The Lockerbie Divide

May I direct everyone to a new blog created by Caustic Logic entitled "The Lockerbie Divide". This exceptional site is meticulous in it's examination of the Lockerbie trial conducted at Camp Zeist in the Netherlands, the evidence that was presented and the subsequent conviction of Libyan Al-Megrahi.

Those with little or no knowledge of the investigation and trial can take those first tentative steps into the the quagmire of whole Lockerbie case, while those with a more intimate knowledge, are presented and indeed invited, to dig deeper into the investigation and examine the conclusions that followed.

The Lockerbie Divide and it's author Caustic Logic provide an opprtunity to address the gulf which exists between many observers, and sadly also between many of the families of those who were so brutally murdered on Pan Am 103, and their opinions on Megrahi and how the court reached it's verdict at Camp Zeist.

The Maltese Double Cross (1994) - Lockerbie

The Maltese Double Cross was written, directed and produced by the late Allan Francovich.

Faced with threats of legal action, it has been given scant exposure in the UK and the US. It was shown on Channel 4 in the UK in 1995 and was followed by a discussion on the issues the film raised. This was chaired by Sheena McDonald and included Allan Francovich, Jim Swire, Sir Teddy Taylor, Jim Duggan, David Leppard and Oliver 'Buck' Revel. Sadly, the discussion subsequent to the film is not included below.

This is however the best version of the 1994 film available.

Call for UN Enquiry into Lockerbie Disaster.

“Justice must prevail beyond all other considerations. Beyond politics, convictions, religion, even compassion (and certainly expedience), regardless of one's sympathies, JUSTICE must be the banner that unites us. This is more than pity for a dying man, this is a demand for justice.” (Danton de Vouvray)

Leading figures from politics, law, journalism and relatives of those who died over Lockerbie have today issued an open letter to the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations calling for an extensive and thorough public enquiry into all aspects of the Lockerbie disaster.

The published letter:

In light of the abandonment of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi’s second appeal against conviction for the bombing of Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbie with the loss of 270 people, both passengers and citizens of Lockerbie, on the twenty-first of December nineteen eighty-eight, we, the undersigned, hereby formally submit that the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation institute a full public inquiry, under the provisions of Article 22 of its Charter, into:

• the investigation of the destruction of the aircraft,

• the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the event conducted in 1991,

• the subsequent trial of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi and Lamin Khalifa at Camp van Zeist

• both of Mr al-Megrahi’s appeals and the circumstances surrounding the dropping of his second appeal.

We believe that a United Nations public inquiry into the above should call witnesses who have been both directly and indirectly involved to give testimony and account for their actions, decisions and opinions relating to these events.

Amongst others, such an inquiry ought ideally to draw on individuals from:

• Dumfries and Galloway Police and other UK police forces involved in the investigation,

• the security services and other governmental agencies of nations involved either at first hand or tangentially in the investigation,

• members of the legislatures of nations involved either at first hand or tangentially in the investigation,

• the Scottish Judiciary,

• the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission,

• legal counsel involved in the Zeist trial and subsequent appeals, to the extent permitted by legal professional privilege,

• witnesses from the original Zeist trial list, both those who testified and those who were on the list but not called to testify,

• forensic scientists involved in the investigation (particularly from the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment, UK),

• and informed experts whose independent research has led them to develop alternative theories concerning the destruction of the aircraft.

Whilst we are aware that, under the terms of Article 22 of the Charter, a United Nations General Assembly inquiry does not possess within its gift the power to subpoena witnesses to testify, we nevertheless feel that such an initiative could make a valuable and highly significant contribution towards removing many of the deep misgivings which persist in lingering over this tragedy.

Now that Mr al-Megrahi has dropped his second appeal and been repatriated to Libya to spend what time is left to him with his family, one of the last best hopes that existed to establish the facts of this disputed and sorry event once and for all has evaporated.

Whether or not he is guilty, the alleged abuse of Maltese sovereignty by foreign investigators employing illegal wire-taps, the question mark over the reputation of Luqa airport, the break-in to Heathrow airside shortly prior to Pan Am 103’s fateful departure, in addition to allegations of:

• tampering with material evidence,

• financial and other inducements in order to secure desired testimony,

• harassment of potential witnesses to dissuade them from coming forward at the Zeist trial,

• the with-holding of evidence from the defence counsel at Zeist,

• political obfuscation and serious economies with the truth have dogged this affair from the very outset and cast considerable doubt over the safety of the Zeist verdict.

We now appeal to the General Assembly of the United Nations, which we consider to be an eminently suitable platform under the circumstances given the international nature of events, to take the appropriate steps to set the record straight.

Although we are also fully cognisant that further investigation of this tragic occurrence over twenty years ago will yet again bring pain to the victims’ families and friends, we are confident that they too will wish to see matters concluded beyond reasonable doubt.

We do this in the hope of restoring the stature of justice following what has been described as being: ‘a spectacular miscarriage of justice’ (Professor Hans Köchler, International Observer appointed by the United Nations for the trail at Camp van Zeist).

Our faith in justice ultimately prevailing now lies in the hands of the United Nations.

Signed:

Mr John Ashton(Co-author of Cover-up of Convenience: The Hidden Scandal of Lockerbie).

Mrs Jean Berkley(Co-ordinator UK Families Flight 103 and mother of Alistair Berkley: PA103 victim).

Professor Robert Black QC(Commonly referred to as the Architect of the Camp van Zeist Trial).

Professor Noam Chomsky(Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Mr Tam Dalyell (Member of Parliament: 1962 – 2005, Father of the House: 2001 – 2005).

Mr Ian Ferguson(Co-author of Cover-up of Convenience: The Hidden Scandal of Lockerbie).Mr

Robert Forrester(Justice for Megrahi Campaign committee member).

Mr Ian Hislop(Editor of Private Eye: one of the UK’s most highly regarded journals of political comment).

Father Pat Keegans(Lockerbie Parish Priest at the time of the bombing of Pan Am 103).

Mr Iain McKie(Retired Police Superintendent and justice campaigner).

Heather Mills(Reporter for Private Eye specialising in matters relating to Pan Am flight 103).

Denis Phipps(Aviation security expert).

Mr Steven Raeburn(Editor of The Firm, one of Scotland’s foremost legal journals).

Doctor Jim Swire(Justice campaigner. Dr Swire’s daughter, Flora, was killed in the Pan Am 103 incident).

Mr Abdullah Swissy(Former President of the Libyan Students’ Union in Scotland and Libyan Student Affairs of the Libyan Students’ Union, UK Branch).

Sir Teddy Taylor(Former Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland and Member of Parliament from 1964 to 2005).

Mr Bob Watts(Businessman and Justice for Megrahi committee member).

http://lockerbiecase.blogspot.com/2009/09/open-letter-to-president-of-general.html

http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/1706/Firm_joins_Chomsky%2C_Dalyell_and_others_to_petition_UN_General_Assembly_to_open_Pan_Am_103_inquiry.html

Lockerbie letter to all 129 MSP's

A letter, sent to all 129 MSP's from solicitor Anthony Robson, has been published on the website of The Firm Magazine.

Dear all

This email is being sent to every MSP simply to express my disquiet at the reaction amongst many of you to the decision to release Abdul Baset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds.

What troubles me most is the censure of Kenny MacAskill. I am not an SNP supporter, but the vitriol poured Mr MacAskill's way seems somewhat misdirected. The simple fact of the matter is that the focus seems to have been placed on the release itself, of a man which we hear referred to often as 'a man CONVICTED of a terrible crime', rather than a man who IS guilty.

I'm well aware that a small number of you may know the real truth and are clearly therefore quite happy to lie to the general public.

But the questions being asked seem couched in nothing other than self- interest, appeasement of political alignment, and a strange feeling that you're trying to keep the Americans happy. What you're not asking (and this is directed towards Mr MacAskill as well who avoided the issue entirely) is this, "Was al-Megrahi actually guilty?" How many of you have read the report from the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission? I would recommend you also acquaint yourself with writing on the matter by Dr Jim Swire (whose daughter died on the Pan Am flight).

I'm sure each and every one of you went into politics thinking you could help people and make a difference (at least, I certainly hope you did). When the Scottish parliament came into being we were promised a new sort of politics, but I hate to have to tell you, all too often Holyrood descends into mini-Westminster. The unthinking way in which many of you have responded to the release of Mr al-Megrahi; the willingness to condemn an act of compassion, something sadly lacking in our world today; the political interference in what is, after all, a legal situation (separation of the judiciary and legislature anyone?); the rote repetition of words coming from across the water and from the head of the FBI (now if ever there was someone who would know the actual truth).

Not one of you appears to have asked the question. And if the television pictures or newspaper columnists didn't pick you up asking the question then you have not been asking loudly enough and I would urge you not just to ask, but to shout. Regain some integrity, show us that you are actually endowed with the intelligence that we like to think those in power actually have. As Joe Public we have little chance to get the message across, or ask the questions in ways in which they might be answered, or cause the truth to leak out. YOU DO.

So stop being a simpering coward (for, I am afraid, this IS simple cowardice). Forget about the safety of your seat or the disapproval of your peers, and remember why you got involved in politics in the first place.

I implore you to search your conscience, and to apply some rational thought, read the information which is out there, and instead of indulging in childish playground name-calling breathe some fresh air into the Scottish political scene and be HONEST, to us and to yourselves.

I have no idea if any of you will read this far, or if you will be happy for your staff filtering this out for you. If you have read this far then I can credit you with independent thought. Back that up now by looking at the facts, the evidence which was placed before the court which should not have been (having already been wholly discredited), the evidence that was NOT placed before the court that was made available but ignored, and wake up to the fact that covering up is simply papering over the cracks.

It does no credit to Scotland as a country; no credit to the judicial system; and no credit to you as a body. At present the hatred of many of the families MAY be directed at an innocent man (only a thorough, and open, investigation of the facts could show that either way), and I have no pride in being part of a system that effectively colludes to mask the reality from those who are still grieving. Whatever reason you have for either hiding the truth, or ignoring the holes in the case that stare up so clearly, that reason can never be as strong as the reason the relatives of those who died have for wanting, and deserving, the truth.

YOU are stopping that happening. Do something about it instead of grandstanding. Because at the moment you are complicit, and I for one could not look at myself in the mirror if I knew I was capable of raising merry hell about this in the way you can, but appear to be content not to.

STOP asking the wrong questions; STOP clouding the issue by diverting attention to Mr MacAskill; START acting like grown-up, intelligent, querying, adults.

Yours sincerely
Anthony Robson

http://www.firmmagazine.com/features/597/Take_that,_Parliament!_.html

Libyan Takeaway

This weeks Private Eye magazine, who have long followed the Lockerbie case and Megrahi's conviction, carries a report on this weeks events.


Earlier this year the Eye predicted that the Scottish courts would hear only a small part of the appeal of Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi before it would be abandoned and he would return to Libya to die with his family. Meghari’s release was on the cards for some time.

That was ensured by Jack Straw, the justice minister, sticking up two fingers at parliament’s human rights committee and rushing through the prisoner transfer deal with our new best friend, Muammar Gaddafi.

After all, the deal suited all the main players, cementing relations with Libya as well as halting an appeal that threatened to prove a major embarrassment to both the UK and US governments.

News last week that Megrahi was to be returned on ‘compassionate grounds’, because he was dying of cancer, briefly raised hopes that his appeal could continue in his absence. But that was never going to be allowed to happen, and Megrahi, who had always said he would never return to Libya until his name was cleared, duly dropped his appeal.

The casualty is justice and the truth about the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, which claimed 270 victims. For as readers of the Eye’s special report by Paul Foot in 2001 are well aware, Megrahi’s trial was a travesty.

continued here - http://www.private-eye.co.uk/sections.php?section_link=in_the_back&

Lockerbie : Abandonment of Appeal Granted

The only man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing, Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, today had his application to drop his appeal granted by the Judges at Edinburgh's High Court.

It brings to an end a nineteen year claim of innocence by Megrahi. He is suffering from terminal cancer which his representative, Maggie Scott QC stated in court today, had deteriorated significantly recently and Mr Megrahi "has now reached the terminal stage and my client's condition has recently worsened very considerably." The court however, was astonished to learn that the Lord Advocate, despite being aware of the intention of abandonment since August 12th, is still to advise with regards to the Crowns appeal against sentence. A date was set for 3 weeks time to determine the decision. This is nothing short of scandalous, and in keeping with the whole judicial process and the crowns exploits during the appeal, does not surprise many observers.

After nearly 21 years, time and the truth, have finally ran out on justice for the Lockerbie victims.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/8205528.stm

Lockerbie and The Maltese Double Cross

Lesley Riddoch recalls the first attempts to show THE MALTESE DOUBLE CROSS. The film, derided by many and wholly rejected by the governments involved, suggests what many feel is a more plausible sequence of events and lays the blame for the Pan Am bombing at the door of the PFLP-GC.


First public showing in the UK, the Glasgow Film Theatre, 17.11.94

In 1994 the London Film Festival dropped its planned screening of the Maltese Double Cross – a documentary blaming Iran not Libya. I wondered why. And as Assistant Editor of the 'Scotsman' (newspaper) at the time, I felt an obligation to DO something. After all, Lockerbie, still fresh in Scottish minds six years after the bombing -- was the biggest ever terrorist atrocity on British soil. And back then, there was still no agreement about who was to blame.

So I suggested to the then Scotsman editor Andrew Jaspan that we should arrange to show it instead – and he agreed. That was just the start of the hard work to make it legally possible!

I sat with a reporter for a full week checking claims made by the controversial American film-maker Allan Frankovich.

Scotsman lawyers needed sight of relevant documents and sworn affidavits from interviewees – including one that was finally faxed through by a witness living in hiding in Sweden. After three small edits, the film was "legalled" and ready but our booked venue in Edinburgh had suddenly discovered a double-booking. The Glasgow Film Theatre stepped in -- though they too received phone calls threatening legal action from men purporting to be lawyers for one of the American Drug Enforcement Agency officials named in the film.

Continued here - http://www.lesleyriddoch.co.uk/2009/08/the-maltese-double-cross.html

Recall of Scottish Parliament Over Lockerbie Rejected

Today's Guardian newspaper in the UK reports that "opposition politicians round on justice minister Kenny MacAskill as he prepares to decide whether to release Abdelbaset al-Megrahi".

Full story here - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/aug/17/lockerbie-bomber

It comes as little surprise that this demand for a parliament recall, has been rejected.

Scottish Justice and Reputation Lies in Tatters

There are winners in this game of judicial manipulation, international power brokering, backroom deals and media management.

It is not the victims of Pan Am 103.

It's not the relatives of those who died, whom have persued the truth with integrity and honesty.

It is not Al-Megrahi who will forever be deemed the 'convicted Lockerbie bomber'.

And it is most certainly not the Scottish justice system, which, after being viewed by the outside world as weak and subservient, is now irreparably plunged into the shadows of corruption, devoid of all morals and functioning solely at the behest of realpolitik.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/almegrahi-pressured-into-abandoning-appeal-1772156.html

The Price Scotland Will Pay For Lockerbie

If the rumours circulating that the only man convicted of the bombing of Pan Am 103 will eventually drop his appeal in return for his repatriation home under 'compassionate release', Scotland's judicial system will be stained forever. We have been assured by the Scottish Justice Department that Megrahi has not been pressured into making the decision to drop his appeal in exchange for 'compassionate release.' However, the rule of law has long been abandoned in this case.

History will judge the whole investigation, the court case and the resulting inexplicable judgement with disbelief and shame. Those empowered within the judicial and political system, will be for the most part, viewed as party to the most monumentally unjust criminal trials and one of the most disgraceful legal episodes in all of Scotland's history. When truth, justice for all the victims and the fundamental democratic structures in society were suppressed in favour of political expedience.

Over 20 years later, the truth, and hope that the true perpetrators will ever be held responsible, has been vanquished. From this forlorn position we can only hope future generations will ensure the police, political and judicial processes are reformed and strengthened to never again allow external influences, no matter how powerful or manipulative, to deviate the due process of law and social democracy.

A Public Enquiry, which may be the final bastion, and something that many have called for since the tragedy in 1988, would be the first small step to remedy Scotland's deficient political and justice system.

Those responsible, if not accountable, for the improper conduct in the initial investigation and court proceedings would be exposed, while pathing the way for what truths can still be discovered in who was responsible for ordering the bombing of Pan Am 103.

If this is not for the immediate benefit of all in Scotland, as is likely given the wrongdoing it will reveal, then at the very least for the victims and their tolerent families who have undergone the greatest of heartache and frustration throughout this whole debacle.

Non-Disclosure of Evidence.

The Firm Magazine has recently carried reports indicating that Lothian and Borders Police Criminal Investigation Department are examining claims by MSP Christine Grahame relating to the conduct of Crown Agent Norman McFadyen in the Lockerbie case. Whether this relates to Mr McFadyen's conduct during the first trial at Zeist or specifically to the current long running appeal of the 'convicted' Lockerbie bomber Al-Megrahi, or indeed both, is unclear.

It has been reported by the Herald newspaper in Scotland that during the trial at Zeist one of the leading members of the prosecution team and now Crown Agent, Mr McFadyen, had viewed evidence in the possession of the US government and the CIA, and had signed a non-disclosure agreement on June 1, 2000, thus withholding known evidence from the court or the defence team. This was not the first occasion that the representative to the Crown had been accused of such impropriety.

In 2005, the political commentator and activist Mark Thomas wrote, "On 12 October 2005, a court began hearing the appeals of two Scottish men, Billy Allison and Steven Johnston, who were convicted of the murder of Andrew Forsyth in a frenzied attack in November 1995. During the trial the jury was told that "to bring home a conviction against Steven Johnston, the deceased would require to have died on Friday 3 November".

Forsyth's body was found on 9 November, and in 1996 Johnston was banged up for life for the killing. So was Allison.

However, evidence has come to light that Forsyth did not die on 3 November 1995. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission found four witness statements by people who claimed they had seen Forsyth alive days after the date police said he had died. This is crucial. If Forsyth was alive after that date, why did the court convict Johnston of killing him?"

The eyewitnesses who gave statements included a newsagent, who claimed Forsyth came into his shop for a paper on 4 November. Another man saw Forsyth drinking in a bar on 8 November, five days after he is supposed to have died."

Crucially, the police did not disclose these statements to the defence team. Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, the former Lord Advocate, said that "at best this is unacceptable bumbling incompetence, and at its worst . . . it may be criminal".

Equally alarming is that the Scottish Crown Office knew the police had withheld the crucial witness statements back in February 1997.

Having previously claimed that "all statements taken by the police in this case" had been handed to the Procurator Fiscal, Deputy Crown Agent Norman McFadyen wrote on 3 February 1997: "It is now clear that the information which I had previously conveyed to you in my letter . . . was inaccurate and misleading in relation to the retention of the results of the enquiries of the police and the taking of statements."

If the authorities knew of the missing witness statements in 1997 why have these men waited until 2005 to get an appeal? This is not the first time police have withheld or "lost" evidence in criminal trials.

Perhaps the most notorious case was that of John Kamara, wrongly jailed for the murder of a Liverpool bookmaker. Kamara served 19 years in prison before being freed on appeal, when the police found a flabbergasting 201 witness statements proving that he could not have committed the murder. These 201 statements had not been released to the court."


It would seem that together with many of the prosecution teams discredited and contradictory witnesses presented at Zeist and Lord Frasers's comments regarding the previous conduct of the deputy crown agent were taken so seriously that promotion was the reward for such actions. It is little wonder that The Firm magazine now reports that a 'veil of secrecy' has been thrown over the current investigation into the allegation made by Ms Grahame's on the Crown agents conduct in the Lockerbie case.

http://www.markthomasinfo.com/section_writing/default.asp?id=13

http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/1633/Police_%22News_Managers%22_throw_veil_of_secrecy_over_McFadyen_C.I.D._investigation.html

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1730667.0.0.php

The Truth, Trust, Inconsistencies and Contradictions of Lockerbie.

Since the release of the Dutch TV documentary, "Lockerbie:Revisted", a number of curious unexplained inconsistencies in the accounts given by many of those who led the investigation have remained unchallenged. Officially anyway. The documentary maker Gideon Levy asked a number of important questions, crucial to the investigation and pivotal to the whole case, which were quite clearly not satisfactorily answered. Even more astounding, given the position and power of those in the investigation, some of the answers given by those entrusted to find those guilty of the bombing in 1988 directly conflicted with one another.

Mr Levy's first unexplained question relates to the PFLP-GC cell which was exposed by the German BKA and who's members were arrested in Neuss, Germany in October 1988, two months before the Pan Am bombing. They had been discovered with an array of weapons including a radio cassette manipulated into a bomb designed specifically for targeting aircraft. The key member of this group Marwan Khreesat, seemingly known to be the bomb maker, and part of a group planning on attacking American targets, was inexplicably released without charge and was thought to have left Germany for Jordan. After the bombing over Lockerbie, and it was determined that the bomb had been concealed in a radio cassette player, naturally suspicion focussed on the cell that had been exposed in Germany.

Lord Fraser, the former Lord Advocate entrusted in leading the investigation into the bombing, claims that the Scottish authorities were never given the opportunity to question Khreesat at any point with regard to any connection or knowledge about the Lockerbie bombing. Mr Khresat's involvement with the PFLP group and yet subsequent release can only be explained by deducing he was involved with very powerful individuals with the capability of securing such a release, and we can only conclude that the chance to question him was denied due to Khreesat's complex and unclear association with various intelligence and government agencies.

Richard Marquise, head of the FBI investigative team, states that he does not know why Khreesat was released by the Germans, and it is a matter Mr Levy should take up with the German government to clarify. Mr Marquise considers an explanation may be that Khreesat was working for the Palestinian group, as a bomb maker targeting US trains, bases and aircraft, but was also involved with the Jordanian intelligence services who enabled his release from Germany. Lord Fraser however, suggests that the only plausible explanation was that Khreesat was working for the Palestinian group while also involved with US intelligence therefore facilitating his release from Germany and proving someone who the Scottish authorities could not gain access to interview.

This in itself seems a disturbing chain of events and assumptions by those investigating the bombing of 103, and even more inexplicable to those who expect honest endeavour when seeking truth and justice from the investigators, especially given the nature of Khreesat's activities in Germany and his apparent history of expertise in bomb making. This cynicism is merely strengthened when Mr Fraser had stated unequivocally that neither he nor the Scottish prosecutors had ever gained access, despite repeated attempts, "they (the PFLP-GC cell) had simply disappeared", to interview Khreesat, while Mr Marquise seems quite indifferent to the fact that the German authorities had simply released a man of extremely dubious background clearly engaged in activities to cause serious harm to American citizens and institutions.

Mr Marquise does however state that to his knowledge Scottish prosecutors did in fact interview Khreesat, as did the FBI in 1989, clearly contradicting Lord Fraser's position, and that Scottish investigators were happy to accept Khreesat's word during an interview that he knew nothing of the Lockerbie bombing. That a key figure such as Khreesat, the man that according to Mr Marquise was "building the bombs", with the motive, method and capability of attacking US targets, and whether investigators had interviewed him or not, is not conclusively known to either of the two people leading the investigation, is simply incomprehensible.

Mr Levy then enquires about the possibilty of financial payments made to witnesses before, during or subsequent to the trial at Zeist in Holland where Al-Megrahi was found guilty. Inducement had been made to the public by the US authorities to "Give up these terrorists, and we'll give you upto $4 million" by the way of posters with photographs of the two Libyans, and presumably, naturally, by those investigating while interviewing suspects or witnesses. Even if not explicitly offered to those potential witnesses by investigators, the witnesses would be well aware of the financial reward that was available for the successful conviction of the two Libyan's.

Both Lord Fraser and Mr Marquise deny any financial reward, as promised in the posters and adverts issued, was made before or during the trial. However, while Lord Fraser is unaware of any payment subsequent to the trial, Mr Marquise will not comment. The only implication that can be made from this is that the reward offered before the trial and during the investigation was indeed paid to some witnesses after the trial. Any financial reward or inducement to those providing statements would surely render any testimony or information as lacking credibility and does not enhance the supposed search for 'truth' when life changing amounts of money are used as enticement.

So concerned with the implication of rewards to witnesses that Lord Fraser is reluctant to even comment on the suggestion that money was paid to witnesses after the trial without his knowledge.

The focus of the documentary then turns to the most pivotal and crucial piece of evidence found during the investigation and presented at the trial in Zeist. The fragment of microchip discovered 6 months (although the exact period has been disputed) after the disaster, and determined to be the most significant piece of evidence linking the bomb to a Swiss timer manufacturer who had links to Megrahi and Libya.

This particular piece of evidence, the microchip fragment, already somewhat controversial given the unexplained altering of the labels on evidence bags containing the 'charred' fragments, was examined and concluded had originated with the Swiss company called 'Mebo'. They had supplied these timers, it was claimed, to Libya, and Megrahi with his connections and dealings with Mebo, had used this timer in constructing the bomb which he then placed on a flight in Malta, later finding it's way onto the Pan Am flight from Heathrow.

Now it seems, neither Lord Fraser or Mr Marquise can conclusively explain who exactly made this identification of the timer fragment, and where this identification was made. In the UK or in Washington? By Mr Thurman or Mr Feraday? The fragment itself, or as part of the larger circuit board from where the fragment came? By photograph or the actual fragment?

Mr Marquise is certain that this evidence was transported from the UK to the US, and taken to the FBI labs in Washington, by a member of RARDE, thought to be Alan Feraday were the identification was made. The photograph of the tiny piece of fragment of the microchip (evidence PT35b) on a persons finger is claimed to be that of Thomas Thurman of the FBI, who was also the scientist who uncovered the microchips origin and connection to the circuit board made by Mebo. He claims in Mr Levy's film that the microchip was "brought over by UK authorities" to the United States were identification was made, and was conclusively re-identified in the UK by RARDE (Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment).

However, once again there are contradictions in the accounts given. Lord Fraser is adamant that no evidence recovered from the Pan Am debris has ever left his authority or the UK mainland. This would have compromised the whole investigation and could have resulted in accusations of manipulation and, or, contamination of any evidence purity. Detective Chief Supt Mr Stuart Henderson, head of the UK police investigation, also states that the evidence relating to Pan Am 103, any evidence, but specifically the fragment of microchip, never left the UK mainland, but in actual fact the US investigators and the FBI had travelled to the UK to identify the fragment at RARDE with Mr Feraday.

When the public are asked to trust the integrity of those we commend with providing the truth and justice our democratic society demands, expectations can be, on occasion, somewhat unrealistic. Especially when dealing with highly complex issues of international politics, international crimes of nation states and multi-national business corporations. The public however, do expect a genuine and honest search for these truths, and those we charge with this responsibility to fulfil those simplest and most honourable tasks to have carried out their duty, with conscience and integrity.

Those who died over Lockerbie, and the families of the victims deserve at least this. With the pain of a lost loved one however, the relatives of those who died have also had to endure the persistent inaccuracies, the constant contradictions, and the inexplicable decisions taken with respect to those who carried out the atrocity and how their government failed in their loved ones protection. Not by those who wish to seek conspiracies were there are none, and not by those who have ulterior motives for continuing to ask questions. But by the very investigators, police, professionals, experts, lawyers and those in power entrusted with upholding their faith in human kind and seeking justice in the supposed democratic nation we live in today. For those fundamental expectations and hopes are diminished with every conflicting statement, every unexplained area of the investigation, and every inscrutable and unaccountable decision taken by those with power in relation to finding the true perpetrators who organised and carried out the crime over Lockerbie in 1988.

The Sunday Times newspaper of London, reports that Lord Fraser has no knowledge of evidence leaving the custody of UK police:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6544162.ece


Dutch Documentary:
http://www.vpro.nl/programma/tegenlicht/afleveringen/41867169/media/41892895/?bw=bb&player=wmp&media=41892895&refernr=&hostname=www&portalid=programmasites&x=30&y=9

Lockerbie : First stage of Appeal Ends.

According to reports on BBC radio yesterday, and now reported briefly in the Scotsman newspaper, the first stage of the appeal by convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Megrahi has been concluded by his legal team.

The Judges will now consider the submissions presented and decide whether further grounds of the appeal should be deliberated. It is thought that should the judges deem the appeal should proceed, the second stage of the appeal will concentrate on the original trials witness statements and identification by Tony Gauci.

Lord Hamilton, the Lord Justice-General, said ""We appreciate that having regard to, among other things, the appellant's state of health, there will be concern we deal with these matters as expeditiously as possible. But having regard to their importance to all concerned, we cannot and must not rush to judgment."

http://news.scotsman.com/world/Lockerbie-bomber39s-legal-team-puts.5282729.jp

Lockerbie Appeal Update

Dr Ludwig De Braeckeleer of OhmyNews International website sheds light on the first stage of the 2nd appeal of Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi.

Once again, he exposes the fundamental flaws in the testimony given, and the Judges at Zeist's vindication of crucial prosecution witnesses, Paul and Tony Gauci. Owners of the Maltese clothes shop where it was said the items of clothing used to conceal the bomb were purchased, their statements on what was bought, by whom and on what date, was essential in the conviction of Megrahi.

It is thought the defence team will also look to introduce a new witness, known about by the police and crown since 1989, who's statement is unequivocal that the date of purchase is not that as stated by Gauci, and agreed by the Judges in 2001. This new witness would not however be presented by defence lawyers until later in the appeal process.

Dr Braeckeleer also examines the other significant piece of evidence produced at the original trial: the MST13 timer, and the charred fragment discovered linking the bomb to Libya and Megrahi.

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=437023&no=385213&rel_no=1

Article below:

In the first session of the appeal, which began April 28 and will run until May 22, the defense team is determined to thoroughly discredit the testimony of the main trial witness, Tony Gauci. Tony Gauci, a Maltese shopkeeper, is said to have identified Abdelbaset Megrahi as the Libyan man who bought, on Dec. 7, 1988, the clothes inside which the bomb that exploded on Pan Am 103 was hidden.

On the basis of old evidence, new evidence and evidence not heard at the trial because it had not been passed to the defense at the time, Maggie Scott, QC, will, in all likelihood, easily convince the five appeal judges that Megrahi is not the man who bought the clothes and that the purchase occurred on Nov. 23, 1988, when there is no evidence suggesting that Megrahi was on the island and when he has an alibi.

A Dubious Identification

On Nov. 18, 1991, the US Dept. of State issued a "fact sheet" regarding the indictment of Libyan citizens Megrahi and Fimah for their alleged role in the bombing of Pan Am 103 on Dec. 21, 1988.

The sheet reads: In February 1991, Megrahi was described "resembling the Libyan who purchased the clothing items... most likely on Dec. 7, 1988."

On Feb. 15, 1991, Gauci was shown some photographs and failed to identify Megrahi. When asked to concentrate on his picture - a leading procedure to say the least -- Gauci correctly pointed out that the man on the picture was in his 30s while maintaining that the man who had bought the clothing items was very much older.

Previously, on Sept. 13, 1989, during a photofit session, Gauci stated that the buyer was about 50 years old. Born on April 1, 1952, Megrahi was 36 in late 1988. The next day, Gauci again told Detective Chief Inspector Bell that Megrahi was too young to be the man who bought the clothing.

"If the man in the photograph was older by about 20 years, he would look like the man who bought the clothing," Gauci told DCI Bell.In his first interview held on Sept. 1, 1989, Gauci told DCI Bell that the mysterious buyer was 6 feet tall or more. Megrahi is 5 feet 8, a significant discrepancy considering that it comes from a man who sells clothes for a living.

The trial judges were well aware of this striking discrepancy but they failed to provide any explanation as to how it was resolved.A Fraudulent Line-UpDuring an identity parade held at Camp Zeist in 1999, Gauci pointed out that Megrahi resembles the man who bought the clothing items.

In the line up, Megrahi was the only Libyan and was surrounded by people in their 30s and 5 feet 3 tall, i.e. people who at the time of the event would have been about 30 years younger and at least 9 inches shorter than the person originally and repeatedly described by Gauci.

Wrong Date

Regarding the day of the purchase, Tony Gauci remembered that his brother Paul had gone home earlier to watch an evening football game (Rome vs. Dresden), that the man came just before closing time, around 7 p.m., and that there was some very light raining. (The man returned to the shop to buy an umbrella.)

The game allows for only two dates: Nov. 23 or Dec. 7, 1988.The game Rome-Dresden on Dec. 7 was played at 1 p.m., not in the evening. As a result, Paul Gauci thought that the purchases had occurred on Nov. 23, 1988.

And there is more. It did not rain on Sliema on Dec. 7, 1988. Mark Vella, the managing director of METEO-MALTA, told the author that their records - including satellite pictures -- unambiguously indicate that it did not rain on Sliema on Dec. 7. On the other hand, Vella could confirm that it was dripping during the evening of Nov. 23, 1988. (NB. Official copies of their records are available.) When asked to try to assess the most likely day of the purchase by DCI Bell, Tony Gauci stated: "I've been asked to again try and pinpoint the day and date that I sold the man the clothing. I can only say it was a weekday.

There were no Christmas decorations up, as I have already said, and I believe it was at the end of November." During a three years long investigation, the SCCRC has established that the Christmas lights are put up in Sliema on Dec. 6, ruling out Dec. 7 as the date of the purchase.

New Witness

The defense has identified a person, not heard at the trial, who witnessed the purchase of the clothing items. Although he has not been named by the defense, I understand that the witness is David Wright, a longtime friend of the Gauci family.Wright told the police in September and December 1989 that the purchase occurred Nov. 23 and that the buyer was not Megrahi.

His interview was not passed to the defense team at the time of the trial. During the first session of the appeal, which, there will be no new witnesses. "Any new witnesses, if the Appeal Court allows them to be heard -- and the rules about fresh evidence in appeals are very restrictive -- will only feature in later sessions," writes Pr. Black.

Last Pajamas

In a phone interview conducted on Jan. 25, 2008, Tony Gauci stated that the three pairs of pajamas he sold to the mysterious buyer were the last from the 16 delivered from the John Mallia Company on Oct. 31, 1988. On the following day, Tony Gauci called the Mallia Company to order an additional 8 pairs which were delivered 24 hours later.

In Malta, Dec. 8 is a public holiday as the mostly Catholic country celebrates Immaculate Conception Day. As a matter of fact, John Mallia Co. was closed on Dec. 8, again ruling out Dec. 7 as the day of the purchase.

Missing Statements

According to a well informed source, the defense will establish that contradictory statements made by Gauci were not passed to the defense team at the Zeist trial.

Payments

The defense will also establish that the Gauci brothers were paid a large amount of money in exchange for helping the conviction of Megrahi and that the defense had not been informed regarding the payments themselves or the promise of rewards.

The Slalom Shirts

Although it has not yet been announced, I understand that the defense will also question the origin of the Slalom shirts alleged to have been sold by Tony Gauci to the mysterious buyer. This issue is of paramount importance as forensic experts claimed to have discovered in the collar of one of these shirts the fragment of an electronic timer which provided the key link between the bombing and Libya. (NB. This writer has never quite understood how the size of the breast pocket did not match the size of the collar of the shirt recovered at Lockerbie, but that is another story.)

During his first interview with DCI Bell, Tony Gauci made a list of the items he had sold to the mysterious buyer. The list matched exactly the items that forensic experts at RARDE believed to have been in direct contact with the bomb, except for a black umbrella that they eventually "identify".

On that day - Sept. 1, 1989 -- Gauci made no mention of the Slalom shirts.On Jan. 30, 1990, Gauci was shown a SLALOM shirt and was asked if he had sold one to the mysterious buyer. "That man did not buy any shirt, I am sure," Gauci stated to the investigators. Then, on Sept. 10, 1990, Gauci suddenly recalled selling two Slalom shirts. It is not just odd, but contradicts a statement Gauci made on his first interview and repeated at the trial.

During his first interview, Gauci told DCI Bell that he remembered that the bill amounted to 76.5 Maltese pounds (LM). Gauci even clearly remembered that the man paid him with eight 10 LM bills, and that he returned 4 LM as he was not able to give a half pound in change.Quite logically, DCI Bell then asked him to check the price of all the items he had just mentioned. And, lo and behold, the sum added to 76.5 LM... without any Slalom shirt. Had Gauci sold two shirts to the mysterious buyer, the bill would have been 84.5 LM.

Obviously, if the SLALOM shirt is a fabrication, so must be the items discovered inside it, including the infamous fragment of the MST-13 timer.According to Richard Marquise who led the US investigation, without this key piece of evidence, there would have been no indictment. Let us now take a good look at this crucial piece of evidence.

The Third MST13 Prototype

In the summer of 1985, Ulrich Lumpert designed a timer at the request of his employers Bollier and Meister, founders and directors of Mebo, a Swiss electronic company located in Zurich.Lumpert built manually 3 prototypes on a brown, 8-ply board. Two were delivered to a front company of the STASI and the third one was allegedly destroyed.In 1988, at the request of Libyan Intelligence officials, MEBO delivered 20 MST13 timers. The electronic boards of these 20 timers were identical, machine-made on a green 9-ply board. (See LDB001) Although hey bear obvious resemblance with the three initial prototypes, they can easily be distinguished from them.In January 1989, the Lockerbie investigators found part of the collar of a SLALOM shirt, identical to one of the two shirts allegedly bought by Megrahi in Malta on Dec. 7, 1988. See LDB002. (NB. The discovery, made on Jan. 13, was not recorded until Jan. 17.)

The Discovery of PT35(b)

Initially, the evidence bag containing the collar of the SLALOM shirt was labeled "CLOTH" by Thomas Gilchrist. At a time unknown, the label was overwritten with the word "DEBRIS". The proper procedure would have been to cross the initial label and write the new one under it. Instead, DEBRIS was written over CLOTH in a way that makes the old label unnoticeable, unless the label is magnified.

The "DEBRIS" was then "discovered" on May 12, 1989 by Dr. Hayes and labeled PT35(b). The discovery is documented on a second page 51, a loose page stapled to his notebook. Items entered several months later have been given a lower evidence number. All pages from 51 to 55 were renumbered. When asked about these anomalies, Dr. Hayes simply answered that it was an "unfathomable mystery".

The Identification of MST13

On June 15, 1990, while studying a picture of PT35(b), FBI Thomas Thurman was able - thanks to the CIA - to identify it as part of the MEBO MST13 delivered prior to the Lockerbie bombing to Libyan intelligence. See LDB003

There is a small glitch... It is obvious that the fragment PT35(b) does not come from one of the 20 machine-made MST13 timer delivered to Libya. The location of the T shaped touch pad, its absolute and relative dimensions do not match. Moreover the curvature of the fragment round edge equally differs. Compare LDB003(a) and LDB003(b)!

Nevertheless, the design is very close and must have the same origin. And this brings us back to the Lumpert affidavit...

The Lumpert Affidavit

"I confirm today on July 18, 2007, that I stole the third hand-manufactured MST-13 timer PC-board consisting of eight layers of fiber-glass from MEBO Ltd. and gave it without permission on June 22, 1989, to a person officially investigating in the Lockerbie case," Lumpert wrote. "It did not escape me that the MST-13 fragment shown [at the Lockerbie trial] on the police photograph No. PT/35(b) came from the nonoperational MST-13 prototype PC-board that I had stolen," Lumpert added.

On June 6, 2008, Lumpert told the author that he gave the third timer prototype Swiss Commissioner Peter Fluckiger who requested the device at the demand of a "friendly intelligence agency."

A BUPO [Swiss federal police] note concerning the second interview of Inspector Fluckiger with the MEBO company, Badenerstrasse 414, third floor, 8004 Zurich, on Tuesday Oct. 2 1990 states: "After greeting each other and carrying out a general discussion regarding the crisis in the Gulf and its potential consequences for MEBO business, there was a project to develop a new radio network in Kuwait. We then began to discuss business contacts with Libya with reference to the discussion of the 22nd of June 1989."

Commissioner Peter Fluckiger has admitted that he visited MEBO on June 22, 1989. Fluckiger was indeed alone with Lumpert on June 22 1989. Bollier confirmed to the author that neither himself nor Meister were at the office that day.

It would appear that the Crown was well aware that the June 1989 meeting at MEBO clearly contradicts the official version of the Lockerbie investigation, as the following exchange between Mr. Turnbull and Peter Fluckiger at the trial indicates.

Q: Thank you. Now, these photographs you had with you when you went to visit Mr. Bollier on the 2nd of October of 1990?

A: Yes. This photograph and the one we saw earlier. (NB. The photographs of PT35b and the MST13 board)

Q: Thank you. In your memo, which we looked at a moment ago -- and perhaps we should have it back on the screen, Production 1562, image 4. In your note here you speak, I think, in the first paragraph about a previous meeting; is that so?

A: That is correct. Yes.

Q: What was the date of the previous meeting?A: I don't remember this by heart, but I can read it here. I wrote down 22nd of June 1989. It would have been on that date.

Q: Thank you. Was that previous meeting in connection with MST-13 timers?

MR. BURNS: Don't answer that question.

The question the author wishes to put to Richard Marquise is this: If PT35(b) was identified as a fragment of a MEBO MST13 timer on June 15, 1990 by FBI Thurman, what was Commissioner Fluckiger doing at the MEBO offices on June 22, 1989?

CIA Interference

On Nov. 15, 1990, Scottish Detective William Williamson and his colleagues visited MEBO. Prior to his visit, the CIA requested MI6 to "deter or delay the members of the Lockerbie inquiry team from making the visit." As MI6 was unable to do so, CIA agents met with Swiss Intelligence and police services on Nov. 14, 1990.

Detective Williamson was never told about that meeting, let alone about its nature.Again, the Crown appears to be well aware of the significance of this secret meeting, as the following exchange between Keen and Williamson reveals very clearly.

Q: Now, Mr. Williamson, were you made aware of these steps to deter or delay the members of the Scottish Lockerbie inquiry team from making the visit to Switzerland?　　　

A: Absolutely not, sir.

Q: These were never disclosed to you?　　　

A: I have no knowledge of that information you've just read out whatsoever.

Q: Was it disclosed to you that the day before you met with the Swiss police and intelligence services on the first visit the CIA had already met with them?　　　

MR. TURNBULL: Don't answer that.

PS: Following the initial visit of DCI Harry Bell to Malta in September 1989, RARDE scientists looked for a black umbrella that would show traces of explosive residue. On Oct. 3, 1989, RARDE "scientist" Allen Feraday identified part of a black umbrella (evidence number PK/206) that had been in direct contact with the explosion. EUREKA! But again, there is a small problem. The log book indicates that PK/206 was at RARDE Laboratory only from Jan. 16 to Feb. 8, 1989. How did Allen Feraday conduct on Oct. 3, 1989, an experiment on an item which was not in his possession?

Lockerbie : Megrahi Begins Appeal

It's nearly two years since the SCCRC gave it's recommendation that the conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988, be referred to appeal. Tomorrow, in Edinburgh, his second appeal finally begins. In the interim period, Megrahi 57, has been diagnosed with cancer which is believed to be in an advanced stage.

During the prolonged period since the SCCRC's determination that Megrahi may have "suffered a miscarriage of justice" at the original trial, the prosecution team have been successful in their methods to, what can only be termed, obstinate in the releasing of evidence known to them for many years but never revealed to the defence lawyers. The state and crown, represented by the Secretary of State, David Miliband, raised a PII in order to stop disclosure of these documents and evidence.

The Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) signed by the British and Libyan governments in 2007 has also cast an unnecessary cloud over the proceedings with respect to the appeal, while coming so soon after the SCCRC's decision merely added to the uncertainty and cynicism as to the true motives and intentions of the agreement. It is thought the appeal could take as long as a year to complete. How the actual appeal progresses, the speed and the manner with which the Scottish judiciary is seen to support fairness, truth and justice, from both legal teams, will surely determine if any attempt to enact the agreement is made. Clearly, notwithstanding Megrahi's health implications during the appeal.

Today's Guardian newspaper in London reports that the appeal lawyers for Megrahi will initially focus on the evidence provided by Tony Gauci at the original trial in Zeist, Holland in 2001. Despite the Judges admissions during the first trial that there were significant inconsistencies in Mr Gauci's detailing and recollection of the events surrounding a purchaser of clothes (claimed to be Megrahi) from his shop in Malta, his testimony proved a crucial factor in the determination that Megrahi was guilty of the bombing of flight 103.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/27/lockerbie-bombing-appeal-trial-libyan

21st December 2008.

We remember.

The Crew:
Captain James Bruce MacQuarrie, 55, from Kensington, New Hampshire, USA
First Officer (co-pilot) Raymond Ronald Wagner, 52, from Pennington, New Jersey, USA
Flight engineer Jerry Don Avritt, 46, from Westminster, California, USA
Mary Geraldine Murphy, 51, Twickenham, UK
Milutin Velimirovich, 35, Hounslow, UK (US citizen)
Elisabeth Nichole Avoyne, 44, Croissy-sur-Seine, France, French
Noelle Lydie Berti, 41, Paris, France, French
Siv Ulla Engstrom, 51, Windsor, UK, Swedish
Stacie Denise Franklin, 20, San Diego, USA
Paul Isaac Garret, 41, Napa, USA
Elke Etha Kuhne, 43, Hannover, BRD, German
Maria Nieves Larracoechea, 39, Madrid, Spain
Lilibeth Tobila Macalolooy, 27, Kelsterbach, BRD, Phillipino
Jocelyn Reina, 26, Isleworth, UK, American
Myra Josephine Royal, 30, Hanwell, UK, Dominican Republic
Irja Syhnove Skabo, 38, Oslo, Norway, Finnish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passengers of Flight 103
Ahern, John Michael Gerard, bond broker, 26 years, Rockville Center, New York, American
Aicher, Sarah Margaret, playwright, 29 years, American
Akerstrom, John David, 34 years, Medina, Ohio, American
Alexander, Ronald Ely, businessman, 46 years, New York, New York, Swiss
Ammerman, Thomas Joseph, marketing manager, 36 years, Old Tappan, New Jersey, American
Apfelbaum, Martin Lewis, stamp dealer, 59 years, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American
Asrelsky, Rachel Marie, student, 21 years, New York, New York, American
Atkinson, William Garretson III, engineer, 33 years, American
Atkinson, Judith Ellen, art historian and consultant, 37 years, American
Bacciochi, Clare Louise, hair stylist, 19 years, Warwickshire, England, British
Bainbridge, Harry Michael, attorney, 34 years, Montrose, New York, American
Barclay, Stuart Murray, businessman, 29 years, Canadian
Bell, Jean Mary, 44 years, Berkshire, England, British
Benello, Julian MacBain, student, 25 years, Brookline, Massachusetts, American
Bennett, Lawrence Ray, pharmaceutical chemist, 41 years, Chelsea, Michigan, American
Bergstrom, Philip Vernon, army sergeant, 22 years, Forest Lake, Minnesota, American
Berkley, Alistair David, professor of law, 29 years, American
Bernstein, Michael Stuart,lawyer, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Special Investigation, 36 years, Bethesda, Maryland, American
Berrell, Steven Russell, student, 2O years, Fargo, North Dakota, American
Bhatia, Surinder Mohan, businessman, 51 years, Los Angeles, California, American
Bissett, Kenneth John, student, 21 years, Hartsdale, New York, American
Boatman-Fuller, Diane Anne, playwright, 37 years, American
Boland, Stephen John, student, 20 years, Nashua, New Hampshire, American
Bouckley, Glen John, sales, 27 years, British
Bouckley, Paula Marie, sales, 29 years, New York, American
Boulanger, Nicole Elise, student, 21 years, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, American
Boyer, Francis, 43 years, Toulosane, France, French
Bright, Nicholas, businessman, 32 years, Brookline, Massachusetts, American
Browner (Bier), Daniel Solomon, 23 years, Parod, Israel, Israeli
Brunner, Colleen Renee, student, 20 years, Hamburg, New York, American
Burman, Timothy Guy, banker, 24 years, London, England, British
Buser, Michael Warren, advertising executive, 34 years, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, American
Buser, Warren Max, civil engineer, 62 years, Glen Rock, New Jersey, American
Butler, Steven Lee, teacher, 35 years, Denver, Colorado, American
Cadman, William Martin, musician, 32 years, London, England, British
Caffarone, Fabiana, 28 years, London, England, British
Caffarone, Hernan, 28 years, Argentinean
Canady, Valerie, auditor, 25 years, Morgantown, West Virginia, American
Capasso, Gregory, student, 21 years, Brooklyn, New York, American
Cardwell, Timothy Michael, student, 21 years, Cresco, Pennsylvania, American
Carlsson, Bernt Wilson, Swedish UN-diplomat, 50 years, Swedish
Cawley, Richard Anthony, businessman, 43 years, New York, New York, American
Ciulla, Frank, banker, 45 years, Park Ridge, New Jersey, American
Cohen, Theodora Eugenia, student, 20 years, Port Jervis, New York, American
Coker, Eric Michael, student, 20 years, Mendham, New Jersey, American.
Coker,Jason Michael, student, 20 years, Mendham, New Jersey, American
Colasanti, Gary Leonard, student, 20 years, Melrose, Massachusetts, American
Concannon, Bridget, 53 years, Oxfordshire, England, Irish
Concannon, Sean, 16 years, Oxfordshire, England, British
Concannon, Thomas, 51 years, Oxfordshire, England, Irish
Corner, Tracey Jane, 17 years, Sheffield, England, British
Cory, Scott, student, 20 years, Old Lyme Court, Connecticut, American
Coursey, Willis Larry, military, 40 years, San Antonio, Texas, American
Coyle, Patricia Mary, student, 20 years, Wallingford, Connecticut, American
Cummock, John Binning, 38 years, Coral Gables, Florida, American
Curry, Joseph Patrick, army captain, 31 years, bFort Devens, Massachusetts, American
Daniels, William, Allen, research chemist, 40 years, Belle Mead, New Jersey, American
Dater, Gretchen Joyce, student, 20 years, Ramsey, New Jersey, American
Davis, Shannon, student, 19 years, Shelton, Connecticut, American
Della-Ripa, Gabriel, Pan Am Airlines employee, 46 years, Floral Park, New York, Italian
DiMauro, Joyce Christine, marketing director, 32 years, New York, New York, American
DiNardo, Gianfranca, 26 years, Italian
Dix, Peter Thomas Stanley, management consultant, 35 years, London, England, Irish
Dixit, Om, college professor, 54 years, Fairborn, Ohio, Indian
Dixit, Shanti, 54 years, Fairborn, Ohio, American
Dornstein, David Scott, student, 25 years, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, American
Doyle, Michael Joseph, accountant, 30 years, Voorhees, New Jersey, American
Eggleston, Edgar Howard III, air force sergeant, 24 years, Glens Falls, New York, American
Ergin, Turhan, student, 22 years, West Hartford, Connecticut, American
Fisher, Charles Thomas IV, banker, 34 years, American
Flick, Clayton Lee, businessman, 25 years, Coventry, England, British
Flynn, John Patrick, student, 21 years, Montville, New Jersey, American
Fondiler, Arthur, attorney, 33 years, West Armonk, New York, American
Fortune, Robert Gerard, insurance executive, 40 years, Jackson Heights, NY, American
Freeman, Paul Matthew Stephen, 25 years, Canadian
Fuller, James Ralph, corporate vice president, 50 years, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, America
Gabor, Ibolya Robertine, 79 years, Budapest, Hungary, Hungarian
Gallagher, Amy Beth, student, 22 years, American
Gannon, Matthew Kevin, foreign service officer, 34 years, Los Angeles, Ca., American
Garczynski, Kenneth Raymond, industrial engineer, 37 years, North Brunswick, NJ, American
Gibson, Kenneth James, army specialist four, 20 years, Romulus, Michigan, American
Giebler, William David, bond broker, 29 years, London, England, American
Gordon, Olive Leonora, 25 years, London, England, British
Gordon-Gorgacz, Linda Susan, 39 years, London, England, American
Gorgacz, Anne Madelene, 76 years, Newcastle, Pennsylvania, American
Gorgacz, Loretta Anne, 47 years, Newcastle, Pennsylvania, American
Gould, David, college professor, 45 years, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, American
Guevorgian, Andre Nikolai, businessman, 32 years, Sea Cliff, New York, American
Hall, Nicola Jane, 23 years, Sandton, South Africa, South African
Halsch, Lorraine Frances, special education teacher, 31 years, Fairport, NY, American
Hartunian, Lynne Carol, student, 21 years, Schenectady, New York, American
Hawkins, Anthony Lacey, businessman, 57 years, Brooklyn, New York, British
Herbert, Pamela Elaine, student, 19 years, Battle Creek, Michigan, American
Hilbert, Rodney Peter, 40 years, Newton, Pennsylvania, American
Hill, Alfred, 29 years, Sonthofen, Germany, German
Hollister, Katherine Augusta, student, 20 years, Rego Park, New York
Hudson, Josephine Lisa, nurse, 22 years, London, England, British
Hudson, Melina Kristina, student, 16 years, Albany, New York, American
Hudson, Sophie Ailette Miriam, 26 years, Paris, France, French
Hunt, Karen Lee, student, 20 years, Webster, New York, American
Hurst, Roger Elwood, marketing manager, 38 years, Ringwood, New Jersey, American
Ivell, Elizabeth Sophie, dog handler, 19 years, East Sussex, England, British
Jaafar, Khalid Nazir, student, 20 years, Dearborn, Michigan, American
Jeck, Robert van Houten, 57 years, Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, American
Jeffreys, Paul Avron, musician, 36 years, Surrey, England, British
Jeffreys, Rachel, advertising executive, 23, years, Surrey, England, British
Jermyn, Kathleen Mary, student, 20 years, Staten Island, New York, American
Johnson, Beth Ann, student, 21 years, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, American
Johnson, Mary Alice Lincoln, student, 25 years, Wayland, Massachusetts, American
Johnson, Timothy Baron, student, 21 years, Neptune, New Jersey, American
Jones, Christopher Andrew, student, 20 years, Claverack, New York, American
Kelly, Julianne Frances, student, 20 years, Dedham, Massachusetts, American
Kingham, Jay Joseph, pharmaceuticals executive, 44 years, Potomac, Maryland, American,
Klein, Patricia Ann, social worker, 35 years, Trenton, New Jersey, American
Kosmowski, Gregory, marketing executive, 40 years, MiIford, Michigan, American
Kulukundis, Minas Christopher, ship brokerage director, 38 years, London, England, British
LaRiviere, Ronald Albert, 33 years, Alexandria, Virginia, American
Leckburg, Robert Milton, engineer, 30 years, Piscataway, New Jersey, American
Leyrer, William Chase, businessman, 46 years, Bay Shore, New York, American
Lincoln, Wendy Anne, student, 23 years, North Adams, Massachusetts, American
Lowenstein, Alexander Silas, student, 21 years, Morristown, New Jersey, American
Ludlow, Lloyd David, army sergeant first class, 41 years, Macksville, Kansas, American
Lurbke, Maria Theresia, 25 years, Balve Beckum, Germany, German
Mack, William Edward, puppeteer, 30 years, New York, New York, American
Malicote, Douglas Eugene, army specialist four, 22 years, Lebanon, Ohio, American
Malicote, Wendy Gay, 21 years, Lebanon, Ohio, American
Marek, Elizabeth Lillian, actress and peace activist, 30 years, New York, American
Marengo, Louis Anthony, marketing director, 33 years, Rochester, Michigan, American
Martin, Noel George, 27 years, Clapton, England, Jamaican
Maslowski, Diane Marie, currency trader, 30 years, New York, American
McAllister, William John, 26 years, Middlesex, England, British
McCarthy, Daniel Emmet, banker, 31 years, Brooklyn, New York, American
McCollum, Robert Eugene, university professor, 61 years, Wayne, Pennsylvania, American
McKee, Charles Dennis, army major, head of a US Intelligence Team, 40 years, Arlington, Virginia, American
McLaughlin, Bernard Joseph, marketing manager, 30 years, Cranston, RI, American
Melber, Jane Susan, musician and teacher, 27 years, Middlesex, England, American
Merrill, John, seaman, 35 years, Hertfordshire, England, British
Miazga, Suzanne Marie, student, 22 years, Marcy, New York, American
Miller, Joseph Kenneth, accounting firm executive, 56 years, Woodmere, NY, American
Mitchell, Jewel Courtney, army second lieutenant, 32 years, Brooklyn, New York, American
Monetti, Richard Paul, student, 20 years, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, American
Morgan, Jane Ann, attorney, 37 years, London, England, American
Morson, Eva Ingeborg, 48 years, New, York, New York, American
Mosey, Helga Rachael, student, 19 years, West Midlands, England, British
Mulroy, Ingrid Elizabeth, 25 years, Lund, Sweden, Swedish
Mulroy, John, journalist, 59 years, East Northport, New York, American
Mulroy, Sean Kevin, 25 years, American
Noonan, Karen Elizabeth, student, 20 years, Potomac, Maryland, American
O'Connor, Daniel Emmett, U.S. diplomatic service, 31 years, Dorchester, Mass, American
O'Neil, Mary Denice, student, 2l years, Bronx, New York, American
Otenasek, Anne Lindsey, student, 21 years, Baltimore, Maryland, American
Owen, Bryony Elise, 1 year, Bristol, England, British
Owen, Gwyneth Yvonne Margaret, student, 29 years, Bristol, England, British
Owens, Laura Abigail, 8 years, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, American
Owens, Martha, 44 years, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, American
Owens, Robert Plack, 45 years, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, American
Owens, Sarah Rebecca, 14 years, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, American
Pagnucco, Robert Italo, attorney, 51 years, South Salem, New York, American
Papadopoulos, Christos Michael, 45 years, North Lawrence, New York, American
Peirce, Peter Raymond, architect and student, 40 years, Perrysburg, Ohio, American
Pescatore, Michael, businessman, 33 years, Solon, Ohio, American
Philipps, Sarah Susannah Buchanan, student, 20 years, Newtonville, Mass, American
Phillips, Frederick Sandford, student, 27 years, Little Rock, Arkansas, American
Pitt, James Andrew Campbell, student, 24 years, South Hadley, Massachusetts, American
Platt, David, architect, 33 years, Staten Island, New York, American
Porter, Walter Leonard, musician, 35 years, Brooklyn, New York, American
Posen, Pamela Lynn, student, 20 years, Harrison, New York, American
Pugh, William, businessman, 56 years, Margate, New Jersey, American
Quiguyan, Crisostomo Estrella, hotel cashier, 43 years, London, England, Filipino
Ramses, Rajesh Tarsis Priskel, 35 years, Leicester, England, Indian
Rattan, Anmol, 2 years, Warren, Michigan. American
Rattan, Garima, computer programmer, 29 years, Warren, Michigan, American
Rattan, Suruchi, 3 years, Warren, Michigan, American
Reeves, Anita Lynn, 24 years, Laurel, Maryland, American
Rein, Mark Alan, businessman, 44 years, New York, New York, American
Rencevicz, Diane Marie, student, 21 years, Burlington, New Jersey, American
Rogers, Louise Ann, student, 20 years, Olney, Maryland, American
Roller, Edina, 5 years, Hungary, Hungarian
Roller, Janos Gabor, 29 years, Hungary, Hungarian
Roller, Zsuzsana, 27 years, Hungary, Hungarian
Root, Hanne Maria, management consultant, 26 years, Toronto, Canada, Canadian
Rosen, Saul Mark, businessman, 35 years, Morris Plains, New Jersey, American
Rosenthal, Andrea Victoria, student, 22 years, New York, New York, American
Rosenthal, Daniel Peter, student, 20 years, Staten Island, New York, American
Rubin, Arnaud David, 28 years, Waterloo, Belgium, Belgian
Saraceni, Elyse Jeanne, student, 20 years, American
Saunders, Scott Christopher, student, 21 years, Macungie, Pennsylvania, American,
Saunders, Theresa Elizabeth Jane, marketing, 28 years, Sunbury-on-Thames, England, British
Schauble, Johannes Otto, 41 years, Kappellenweg, Germany, German
Schlageter, Robert Thomas, student, 20 years, Warwick, Rhode Island, American
Schultz, Thomas Britton, student, 20, years, Ridgefield, Connecticut, American
Scott, Sally Elizabeth, chef, 22 years, Huntington, New York, British
Shapiro, Amy Elizabeth, student, 21 years, Stamford, Connecticut, American
Shastri, Mridula, 24 years, Oxford, England, Indian
Sheanshang, Joan, 46 years, New York, New York, American
Sigal, Irving Stanley, research biologist, 35 years, Pennington, New Jersey, American
Simpson, Martin Bernard Christopher, financier, 52 years, Brooklyn, New York, American
Smith, Cynthia Joan, student, 21 years, Milton, Massachusetts, American
Smith, Ingrid Anita, chiropodist, 31 years, Berkshire, England, British
Smith, James Alvin, 55 years, New York, New York, American
Smith, Mary Edna, army sergeant, 34 years, Kalamazoo, Michigan, American
Stevenson, Geraldine Anne, 37 years, Surrey, England, British
Stevenson, Hannah Louise, 10 years, Surrey, England, British
Stevenson, John Charles, 38 years, Surrey, England, British
Stevenson, Rachael, 8 years, Surrey, England, British
Stinnett, Charlotte Ann, 36 years, Duncanville, Texas, American
Stinnett, Michael Gary, army specialist, 26 years, Duncanville, Texas, American
Stinnett, Stacey Leanne, 9 years, Duncanville, Texas, American
Stow, James Ralph, businessman, 49 years, New York, New York, American
Stratis, Elia G., accountant, 43 years, Montvale, New Jersey, American
Swan, Anthony Selwyn, 29 years, Trinidadian
Swire, Flora MacDonald Margaret, medical student and researcher, 24 years, London, England, British
Tager, Marc Alex, 22 years, London, England, British
Tanaka, Hidekazu, 26 years London, England, Japanese
Teran, Andrew Alexander, student, 20 years, New Haven, Connecticut, Bolivian
Thomas, Arva Anthony, student, 17 years, Detroit, Michigan, American
Thomas, Jonathan Ryan, 2 months, Southfield, Michigan, American
Thomas, Lawanda, air force sergeant, 21 years, Southfield, Michigan, American
Tobin, Mark Lawrence, student, 21 years, North Hempstead, New York, American
Trimmer-Smith, David William, publishing executive, 51 years, New York, NY, American,
Tsairis, Alexia Kathryn, student, 20 years, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, American
Valentino, Barry Joseph, exhibit designer, 28 years, San Francisco, California, American
Van-Tienhoven, Thomas Floro, 45 years, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Argentinean
Vejdany, Asaad Eidi, 46 years, South Great Neck, New York, American
Vrenios, Nicholas Andreas, student, 20 years, Washington, DC, American
Vulcu, Peter, stockbroker and student, 21 years, Alliance, Ohio, American
Waido, Janina Jozefa, 61 years, Chicago, Illinois, American
Walker, Thomas Edwin, electronics specialist, 47 years, Quincy, Massachusetts, American
Weedon, Kesha, student, 20 years, Bronx, New York, American
Weston, Jerome Lee, engineer, 45 years, Baldwin, New York, American
White, Jonathan, accountant, 33 years, North Hollywood, California, American
Williams, Bonnie Leigh, military, 21 years, Crown Point, New York, American
Williams, Brittany Leigh, 2 months, Crown Point, New York
Williams, Eric Jon, army sergeant, 24 years, Crown Point, New York, American
Williams, George Waterson, army first lieutenant, 24 years, Joppa, Maryland, American
Williams, Stephanie Leigh, 1 year, Crown Point, New York, American
Wolfe, Miriam Luby, student, 20 years, Severna Park, Maryland, American
Woods, Chelsea Marie, 10 months, Willingboro, New Jersey, American
Woods, Dedera Lynn, air force sergeant, 27 years, Willingboro, New Jersey, American
Woods, Joe Nathan, civilian military worker, 28 years, Willingboro, New Jersey, American
Woods, Joe Nathan, Jr., 2 years, Willingboro, New Jersey, American
Wright, Andrew Christopher Gillies, site agent, 24 years, Surrey, England, British
Zwynenburg, Mark James, investment banker, 29 years, West Nyack, New York, American

Lockerbie Residents.

Joanne Flanagan, 10, British
Kathleen Mary Flannigan, 41, British
Thomas Brown Flannigan, 44, British
Dora Henrietta Henry, 56, British
Maurice Peter Henry, 63, British
Mary Lancaster, 81 British
Jean Aitken Murray, 82, British
John Somerville, 40, British
Lynsey Ann Somerville, 10, British
Paul Somerville, 13, British
Rosalind Hanney Somerville, 40, British

Lockerbie Seeks To Turn Page on Pan Am Disaster

Agence France-Presse 12/18/2008 8:20 PM

Lockerbie residents will never forget the terror of the night 20 years ago when a plane exploded over their small Scottish town -- but hope the anniversary Sunday will help them move on.

"I was watching television at home with my daughter and I thought we had thunder... but it became louder and louder," recalls Marjory McQueen, 62, who runs the visitor centre that caters to those coming to see the memorial here.

"So I ran out of the house and I saw what I now know to be part of the aircraft passing the house and landed in Sherwood Crescent and there was a huge fireball up into the air over 300 metres."

Retired police inspector George Stobbs was one of the first to arrive at the scene of the crash, and remembers "a great hole in the ground with boiling aviation fuel in it. From what I could see the houses were no longer there."

The 74-year-old initially believed a military airplane had crashed, but soon realised the scale of the catastrophe. Christmas that year was over.

A huge crater was formed by the plane's fuselage which had plummeted to the ground after a bomb onboard exploded less than an hour into the flight from London to New York. The houses that once stood there were left as shells.

Today the crater has been filled, replaced by a remembrance garden planted with rhododendrons and fir trees.

A line of new brick houses has been built, and only a plaque bears witness to the residents of Lockerbie whose lives were so brutally snatched away.

On Sunday, wreaths will be placed before the marble monument bearing the names of the victims which has been erected the Dryfesdale cemetery, at the entrance to this quiet town surrounded by green hills.

There will also be religious services, but no major ceremony as there was on the 10th anniversary. "We wanted it to be as low key as possible," said Sandy Stoddart, a minister of the Church of Scotland.

Jim Swire, whose 23-year-old daughter Flora was in the plane, said there were "differences of priorities between relatives of the persons who died in the plane and the city who would like the attention to go away."

The former doctor told AFP that he would attend a memorial service on Sunday with other Britain-based relatives and friends of the victims at London's Heathrow airport.

Other ceremonies are also planned in the United States for the 180 Americans who were killed.
But if the victims' loved ones remain in mourning, the town of Lockerbie is keen to move beyond what is the darkest day in their history.

Whatever the ongoing political and legal fall-out from the tragedy -- former Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet Al-Megrahi was jailed over the bombing -- McQueen says: "This is not our fight."

"The town has moved on very quickly," she said, adding: "We were not meant to be any part of this. We're collateral damage I think."

Stobbs agreed. "I think that Lockerbie itself has recovered from the incident," he said. "Christmas is back in Lockerbie and has been for a number of years now."

Twenty years, still trying to move on.

Last updated 11:24, Thursday, 18 December 2008

Even now – two decades on – there is no closure on the Lockerbie bombing. Debate persists about the guilt of the former Libyan intelligence agent convicted of blowing up Pan Am flight 103.Mrs McQueen, now 62, was at home watching television when parts of the aircraft began falling. As wife of the town’s then GP, Kenneth McQueen, she helped carry lifesaving resuscitation gear to the surgery – equipment sadly not needed.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi, now 56 and serving a life sentence for mass murder, is due to have a second appeal against his conviction heard next year.
Yet despite the international manhunt and trial that centred on events in Lockerbie, few there have closely followed developments.

Residents have for a long time felt little connection with the legal and political debates that have raged around the world, most recently over cancer-stricken Megrahi’s failed bid for bail pending his appeal.

They want to – and have – moved on from the grief and devastation that rained down on them four days before Christmas 1988.

Most are understandably reluctant to talk about what happened on that dreadful night and some would rather the 20th anniversary was not publicly marked.

Of course, they will never forget the 270 people from 21 countries killed the night terror struck in rural Dumfriesshire.

In a garden of remembrance at Dryfesdale Cemetery, on the outskirts of the town, stand memorials naming all who died – a sombre reminder of the human cost of terrorism.
A stained glass window in the Town Hall features the flags of 21 nations – a symbol of the global grief focussed on this small town.

And in Sherwood Crescent, sits a small sandstone memorial – a dignified tribute to the 11 Lockerbie residents killed there.

But the town’s motto is “forward” and its people have lived up to that while retaining their compassion towards those who continue to visit to pay their respects.

Former Lockerbie councillor Marjory McQueen believes the community’s feelings towards the debate surrounding the disaster are not what many would expect.

She, like many others, did not follow the trial that convicted Megrahi, but cleared his co-accused, Al-Amin Khalifa Fahima in 2001.

“When they announced the verdict the media thought the town would stop, but that was not the case,” Mrs McQueen said. “The political and legal machinations that have gone on since Lockerbie have gone over the heads of people here. The interest is not what the Press would expect. “This is because of the 11 people who died from here – who we have never forgotten – I know of only one lady who was a relative and she does not wish to become part of the media circus. There are maybe distant cousins of a couple of others around, but that’s it.”

In the months that followed she worked in the Procurator Fiscal’s office, where her duties included opening files on those who died.

Despite the devastation that struck during the disaster and the grief caused in its immediate aftermath, Mrs McQueen says Lockerbie moved on quickly.

She said: “Within a year, rebuild had occurred and people were back getting on with their lives.
“For some, there were psychological problems that probably lasted for a fair bit, but, in the main, the town was back and functioning in a year.”

Sunday’s 20th anniversary will be marked in Lockerbie – but in a low-key way, as townsfolk have requested. People, understandably, want to keep their thoughts personal.

The US ambassador will be among those who will lay wreaths at Dryfesdale Cemetery, while an ecumenical church service will be held at Dryfesdale Church and a vigil at Tundergarth Church, near where the plane’s nosecone landed.

On the community’s feelings about the anniversary, Mrs McQueen said: “I think people would rather not discuss or think about it.

“The vast majority would rather just let it go as another day. It was the same with the 10th anniversary.

“I know how they feel, but this was a major international incident. Twenty-one nationalities – 259 people – on board the plane and 11 Lockerbie people died.”

Victims’ relatives are undoubtedly grateful for what the people of Lockerbie did in the aftermath of the crash – comforting them and gathering and cleaning their loved ones’ belongings before they were returned.

Mrs McQueen added: “I am glad Lockerbie has the reputation it does for warmth towards those who come from other countries and this country to remember those who died.”

The community spokeswoman is now chairman of Dryfesdale Lodge Visitor centre, which remembers the tragedy and other aspects of Lockerbie’s rich history. It attracts up to 5,000 visitors a year.

Its exhibits include a quilt specially designed to commemorate the 20th anniversary, depicting a tree with 259 leaves representing those killed on Pan Am flight 103. Eleven pebbles represent the 11 Lockerbie people who died while the tree’s strong roots represent the community.

Money to convert Dryfesdale Lodge, a former cemetery worker’s cottage, into a visitor centre, came from the Lockerbie Trust, which was established in the aftermath of the disaster to manage money that was donated to the town and to ensure it benefited the community.

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/1.286231

Libya Completes Lockerbie Payment

Libya has completed it's transfer of payment of compensation for families of the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. Earlier this week US president George Bush said a "painful chapter" between America and Libya was closing. The completion of payment comes as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam discussed ways to improve US-Libyan ties.

Most of the US victim's families of the tragedy welcomed the news and claimed it to be a "victory in their quest for justice in the case." The payment includes final compensation payments to families of Americans killed on Pan Am 103, those killed and wounded in a 1986 attack on a Berlin disco, and resolve other claims for property and personal damages.

The agreement struck between the US and Libya also calls for $300 million in compensation to be paid for the Libyan victims of U.S. airstrikes that were ordered by former President Reagan in retaliation for the Berlin bombing. The Bush administration says no taxpayer money will be used for those payments but has not said where the money is coming from.

The question of whether the payment has any relevance in terms of justice for the Lockerbie victims or has more to do with international deals to explore Libya oil rich resources is one which casts a cloud over the agreement. This cloud of uncertainty and doubt is further compounded while the current on-going appeal by the one man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing continues through the Scottish courts after the review body in Scotland indicated there may have been a 'miscarriage of justice' at the original trial.


Various sources:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7741017.stm

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ioldoglB9NS7sO2LOY6qQtqgztTgD94ISDM00

http://www.woi-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=9388170&nav=1LFX

Lockerbie Reflections

Oh East is East and West is West
And never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently
At God’s great Judgment Seat.

The Ballad of East and West
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear : “a Fool lies here
Who tried to hustle the East”.


Though I had landed at Teheran airport a few times, and helped administer FAO projects in Iran I did not have an opportunity to visit that great country. The nearest I got to the Iranian border was when travelling to the mountains south of Ashgabat in Turkmenistan.



I had known Iraninan students at workshops and seminars, and once met with diplomatic officers from the government of the late Shah. This was on a tour boat on Moscow river. Their monarch, Mohammed Resa Shah Pahlavi, was visiting the Soviet Premier at the time. His entourage of diplomats and aides exhibited culture, learning and sophistication, and made stimulating conversation with me during the afternoon river cruise.



The Shah ruled Iran from 1941 to 1979. He was briefly ousted in 1953 by the Prime Minister, Dr Mossadegh, but was reinstated with CIA help shortly after. I recall our press making a fool of Dr Mossadegh at the time because he wept in public.


The Shah then abolished the multi-party system and made the country a one-party state. He established and supervised a ruthless organisation, the SAVAK secret police. He was eventually deposed in 1979 despite having a powerful army and an immense arsenal of weapons, and control shifted from the monarchy to the ayatollahs.



There followed a period of difficult relations with the USA, and conflict with Iraq which the USA supported. In fact the United States had armed both of the belligerants in the Iran – Iraq war, and had turned a blind eye to illegal arms to Iran sales engineered by Colonel North. He and his boss, National Security Adviser John Poindexter, ignored the law and lied to Congress over dealings with Iran and support to Contras in Nicaragua. They destroyed evidence in the form of e-mail records but back-up tapes were recovered by the FBI and the Tower Commission.



A dreadful incident occurred on July 3 1988, when an Iranian air liner on a regular flight (IA 655) from Bander Abbas to Dubai, was shot down by a US cruiser, the Vicennes. It was an ordinary civilian flight which our project officers often took, although some of President Reagan’s apologists claimed otherwise. Ultimately the American government paid $ 61 million as an ex gratia compensation, but it never admitted any fault. Vice President George Bush (senior) stated at the time that he would “never apologise for the United States, no matter what the facts were”.



290 passengers and crew perished in the shooting down of the Airbus 300, including over 60 children and 38 non-Iranians. The Captain of the Vicennes, and his commanding officer were both decorated with Legion of Merit medals in 1990 for their part in the attack on the civilian airliner.



Some observers believe that the bombing of the Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, 5½ months later, on December 21, 1988, was a retaliation by Middle Eastern groups, for the shooting down of the Iranian flight IA 655, and that Libya had little to do with it. A telephone warning had been received on December 5th, stating that an American airliner flying from Frankfurt to the USA would be destroyed by a bomb in two weeks time. The caller stated that the bombing would be the work of the Abu Nidal organisation. The warning was distributed to airlines in Frankfurt, but was ignored by the Pan Am office.


President Bush appointed a President’s Commission on Aviation Security and Terrorism, PCAST, to review and report on aviation security in the light of the downing of PA 103. At a meeting with victims’ relatives in the U.S. Embassy in London on 12 February 1990, a PCAST member told relative Martin Cadman, “Your government and ours know exactly what happened. But they are never going to tell”. Veteran British Member of Parliament, Tam Dalyell, reminded the House of Commons of this statement on 11th July 1990, - a statement that he claimed had never been refuted.



Suspicions over the Pan Am bombing and the subsequent trial and conviction of a single Libyan for the crime, Abdel Besset Al Megrahi, have intensified since the discovery of a strange link with a fingerprint case in Scotland.



Policewoman Shirley McKie was accused by the SCRO (Scottish Criminal Records Office) of leaving a print at a murder scene in Glasgow in 1999 and was subsequently tried for perjury.



She was acquitted, and her father, a former police officer himself, pursued the matter doggedly. Fingerprint experts in England, the USA and Australia testified that the supposed print could not possibly have been hers, and some averred after seeing the subsequent copies, that the original print had been doctored to make it appear to belong to the officer in question.



There was puzzlement in Scotland over the Scottish Executive’s harassment of Miss McKie and its refusal to permit an independent public enquiry to take place. Then the Scotsman newspaper obtained copies of official documents that showed that the head of Police in Tayside who had looked into the matter, concluded that criminal charges should be brought to bear on some officers of the SCRO Scotland’s main fingerprint unit.


It was further disclosed that the Lord Advocate Colin Boyd, who had refused to mount a prosecution but who had decided instead to charge McKie with perjury was the official in charge of the Libyan Lockerbie bombing trial. It was also later revealed that the FBI had put considerable pressure on British and Scottish authorities to prevent any public enquiry into the McKie case, which might cast doubts on SCRO competence, and by implication, on the Lockerbie trial.



The father of one of the Pan Am flight victims, Dr Swire, wrote to the press pointing out some parallels between Solicitor General / Lord Advocate Boyd’s handling of both cases. Both the Lockerbie trial and the fingerprint case rested on slender evidence – in the one the charred remains of pieces of a supposed timer, and in the other a much-disputed fingerprint.



In neither case would Boyd allow anyone to view the original piece of evidence. In both cases the SCRO and related investigation offices were involved.


Some concluded that the United States was determined to obtain a conviction for the Lockerbie bombing, both to abate public outcry, and to direct attention away from the true story of the Pan Am bombing.



The real suspects of that bombing could have exposed the dealings of Colonel North, and the hypocrisy of the USA which had armed despots and Bin Laden-type Arabs. Any shadow of doubt thrown against the Scottish SCRO would automatically put the Lockerbie verdict in doubt.

Therefore, the Scottish Executive, including its First Minister and its Minister of Justice, absolutely refused to permit a public enquiry, and the now suspect Attorney General threw his weight behind their decision.

Colonel Oliver North, who was deeply involved in selling arms to Iran to finance Contra mercenaries in Central America, contrary to official US government policy. He went on to play a nefarious role in the Middle East, and may have been partly responsible for setting up Terry Waite for abduction by Arab militants, which may explain Waite’s public expression of forgiveness to North at a televised meeting.

Pan Am 103 / Lockerbie questions
The father of Flora Swire, one of the 270 innocent victims of the Pan Am bombing, Dr Jim Swire, and other concerned persons have raised numerous questions about the downing of flight Pan Am 103 and related incidents, in an endeavour to uncover the truth of the whole matter. They have met largely with a wall of official silence and non-response. One of their conclusions was that the Lockerbie trial failed several basic principles of justice and evidence. Among the many queries were concerns on the involvement of one Vincent Cannistraro who was put in charge of the CIA investigation but who was not required to appear as a witness.

Cannistraro was one of the leaders of the brutal CIA Nicaragua campaign, financed partly by the “arms for Iran” Contra scandal. He was also involved in secretly helping to arm Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban in the 1980’s but none of these matters were revealed at the trial. During 1986 – 88 he was responsible for White House disinformation and lies against Libya. During the Lockerbie investigation, his agents removed evidence illegally and reinserted at least one piece after it had been tampered with. The forensic scientists Lockerbie notebook contained a page recording the only fragment of bomb found at the scene. The page had been manually inserted, and all pages subsequently renumbered by hand.

The Maltese shopkeeper, Tony Gauci, who provided conflicting identification evidence, had been promised $ 4 million by the USA if Al Megrahi was convicted, but none of that was revealed at the trial. Palestinian terrorist Marwan Khreesat was employed by Ahmed Jibril, Jordanian intelligence and possibly also the CIA to make barometrically triggered bombs for Jibril’s group, targeting Pan Am flights. Why was one stolen just a day before Khreesat’s arrest ? Could it have been the fatal bomb on flight 103 ?

More alarmingly, the UK Government issued two telex warnings days before the bombing. One carried a picture of the Khreesat bomb with instructions to the airline that if such a device was found, it should be “consigned to the hold of the plane”.

Two days after the bombing, Iran admitted paying the Jibril group $ 11 million, and some months later, paying $ 0.5 million to Abu Talb. These allegations all point to the generally believed explanation of the destruction of the Pan Am flight, - that it was a pledged response to the downing of a civilian Iranian jet (flight IA 655 from Bandar Abbas to Dubai) by the USS Vicennes earlier that year, with the loss of 290 innocent passengers. (Though denied at the time, the Vicennes was later admitted to have been inside Iranian territorial waters, and firing on Iranian boats when it shot the airliner).

The US government never admitted liability, but under President Clinton, on 26 February 1966, it agreed to to pay an ex gratia sum of $ 61.8 million to Iran and the flight victims families.

The IA 655 shooting and its aftermath brought out some shameful propaganda and ‘spin’ by American politicians and reporters. Ronald Reagan claimed that the civilian jet was diving towards the U.S. Navy ship, and increasing speed. Larry King demanded to know from the Iranian Ambassador, “why a predominately business flight was carrying so many women and children” !!! This was rubbish. I knew the flight which my FAO colleagues often took.

Captain William C Rogers III of the guided missile cruiser, and his air warfare coordinator, Lt. Com. Lustig, were awarded the Legion of Merit medal by President George H W Bush in 1990, for “excellent meritorious conduct” on the day in question.

But back to Pan Am flight 103, -
Behind or around the Pan Am / Lockerbie crash, and other sinister events like the illegal sale of arms to Iran, the involvement of the CIA in the drug trade, the financing of brutal Contras in Nicaragua, and the abduction and imprisonment of Terry Waite, - lurks the shadow of one Colonel Oliver North. An Australian banker who studied the Lockerbie case in great detail claimed to me that though most American personnel were warned off flight 103, it contained some CIA agents en route the USA to testify against Oliver North over “arms for Iran” and other matters. But this belief and much of the information above has not been endorsed or admitted by U.S. or UK authorities.

http://www.electricscotland.com/thomson/reflections13.htm