Dear Irish Friends – The Washington Post has today published a
letter I submitted in response to a puff piece – total BS — by UK Foreign
Minister Dominic Raab. My letter calls him out on the Criminal Conduct
Bill, the soldier amnesty bill, and the denial of the Finucane inquiry.
I include the digital version below for your information, and it can be seen on-line here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/human-rights-in-britain-should-start-at-home/2021/01/03/dfacba8c-4ad6-11eb-97b6-4eb9f72ff46b_story.html
Raab’s lies to which my letter responds can be viewed here. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/12/26/uk-eu-brexit-deal-trade-dominic-raab/
You will be heartened to know that the digital version of Raab’s column generated a huge number of withering comments on-line ripping him for his audacity. I include several here for your reading pleasure:
“If this was
such a good idea, why did you have to sell it to the people by lying?
And why do you continue to do so to this day?”
“Global power? In your wildest dreams, Raab. Brexit is a destructive and stupid policy. I’m British-born (England) and don’t blame Scotland for wishing to leave the UK.”
“Mr. Raab grovels well for Little Britain.”
“Naturally, this UK government mouthpiece says it like he has a magic wand at the ready but Brexit will prove to be a disaster.”
This is significant because the Post, like the NY Times, has long viewed the “Empire” through rose-colored glasses. There have been several recent indications that both publications are beginning to have the scales fall off their eyes. Publishing my letter is another step along the way. Several comments supporting my letter have also appeared, with one exception – a Brit called me a “plastic” Irishman!! Considering the source, I consider it a complement!
Human rights in Britain should start at home
Jan. 3, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EST
In his Dec. 29 Tuesday Opinion essay, “Britain is still a global force for good,” British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab suggested that Britain is committed to human rights.
Three recent actions illustrate the United Kingdom’s ongoing hostility to human rights. First, on Oct. 16, Parliament passed the “Criminal Conduct” bill, which will allow its military intelligence agencies and police to commit murder, torture and rape with impunity, outside the constraints of the criminal justice system. Second, the British government is considering legislation that would exempt all military personnel from prosecution for crimes against civilians. Third, on Nov. 30, the U.K. announced it would not hold a public inquiry into the state-assisted murder of Northern Ireland civil rights lawyer Patrick Finucane, despite the U.K. Supreme Court ordering the inquiry and a promise from former prime minister David Cameron to do so. Mr. Finucane was shot at his dinner table by paramilitary thugs acting in collusion with British military agents.
Last month, 15 human rights organizations called out the Conservative Party’s policy calling for repeal of the Human Rights Act. Britain a global force for good? The world should not be blinkered by Mr. Raab’s propaganda.
Peter Kissel, Washington
The writer is national president of the Irish American Unity Conference.
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