[This is the headline over an article in today's edition of The Scotsman. It reads in part:]
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is under pressure to prove the Lockerbie bomber is close to death, with the six-month anniversary of his release coming up next week.
There are increasing calls for Mr MacAskill to publish the latest medical reports on Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. (...)
Until this week, Mr MacAskill refused to confirm whether he was monitoring Megrahi's health. And last week when asked in the Scottish Parliament about Megrahi's health by Labour MSP Lord George Foulkes, Mr MacAskill compared people waiting for the terrorist's death to "vultures".
In a written answer to Lord Foulkes published this week, the minister has admitted he is receiving updates from East Renfrewshire Council which has responsibility for checking whether Megrahi is following the terms of his conditional release and monitoring his health.
Lord Foulkes said: "I think that Mr MacAskill is getting more nervous. He may accuse people of being vultures for taking an interest in this, but I think he realises that the longer Megrahi lives, the more ridiculous his flawed decision to release him looks."
Lord Foulkes is also demanding that medical reports received on Megrahi are made public to provide evidence that Megrahi really only has a short time to live.
The demand has been rejected by the Scottish Government.
A spokesman for Mr MacAskill said: "The justice secretary sent Mr al-Megrahi back to Libya to die based on the recommendations of the Parole Board and prison governor, and the medical report submitted by the Scottish Prison Service director of health and care.
"As was said at the time, he may die sooner or may live longer, but he is dying of terminal prostate cancer."
[The evidence that the newspaper provides for there being "increasing calls" for publication of medical reports is a question and comment by a single MSP, Lord Foulkes, a well-known Labour rent-a-quote.
The many readers' comments that follow the article on the newspaper's website provide perhaps a more accurate reflection of Scottish public opinion on the issue.
A letter from Malcolm Ewen published in The Scotsman on 11 February, reads as follows:]
At no time has justice secretary Kenny MacAskill said the Lockerbie bomber, Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, "had less than three months to live" (your report, 10 February). Lord George Foulkes's belief that Mr MacAskill "is getting more nervous" because Megrahi is still with us almost six months on is unlikely, given that he followed the correct procedure on compassionate release.
Mr MacAskill actually said: "A report ... from the director of health and care of the Scottish Prison Service indicates that a three-month prognosis is now a reasonable estimate."
If a government is capable of framing an entirely innocent man then it is just as capable of concocting the release of that man particularly if its back is up against the wall.
ReplyDeleteWhich government would that be, then?
ReplyDeleteIn a conspiracy not one person is given total responsibility for the illicit action. Along the chain each participant in the deception can put the responsiblilty on the next link and then when the final one is reached the conspirators can wash their hands.
ReplyDeleteLord Foulkes: never one to miss an opportunity to publicise himself. When he was at university with a close colleague of mine, he apparently informed her that he intended to seek out a career in parliament, however, although he was a dyed in the wool Tory, he was going to join the Labour Party on the grounds that he stood more chance of advancing himself with them. One would have thought that having been booted upstairs, he would no longer feel the need to score cheap points on 'safe' topics. It seems though that he just can't kick the habit.
ReplyDeleteAnd there was I thinking that George Foulkes had my best interests at heart, when he asked this PQ in January 1989:
ReplyDeleteMr Foulkes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date Mr Patrick Haseldine was suspended on full pay; what further disciplinary action has been taken since that date; what further action he proposes; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Eggar: Mr Haseldine was suspended on full pay on 7 December 1988. In accordance with diplomatic service regulations, the matter will shortly come before a disciplinary board.