Scotland: Rendition flights - Miliband apology welcomed but more information needed
Responding to the Foreign Secretary David Miliband's apology for previously failing to inform the House of Commons and the UK public about two US "extraordinary rendition" flights that landed in 2002 at the UK overseas territory of Diego Garcia, Amnesty International Scottish Programme Director Director John Watson said:
"It’s right that David Miliband apologises for these new revelations.
"’Extraordinary rendition’ is a polite way of talking about kidnapping and secret detention and we’ve always called for the UK government to be transparent about any part the UK may have played in it.
"However we know that aircraft chartered by the CIA and linked to the rendition programme have frequently been spotted at Scottish airports such as Prestwick and Glasgow.
"It is not enough for the government simply to accept US assurances on correct behaviour in the ‘war on terror - we should retain our own integrity and act accordingly. David Miliband should put on the record the government’s absolute condemnation of the US practice of ‘extraordinary rendition’ and all kidnapping and secret detention in the ‘war on terror’."
To make it more difficult for ‘rendition’ planes to use Scottish airspace or facilities in the future Amnesty International has called on the Scottish Government to adopt an anti-rendition policy for the eleven airports it owns and operates and we will be meeting with civil servants to discuss this proposal.
Amnesty International has published several reports on US "extraordinary rendition" flights, including numerous flights that have landed at UK and Irish airports. The organisation has longed called for more information and guarantees from the UK government on this serious human rights abuse.
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