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Posts Tagged ‘MOD’

Obsolete Fighter Bomber Crashes In Scotland

Friday, January 28th, 2011

An RAF Tornado fighter-bomber has crashed whilst on exercise off North-West Scotland.

UK Coastguards said they were alerted to an incident involving the aircraft at
Loch Ewe, near Gairloch, Wester Ross, at 2.45pm today.

The two man crew of the aircraft ejected safely and were rescued by a UK
coastguard helicopter which airlifted them to airlifted Hospital in Inverness.

Ironically, a Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) tug, the Anglian Earl, was also involved in the incident. (This is the second rescue incident involving MCA tugs which are due to be withdrawn as part of a cost cutting mesure by the UK government – the Celtic League has voiced its opposition).

The latest Tornado crash is one of a series of accidents (some fatal) involving
the obsolete military aircraft.

Because of the propensity of the RAF to use Low flying areas in the Highlands a considerable number of such accidents have occurred in Scotland. The Tornado has one of the highest attrition rates of UK military aircraft.

The Celtic League is opposed to military low-flying over the Celtic countries
and has vigorously articulated these concerns particularly in relation to the
Highlands, SW Scotland and the mid-Wales Tactical Training Areas (TTAs)

Cape Wrath:Firing Of Trace Ammunition To Continue Despite Fire Risk

Friday, October 8th, 2010

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

CAPE WRATH: FIRING OF TRACE AMMUNITION TO CONTINUE DESPITE RISK

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) will continue to use tracer ammunition in live firing at the Cape Wrath Range in Scotland despite the risk of fire and environmental damage such as that which occurred in 2008.

The MOD conveyed the information in response to a query from the Celtic League
(see link):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3452

The MOD also says that no post-damage environmental assessment has taken place
at the site.

The text of the MOD letter is set out below:

“Thank you for your letter of 28 August addressed to Minister of State for the Armed Forces about a fire on the Cape Wrath Range in May 2008. Your letter has been passed to Defence Estates (DE) – the Ministry of Defence (MOD) organisation responsible for the Defence estate, and I have been asked to reply.

Let me begin my explaining that immediately after the incident, a member of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Commandant of the Cape Wrath Bombardment Range surveyed the area. The SNH representative estimated approximately 1 37Ha
(339 acres) had been affected. As the fire took place on land not classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the land was left to regenerate itself: it is my understanding that it has done so.

Although we do not have a record of the species of bird or animal life that were affected by this fire, I can assure you that this department values the biodiversity on its estate and in conjunction with other statutory bodies takes steps to protect it. You refer to a paragraph quoted in a letter from the then Commanding Officer of the Defence Training Estate dated 25 June 2008. I can assure you that this department takes very seriously the stewardship of its training areas, and ensures that close working relationships are maintained with
all stakeholders.

With regards to the use of tracer ammunition, I can assure you that the use of this type of ammunition can only be authorised by Commandant, Cape Wrath Range, who’s decision will be based on ground and weather conditions leading up to the date of the training exercise, and r the use of such ammunition carries the risk of fire.

I hope that what I have said explains this department’s position and thank you for writing as you did.”

MOD Probed On Overseas Recruitment

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

MOD PROBED ON OVERSEAS RECRUITMENT

A career in the British Army is that unpopular these days that the UnitedKingdom increasingly rely on recruitment of Nationals from other countries.

The Celtic League has been engaged in correspondence with the UK MOD about recruitment of Nationals from the Republic of Ireland.

The Irish government have told us that it is not illegal for a National of that State to make an individual choice to join an overseas Army.

However Irish law, specifically Section 312 of the Defence Act, makes it an offence to encourage a person to join a foreign army. We believe the UK MOD are `sailing close to the wind’ in relation to recruitment in Ireland and our correspondence to tease out the truth goes on (see below).

“Mr Richard Hills
Headquarters
(British) Army Recruitment and training Division
Trenchard Lines
Upavon
Pewsey
Wiltshire SN9 6BE

28/0810

Dear Mr Hills,

I write with reference to the concern raised with you about the recruitment of Nationals of the Republic of Ireland into the British Armed Forces. I have your reply dated 3rd June 2010 (D/ARTD/1/3/1-75862).

You will recall that the specific point we raised with you was that it was an offence under the laws of Ireland to encourage a person to join a foreign army (Section 312 of the Defence Act 1954). The issue had been highlighted following the circulation of information about `opportunities’ for a career in the British army by a careers office in Ireland.

I am disappointed that you do not believe that your web site as currently structured, i.e. citing `citizenship’ of the Republic of Ireland as making
persons eligible for membership of the Armed Forces, could be construed as encouraging citizens of a neighbouring State through
either ignorance or ineptitude to break the laws of their country. However I am reassured by your comment that potential recruits should ensure they seek information `through a careers office in Britain’.

There is one outstanding issue that you could shed light on. I note from your website that applicants for the services could be subject to normal careers checks. I wondered how the MOD (British Army) are able to follow-up on any information supplied by an applicant from the Republic of Ireland without cross-referencing data supplied with individuals or agencies in that country. I do hope that the UK military have not been doing this as if they have done so it would appear that they are soliciting citizens of a neighbouring State to breach section 312 of the Defence Act 1954.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely,

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information”

MOD Urged To Come Clean On Numbers killed By British Army

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

MOD URGED TO COME CLEAN ON NUMBERS KILLED BY BRITISH ARMY

The Celtic League has asked the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence for details of the numbers of civilians killed or injured by British Forces serving with ISAF in Afghanistan.

There is growing concern in the UK at present over the rising toll of casualties suffered by British Forces. However scant regard is paid to the many thousands of men, women and children killed and injured in ISAF operations. (See below):

“The Secretary of State for Defence
Dr Liam Fox MP
Ministry of Defence
Main Building
Whitehall
London, SW1A 2HB
United Kingdom

28/08/10

Dear Minister

Ref: British Forces serving with ISAF – civilian casualties.

Can you advise how many civilians in Afghanistan have been killed directly as a result of actions by British Forces serving with ISAF in Afghanistan since the mission began?

Could you also provide details of the total compensation paid directly by theBritish government or on behalf of the British government as a result of incidents in which innocent civilians have been killed by British forces acting alone or in conjunction with other ISAF forces?

Does the British government have any policy (either directly, via Afghan government agencies or NGOs) to follow-up on the circumstances of those innocent civilians injured and maimed as a result of incidents involving British Forces acting alone or in conjunction with other ISAF units?

Yours sincerely,

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information”

Link here to ISAF / NATO web pages which are noteworthy in failing to highlight
the heavy price being paid via death and injury of innocent Afghan civilians.
http://www.isaf.nato.int/

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League

28/08/10

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/

Tags: British military, Military Monitoring, MOD
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Cape Wrath MOD Queried On Steps To Repair Damage

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE

CAPE WRATH MOD QUERIED ON STEPS TO REPAIR DAMAGE

The Celtic League has asked the Ministry of Defence what steps it has taken torectify serious environmental damage caused at the Cape Wrath weapons range in Northern Scotland two years ago. (See below):

`Mr Nick Harvey MP
Minister of State for the Armed Forces
Ministry of Defence
Main Building
Whitehall
London, SW1A 2HB
United Kingdom

28/08/10

Dear Minister

Ref: Cape Wrath Range – Environmental damage.

In 2008 approximately 400 acres of environmentally important heathland at thisrange was destroyed by devastating fires caused due to negligence during a military exercise.

Can you advise:

a) What environmental assessment of the damage caused was undertaken at the time?

b) What remedial works have been undertaken to assist the recovery of the heathland to its former state?

c) What species of animal or birdlife were impacted by the damage caused?

d) What steps have been taken to ensure that the use of tracer ammunition over heathland areas is restricted when the heathland is at it most vulnerable (i.e.after prolonged dry periods)?

For your information an exchange between the League and MOD at the time of this incident elicited the response that:

“The MOD takes it stewardship of training areas very seriously; high standards of conservation management are maintained throughout the estate and the MOD enjoys and values good working relationships with all stakeholders, including Scottish Natural Heritage.”

This follow-up correspondence is aimed at establishing how seriously the MOD takes the commitment given at the time.

Yours sincerely,

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information’

See related article on Celtic News here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2685

J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League

28/08/10

TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609

Internet site at:

http://celticleague.net
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/

Tags: Military Monitoring, MOD
Posted in News | No Comments »