Ewan Crawford: Megrahi release was compassionate, not political
[Ewan Crawford was private secretary to John Swinney, the former leader of the Scottish National party and is now a lecturer in journalism at the University of the West of Scotland.]
When he released Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, the Scottish justice secretary made it clear he understood the pain his decision would cause the families of those killed in the Lockerbie atrocity.
"Those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive," said Kenny MacAskill.
The fact that Megrahi is still alive has clearly and understandably increased the anger of the relatives of his victims. But although recent revelations may have raised important questions for others, they do not challenge the original reasons given by the Scottish government for Megrahi's release.
Last August MacAskill said he had been told by doctors that Megrahi's terminal cancer was likely to kill him within three months but that "he may die sooner – he may live longer". Confronted with the best medical estimates at the time and in line with the Scottish justice system's allowance for release on compassionate grounds, the justice secretary made his decision.
The SNP government's opponents have since used a Scottish parliament committee to hold an inquiry into the decision in a tawdry attempt to gain domestic political advantage. Despite the predictable criticism of the procedures followed, even the opposition members admitted in their report that MacAskill's decision was made in good faith.
Now another inquiry is to be held on a grander stage – the US senate.
In all this, it is important to remember that the Scottish government specifically rejected the bid by Tripoli to transfer Megrahi to a Libyan jail. Indeed, in one of his first statements as Scottish first minister, Alex Salmond furiously criticised the way the British government had negotiated the prisoner transfer agreement. Fearing that a deal was being done behind their backs, Scottish ministers then tried, unsuccessfully, to secure an exclusion from that agreement for anyone involved in the Lockerbie air disaster...
Read entire article at Guardian (UK)
When he released Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds, the Scottish justice secretary made it clear he understood the pain his decision would cause the families of those killed in the Lockerbie atrocity.
"Those who have been bereaved cannot be expected to forget, let alone forgive," said Kenny MacAskill.
The fact that Megrahi is still alive has clearly and understandably increased the anger of the relatives of his victims. But although recent revelations may have raised important questions for others, they do not challenge the original reasons given by the Scottish government for Megrahi's release.
Last August MacAskill said he had been told by doctors that Megrahi's terminal cancer was likely to kill him within three months but that "he may die sooner – he may live longer". Confronted with the best medical estimates at the time and in line with the Scottish justice system's allowance for release on compassionate grounds, the justice secretary made his decision.
The SNP government's opponents have since used a Scottish parliament committee to hold an inquiry into the decision in a tawdry attempt to gain domestic political advantage. Despite the predictable criticism of the procedures followed, even the opposition members admitted in their report that MacAskill's decision was made in good faith.
Now another inquiry is to be held on a grander stage – the US senate.
In all this, it is important to remember that the Scottish government specifically rejected the bid by Tripoli to transfer Megrahi to a Libyan jail. Indeed, in one of his first statements as Scottish first minister, Alex Salmond furiously criticised the way the British government had negotiated the prisoner transfer agreement. Fearing that a deal was being done behind their backs, Scottish ministers then tried, unsuccessfully, to secure an exclusion from that agreement for anyone involved in the Lockerbie air disaster...