CIA Rendition Flights: Lord Advocate's Position Untenable
Wed., December 21, 2005. 17:10.
Greens repeat call for police investigation in Scotland as parliament debates CIA Rendition flights
As the Scottish Parliament gets ready to debate CIA rendition flights tomorrow morning (Thursday 22nd December) Green MSP Chris Ballance has renewed his call for police action and claims that the Lord Advocate's credibility is on the line if he does not now match the action of police in England to investigate the controversial use of Scottish Airports.
ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) yesterday confirmed that it will conduct an inquiry into the possible use of English airports by illegal CIA rendition flights(1) Green MSP Chris Ballance says that Strathclyde Police must investigate claims that Prestwick Airport has been used by such flights.
Mr Ballance said: "I find it quite incredible that, on such a serious matter, the police refuse to investigate allegations that Prestwick Airport is being used as a stop over for extraordinary rendition flights. Amnesty International (2) have now published details of two CIA flights which apparently landed at Prestwick on the return journey back to the US after having taken detainees to other countries. I see no reason why such evidence of crime is not sufficient to trigger an investigation.
“Yesterday the police south of the border announced that they are to investigate allegations concerning airports in England - hardly surprisingly given the large amount of circumstantial evidence now in the public domain.
"The case for action in Scotland is equally compelling, but our police seem to be refusing to act. I have twice written in the last month to the Lord Advocate, and as yet I have not even had an acknowledgement, far less a substantive reply. In the light of the clear and compelling evidence placed in the public domain, I find his failure to order our police into action as incomprehensible, and I believe his position as our most senior law officer is rapidly becoming untenable.”
Notes
1. http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article334134.ece
2. http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news/press/16679.shtml
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.