06-05-2009, 03:34 PM
30 Apr 2009
Black bemoans lack of coverage as Lockerbie charade continues
Professor Robert Black has criticised the absence of media coverage on only the second day of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmad Al Megrahi's second appeal at the High Court, the first stage of which is expected to last up to four weeks, with the entire process anticipated to last up to a year.
The first day was heavily reported upon by TV networks and newspapers.
"An internet trawl of the UK, Scottish and foreign press discloses not a single report on the proceedings at the second day of the Lockerbie appeal," he says on his daily blog.
"This is disappointing but not really a surprise, given the experience at the original trial at Camp Zeist. Then, the press turned up in droves for the opening day, for "star" witnesses, like Edwin Bollier, Tony Gauci and Majid Giaka, and for the announcement of the verdict, but otherwise were conspicuous by their absence. The coverage, particularly in the Scottish media, was shockingly poor."
Black's comments coincide with widely publicised news that the prisoner transfer deal negotiated between the UK -but not Scotland- and Libya had been ratified. It was initially claimed by the UK Government that this deal was not reached for the purposes of accommodating Megrahi's pre-arranged transfer back to Libya. However, aside from Megrahi, there are no Libyan prisoners in Scottish jails.
The agreement has been constructed to ensure that if Megrahi accepts a transfer to a Libyan jail, he will first be obliged to drop his appeal, which would allow his current questionable conviction to stand, and avoid any hearing of exculpatory evidence.
It would also avoid the need for any inquiry into the true cause of the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. Last week, a private screening "by invitation only" was held at the Scottish Parliament of a Dutch made film promoting the heavily sponsored version of events promulgated by ex Mossad agent Juval Aviv - at the time working for US flag carrier Pan Am's insurers - which blames a Palestinian terror cell, the PFLP-GC for the event.
The screening was for a select group of MSPs and relatives of the deceased.
Even though the appeal was imminent and both Crown and defence teams had prepared their cases, the promoters of the film and the theory within it informed those present that the film may "impact greatly on the forthcoming appeal and the producers intend to make this material available to the Crown Office and to Mr Megrahi’s defence team." It is not known if they have done so, or if the Crown or defence are revising their cases accordingly.
Relatives of those killed in the incident were informed by the Crown Office, who wrote to the families of the victims, about the prisoner transfer agreement with Libya, and that the repatriation of Megrahi was therefore likely. On 20 April, the Scottish Government denied this was being considered.
Black bemoans lack of coverage as Lockerbie charade continues
Professor Robert Black has criticised the absence of media coverage on only the second day of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmad Al Megrahi's second appeal at the High Court, the first stage of which is expected to last up to four weeks, with the entire process anticipated to last up to a year.
The first day was heavily reported upon by TV networks and newspapers.
"An internet trawl of the UK, Scottish and foreign press discloses not a single report on the proceedings at the second day of the Lockerbie appeal," he says on his daily blog.
"This is disappointing but not really a surprise, given the experience at the original trial at Camp Zeist. Then, the press turned up in droves for the opening day, for "star" witnesses, like Edwin Bollier, Tony Gauci and Majid Giaka, and for the announcement of the verdict, but otherwise were conspicuous by their absence. The coverage, particularly in the Scottish media, was shockingly poor."
Black's comments coincide with widely publicised news that the prisoner transfer deal negotiated between the UK -but not Scotland- and Libya had been ratified. It was initially claimed by the UK Government that this deal was not reached for the purposes of accommodating Megrahi's pre-arranged transfer back to Libya. However, aside from Megrahi, there are no Libyan prisoners in Scottish jails.
The agreement has been constructed to ensure that if Megrahi accepts a transfer to a Libyan jail, he will first be obliged to drop his appeal, which would allow his current questionable conviction to stand, and avoid any hearing of exculpatory evidence.
It would also avoid the need for any inquiry into the true cause of the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie. Last week, a private screening "by invitation only" was held at the Scottish Parliament of a Dutch made film promoting the heavily sponsored version of events promulgated by ex Mossad agent Juval Aviv - at the time working for US flag carrier Pan Am's insurers - which blames a Palestinian terror cell, the PFLP-GC for the event.
The screening was for a select group of MSPs and relatives of the deceased.
Even though the appeal was imminent and both Crown and defence teams had prepared their cases, the promoters of the film and the theory within it informed those present that the film may "impact greatly on the forthcoming appeal and the producers intend to make this material available to the Crown Office and to Mr Megrahi’s defence team." It is not known if they have done so, or if the Crown or defence are revising their cases accordingly.
Relatives of those killed in the incident were informed by the Crown Office, who wrote to the families of the victims, about the prisoner transfer agreement with Libya, and that the repatriation of Megrahi was therefore likely. On 20 April, the Scottish Government denied this was being considered.
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Karl Marx
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.