After Libya wallowed and stagnated for many years, they finally handed over two men wanted by the authorities in Scotland to stand trial for this horrific crime. Al-Megrahi was made to stand trial in a Scottish court, with a Scottish judge, in the Netherlands. Kind of odd arrangement, but it is the one that got Libya to hand him over.
After the trial, and the guilty verdict, Al-Megrahi was sentenced to life in a Scottish prison. His accomplice, Lamin Khalifah Fimah, was found innocent.
Of course, Al-Megrahi protested his innocence, and has since then lodged appeal after appeal to try to prove his innocence.
Up until recently, that is. At the beginning of August, he dropped his latest appeal upon hearing that it was possible he would be released on compassionate grounds, seeing as how he had terminal cancer.
After "consulting widely" Kenny McAskill, Scotlands justice minister (SNP), decided to release Al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds. An option available to the justice minister under Scottish law. He did not take the option that I think most would be comfortable with, and see hime included as part of a prisoner transfer arrangement, where he would be allowed to return to Libya, BUT he would have to serve out his sentence.
Since his release, many people have praised him for showing compassion in releasing Al-Megrahi since he has months to live, as doctors have said. However, many more have decided to slam the decision, branding it cowardly, or self-serving in various measures.
I for one think it was the wrong decision. After all, Jack Straw, as British justice minister, originally, was not to release Ronnie Biggs. He is a man who was involved in a "The Great Train Robbery" an attack that resulted in 1 person suffering major injuries, and ultimately died. However, was his death directly linked to the injuries? Likely, but not 100% proven. If Ronnie Biggs did not qualify for early release, then why Al-Megrahi? There is the historical issue, that ever since the creation of the United Kingdom, that Scotland had a seperate justice system, but surely, the British government could have talked with the Scottish government, and voiced its displeasure. However, the British government does not have the ability to block the move, since the Scottish judicial system is soley under the purview of Scotland.
Having said that, given that the Scottish government is run by the SNP, it is likely that they took a perverse view in the whole case. Given the SNP's desire for independance for Scotland, I can see them talking with the British government, and then taking the opposite line, just to show that they can be independant.
To make the whole situation even more unsavoury, was the pictures beamed around the world. After releasing him, various authorities said that this was a touchy subject, and asked Libya to act with sensitivity. Here is Libyan sensitivity.
Yes, many people greeting him as a hero as he walks off a flight to Libya. People waving Libyan flags and Scottish flags (which are not visible in this pic). Whilst there was no official word from the Libyan government over this, it is clear that there is tacit offical approval. After all, an airport is supposed to be a secure environment. Only cleared personnel allowed near an aircraft. Yet here we have hundreds of people mobbing the plane on the field, waving flags! The only way this could have happened is if security essentially waved them through! And why would security wave them through? If the order came down from a high enough level that would effectively circumvent international regulations on aircraft safety.
All very distasteful.
However, many people now believe that the release of Al-Megrahi was a trade-off, in return for lucrative business deals, though Gordon Brown has repeatedly denied this. For someone to keep denying this, he has to be on reasonably solid ground. Though I dont like Gordon Brown.
After the release, there was HUGE backlash from the public in the UK, and in the US. Most people where against this decision, and voiced their distaste for the decision made by McAskill. For example, the launching of the "boycottscotland.com" website, which is encouraging the boycotting of Scotland as a vacation destination, and of Scottish goods. Also, it is encouraging people from boycotting goods from the rest of the UK, as well as vacationing in the other home nations.
This is also quite wrong-headed.
Let us not forget, that whilst the British government could tell the Scottish government of their disapproval, the Scottish government is not under any obligation to listen. Given that the Scottish judicial system is totally independant from the system used in England and Wales, and in Northern Ireland. Also, the fact that the SNP currently makes up the government, probably makes it more likely that they would carefully listen to London, then do the exact opposite, just to make a point.
Given that, boycotting the rest of the UK is somewhat like me cancelling a vacation to Maine, just because I disagreed with a Florida's court to sentence someone to the death penalty. Maine has its own justice system, as does Florida. I cannot blame Maine for something Florida does, given Maine has no influence in the Florida system.
I personally believe that Al-Megrahi was convicted, and as such, should have served his punishment. Even though he has terminal cancer. It would have been humane to move him closer to his family under a prisoner swap deal with Libya, so his family could visit him, he should have remained in jail until his death. Of course, if he was found innocent upon appeal, then he could easily be released from a jail in Libya, straight into his family's arms. Until then, he is a convicted felon, and should have served his punishment.
A major plank in McAskills decision is that he has terminal cancer, and has a few short months left. Of course, what if he ends up living for years? Medicine still does not understand everything, and cannot predict with 100% accuracy the course a cancer will take. There is nothing stopping it from slowing down, and allowing him a few years before death.
So, for me, it was the wrong decision. By all means, show compassion and move him back to Libya to be near his family, but remember he is a convicted felon and should remain in jail until he serves his time. That option was on the table.
So, to people who are seriously considering boycotting Scotland, and the rest of the UK, I urge you to think again. The Scottish government is getting a hammering, almost daily. And just recently, lost a vote in the Scottish parliament condemming their handling of this issue. And let us not forget that Gordon Browns government and is on its last legs. Its popularity is crashing through the floor.
We will punish those responsible for this insane decision. It will take us some time (we dont rush to these things, here in the UK!), just wait for the next round of elections, and with great relish, we shall inflict the biggest punishment we can on a politician, and dump them out on the street!
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