If Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi is between a rock and a hard place (Leader, The Herald, January 15), then it is a combination of political and judicial manoeuvring that places him there.
The political and legal establishments have all the appearance of being tied to a rail-line as Megrahi's appeal inexorably bears down on them. How to derail him and avert the impending disaster that will reverberate around the world? I can understand your assertion that the Crown Office would find Megrahi's repatriation to Libya palatable but for exactly the opposite reason; the realisation that it did not have a case would have it wishing to get rid of him by any means other than having to re-examine this case in full view of the world's media.
The Scottish Government will come under intense pressure to accede to the wishes of Westminster. The Scottish Government should resist, indeed pre-empt, that pressure by First Minister Alex Salmond bailing Mr Megrahi immediately on compassionate grounds, pending his appeal.
Let us hear no more about the legal impediments to such action. A coach and horses was driven through Scottish legal requirements to bring Megrahi to trial in the first place.
The need to put someone, anyone, in the dock for the Lockerbie bombing has already left the Scottish legal establishment's reputation undermined. If this appeal reaches court, it will be further damaged. Now is the last opportunity to deal fairly with this man and, in turn, redeem what is left of our reputation.
[A letter from John Fowler, published in today's issue of The Herald. The Scottish Government has no power to release Mr Megrahi on bail pending his appeal: that is a matter for the court. But the Scottish Government does have the power, if it so chooses, to order his compassionate release from HMP Greenock because of the state of his health. See the Justice for Megrahi website.]
I don't think just the reputation of the Scottish judiciary and is at stake. If Megrahi is cleared and is seen to have been set up and the trial fixed, then surely there will be massive lawsuits against the US and UK by Libya and its people for all the suffering caused by the sanctions. This includes deaths caused by lack of medical supplies.
ReplyDeleteHence, the UK government will be doing everything and anything to get Megrahi to Libya but from what I've read it appears Megrahi wants to prove his innocence.
I've read that the Libyans say the prisoner exchange agreement is solely for bringing Megrahi home.
So how can the UK make sure he goes?
I read a member of the victim's family is going to visit Megrahi in prison. Why now? Is this discreet pressure?
I've read prostate cancer is common among Libyan men of Megrahi's age. But the timing of diagnosis worries me. It couldn't have happened at a more convenient time for the US and UK.
If these two governments were involved in such devious behaviour during the trial, then it wouldn't be impossible that this behaviour continues? The inquest of Princess Diana revealed tampering of samples.
What also concerns me is the timing of the bizarre announcement by Lord Fraser of Carmyllie that Dr Swire is suffering from Stockholm syndrome. Dr Swire has consistently looked for the truth and no doubt will continue to do. Smearing him has the effect of isolating him. It was a subtle move and one that I think was specifically engineered to dampen down any further investigation into the bombing once Megrahi has been sent to Libya.