[This is the headline over a report by Lucy Adams published this evening on the HeraldScotland website. It reads as follows:]
The Crown Office has
written to relatives of victims of the Lockerbie tragedy about
allegations the man convicted of the bombing has somehow admitted his
guilt.
According to a Reuters interview at the start of the week, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi said: “The West exaggerated my name.” However, newspapers around the globe have quoted this to say that the West exaggerated his role.
The Crown Office letter to relatives states: “We are aware that Megrahi is reported as having said that his role in the Lockerbie bombing was exaggerated.
“Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary have been instructed to obtain the whole interview. The translation will be checked for accuracy. As always, we will provide you with more information as soon as it is appropriate to do so and answer as many of your questions as we can.”
Megrahi, released more than two years ago on compassionate grounds, has consistently denied involvement in the bombing.
An academic from the University of St Andrews told The Herald yesterday that the translation was different to that reported.
Dina Al Afranji, a teaching fellow at the Arabic department in the School of Modern Languages at the university, said: “In this extract, Megrahi says: ‘I am a very simple man, and the West made a great deal more of me’.”
Reuters stood by its translation of the interview.
According to a Reuters interview at the start of the week, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi said: “The West exaggerated my name.” However, newspapers around the globe have quoted this to say that the West exaggerated his role.
The Crown Office letter to relatives states: “We are aware that Megrahi is reported as having said that his role in the Lockerbie bombing was exaggerated.
“Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary have been instructed to obtain the whole interview. The translation will be checked for accuracy. As always, we will provide you with more information as soon as it is appropriate to do so and answer as many of your questions as we can.”
Megrahi, released more than two years ago on compassionate grounds, has consistently denied involvement in the bombing.
An academic from the University of St Andrews told The Herald yesterday that the translation was different to that reported.
Dina Al Afranji, a teaching fellow at the Arabic department in the School of Modern Languages at the university, said: “In this extract, Megrahi says: ‘I am a very simple man, and the West made a great deal more of me’.”
Reuters stood by its translation of the interview.
Did we expect otherwise and if so, why?
ReplyDeleteIt's all about context.
ReplyDeleteThe first three paragraphs of the interview read as follows:
On the truth of the bombing:
The head of the Lockerbie victims committee, Dr Jim Swire, has visited me in jail. The governor of the jail said this is the first time that the family of victims visited a person who is convicted for the case. He told me that we are not really convinced of your conviction. The facts will become clear one day and hopefully in the near future. In a few months from now, you will see new facts that will be announced. I don't want to speak about that because there are people who are looking after that themselves. They reached their conclusion already. The day before yesterday, Dr Swire sent me an email to tell that there is a new medicine. Poor guy, he is trying to help me. He told me how to get this medicine.
On Camp Zeist:
Camp Zeist Court is the smallest place on earth that contains the largest number of liars. I suffered from the liars at Camp Zeist Court more than you can imagine.
On the Libyan Revolution:
Don't get me into the mess of February, March or April. I'm a simple person - more simple than you can imagine. The West exaggerated my name. Please leave me alone. I only have a few more days, weeks or months. I wish from God that I will see my country united, with no fighting or war. I hope the bloodshed will stop in Libya. I wish all the best for my country.
It's perfectly clear that the 'exaggerated my name' phrase, whatever its exact meaning, was not said in the context of the Lockerbie bombing.
The Reuters report juxtaposed two quotes, without explicitly linking them:
"The facts (about the Lockerbie bombing) will become clear one day and hopefully in the near future. In a few months from now, you will see new facts that will be announced," he told Reuters Television over the pinging of medical monitors.
"The West exaggerated my name. Please leave me alone. I only have a few more days, weeks or months."
That was bad journalism, and it inevitably led to worse, with the two quotes joined together as a single paragraph, for instance by the Independent, which should know better.
There's a full transcript at http://news.stv.tv/scotland/273142-interview-with-lockerbie-bomber-full-transcript-megrahi-breaks-silence/
Pete
MISSION LOCKERBIE, 2011 (doc.nr.7039.rtf):
ReplyDeleteImportant persons, as crucial witness have to be called by Libya's 'NTC', for the follow-up investigation in the "Lockerbie Affair".
NAME of witness on the QUESTION LIST :
1) Richard Marquise, ex FBI Spezial Agent, led U.S. Task Force which included the CIA;
2) Mr. Steve Green, Assistant Administrator, Office Intelligence DEA -- he was present by end-loading the departing flight PA-103, parked at K14, at Heathrow;
3) Michael Hurley, ex DEA attache, Cyprus;
4) Stuart Henderson, U.K. ex Senior Investigation Officer (SIO);
5) Robert Fanning, former legal attache US embassy Bern CH;
6) Tomas Thurman, ex FBI, forensic expert in Washington;.
7) John Orr, Scottish police;
8) William Williamson, Scottish Police Officer (investigation);
9) Mr.*3XXXXXXX, CIA Fall Church Minn. USA;
10) Mr. P.L.4XXXXXXX, CIA Maryland USA;
11) Hassan Badri, owner of ex company. "ABH" formals in Zurich and Libya --ex friend of Abdelbaset Al Megrahi;
12) Det. James Gilchrist, U.K. Det. Superintendent James Gilchrist, Scottish police;
13) Tony Gauci, shopkeeper, Mary House at Malta;
14) Monique Saudan, ex Federal Judge of Switzerland;
15) alias* Peter Humert, ex "BUPO" ex Inspector of Federal Police of Switzerland;
16) alias* Hans Cretton, ex "BUPO" chief of Federal Police at Switzerland;
17) Eng. Ulrich Lumpert, ex eng. by MEBO Ltd. Switzerland;
18) Edwin Bollier, owner of MEBO Ltd. Switzerland;
19) Dr. David Fieldhous, ex. Scottish police, Scotland
20) Dr. Tomas Hayes RARDE, forensic expert;
21) UK Allen Faraday,"RARDE" forensic expert UK;
22) Giaka Abd al Majid, Libya agent for CIA, worked by Fhima (in LAA office) at Malta;
23) Lamin Khalifa Fhimah, ex station manager LAA at Malta Airport;
24) Harry Bell, Scottish police officer.
* correct name known...
by Edwin Bollier, MEBO Ltd. Switzerland. URL: www.lockerbie.ch