News: Gibson (Detainee) Inquiry scrapped

News: Gibson (Detainee) Inquiry scrapped

London Guantánamo Campaign

The inquiry into over a dozen allegations of British intelligence forces’ complicity in torture abroad, announced by the government in July 2010 (and whose guidelines were published in September 2011), is due to be scrapped pending criminal investigations into British collusion in the “rendition” of two Libyan nationals in 2004. Former ministers are likely to be questioned as part of this police investigation. The Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke, in making the announcement in parliament today, has said that the government remains committed to an inquiry once the criminal investigations are complete. The Gibson Inquiry (www.detaineeinquiry.org.uk) has faced strong criticism due to its limited scope and lack of transparency and accountability; it was boycotted by various NGOs and victims last year and earlier this month the two Libyan victims stated that they would be withdrawing as well to pursue criminal proceedings against the British government. Fresh documents about British involvement in “extraordinary rendition”, shedding further light on the allegations made by these men, were discovered in Libya by Human Rights Watch during an investigation into human rights abuses there in September 2011 (http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/09/08/usuk-documents-reveal-libya-rendition-details). The Metropolitan Police and the CPS, who are investigating, may also open up inquiries into allegations of abuse by MI5 and MI6 made by Shaker Aamer.

While the scrapping of this notorious inquiry and the growing investigation into the criminal activity of some sections of the civil service and the previous government are positive developments, an inquiry that is transparent, open and effective is still very necessary.