Kenny complicit in rights abuses by sanctioning Shannon stopover

Afri has called on the Government to fulfil its legal and moral obligations to prevent further use of Shannon and Irish air space for torture-related flights.

As in other areas, the Government’s failure to see the facts of abuse; its complicity in abusive practices and its ultimate responsibility to protect human rights is becoming embarrassingly implausible.

In recent weeks, Shannonwatch forced the Minister for Foreign Affairs to back track on his bland denials that suspect flights had been landing. Now the UK–based rendition project has documented over 200 landings, which it has called “fundamentally important logistical stops” on the CIA’s rendition circuit.

US Governments over the past decade have dismantled their own standards as detailed by this week’s Senate report. Now the CIA is saying the White House knew and sanctioned these practices.

Thus, the Irish government has for years relied on the reassurances of a regime which cannot tell the truth even to itself.

How can the Taoiseach stand over this, and still declare in Wednesday’s Leader’s Questions he is “horrified by the ill-treatment of helpless, vulnerable and voiceless people”?

Well might he admit that perhaps he “should know” what is going on; that it is the Government’s job and its unshirkable responsibility, under both domestic and international law, whether in Swinford, Shannon or abroad.

The degrading pretence and the shameful evasion of basic, humane care, should cease immediately.

Joe Murray

Afri

134 Phibsboro Road

Dublin 7