists, whose sites are currently stillfunctioning, will meet to ensure that the truth which Manxman wishedto expose is aired. Links: http://www.manxman.co.im/ Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 05/05/01 GUARANTEE RIGHT OF EXPRESSION CALL The Isle of Man should guarantee International Covenants on Freedomof Expression the Celtic League has told Manx Chief Minister DonaldGelling. The League have written to the Manx government following problemsencountered by an Internet news and comment service which has hadits operations disrupted on a number of occasions. The 'Black Pages' carried, until yesterday, by the Manxman site werepublishing a series of links to articles critical of financial servicesand offshore businesses on the Isle of Man. They were threateningto publish further revelations when at the behest of a third partyapparently aggrieved by references to them on the site the pages hadthe "plug pulled on them" by the Service provider. The Manx government have been asked to ensure that Freedom of Expressionguarantees in the United Nations Covenant on Civil and political rightsare protected. The League say that a failure to ensure this will make the Manx governmentcomplicit by default in restrictions on freedom of expression. The Black Pages are back on: http://www.manxman.com The original site containing the Manxman pages and links to variousNationalist and Cultural groups can still be accessed at: http://www.manxman.co.im Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 04/05/01 (Text of letter to Chief Minister below) Mr. Donald Gelling MHKChief Minister of the Isle of ManGovernment BuildingsDouglasIsle of Man 04/05/01 Dear Sir, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees,under Article 19, the right of Freedom of Expression. Recent events on the Isle of Man, which have seen not only criticismsof the established media by public figures but also the removal onseveral occasions of an Internet news service provider, call intoquestion the protections in law required to safeguard the expressionrights inherent in Article 19. I am well aware of restrictions under para. 3 a & b of Article 19which allow for restrictive safeguards. However it is patently obviousthat the situation in this respect on the Island go far beyond anyreasonable restriction. The latest incident of curtailment of free expression occurred whenan Internet service provider removed an Internet news site at therequest of a third party. This would seem to indicate that there isa climate of fear in which the suggestion that service provision mightlead to litigation allows a news and comment service to be curtailed. In an earlier disruption to the same news and comment service a failureto comply with anachronistic regulatory standards was sufficient tode-stabilise its operations for a brief period. The two incidents, though unrelated, show what a fragile basis inthis Island the democratic tenet of freedom of expression is basedon. It will not have escaped public attention that the news and commentservice which has been subjected to these disruptions has been criticalof both political (Government) figures and also the Islands financialservices sector. A failure by the government to ensure freedom of expression and thesecurity of operations by news and comment services will lay the Manxgovernment open to charges of complicity by default. Yours sincerely, J B MoffattSecretary General Celtic League ECHR - STATE-SANCTIONED MURDER EXPOSED The real scandal of the Loughall killings and others recently highlightedby the European Court judgement is that the British government, mediaand public still appear to want to hide behind the subterfuge thatthere was no 'shoot to kill' policy practised. Despite the fact that the campaigning relatives won their case andwere awarded a total of more than £150,000 compensation an unholytrinity of Unionist spokesmen, the British government and the mediacommenced nit-picking in the forlorn hope that the damage could bemitigated. In truth however all that the ECHR judgement, courageously pursuedby the relatives, established was what was already known: that isthat the policy of so called counter-insurgency in N. Ireland includedthe authority for the security services to commit murder. The strategy of murder gangs pre-dates the events in N. Ireland. Itcan be traced back to The United Kingdoms counter-insurgency operationsin places as disparate as Malaya, Kenya, Aden and Cyprus. The strategywas formulated, papers were written about it and it was put into practice. No analysis nor slick quote from Sinn Fein could sum the situationup as eloquently as one of the relatives who said the judgement identifiedthe United Kingdom for what it was, "a terrorist State". The British government have sanctioned terror, which has includedmurder by police and security services, for almost half a centurythroughout the world. They are rightly indicted and we can only hope that efforts to havea full independent international enquiry into the murder machine ofthe British State will be successful. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 05/05/01 ULSTER DETENTION CENTRES STILL SUSPECT The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) has issueda scarcely veiled critique of ongoing abuse of detainees in N. Ireland'sinterrogation centres. The CPT previously were successful in closing the infamous Castlereaghcentre in which ill-treatment and abuse of detainees was part of theroutine for two decades from 1970. Old habits, it seems, die hard and the CPT, in recently publisheddocumentation which includes a report and response from the Britishgovernment, express a concern that "no more force than is reasonablynecessary should be used." by security forces when detaining suspectsat these centres. An arrest and subsequent detention of a number of men from South Armaghat the Gough barracks centre is catalogued. This particular incident,in 1997, was one highlighted by the Celtic League. We protested atthe time to The British Government, CPT, United Nations Special Rappporteur,The Irish government and the United States Embassy. It is clear that the concerns we highlighted were well founded. Itremains to be seen if the British government will make the securityservices clean up their act. The reduction in detentions brought about by the peace process haslowered the number of complaints. However, it is clear that the CPTstill has misgivings about the situation in N. Ireland despite thediplomatic terms in which its latest report is couched. Given the grim record of detentions it is little short of scandalousthat we enter the twenty-first century in N. Ireland with the realityof institutionalised violence against detainees over the last decadestill unresolved. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 05/05/01 LABOUR DEFECTIONS BOOST PLAID 15,000 Welsh pensioners reduced to poverty under Labour. Gap betweenrich and poor increased claims disaffected former Labour stalwart. As the Labour Party get set to announce the election another prominentfigure in the Wales Labour Party has defected to Plaid Cymru. Garfield Smith, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the South Pembrokeshireseat in 1992, has said that he will back Plaid Cymru in the forthcomingelation. The move follows another defection in the Pembrokeshire areaby Vaughan Barrah, last month. Announcing his decision Garfield Smith told the Welsh media that Labourhad "deserted its basic principles and is all about self-interestand manipulation with spin taking precedence over substance". He saidthat since Labour came to power 15,000 more Welsh pensioners had slippedinto poverty. The move is likely to give a useful fillip to Plaid Cymru anxiousto get the message over in traditional Labour areas that it is theParty that now speaks to working people and has a more radical agendathan Labour. The news also comes as opinion polls in Scotland show dissatisfactionamongst traditional Labour voters, many of whom will switch to theSNP. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 07/05/01 LAUNDERING, CORRUPTION AND ARMS TRADE LINKS EXPOSED More Internet Links which publicise a litany of corruption involvingfinancial fraud, money laundering, arms trafficking, diamond smuggling,operation of mercenaries and the disposal of toxic waste in the ThirdWorld have been exposed by the Manx based Internet news service, "TheManxman Black Pages". http://www.manxman.com The links identify companies that have traded using the Isle of Manover the past decade and "Manxman Black Pages" have promised to keep upthe exposures. Last week the news service had to move sites following complaintsabout the content of its pages. This was the latest of a series ofdisruptions that it had experienced. Meanwhile, members of the Manx Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin) andthe Celtic League met at the weekend and agreed a series of stepsto compliment the Manxman campaign. Mec Vannin are to press the Manx government for action by the Isleof Man FSC to investigate the sites identified. They will also askwhy it seems that a small group of individuals trawling the Internetcan find detail of the links exposed and the Islands financial regulatorapparently has no knowledge of them. Meanwhile, the Celtic League is to press for specific enquiries intothe plethora of situations identified in hearings at tribunals andin the High Court in Ireland. These hace established links by criminals,businessmen and politicians with Manx offshore financial service providers. The two nationalist groups are also to consider publication of theManxman revelations in a special edition of the Manx Free-sheet 'YnPabyr Seyr' so that the information is more widely disseminated. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 07/05/01 US COMEDY - LINK TO LAUNDERING The Soprano's is a TV series currently airing in the United Statesby major satellite and cable operator HBO (HOME BOX OFFICE). It goesout in the primetime evening slot at 9:00pm on Sunday evenings. It follows the fortunes of an untypical family man, Tony Soprano,and his attempts to balance his mobster life with his family commitments.It is comedy and by all accounts its pretty funny, entertaining stuff. Occasionally, as with all mobsters, the question of banking (or laundering)comes up and as part of the fun the Isle of Man gets a mention. Apparently,in a recent episode Tony Soprano needed to launder $200,000 and hetold his 'Russian Mafia' chum "you know the routinue, take the moneyto the bank in the Isle of Man it will be back in 4 days" In a previous recent episode Tony Soprano was shipping stolen U.S.luxury cars to the Russian Mafia and he was concerned about gettingpaid in cash. His Russian counterpart said don't worry, "we have anaccount opened in an Isle of Man bank and we can wire you funds". It's fiction. It's funny but bear in mind this is a series going outto millions of American homes. Is it really the image of the Isleof Man that the Manx wish to see portrayed? It would be easy to blame the programme makers but given the numerouslinks exposing dodgy FS goings on, not to mention some high profileUS court proceedings, can they be accused of misrepresenting matters? Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 07/05/01 ASYLUM SEEKERS RIGHTS ABUSED The Celtic League have written to the United Kingdom Home Secretaryand the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) followingthe handcuffing of a number of asylum seekers remanded in CardiffPrison. The twenty asylum seekers were being taken for medical screening andapparently were handcuffed for their visit to facilities at UniversityHospital, Cardiff. The United Kingdom government has previously been criticised by theCPT for the use of restraints on prisoners, most recently in a reportin Jan. 2000 following an incident at the Isle of Man Prison. TheUK has also been specifically criticised for handcuffing those awaitingmedical treatment. The Celtic League have also questioned the policy of the United Kingdomin remanding asylum seekers, who have committed no criminal offenceto Prison. Both imprisonment and the use of restraints in the manneridentified constitute a breach of Human Rights legislation. Thosedetained should not be treated in a manner which is inhuman or degrading. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 01/05/01 Mr. Jack Straw MPUnited Kingdom Home SecretaryHome Office50 Queens Anne's GateLondon SW1H 9AT Dear Home Secretary, I write to express our concern that a number of persons held at Cardiff Prison whilst asylum applications are processed were handcuffed when being taken for medical screening. You will be aware that the routine handcuffing of prisoners held inUK prisons has been condemned previously by the European Committeefor the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment orPunishment (CPT). Indeed the practice was identified critically as recently as 13 January 2000 in the report by the CPT following a visit to the United Kingdomand Isle of Man (SECTION 11 - Isle of Man - para. 107) The situation in relation to the the Cardiff incident, which I understandinvolved twenty people, is further exacerbated by the fact that thoseinvolved are not convicted of any criminal offence but simply beingheld in jail because of the flawed policy on immigration and asylumcurrently in place. The handcuffing of asylum seekers in such circumstancescertainly constitutes degrading treatment. However, the policy ofyour government in remanding asylum seekers to prison possibly initself amounts to inhuman or degrading treatment. I trust that the Home Office will take steps to ensure that thereis no repetition of this situation. Yours sincerely J B Moffatt 07/05/01 cc. Secretary European Committee Prevention of Torture (CPT) The SecretaryEuropean Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or PunishmentCouncil of Europe F - 67075 Strasbourg CedexFRANCE Dear Sir, I draw your attention to the attached protest sent to the United KingdomHome Secretary. I trust the Committee will investigate the situation as a matter orurgency. I am aware that the Committee has previously expressed reservationsto the United Kingdom governmennt about the handcuffing of prisoners. This latest instance would seem to indicate that despite previouscriticisms there is no clear guidance from the United Kingdom HomeOffice to the Prison Authorities as to when the use of such restraintsare justified. Yours sincerely J B Moffatt 07/05/01 HELICOPTER COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED The Celtic League have written to the British Army in N. Ireland suggestingthat it should take seriously concerns expressed about its Air Corpsoperations in S. Armagh. According to a report from the Independent Assessor of Military Complaintsthe number of official protests has risen by 20% with the overwhelmingmajority of these being from the S. Armagh area. Local community groupssay that the real level of concern is much higher but that peoplehave no faith in the complaints system. The League have pointed out that similar concerns articulated in Britainand involving a much smaller 'event' level have resulted in seriousresearch to address the issue. The League have asked the GOC whatresearch if any has been carried on in N. Ireland. We have also askedIrish Foreign Minister, Brian Cowen TD, to enquire if different standardsare applied by the MOD to complaints in Britain as opposed to N. Ireland. Despite the jaundiced view portrayed by the British media of the SouthArmagh community it surely has a right to have its concerns properlyaddressed. A failure to reduce the helicopter over-flights and carry out effectiveresearch into the health implications will certainly call into questionthe validity of independentl assessment of military complaints. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 07/05/01 The General Officer CommandingBritish Army N. Ireland HeadquartersN. IrelandBFPO 825 Dear Sir, I refer to the recent report of the Independent Assessorof Military Complaints which confirmed a high incidence of concernabout Armed Forces helicopter activity in N. Ireland. I understandthat 80% of the complaints received came from the South Armagh area. Five years ago the Ministry of Defence carried out research to identifypotential health implications caused by noise pollution from militaryair operations in Gt. Britain. Although that study proved inconclusivethere is a considerable weight of scientific data which extrapolatesa link between low flying (and the noise pollution inherent in same)with health problems, both physical and psychological. The sample area utilised for the English research has an 'event' levelwhich is minuscule compared to the frequency of operations in N. Irelandand S. Armagh in particular. Can I ask what, if any, epidemiological studies have been carriedout into the potential health effects of exposure to noise pollutioncause by Service helicopters in N. Ireland and S. Armagh in particular. I am sure you will agree with me that the people of that area havea right to have the concerns which they articulate via the Assessorof Military Complaints annually taken seriously. Yours sincerely J B Moffatt 07/05/01 cc. Mr. J MacDonald - Independent Assessor of Military Complaints The Minister for Foreign AffairsBrian Cowen TDDepartment of Foreign AffairsDublin 2Ireland. Dear Minister, I refer you to the attached correspondence to theBritish Army Commander, Northern Ireland. One would have hoped that the N. Ireland peace process would haveled to a scaling down in military operations in the north of Ireland.However, in relation to the British Army Air Corps and royal air Forcethis does not appear to be the case. The report of the Independent Assessor of Military Complaints showsan increase of 20% complaints received about air activity. The truelevel of concern is, according to community groups such as the SouthArmagh Farmers & Residents Committee, much higher. I trust the Irish government - via the inter-governmental conference- will continue to press for normalisation of the situation so thatthese air operations can be completely eliminated. However, in themeantime I believe that the community in this area have a right tohave their concerns taken seriously. I would contrast the attitude of the MOD to the increasing level ofcomplaint in N. Ireland, and S. Armagh in particular, with their attitudeto complaints in Britain. Genuine concerns articulated by rural communitiesin Britain over the past decade resulted in serious research intothe overall implication on physical and psychological health posedby low level air operations by military aircraft. As far as I am aware,despite consistently high levels of complaint in N. Ireland, no comparableresearch has yet been undertaken. Could you ask your British opposite number why this inconsistencyhas arisen and if they are prepared to rectify the situation? Shouldany potential long term health implication be established will theyconsider appropriate individual and community compensation? Yours sincerely J B Moffatt 07/05/01 MELT-DOWN SCARE SUB LIMPS HOME Almost unnoticed, amid the UK election hype, a British nuclear submarinehas left Gibraltar following an extended stay - since May last year- for repairs to its reactor cooling system. HMS Tireless departed for the UK with assurances by the MOD that thevessel was fit for sea. Tireless and her sister ships of the Trafalgarclass are now approaching twenty years old. The lead vessel, HMS Trafalgar,was launched in 1979 with Tireless following two years later. Followingthe identification of defective welds on the Tireless all the classwere taken out of service for checks. Six of the twelve vessels exhibitedsimilar problems. The incident on Tireless, which some believe couldhave led to a reactor melt-down and fire similar to that experiencedon Soviet vessels, highlighted defects in 50% of the Trafalgar class After checks and repairs the vessels were returned to Service. Theywill now be joined by the Tireless and their patrols will take themthrough the waters around our coasts. The vessels frequently traversethe Irish sea on transit between bases and maintenance yards in Scotland,the North-West and the South of England. Exercise areas dot the Irishsea with favourite locations for 'nuclear frolics' being the areasouth west of the Isle of Man, off Co. Louth and two locations offN. Ireland. The potential for a marine ecological disaster is obvious. This nuclearjunk is well past its sell-by date. The very fact that the reactorcooling system is cracking up confirms this. The reactors used onthe vessels are of a design type imported from the United States whichthat country no longer uses. It is quite clear that the British government and the MOD continueto operate these floating time-bombs because they have no adequatesafe replacement for them. In the meantime coastal communities areput at risk. In December 2000 the MOD, in response to Celtic League concerns aboutthe situation with Trafalgar class submarines, said: "I can assureyou we have a safety record second to none...The safety of the generalpublic and our own personnel is of paramount importance...No submarineswill be allowed to return to sea unless we and our safety expertsare completely satisfied that it is safe". We don't believe them! Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 09/05/01 UN WILL CONSIDER CHILD PLACEMENT CONCERN The United Nations Committee on the Rights of The Child (UNCRC) hasresponded to concerns expressed by the Celtic League that in someinstances children, some of them very young, taken into care in theIsle of Man are transferred to the United Kingdom. The League had suggested that by effecting transfers of children tothe England because of child protection concerns based on domesticcircumstances there was a possible breach of the spirit of the Convention. The Manx DHSS rejected the concern although a spokesperson did concedethat: "I have to admit there is a cultural issue; we are removing them fromtheir culture and background". In the response from the UNCRC Secretary, Paulo David, he says: "I wish to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter dated21 April 2001 addressed to the Chairperson of the Committee on theRights of the Child. The contents of your letter will be brought to the attention of theCommittee on the Rights of the Child at its next session scheduledto take place in May-June 2001 at Geneva. The information you providedwill be particularly of interest to the Committee in the frameworkof its consideration of the Isle of Man's second periodic report". Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 09/05/01 DOES NATO 'PROTECT' THE ENVIRONMENT? NATO has been protecting the peace of Europe for over forty years.During that time it has made extensive use of exercise facilitiesin its member States. An area extensively used by NATO, and the United States Air Forcein particular, was the Jurby sea bombing range off the north westof the Isle of Man. In use by the USAF for all this period the seabed is now littered with a deadly mix of exploded bomb debris andunexploded ordnance. Recently, the United Kingdom who ran the range on behalf of NATO andtheir US clients, again refused requests by the Isle of Man governmentto clean up the mess. The Celtic League have written to NATO asking what, if any, policyit has on safeguarding the environment of those States it is in businessto protect. Jurby is simply an immediate difficulty for the Manx people of a largerproblem that bedevils communities in remote rural areas, many of whichare home to people ethnically distinct from the host countries whichgranted NATO usage. These host countries (such as the United Kingdom) were grateful forthe cooperation of the peoples whose land and coastline they trashedin the name of safeguarding democracy and the free world. Now it appearsthat both they and NATO are unwilling to accept their responsibilitiesto make good the environmental damage caused. Or are they? We will have to see what Lord Robertson has to say! Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 09/05/01 Correspondence to NATO below: Lord RobertsonSecretary General North Atlantic Treaty OrganisationB-1110 BrussellsBelgium Dear Secretary General, One of the side effects of the collapse of the Warsaw Pact was therealisation of the environmental damage caused during the Cold Warin many of the Eastern Bloc countries. Some considerable publicitywas given to this situation at the time by the media. However, less transparent are the environmental side-effects causedby the NATO nations during the same period and indeed the policy whichexists to address the same. For example from the early 1950s the NATO countries were given extensiveuse of sea bombing ranges around various parts of the Celtic areasof the United Kingdom. Ostensibly under the control of the RAF orBritish Army their usage was heavily sourced to NATO countries notjust at joint exercise periods but on a regular basis. A classic caseis that of the Jurby sea bombing range off the NW of the Isle of Man.This was used extensively by the USAF and other NATO air forces forover thirty years. Many hundreds of sorties were flown in some weeksat the height of its usage by the USAF in the 1970-80s. The area ofthe (now disused range) is heavily polluted posing a danger for thelocal community and fishermen who make their living from the sea ground.Pleas from the Manx government to the United Kingdom to clean up NATO'smess go unheeded. I feel sure that the range off the Isle of Man is just one of a largenumber from N. Norway to Turkey polluted by NATO. In addition to munitionspollution there is of course also the site pollution at bases andinstallations now disused and additional radiological pollution aroundinstallations used to house nuclear weapons or nuclear submarines. I would welcome from your office some outline of NATO's policy onsafeguarding the environment of those countries whose security itprotects. I would also welcome a copy of any research that NATO has carried out, with host governments, to identifythe problems its exercises and operations over several decades haveleft. Can I ask what steps you are taking to address these problems? I trustthat NATO does have a thorough and coherent policy towards environmentalprotection. Yours sincerely J B Moffatt 09/05/01 ; MINISTER EVASIVE ON LUDLOW QUERY Dermot Ahern T.D., Irish Social Affairs Minister has sidestepped aquery from the Celtic League about the controversy surrounding themurder of Co. Louth forestry worker, Seamus Ludlow. Mr. Ludlow was murdered on the 2nd of May 1976. It is believed thathis killers were a loyalist murder gang and there is also a suspicionof complicity by the British security forces. Recently, following a demonstration to commemorate the 25th anniversaryof the murder Mr. Ahern reiterated the governments unwillingness toaccede to the families request for an independent public enquiry.The League had written challenging this inertia and urging a rethink.However, in a reply from the Ministers Office, his Private SecretaryAongus Horgan says that " As this matter is proper to the Departmentof Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Minister has passed yourletter to his colleague, John O'Donoghue T.D., Minister for Justice. The Celtic League have a great deal of respect for Mr. Ahern particularlyin relation to assistance and cooperation he has shown in the past.However, to intervene with public comment which coincided with relativesattempts to highlight the inertia over the Ludlow slaying and thensidestep the issue indicates questionable judgement in this matter. It is high time that all government Ministers from the Taoiseach downadopted a more positive stance in relation to uncovering the truthabout British military involvement in the murder of Irish citizenspeacefully going about their business. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 15/05/01 PRISON 'HELL-HOLE' ON FINANCE ISLAND The hot sunshine brought welcome relief last week to the public ofthe Isle of Man after a particularly wet and dismal winter. Many willhope that the return to cooler damp weather is only a temporary relapseand that summery conditions will return. One group who will not however be relishing the thought of a longhot summer are the inmates of Victoria Road prison on the Isle ofMan ( or indeed those required to work in the prison). The Victorian Prison, which was condemned by a European Rights bodyfour years ago, is a squalid depressing place at the best of times.In hot weather, such as that we experienced last week, it becomesintolerable. The prison cells are small and overcrowded and the presencefor most of the time in the cell corner of a receptacle containingurine and faeces exacerbates the insanitary nature of the institution. The Manx government promised four years ago that they would developa new prison facility and close this outdated hell-hole. Four yearson the situation remains unchanged. If anything the natural deteriorationof an already unsuitable building means matters are worse. The Isle of Man, with its offshore finance business and its tax regimeattractive to the wealthy, is buoyant and prosperous. The coffersof its Treasury have never been better filled. Given the obvious prosperitythat it should choose to treat offenders in this way is little shortof a national scandal and indeed it is a disgrace that such a situationis tolerated in Europe in the twenty-first century . Every personcommitted to the Prison probably has an arguable case to sue the Manxgovernment and if some wish to do so libertarian organisations shouldgive them every assistance. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 15/05/01 Below: Urgent fax message to the European Committee for the Preventionof Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of Punishment (CPT) The SecretaryEuropean Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or DegradingTreatment of Punishment (CPT)Council of Europe F-67075 Strasbourg CedexFRANCE Dear Sir, The Committee (CPT) inspected conditions at the Isle of Man Prison(Victoria Road) in September 1997. At the time the Committee werecritical of those conditions but accepted that the Manx governmentintended to improve the situation. I refer to your Report - CPT/Inf(2000) 1 (Pages 50-51). Paragraph 101 sets out the assurances givento you by the Manx authorities in respect of development of a newprison. Despite various planning moves little practical improvementhas been achieved. The prison is still in its original squalid and intolerable statedespite the best efforts of those who administer and maintain it.The conditions within the prison, particularly as we move into yetanother summer in which inmates will virtually spend the whole dayin cells, most with no sanitary facilities other that a bucket, area disgrace to a civilised society. Paragraph 102 of your report says "The CPT fully endorses the broadpolicy objectives referred to in paragraph 101. If they are met, theIsle of Man will enter the 21st Century with a Prison Service worthyof the name." I would advise you that six months into the twenty-first century thoseobjectives have not been met and nor are they likely to be achievedin the foreseeable future. It is intolerable that the United Kingdom and Isle of Man governmentsare able to allow this situation to continue. It is inexcusable thatthe CPT, being aware of the situation, are not applying pressure tothe British authorities to address the issue. We urge you to take urgent steps to impress upon the relevant authoritiesthe need to address and remedy this situation. Despite the best efforts of staff who have to cope in these conditionsthe physical and psychological well being of prisoners must be atrisk through being detained in this unacceptable environment. Yours sincerely J B Moffatt 15/05/01 TWO NEW MANX LANGUAGE NET SITES The Manx Language preschool group, Mooinjer Veggey, has establishedan Internet site at: http://mooinjerveggey.iomonline.co.im/ You can get more information about the activities and expanded programmeof the group, first established in 1996, by linking to this site. Celtic League Secretaries who produce newsletters for branch memberscould usefully mention the new site in their next circular. LeagueSecs. and Celtic Language activists could also circulate on theire-mail contact lists Phil Kelly who has an established site at http://homepages.enterprise.net/kelly/also has new Manx pages on Isle of Man On Line at: http://manx.iomonline.co.im/ Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 15/05/01 EVEN WHEN IT'S WRONG IT'S RIGHT! Manx Data Protection law, sharply in focus recently, is not obsoleteclaims the Islands Data Protection Registrar. However, she goes onto admit that the legislation, now a decade and a half old, "needsto be updated and strengthened because there are problems with it". This statement has a similar ring to the recent rebuttal by the SocialServices Division of the Isle of Man DHSS of concerns about possiblebreaches by the Island of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.The Celtic League had suggested that transferring children in careoff the Island potentially breached the convention. There is no breachsaid the DHSS before going on to admit that " there is a culturalissue; we are removing them (the children) from their culture andbackground". It seems that the new rule for government Departments and quango'sis: even when you know it's wrong - say it's right! Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 16/05/01 MORE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION FOR BASES? Tetra the controversial radio communications system that has sparkedhealth concerns in Britain amongst those who will have to use it islikely to be installed by MI5 in South Armagh and other border areas. Reports say that the British Intelligence Service is anxious to introducethe system. The Service is already heavily committed to the veritableFrankensteins laboratory of microwave emitting installations thatthe British have installed in hilltop bases throughout the borderareas of Ulster. Tetra is a digital trunked radio standard which allowsflexibility to facilitate both mobile phone and walkie-talkie callsfrom handsets for secure combined voice and data communications. MI5 will use the public safety radio communications service (PSRCS),known as Airwave, which is managed by BT Quadrant. It will also beinvolved in the security panel supervising system users The communicationselectronics security group (CESG) part of GCHQ will supervise thetechnical evaluation of the security of the Airwave network when itgoes live. Tetra recently completed trials with the Police in Lancashire butthe results are still under wraps. However, independent experts on the biological effects of electromagneticradiation have accused the government of using the police as guineapigs for potentially dangerous trialing in the absence of detailedresearch into potential health risks. One expert says that Tetra hadthe potential to become the "next asbestos". He goes on "It is beyondbelief that anyone could be contemplating the rollout of a systemlike Tetra because of the dangers of pulsed frequencies". While there has been considerable concern, including a TV documentary,about system users little thought to date has been paid to those whomay have transmitters for the system sited next to their homes andschools. The MOD have always been coy about the health implications posed bytheir systems. Two years ago they rejected a suggestion by the CelticLeague that they allow the UKs own National radiological ProtectionBoard to vet electromagnetic radiation emissions around bases in borderareas of N. Ireland. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 16/05/01 DONE NOTHING WRONG? PROVE IT! The United Kingdom Home Secretary has rejected concerns expressedby the Celtic League about the proscription of so many groups underthe new Terrorism Act 2000. We had echoed concerns voiced by Islamic organisations in the UK thatthe inclusion of a number of groups from that community appeared tohave no rationale and might even be racially motivated. We suggestedthat this gave us "cause to suspect that the inclusion of so manyIslamic groups, who have carried out no abuse of UK law, could bethe harbinger of oppression of the Muslim community similar, to thatwhich the Irish community in Britain suffered following the introductionof the Prevention of Terrorism legislation". However, the Home Office say that the "Home Secretary is entirelysatisfied that these organisations meet the criteria for proscriptionin Section 3 of the Act". The letter goes on to outline what stepsorganisations which feel they are wrongly included can take to achieve"deproscription". This legislation is an ominous development in that it places the onuson those who have down nothing unlawful to prove their innocence.The Celtic League will continue to campaign again this draconian legislationin the same way that we contested its predecessor. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 16/05/01 DEMOCRATIC AGENDA BENEFITS SMALL NATIONS Three apparently unrelated events this week across Europe have a collectivesignificance for National movements struggling to achieve self-determinationfor their people. In the Basque country, despite an unprecedented media campaign insupport of Spanish centrist parties, the moderate Basque NationalParty (BNP) increased its share of the vote. In France the openingconstitutional moves were made which should lead to greater autonomyfor Corsica. In Italy the Northern League, which had in the past supportedautonomy, saw its vote collapse. The significance of the Northern Leagues loss is the fact that theorganisation has moderated its views on autonomy and had thereforedisillusioned supporters who split to move pro-active independencemovements. This emphasises markedly the need for National movementsto maintain consistent policies or risk defeat. Clearly the devolution achieved without turmoil in the British Islesis now spreading to other areas and perhaps the most significant developmentis that in respect of Corsica. This move, despite any political spinthat the French press and media put on it, must stimulate calls fromother areas including Brittany for self determination. The Corsican development, whilst achieved against a backdrop of twenty-fiveyears of violence, is obviously stimulated by a desire in France andCorsica for peaceful resolution of the autonomy issue. In the Basquecountry also the support for the moderate Basque National Party atthe expense of more radical independence parties is a clear signalthat the Basques want a peaceful resolution of the violence. However,it is also a clear signal to the Spanish government that such a resolutionwill be on Basque and not Spanish terms. Another spin-off from these developments is the stimulation whichwill undoubtedly accrue to both the Basque and Corsican languagesand culture. The road to National self determination is still likely to be a longone for all the minorities bound within the old Nation Sates of Europe.Recent developments show that real and meaningful change can be achieveddemocratically. It remains to be seen if the more reactionary elementsin Madrid and Paris will continue to accept these positive changes.Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 16/05/01 CORNISH LANGUAGE EXCLUSION WILL BE SCRUTINISED The Council of Europe has agreed to consider concerns expressed bythe Celtic League over the failure of the United Kingdom to includethe Cornish language when it ratified the European Charter for Minoritylanguages. The Celtic League had said that the position of the British governmentin respect of the Cornish language and the treaty was "totally unacceptable". In a reply from the Directorate of Co-operation for Local and RegionalDemocracy the Director Phillip Blair says: "The Secretary General has asked me to acknowledge receipt of yourletter, dated 8 April 2001, concerning the fact that the Cornish languagehas not been recognised in the United Kingdom's instrument of ratificationof the European charter for regional and Minority Languages. As you may know, the Charter has its own monitoring mechanism, consistingof an independent Committee of Experts. This Committee is responsiblefor monitoring the application of the Charter in each Party to thetreaty and reporting to the Council of Ministers. The initial periodical report of the United Kingdom will be due on1 July 2002. At that time the Committee of Experts will initiate itsmonitoring procedure for the United Kingdom. As the Committee alsoreceives and examines comments or information submitted by organisationslegally established within a State Party, I will make sure that yourletter is brought to its attention". Bernard Moffatt Secretary General, Celtic League 17/05/01 McCREEVEY DODGES OFFSHORE MONIES ISSUE The Irish Finance Minister would love the Isle of Man with its sandy.Just the place to bury your head as he did in the Irish Parliament(Dail) this week. The Irish government has said it is not reasonable to assume that£4bn held in branches of Irish banks in the Isle of Man is due solelyto tax evasion by Irish residents. The Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevey,was answering a question in the Dail from Jim Mitchell T.D. Mitchel,la member of the Dail public accounts committee, has previously calledfor prison sentences for "white collar" criminals and he is unlikelyto be assuaged by the Finance Ministers comments. In March the Celtic League wrote to Jim Mitchell expressing our concernabout the situation. More recently the Leagues Manx branch, at itsAnnual meeting, considered the frequent references to Isle of Manbased accounts held by Irish nationals in the context of alleged moneylaundering, related to drug crime and tax evasion. The League believethere should be an independent enquiry into the situation. The Irish Finance Minister said there were legitimate reasons formany people having bank accounts abroad. This may be so. However,it is also the case that it has been demonstrated that some of thoseaccounts are either suspect or criminal and this is the issue in contention,not bona fide transactions. Meanwhile the Manx government says that it has now got its act togetheron regulation. However, the Celtic League first raised concerns overa decade ago and similar assurances were given at that time. The Manxgovernment should therefore not complain if their present convictionabout regulatory probity is greeted with scepticism. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 19/05/01 BUREAU SUPPORT FOR STATUS OF CORNISH CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU SUPPORT FOR STATUS OF CORNISH The European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages (EBLUL) to to step uppressure on the British government to include the Cornish languageas part of its ratification of the Charter for Regional and MinorityLanguages At its meeting in Bolzano on 4/5 May the Council of the EBLUL agreedthe following motion: "a) welcomes the recent announcement by the UK Government to ratifythe European Charter for Regional or Minority languages; b) notes the absence of any reference in the Charter to the Cornishlanguage, pending a consultation exercise being undertaken withinthe Government Departments; and c) urges the UK Government to undertake a speedy conclusion on thecurrent consultation process and to indicate the expected time scalefor according the Cornish language status within the Charter." The motion will be submitted to the British Government - DETR andthe Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers. The EBLUL action follows action already taken by the Celtic Leaguewhich has urged the Council of Europe to ensure that Cornish is giventhe same status under the treaty (See CORNISH LANGUAGE EXCLUSION WILLBE SCRUTINISED - Celtic News 17/5/01). Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 19/05/01 Date: Sat May 19, 2001 1:27pm Subject: NUCLEAR FIRE SHOULD PROMPT RETHINK CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION NUCLEAR FIRE SHOULD PROMPT RETHINK The fire at Dungeness A nuclear power station, on Saturday 19 May,is a further indication of the dangers inherent in the continued operationof these obsolete plants. The initial press information has contained the usual assurances thatno danger was posed to the reactor and that this was successfullyclosed down. However, a fire of this type in a turbine close to thereactors of the station has got to be cause for concern. Dungeness A is one of a number of stations operated by BNFL. Theyare of the old Magnox type. In the case of Dungeness the station wascommissioned in 1965. Indeed this plant is six years older than thesimilar twin reactor Magnox plant at Wylfa on Anglesey which has beenclosed for over a year with reactor faults. A number of these Magnox stations are scheduled for closure and Dungenessshutdown was mooted for 2006. By that time the station will have 'celebrated'its 40th anniversary. This is twice the original design life of thestation. A continuing catalogue of incidents and safety shortcomings surroundingBNFL operations at nuclear sites around Britain calls into questionthe veracity of the company's management regime. The Dungeness fire hopefully will lead to that station being de-commissionedimmediately. It should also prompt a serious rethink about the wisdomof restarting operations at BNFLs other clapped-out nuclear installationon Anglesey which poses a threat to Irish sea communities. Bernard Moffatt Celtic League 19/05/01 Date: Wed May 23, 2001 4:54pm Subject: 'PLACE IN THE SUN' FOR MYSTERY ULSTER CASH CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION 'PLACE IN THE SUN' FOR MYSTERY ULSTER CASH Several hundred thousand pounds, deposited in a bank in the Isle ofMan by an Irish couple and suspected of being the proceeds of crime,has been returned to its owner for want of proof. A Manx court was told that efforts by the Irish police to establishthe source of the funds, which originated in Ulster, had drawn a blank.The Manx Judge said "it has proven difficult to establish if the fundsare the proceeds of crime". The issue came before the Manx High Court on several occasions, eachtime being adjourned as Garda investigations were said to be ongoing.The Garda it was reported had been investigating possible money launderingof the proceeds of drug trafficking. Eventually the bank holding theaccount, Alliance and Leicester International Ltd., itself broughtthe matter to Court, "for guidance". The bank was reported to be infear of being sued for holding the funds. Deemster (Manx High Court Judge), William Cain, in his judgement saidthat "there is no conclusive evidence that the funds in the jointaccount are the proceeds of crime, although the Garda clearly havesome suspicion". He made an order directing the Bank to comply with the account holdersrequest to transfer the money, £280,000 to an account in Malaga. Meanwhile, in an unrelated case before the same Deemster, two Irishbanking Inspectors seeking access to accounts held by Irish Nationalswith the National Irish Bank were sent packing after Deemster WillianCain labelled their enquiry a "fishing expedition". The two Inspectors, Mr. Justice John Blayney and Tom Grace, had beenappointed by the Irish High Court to investigate and report into theaffairs of the Bank. The Republic of Ireland based NIB has a branch in Douglas, centreof the Isle of Man finance sector, and the application to the ManxHigh Court sought detail of accounts, transactions and addresses ofaccount holders. The Deemster dismissed the application citing previouslegal precedent. Earlier this week the Celtic League referred to the scope of accountsheld by Irish Nationals in Manx offshore accounts and the frequencywith which court cases and tribunal proceedings in Ireland mentionedthe Isle of Man. We suggested it was high time there was as an investigationinto the overall situation. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League Date: Wed May 23, 2001 4:54pm Subject: ADVOCATE CASE UPDATE FOR LAWYERS WATCHDOG CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION ADVOCATE CASE UPDATE FOR LAWYERS WATCHDOG Isle of Man civil liberties body, the Manx Council for Civil Liberty,has written to Param Cumaraswamy, the United Nations Special Rapporteuron the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, alerting him to the latestdeveopments in a case brought against Manx Lawyer Terence McDonald.The MCCL had previously supplied detail and background on chargesmade against Mr. McDonald. A court action brought by the police against Mr. McDonald was adjoiurnedrecently sine die pending the hearing by the Isle of Man High Courtof an action brought on his behalf which seeks (amongst other points)"a declaration" that former Chief Constable Robin Oake and the presentpostholder Mike Culverhouse "acted beyond their powers". A copy of the petition lodged on behalf of Mr. McDonald (and others)with the Isle of Man high Court has been forwarded to the SpecialRapporteur. Terry McDonald has been to the fore in promoting Civil Liberties issueson the Isle of Man over the past decade. He highlighted defeciencesover the treatment of young offenders and was prominent in a campaignto expose conditions in the Islands prison. Mr Cumaraswwamy has been urged to continue to monitor his case. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 23/05/01 Date: Mon May 28, 2001 3:54pm Subject: FINANCIAL SKULDUGGERY - OH SHUT UP! CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION FINANCIAL SKULDUGGERY - OH SHUT UP! Further revelations which allege links between Manx financial institutionsand corruption in the former Soviet Union have surfaced on the Internet. Internet News carried a report on 21 May which reads: "Gazprom Assets A Family Affair by Florian Hassel Special to the Moscow Times Over the last decade, Gazprom executives past and present have transferredto their relatives assets potentially worth billions of dollars ina series of murky deals, documents reviewed by The Moscow Times show". The article goes on to reveal a tortuous chain of financial dealingsglobally, including links to, amongst others, both Ireland and theIsle of Man. We understand that a report surfaced briefly on this story in thelocal media but thereafter there has been no comment from either thegovernment or the financial services regulator, the FSC. The veracity of this and other stories circulating on the Internetshould be established if the Manx governments claim to be runninga clean operation here is to have any credence. When the Manxman Internet site started to expose links to such storiesit was subjected to all manner of pressures to end its operation.As a consequence the Manxman Exposes have stopped but this does notmean that the material on the Net which alludes to financial skulduggeryin the Isle of Man has disappeared. Far from it! The position wouldseem to be that each month brings new allegations. So what is thegovernments policy ( Isle of Man Plc.) in relation to these damagingstories? It would seem to be the case that they should be quietlyignored and those locally who expose them them should be quietly smeared,pressured or otherwise induced to shut-up! Secretary General Celtic League 28/05/01 Date: Mon May 28, 2001 3:54pm Subject: TORTURE OF BASQUE PRISONERS MUST END CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION TORTURE OF BASQUE PRISONERS MUST END In a dramatic development ten days ago the Basque University in Vitoriacalled out its students to protest at the alleged torture of one oftheir former students by the Spanish security forces. Leire Gallastegi was arrested in February and she alleges that shewas beaten, threatened and tortured in the most disgusting manner.According to a letter smuggled from her prison by supporters she wasthreatened with electrodes and physical assault with a broom handle.In addition her parents arrest was threatened if she did not cooperate.One can only speculate at the psychological make-up of the individualswho perpetrated this abuse and indeed allowed the conditions in whichit was taking place. For many years Basque nationalists have reported that the systematicabuse and torture of detainees, suspected of belonging to ETA, hasbeen widespread. It had been hoped that a concentration of local andinternational opposition to this mistreatment of prisoners had broughtabout improvements. What the treatment of Ms. Gallastegi proves isthat little has changed in the mind-set of those who staff the prisonsand interrogation centres for the Spanish State. The stand by the University will provide a useful focus for thoseoutside the Basque country who are ignorant of the treatment beingmeted out by a so-called European democracy to those held in custody. It should also act as a catalyst for European governments to pressthe government of Jose Maria Aznar to implement recommendations bythe United Nations Special rapporteur on torture to create the conditionsin which these sort of abuses cannot take place. Access to immediatelegal support by detainees, the video taping of interrogations andthe video surveillance of cell block areas would all go some considerableway to ending these abuses. Aznar's government should act now - unlessthat is it condones the torture! Secretary General Celtic League 28/05/01 (See attached) The Ambassador of Spain Embassy of Spain 24 Belgrave Square London SW1X 8QA Dear Sir, I write with reference to the protest recently made by Officials andStudents of the Basque University in Vitoria about the treatment ofa former student of the University, Ms. Leire Gallastegi. I understand that Ms Gallestegi alleges mistreatment and torture whilstin custody. The specific allegations are quite horrendous. I understand that specific recommendations have been made in the pastby the United Nations special rapporteur on torture which would ensurea prison regime in which the treatment of detainees would be montoredand allegations of abuse could therefore be sustained or disproved. Can I ask if the Spanish government allow detainees immediate unaccompaniedaccess to lawyers or doctors of their choice? Could I further enquireif the video-taping of interviews and detention areas is undertakenand if tapes are made available to the detainee? If the answer to the above questions is no, do the Spanish authoritiesplan to introduce these measures, which would both prevent the illtreatmentof detainees and eliminate any propensity to false accusation. Yours sincerely, Bernard Moffatt 28/01/01 Sir Nigel Rodley United Nations Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rightson the Question of Torture OHCHR 8-14 Avenue de la Paix 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland Dear Sir Nigel, I draw your attention to the concerns (attached) lodged by the CelticLeague recently with the Spanish Authorities about the alleged mistreatmentof a women prisoner. Could your Office further prevail upon the Spanish Authorities tointroduce prudent safeguards, as outlined in our letter, such as accessto legal and medical advice and the video-taping of interrogationrooms and detention areas. Straightforward measures such as this would prevent ill treatmentof detained persons and also protect the police and prison authoritiesagainst unfair allegations. Yours sincerely, Bernard Moffatt 28/01/01 Date: Mon May 28, 2001 3:54pm Subject: JAPANESE MOX DECISION - A BLOW TO BNFL CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION JAPANESE MOX DECISION - A BLOW TO BNFL Although British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. are playing it down, the decisionby a small community in Japan to reject plans to import the companiesMox fuel is significant. Villagers of Kariwa voted by 54% against plans by the Tokyo Electricplant to use Mox fuel in its Kashiwwazake-Karawi plant. Although thevote is not legally binding the Company is thought likely to heedthe concerns of the villagers in an area where public support is seenas crucial to any introduction of the new fuel. The decision is likely to give a useful fillip to campaigns in otherareas of Japan where Power Generation companies wish to switch toMox fuelled generation. Another significant factor in the new situation is that the Kariwaarea is heavily dependant economically on the adjacent nuclear powerplant. It is clear that the local community, and many in Japan generally,are still inherently suspicious of BNFL following the safety scandalafter the falsification of data in 1999. The Japanese nuclear industryknow that it has to bring public opinion with it in any dealings withBNFL. Meanwhile, this latest economic 'kick in the teeth' for BNFL can onlybe good news for opponents of the troubled plants operations closerto home. BNFL spokesman used to pontificate about the companies Internationalsafety credentials. However, these days it is clear that communitiesglobally are waking up to the reality of the Companies appalling safetyrecord and its global environmental threat. Bernard Moffatt Secretary General Celtic League 28/05/01 Date: Mon May 28, 2001 3:54pm Subject: BRETON PRISONERS RIGHTS ABUSED CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION BRETON PRISONERS RIGHTS ABUSED Concern is growing for the well being of one of the Breton prisoners,Alain Sole, currently jailed in Fresnes. Alain Sole is one of a numberof detainees who have been protesting about prison conditions. Inhis case the absence of correct medical support has also been an issue. Sole suffers from chronic diabetes, It appears that following a seriousbout of illness he was denied follow-up medical treatment. Conditionsbecame so bad that in March he made an attempt to take his own life. The Celtic League have written to the French government and to theEuropean body which monitors the treatment of prisoners (the CPT)calling for the release of those Breton prisoners, such as Alain,who were not getting suitable medical treatment. We have also campaignedfor the detainees to be moved from Prisons around Paris to Brittanywhich would facilitate visits and support by their families. So far the French authorities have refused to respond positively toexpressions of concern from external bodies such as the Celtic leagueand Breton prisoners support groups. They have also exhibited a meanspirited attitude. For example in an astonishing display of narrow-mindednessEaster cards sent by a member of the Manx branch of the Celtic League,Mairead Kerwin, to a number of prisoners were returned France has a considerable number of political detainees, includingthose imprisoned for supporting the National liberation strugglesin Brittany, the Basque country and Corsica. The French seem to believethat by adopting a hard line on the prisoners issue the wave of protestswill collapse. The authorities are playing a dangerous game with thelives of prisoners like Alain Sole! Secretary General Celtic League 28/05/01 (Attached) Geneviève Mayer Deputy Executive Secretary European Committee for the Prevention of Torture & Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment F-67075 Strasbourg Cedex France Dear Ms. Mayer, I refer to our correspondence concerning the situation of Breton prisonersand in particular Mr. Alain Solé. I would advise that our information is that the circumstances of thisdetainee are not improved and I would ask if the Committee has yetraised this issue with French Authorities? Yours sincerely, Bernard Moffatt 28/01/01  Back to Celtic League News |