The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, has responded positively to concerns expressed by the Celtic League about the deployment of the Irish Navy to help police a civil protest in North Mayo against plans to construct a gas pipeline.

The League had said:

"We feel it is unfortunate that the Irish government chose to deploy military personnel in circumstances where legitimate protest of a non violent nature was being used. It is clear that in the course of these protests civilians could have been detained by military personnel acting to assist the Irish police. Any persons detained would also have been required to be held in temporary custody prior to transfer to permanent custodial accommodation."

We also urged :

"the Council of Europe to take steps to ensure that regulation/agreement is reached with member States to ensure that the facility to utilise military personnel to assist the civil power is not abused And where such facility is required as part of paramilitary assistance to law enforcement then the military personnel are required to be trained as per Section VIII of the CPT standards. It is clear that the military personnel were neither trained nor resourced to fulfil this role and it is of grave concern that no COE guidance to deal with such a situation is available."

It is significant (see below) that the Secretary General has asked the Director General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs to examine the issue and we trust the COE will set standards so that members governments do not abuse the facility to use military forces in support of the Civil Power.

"Strasbourg, 10 November 2008

Dear Mr Moffatt

Thank you for your letter of 10 October in which you highlight the Celtic League's concerns about the deployment of military forces to assist the policing of protests about an onshore gas facility and pipeline at Broadhaven Bay in North Mayo.

I have forwarded your letter to the Director General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs so that he can examine whether this issue calls for a new standard-setting activity.

I note that you also copied your letter to the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), and I am sure the Committee will give due consideration to this matter.

Yours sincerely

Rt Hon Terry Davis"

See related article on Celtic News at:

(voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 13/11/08

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