Comments on The Pensive Quill: Shaker Aamer & Martin Corey -- different classes o...

Martin received the bad news yesterday that his ap...

2013-05-03T17:40:51.994+01:00

Martin received the bad news yesterday that his appeal to the Supreme Court in London was denied. It is unfashionable to me why the British government are taking him on - don't they see that this is just another in their long history of bad decisions that only serve to make the British appear uncaring and inhumane, and fan the flames of anti-British feelings? I am going to start a petition on Change.org calling for Martin's release. I hope all Pensive Quill readers will join me.

Dean You are spot on in relation to the prisoners....

2013-05-03T14:09:30.577+01:00

Dean
You are spot on in relation to the prisoners. Martin Corey has been refused the right to bring his appeal to the supreme court which effectively blocks him proceeding to the European court.
Sinn Fein settled for legislation that was underpinned by a notion of rehabilitation. In other words we were all criminals and deviants and society had to be guarded against us re/offending.

I'm afraid no matter what comparisons are made...

2013-05-03T13:25:33.323+01:00

I'm afraid no matter what comparisons are made the government are going to hide behind the legislation that was put in place for all prisoners released on licence this is creating problems across the board the comment at least people know how much time they have to serve is not true a large majority of people sentenced to ipp sentences with recomended and set tarrifs are on average 2-3 years over there tarrifs and the same goes with recalls and the reasons for being recalled its the legislation that needs challenging and I know I've said this before but believe the POWs should of been given pardons or amnesty for any act committed before the the signing of the GFA but I'm not the man who was behind bars just saying believe the negotiations could of gone further over the prison issues

Mackers, Given that there is problems with the pos...

2013-05-02T14:37:32.150+01:00

Mackers,
Given that there is problems with the poster can I just make people aware of tomorrow's book launch I know Lauretta will not mind.
The Rising of the Phoenix Was hailed by Belfast Republican Billy McKee, as the most authentic account ever written on the Battle of St Matthews in June 1970.
Now the author Sean O Coinn has released a revised edition, which will include a special tribute to Billy McKee now almost 92.
The New Addition of The Rising of The Phoenix will be launched in An Culturlann on Friday May 3rd at 11 am.
Anyone interested in the history of the recent conflict is welcome to attend this special occasion.

By the way, Alan, II first learned about the Hoode...

2013-05-02T14:30:50.637+01:00

By the way, Alan, II first learned about the Hooded Men from a friend who has been very active in leading the charge to close Guantanamo. He, too, is Irish American. We are not all complicit in our government's inhumane policies.

As I wrote earlier in my blog, the Hooded Men's case at the European Court of Human Rights was cited by John Yoo in the Torture Memos as confirmation that the US could, legally, engage in what he called " enhanced interrogation." The Court found that the Five Techniques to which the Hooded Men were subjected did not constitute torture. That ruling is at the basis of many democratic governments' use of such techniques.

I have read Cruel Britannia, and in fact, wrote ab...

2013-05-02T14:23:58.675+01:00

I have read Cruel Britannia, and in fact, wrote about the British use of torture in my doctoral dissertation. While I agree that their atrocities are widespread, I do think there is an ongoing bias against the Irish. Jane Ellison is not the first British politician to call for Aamer's release, though it may be politically expedient for her to do so. Her view is supported by the mainstream British press, by Amnesty International, and by many Americans, all of whom seem to Be oblivious to Martin Corey, Marian Price, and other Irish men and women being held held illegally in British jails.

As an Irish American, I feel compelled to tell their story, and that of the Hooded Men, in order to raise awareness of, and hopefully, support for, their situation. If we don't tell people what is going on, they will never know. Once we tell them, we can hold them accountable.

Alan, I would say the Lauretta Farrell's of th...

2013-05-02T12:22:14.453+01:00

Alan,
I would say the Lauretta Farrell's of this world would be highlighting injustice where ever they see it.
If one of the guards in Guantanomo is called Alan does that make you guilty also?

Guantanomo concentration camp is an inconvenient t...

2013-05-02T12:01:49.147+01:00

Guantanomo concentration camp is an inconvenient truth for irish Americans. Many of the guards there are Sullivan's, Mc Elroy's etc.

Lauretta, This piece serves to highlight the hypoc...

2013-05-02T11:17:51.562+01:00

Lauretta,
This piece serves to highlight the hypocrisy that is intrinsic to every aspect of how British justice is applied here.
Martin's situation is deeply worrying and serves as a massive contradiction to the notion that we are moving forward to anything remotely democratic.

My opinion although cynical is that the difference...

2013-05-02T11:06:36.522+01:00

My opinion although cynical is that the difference in these two cases, is not about The British ‘caring’ for one more than another although I see the point the writer is making. I see it as more a reflection of political realities. It is also relevant who takes the case on & where they raise the issue of the injustice against the said person.

Shaker Aamer's MP Jane Ellison has probably been forced to raise this case due to Realpolitik. I doubt she cares whether justice is done and Shaker is released or not. The reality is she is in a newly won seat that the Conservatives spent a lot of money and effort winning in a constituency which covers many working class areas of South London and has a recent history of electing Labour MP’s. Without a swing of over 5% in the last election to the Tories the seat would have remained Labour’s.

The last thing the Tories want is to lose this seat, so with this in mind it would be stupid for Ellison not to raise Shakers issue in the HOP. If not for the right reasons maybe more to be seen to appeal to her constituents from the Asian community who make up a sizeable voting minority and are as likely to be swing voters, not ideologically wedded to voting Labour like many working class people in London are.

Unlike Aamer, Martin Corey is from a constituency which is a safe seat. And a Unionist safe seat at that. No swing voters, few floating voters and no real political contest for that seat. The MP David Simpson would see no political gains for supporting Martin Corey’s release eg extra votes, or to cement the seat.

Sadly it seems unless cases of miscarriages of justice like Martin Corey, Shaker Aamer, Marian Price, The Craigavon Two and Willie Wong are seen as politically useful to their local MP, work to release them will be shouldered by activists, friends and organizations who sadly have little real effect on the people who have the power to resolve these injustices.

I hope both men are released immediately, returned to their families and compensated for their illegal imprisonment.

I think the first thing Lauretta should do is read...

2013-05-02T10:32:16.332+01:00

I think the first thing Lauretta should do is read Ian Cobains Cruel Britannia,if she has,nt already,this will give her a better understanding of Englands Machiavellian approach to the whole issue of torture and internment of those under its control.one thing for certain Lauretta and her colleagues must realise is that they are being lied to as well as the rest of us,and that really Westminster is not the bastion of democracy it like to portray itself to be,never was!