LA LIBIA HA IL DOVERE DI RISARCIRE LE VITTIME DELL’IRA
Jeffrey Donaldson, DUP, ha dichiarato che il governo ha l’obbligo morale di costringere la Libia a risarcire le vittime dell’IRA
Appoggiare la causa per un risarcimento multi-milionario alle vittime dell’IRA, sarebbe un modo per il governo britannico di riscattarsi dopo il rilascio dell’attentatore di Lockerbie, Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi.
Jeffrey Donaldson si è incontrato con gli ufficiali del Foreign Office, per pianificare una trasferta in Libia con alcuni parenti delle vittime dell’IRA in causa contro Gheddafi, per un faccia a faccia con l’amministrazione libica.
Essi chiedono un risarcimento per il ruolo della Libia nella fornitura di armi ed esplosivi all’IRA durante i Troubles.
Proprio all’inizio di questa settimana le autorità di Tripoli avevano dichiarato di essere in trattativa con la White Hall per un potenziale risarcimento e avevano lasciato intendere di essere vicini ad un accordo.
Donaldson ha dichiarato che è ora obbligo del governo il dover costringere Gheddafi a pagare.
“Senza l’aiuto, sia finanziario che in termini di formazione e di forniture di armi, delle autorità libiche, il Provisional IRA non avrebbe potuto portare avanti la sua campagna di terrore e criminalità o qualsiasi altra cosa a cui abbiamo assistito per 35 anni.”
“Persone innocenti in tutto il Regno Unito, hanno perso la vita perché i libici hanno armato, addestrato e finanziato l’IRA.”
Il governo libico “Non solo ha la responsabilità morale di risarcire le vittime britanniche per il loro sostegno al terrorismo dell’IRA, ma il nostro stesso governo ha un obbligo anche nei confronti di coloro che hanno sofferto”.
Jeffrey Donaldson ha poi aggiunto che il governo britannico ha ora l’occasione per dimostrare che la priorità è la giustizia per i cittadini del Regno Unito e non il petrolio.
The government has a moral obligation to press Libya for compensation for victims of Tripoli-backed IRA terrorism, according to DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson.
Backing a multimillion-pound claim against Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi would go some way to restoring the damage inflicted on the UK’s reputation by the Lockerbie bomber controversy, Mr Donaldson added.
The Lagan Valley MP called for action as he met with Foreign Office officials to discuss the logistics of taking a delegation of the bereaved relatives who are suing the Libyan leader to Tripoli for face-to-face talks with the administration.
They are seeking compensation for Libya’s role in providing arms and explosives to the IRA during the Troubles.
Earlier this week the authorities in Tripoli revealed they were in talks with White Hall about a potential pay out and hinted that a deal could be struck.
‘Duty’
Mr Donaldson said it was now the government’s duty to press Col Gaddafi to pay up.
“We are moving further down the line towards a delegation of victims going to Libya to have face-to-face talks about the culpability of that country,” he said after the meeting at the Foreign Office.
“Without the help, both financial and in terms of training and arms supplies, of the Libyan authorities, the Provisional IRA would not have been able to wage their campaign of terror and crime on anything like the scale that we witnessed for 35 years.”
“Innocent people throughout the United Kingdom lost their lives because the Libyans armed, trained and bank-rolled the IRA.”
“Not only do they have a moral responsibility to compensate the UK victims of their sponsorship of IRA terrorism, but our own government has an obligation to those who suffered also.”
Mr Donaldson was accompanied at the meeting by Labour MP for Thurrock Andrew MacKinlay, who is also a strong supporter of the families’ campaign.
The relatives’ calls for justice have intensified since the release last month of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi from a Scottish jail on compassionate grounds.
Mr Donaldson said he hoped to meet officials in the Libyan Embassy soon in order to set up the trip to Tripoli.
“Recent allegations that the government felt it was not in the UK’s strategic interest to keep the Lockerbie bomber detained in jail have damaged people’s perception of the government of our country in a major way,” he added.
“They have an opportunity here to prove that justice for UK citizens and not access to oil is their primary concern.”
“They need to extend every possible assistance to those who suffered as a consequence of the actions of the Libyan dictator.”
The Five Demands 