LETTER TO EDITORS -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Sat, Aug 25 2007, 22:11:31 PDT
Author: Oct. 5th. Assoc.
Subject: LETTER TO EDITORS
In reply to: N.B-Contact details 's message, "Stop R�isin's Extradition" on Sat, Aug 25 2007, 19:26:26 PDT

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

A Chara,

I write to you as Hon. Secretary of the Derry-based October 5th Association regarding Roisin McAliskey, whose possible extradition to Germany is a cause of grave concern to our world-wide network of 1968 civil rights veterans and supporters. The manner, in which this Irishwoman has been pursued by the German prosecuting authorities over this past ten years, in the considered opinion of many is inhumane, unjust and oppressive.

Our position is supported by the fact that detailed investigation by human rights campaigners and journalists ten years ago revealed that the evidence on which her extradition was sought was deeply flawed. As far back as March 1998 even the Secretary of State at the Home Office finally exercised his authority to stop the proceedings and refused to extradition on the grounds that it would be �unjust and oppressive� to permit such. In July 2000, the British Solicitor General reported to the British parliament that having considered whether to prosecute McAliskey for the offences allegedly committed in Germany, in 1996, the Crown Prosecution Service had concluded that there was no realistic prospect of conviction. He cited insufficient evidence and �abuse of process�. In spite of all this the German government is still attempting to extradite her.

It is also our strongly held view that it remains unjust and oppressive to continue to seek the extradition, to a country she has never visited, of a palpably innocent mother of two young children who has been diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of her prolonged ordeal. Such stretches back to when she was pregnant and ill when initially arrested after which she was held in custody for 15 months. During that time the conditions of her detention were so appalling that Amnesty International and several other human rights organisations, including our own, demanded immediate release.

We would appeal to other veterans and supporters of the civil rights cause, as well as your readers to learn more about the background to this case in the hope that they too will become convinced of the need for a public campaign. We therefore cordially invite all interested parties to visit the campaign website at:

http://www.friendsofroisinmcaliskey.info/index.asp

Thanking you all for your kind attention to this correspondence.

E-mail: rights.civil@googlemail.com
Name and Address supplied.

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Replies:

IA-PL BACK CAMPAIGN -- CR Vets, Mon, Aug 27 2007, 15:20:39 PDT