shirleymckie.myfastforum.org

Al · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 9:10 am Post subject: Karen and Wullie are correct...

Both Karen and Wullie are spot on in their observations about what went on yesterday ... I was there.

Wullie's comments are so very true. Megrahi is in all probability innocent and he has many supporters and much media publicity on his side. But yesterday's Silent Walk for Justice was about ALL the cases of injustice in Scotland (which Maria kept emphasising for long enough) that we on this forum are all too well aware of.

As I said, Guje and Maria rightly and very proudly led the Silent Walk for Justice down The Royal Mile. It was their dream and baby and they deserve all the plaudits and acclaim bestowed upon them. But it was very clear that there was "only one show in town" yesterday, and it was not Annie's or the other cases that were being highlighted there - though some have had mention in the press coverage as we see, Megrahi's case stole all the coverage.

Guje and Maria had worked very hard over the past few months to put this idea, THEIR IDEA as Karen said, together. Annie's case, Guje and Maria should have been the focus of the day and what they were trying to do in highlighting all the other injustices in Scotland today. I felt quite angry for them at times (no surprises to some who post here!), though very proud of them both too. Maria especially did remarkably well in meeting and greeting many of the participants before the start of the Silent Walk and dealing with all the media and so on.

Everyone on this forum knows only too well how I have no time for MacAskill and this SNP "Government" and a lot of the reasons why this is the case - Peter especially, a man I have the greatest respect and admiration for (not least as he has stood by us all the way in our battle for answers, the truth and justice), is privy to the background more than most and he agrees what has happened in the case we have been pursuing is simply wrong, very cruel and very unjust. I have been unable to name names in it only because it is meant to be protected under many Scottish laws (a la the Miss X case in the Scottish Borders) and I have constantly been hamstrung in what I can say about it on this forum ... no other reason than that ... and that has contributed to my frustrations and the grumpiness at times, in which, I accept, I was in the wrong.

For months now we have been requesting meetings with Salmond and / or MacAskill about the case, but the silence continues and they just won't play ball - an admission of just how guilty they are in the case concerned. Just yesterday we had a reply from the opposition benches who have been fobbed off too (effectively told to take a hike) by Salmond's yes men at SNP HQ. It's absolutely disgusting and I have let MacAskill (especially) and Salmond know how we feel about them. They don't even rebutt the allegations against them or have never threatened litigation against us once ... they don't want the case near a court of course.

I knew fine MacAskill wouldn't show face yesterday - he wouldn't want a red one or to be put on the spot and publicly heckled and challenged by "ordinary Joe Public", those many "malcontents" he often speaks of, like yours truly. But it is a lot of ballony that he wasn't aware of this event yesterday - Guje had been calling his office for weeks and Maria, as we all know, sent out enough flyers about the Silent Walk and what she hoped would happen ... MacAskill coming out to meet those who have been badly ill-treated by HIS Scottish INjustice system. The man simply disgusts me ... and I would have no hesitation in telling him that after yesterday's cowardice and what he has done (over several years) in the case we pursue. He should RESIGN NOW as he is no longer fit to hold the high office he does. It's now as simple as that.

Congratulations again to Guje and Maria who have done Annie's memory and the Scottish people, those suffering injustice, proud. Hopefully you will get that FAI one of those days and find the peace and closure for yourselves and Annie.

All the very best to ALL who regularly post here.

http://shirleymckie.myfastforum.org/sutra2385.php#2385

http://shirleymckie.myfastforum.org/sutra2394.php#2394

ADDENDUM :

Wullie said...

Perhaps we could all send him an E-Mail and let him know of our disgust at him and that we have absolutely no confidence in his actions as Justice Secretary and he would be better placed to hand the job over to someone with a bit more compassion for the scottish People and someone who is willing to listen, Clearly Mr MacAskill does not fit this bill.

Mr MacAskill your contempt for the people of Scotland (And Visitors) is "Appalling"

I will send MacAskill, Salmond et al the link to this post just now...

http://shirleymckie.myfastforum.org/sutra2399.php#2399

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Families of killers hijack silent walk for justice

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news...-walk-for-justice-86908-20947187/

Silent Walk for Justice News

http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=...+for+Justice&btnG=Search+News

Annie Borjesson News

http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=...ie+Borjesson&btnG=Search+News

_________________
Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

PeterCherbi · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 167 Location: Edinburgh

Karen, Wullie & Al, you are all spot on.

From my own experience, and I'm sure everyone would agree - those who turn their backs on the abused, the weak and those victims of injustice - all injustice, are as guilty as the abusers who cause it, and to think that not one member of staff from Mr MacAskill's office even put in a small effort to come out and receive the marchers is disgusting.

I think we can conclude quite easily Mr MacAskill has turned his backs on ordinary Scots, on victims of injustice, on those with no voice ... preferring instead to sit in Parliament and make grand statements about who he will personally protect in the monied professions, than make a small human effort to be a part of the rest of society who hope for better and fairer treatment.

The effort and goals of the 'silent walk' must go on, and without a doubt, Scotland needs a more compassionate, more capable and more attentive Justice Secretary who will speak to and for the needs of all Scots.
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My blog on issues of injustice in Scotland A Diary of Injustice in Scotland by Peter Cherbi

Injustice Scotland Campaign website : Injustice Scotland

Angeline · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 148

I, too, was there, and can only say how amazingly well Maria and Guje did to pull this whole thing together.

The press coverage, as others have said, concentrated mainly on the Megrahi family, which was a real shame, but perhaps the real success of the day was in bringing people together.

So many families, talking to one another, swapping information, phone numbers, email addresses, and so on - it can only stengthen the growing movement for change in our so-called "justice" system.

MacAskill should be ashamed - he knew for weeks that the event was happening, and chose to ignore Maria for most of them. "Too busy" to meet the people? Isn't his job to serve the people? The servants think they've become the masters, and the lunatics have well and truly taken over the assylum!

But the last word still goes to Maria and Guje - a huge well done. You should be very proud of what you achieved yesterday. Stay strong, and keep fighting!
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As long as one heart still holds on, then hope will never really be gone

Al

Peter and Angeline have their fingers on the pulse as always and I would echo all their observations too.

There is a very fleeting glimpse of Guje and Maria as we walked in front of the Parliament arriving there together :

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/f...oking_for_an_end_to_injustice.php

But, as I previously said and we can all see, the event (Maria's and Guje's event) was largely hijacked by the Megrahi case.

_____________________________________________________________

Families of killers hijack silent walk for justice

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news...-walk-for-justice-86908-20947187/

Silent Walk for Justice News

http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=...+for+Justice&btnG=Search+News

Annie Borjesson News

http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=...ie+Borjesson&btnG=Search+News
_________________
Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

petitioner · Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Dunfermline

As someone who took part in yesterday’s event I would concur with those who praise Guje Borjesson and Maria Jansson for the marvellous job they have done in organising the “silent walk for justice”, which looks like becoming an annual event and a thorn in the side of whoever is Justice Minister at Holyrood.

I would also agree that it was regrettable that the press coverage of the walk was dominated by the presence of the Megrahi family, but that was inevitable, and while the Megrahi family are perfectly entitled to have their say, it took most of the attention away from the organisers and their aims. On a positive note the Megrahi supporters and family swelled the attendance and their attendance ensured that the press were there in large numbers.

Maria and Guje made it clear that they welcomed anyone who had a sense of injustice to take part in the walk and she also made it clear that she could not make a judgement on the merits of individual cases.

Guje said in her speech at the Scottish Parliament: “We who have walked here today are confident that the talent Scots have for innovation can be utilised to come up with a solution to our needs. One that would offer a human dimension to those who feel a cold and dispassionate justice system has passed them by. Where there is a gap in legislation we ask you to fill it and where legislation for appeal exists we ask that this be carried out speedily. Justice delayed is justice denied”

I wish that I shared Guje’s confidence in our justice system, but her views might carry some weight coming as they do from a stranger in a foreign land. We Scots who criticise our justice system are often labelled as the “usual suspects” and dismissed accordingly. This is not easily done to an intelligent and articulate Swedish lady who views things from a fresh perspective and has no personal axe to grind other than to see justice done for her daughter.

I found this observation about how we are affected by the presence of outsiders in our midst on another website:
“Sociologists have a term for what an outsider does to a society just by being there. The stranger conducts a “commonsense inventory”.

This is not a conscious act, but just because the outsider has not been socialised into that system they have an effect of making everyone there consider what is the accepted wisdom.

Let us hope that Guje, by her observations and commonsense comments can make Kenny McAskill try to see ourselves as others see us. He might no like what he sees.

W.Roughead · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Scotland.

I cannot add more to these posts, than has already been said.

It came as no surprise to me that McAskill did not appear - and shame on him and his cronies.

I have been away since Wednesday and just returned home this afternoon, so forgive my late comments.

Guje Borjesson and Maria Jansson, and everyone who took part deserve praise for their hard work and effort.

I am just so angry that they did not receive words of comfort et al from the top brass, but as has been reiterated by both Al and Peter, Karen Torley and Big Wullie none of us are surprised.

Shame on him and them.
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“Send not to know for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee.” John Donne.

Al

Justice Secretary MacAskill turns his back on Scots injustice victims from Edinburgh 'silent walk for justice'

http://petercherbi.blogspot.com/2...ecretary-macaskill-turns-his.html
_________________
Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

Big Wullie · Joined: 25 Apr 2007 Posts: 1149 Location: Glasgow

Well done to Tony Kelly Solicitor for speaking on behalf of his client

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/vide...ins-justice-march-86908-20947965/

I also note loony tunes Aitken has spoken in the record to the effect that Megrahi and Luke Mitchell are guilty.

scotkaz · Joined: 28 Aug 2008 Posts: 527

W.Roughead · Joined: 25 Oct 2008 Posts: 120 Location: Scotland.

I think it laudable that you are up for doing a survey or even linking such with an online poll. It will be very time consuming for you to do on your own, you must have a lot of free time.

Whilst it is one thing to suggest a survey, it is quite another to conduct one, but good luck to you all the same. I hope you are well wrapped up, because this is awful weather to be conducting a survey. Have you worked out what form such a survey will take? I am just curious.

This makes me wonder if there are as many people around the country who truly think Megrahi and Luke Mitchell are in fact innocent.

I suspect those ‘ordinary people’ as you put it, are not so many in number. Almost everyone I have ever come in contact with think that both are guilty. Doubtless, they have formed such opinions through third party accounts, hearsay and the media in general. Rather than from a sound knowledge base.

I have my own feelings on each case, and have expressed them quite adequately here and elsewhere. I just do not think opinions as to the innocence in these cases, are shared in great numbers, but I could be wrong.

Peter
Once again an excellent article on your blog about the walk. I wonder what it will take for McAskill to stand up and be counted, or even take notice.

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“Send not to know for whom the bell tolls – it tolls for thee.” John Donne.