Wednesday 4 December 2013

Scottish Cabinet Secretary haunted by Robertson Lockerbie novel

[The Sunday Herald this week ran the second part of its feature in which various Scottish figures select their favourite books of 2013.  Here is part of what two of them wrote:]

Ron Butlin, author: James Robertson's The Professor Of Truth (Hamish Hamilton, £16.99) is a masterly novel that not infrequently touches on the Lockerbie bombing. Fine storytelling, great characterisation and with no unnecessary detail, it is a compelling thriller that succeeds also as a work of quality literary fiction. 

Michael Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning: James Robertson is Scotland's literary chronicler par excellence, and his ability to make us feel uncomfortable but immensely better informed about the human condition is perfectly in evidence in The Professor Of Truth (Hamish Hamilton, £16.99), which is by far the best book I have read this year. Visual and cerebral, it still haunts me, months after I devoured it in a sitting.

[Would that Mike Russell would turn his very considerable gifts of persuasion to convincing his Scottish Government colleagues, and particularly the Scottish law officers, to do the right thing about Lockerbie and the shameful conviction of Abdelbaset Megrahi.]

7 comments:

  1. Well, it's a start. Mike Russell knows exactly what happened in the Shirley McKie case, probably better than any of us. And he's in a good place to exert influence.

    I'm deeply intrigued by the way art seems to be able to influence opinion in this sort of situation. We've now got three plays and a novel. David Benson's one-man performance was very factual, actually taking the form of a lecture in places. However the other two plays and Robertson's novel are fiction. Nevertheless they seem to be able to inspire people to question facts - especially the Ross play and The Professor of Truth.

    I'm not quite clear why this should be so, in particular in relation to Robertson's novel which is quite explicitly not about the facts of Lockerbie, but don't knock it.

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  2. MISSION LIFE WITH LOCKERBIE, 2013 - Go to new facts on ground ... (google translation, german/english):

    Carry the defense under, Alistair Duff Solicitor and Advocate William Taylor, from the beginning - the MAIN BLAME - that the court in Kamp van Zeist (2000/2001) were declared Libya and the official, Abdelbaset al Megrahi, are responsible for the bombing of PanAm 103 ?

    Libya made three stipulations, when agreeing to hand over the two accused to the Scottish police: that they would not be interviewed by the police; no one else in Libya would be sought for the bombing; and, that the trial should be before three Scottish judges, sitting without a jury. On 5 April 1999, over a year ahead of the start of the trial, Megrahi and Fhimah arrived in the Nederlands.

    For orienteering talks in May and June 1999, Erwin Meister, Edwin Bollier and eng. Ulrich Lumpert (MEBO Ltd) come together with (Solicitor Duff and and his other attorneys at law) in the Principality of Liechtenstein.

    At the first meeting, a documentary video was presented, together with explanations of Meister & Bollier.
    The lawyers were convincingly showed that the MST-13 timer fragment (PT/35) that allegedly found in Lockerbie, was of a manipulated fragment of a MST-13 timer circuit board (Prototype) descended.

    Solicitor Alistair Duff and his lawyers were recommended from Edwin Bollier, that the forensic examination must be made by international specialists also on explosive powder trace.

    The fragment (PT/35) between the MST-13 timer supplied to Libya and the MST-13 timer prototype circuit board, have clearly different technical characteristics.

    Was Bollier's suggestion blowing in the wind, by solicitor Alistar Duff - from the beginning on - deliberate ?

    To date, in the meantime, the Scottish Justice (Prosecution side) also blocked a examination of the crucial piece of evidence. The official concerned to know why !

    The MST-13 timer fragment (PT/35) by special expert to have them checked for 8 layers of fiberglass. The MST-13 timer "circuit boards" supplied to Libya, are fabricated from 9 layers of fiberglass.
    Scotland’s Shame...

    by Edwin Bollier, MEBO Ltd. Telecommunication Switzerland. Webpage: www.lockerbie.ch

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  3. Reminder:
    FBI Spezial Agent Richard A. Marquise led the U.S. Task Force which included the FBI, Department of Justice and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) - answered Gideon Levy's question:

    G.L.: Would you have a case if you wouldn't have these evidence (MST-13 timer) ?

    R.M.: Would we have a case. It would be a very dificult case to prove. It would be a very dificult case to prove ... I don't think we would ever had an indictment.

    And he said also: But I can tell you that now money was paid to any witness, any witness prior to the trial.
    No promise of money was made to any witness prior to the trial.

    G.L.: And was there paid any money after he trial?
    R.M.: I'm not gonna answer that.
    And he said: If someone manipulated evidence, if somebody didn't invesitgate something that should have been investigated, if somebody twisted it to fit up Megrahi or Fimah or Libya, then that person will go to jail. I mean that sincerely, that person should be prosecuted for that.

    by Edwin Bollier, MEBO Ltd

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  4. The Emperor has no clothes, but who dare say so?

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  5. Apparently only people you mock and despise, Dave. Go figure.

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  6. I've figured you out long ago

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  7. Well, suck it up, Dave, because I don't see you doing anything to help, here. Promoting John Barry Smith's misconceptions on an internet forum isn't going to change anything.

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