It’s Time to Search The Planes

There really is something deeply disturbing in hearing reports that aircraft used in the practice of ‘extraordinary rendition’ have probably used Irish airports at some point during a ‘rendition’.

The Government’s indifference to recent reports about the possible transport of prisoners through Shannon leaves Ireland exposed to the possibility of breaching international law. Ireland is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Human Rights and also the Convention against Torture. Therefore Ireland is legally obliged to co-operate to bring to an end any serious breach of Human Rights and to stop torture.

They must also refrain from aiding or assisting those carrying out such breaches. The fact that we don’t know for certain about what is or what is not going on before, during or after any US military flights landing in Shannon is simply not acceptable. It means that Ireland is willingly ignorant of what is going on. If there are suspicions of any kind, the Government simply must do all in it’s power to ascertain that there is nothing going on - and that means that all US military flights landing at Shannon must be searched.

Last December, when a special committee of the Seanad was to be set up investigate US military flights through Shannon and the motion to proceed with the establishment of this committee was defeated by Fianna Fáil senators we see just how little the Government cares about its obligations. The committee was well on its way to being formed. A reasonable set of terms had been agreed, on an all-party basis, for the committee to inquire about the flights and their nature. And yet the entire proceedings were put on ice.

Why? Was it because the Government were afraid if the committee was allowed to do its work it might find that none of these aircraft had been inspected? Was it because the Government was afraid that something unpleasant might come to light and cause a scandal? I think the people of this country should be told.

Finally, it is time to stop referring to cases of people being taken from streets around the world and spirited away as ‘extraordinary renditions’. It is time to them what they truly are - kidnapping and detention without warrant, without charge, without any semblance of a fair trial. Such activities are profoundly undemocratic, to be associated with governments of the worst possible kind.

On a related note - this Saturday, March 18th, a national day of protest against the continuing illegal occupation of Iraq and the continuing use of Shannon airport by US troops. There will be a protest march in Dublin city centre. If you’re in Dublin, and feel as strongly against the war as I do, I hope to see you there. The assembly point for the march is at Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square, Dublin 1 at 2pm.

March 18th is the third anniversary of the US led invasion of Iraq. All over the world people in their millions have condemned the invasion of Iraq, the use of torture, degradation and inhuman treatment of prisoners. Irish people have also demonstrated their opposition to the use of Shannon by US troops, and I count myself proud to have been one.