Big Step Forward for Human Rights
Jay Flavin, Amnesty Ireland’s Cork Group Co Ordinator has welcomed reports of a new approach adopted by the Irish Government on the issue of extraordinary renditions. These reports indicate that the Government intends to review and strengthen legislation governing the search and inspection of suspected rendition flights and comes less than two months after Cork City Council passed a motion declaring the city a ‘Rendition-Free Zone’.
Youghal man Jay Flavin (White T shirt) with members of Cork Amnesty group pictured outside Cork City Hall
Amnesty International Ireland Executive Director Colm O’Gorman said: “This is a welcome victory for human rights in Ireland. Years of lobbying and campaigning by Amnesty members and other human rights activists across the country appear to have finally paid off. It is less than two months since hard work by Amnesty members in Cork saw it become one of the first local authorities in Ireland to declare itself rendition-free.
“We are happy to be in a position to commend our Government for showing political and moral leadership on this issue. “The kind of gross human rights violations that are the result of
extraordinary rendition or the so-called ‘war on terror’ are only possible in a world where states stay silent when they ought to challenge such violations.
“In June of this year when we published our report on renditions in Europe we acknowledged that the Irish Government has been a strident critic of the US extraordinary rendition programme and other aspects of its so-called ‘war on terror’.
“We called for this rhetoric to be matched by action and it appears the Irish Government has finally heeded that call and ended its reliance on entirely discredited diplomatic assurances.
“Thousands of people all over Ireland have marched, protested and lobbied politicians to this end. Amnesty members and other activists have maintained a constant presence at Shannon Airport monitoring the activity of suspected rendition flights.”
In particular Mr O’Gorman welcomed the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Aspects of International Human Rights, which will be central to implementing the new approach.
“It is essential that a body like this at Cabinet level will drive the review of legislation, ensuring that civil and police authorities have the necessary power and resources to search and inspect suspected rendition flights,” continued Mr O’Gorman.
“We believe the outcome of this review must be made public and call on the
Government to announce a timeframe for its completion.
“We also welcome the announcement that Minister Mícheál Martin will seek a
clear statement from the incoming US President that his administration will
end the use of extraordinary rendition, close Guantánamo and prohibit the
use of all torture.
“The new approach must not deal solely with the search and inspection of aircraft, however. It must also review how Ireland identifies aircraft that may be involved in illegal activity, i.e. the nature of information demanded of foreign aircraft by aviation authorities, particularly those possibly masquerading as civilian planes.
“This information is essential if the right aircraft are to be inspected
and the Government is to move from demanding the Irish public to produce
evidence of suspicious aircraft.
“Also, search and inspection can only address flights that actually land on Irish territory and in no way addresses the issue of planes suspected of involvement in renditions using Irish airspace. Amnesty International will continue to engage with government to ensure that Ireland fulfils its
obligations under international human rights law.” Jay Flavin has also re issued the Cork Group’s request for Cork City Council to put up signs on major roads entering the City declaring Cork City a ” Rendition Free Zone ”.
Contact; Jay Flavin Co Ordinator Cork Group 087 8128236
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