America Admits Rendition Flights Used British Territory

Today saw a parliamentary statement at Westminster by David Miliband the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where it was admitted that US government agencies did use UK territory to render individuals to a foreign location for interrogation. It was announced that contrary to previous announcements and all prior assurances which stated that there was no evidence of flights undertaking extraordinary rendition procedures, the United States government admitted on 15th February that in 2002 two such flights landed on Diego Garcia.

I have previously written to Kenny MacAskill, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the Lord Advocate to indicate my concerns about the ongoing allegations that Scottish airports have been used to facilitate extraordinary rendition, and I was informed that the Lord Advocate has passed on details of allegations given to the government to Strathclyde Police. The admission today by David Miliband undermines any assurances previously given by the UK government that Scottish airports have not been used for extraordinary rendition, and I believe it is incumbent upon all relevant authorities to reinvestigate these matters.

Extraordinary rendition is a piece of jargon that has passed into the modern lexicon, and I have used it throughout this blog. However it is as well to remind ourselves that when we use that term we are actually talking about the abduction and torture of individual human beings. These are of course crimes under Scots law and there are many international articles prohibiting the use of torture.

David Miliband has given an assurance that previous flights that were suspected of involvement in this practice will be looked at again, but it seems that this process will involve asking the United States to say whether or not they too were involved in rendition flights. It is clear to me that we cannot just rely on asking America confirming or denying whether these flights were involved in extraordinary rendition.

That is why we need the most thorough and proper investigation of these allegations. That has not happened yet, but today’s announcement necessitates such an investigation.

Extraordinary Rendition Allegations

A programme broadcast on BBC 2 tonight reminded us of the allegations that the process of extraordinary rendition has been facilitated through Scotland's airports. Coincidentally, there was a demonstration held at the Scottish Parliament today by the "Scotland Against Criminalising Communities" organisation against the process of extraordinary rendition.

For those who are unaware, the process of extraordinary rendition is whereby United States government agencies (most likely the Central Intelligence Agency) abduct individuals who they allege of involvement in activities they dislike and hold them against their will without recourse to due legal process and then fly them (bound and hooded and it is alleged, drugged) to countries where they will be detained and tortured. This is clearly outwith the terms of acceptable domestic or international legal practice and violates the UN Convention Against Torture.

The programme televised tonight often made for harrowing viewing. Some of the stories of individuals who allege they have been subjected to these practices were truly horrific. And whilst horrific they may have been, and whilst easier it may be to flick to another channel and close our eyes and ears to such happenings, I believe we must not.

I think all decent citizens of Scotland reasonably expect that when a crime has happened, those responsible should face the fullest extent of prosecution under law. That extraordinary rendition may have been facilitated through Scotland's airports indicates that a crime may have happened on Scottish soil. And I believe these to be crimes of the most serious nature.

To that end, I think it is wholly right and justified to seek a full inquiry into the allegations that have been made. I made clear to those demonstrating today that I will fully back such calls and I make that clear again on my blog.