La LIGUE CELTIQUE
CELTIC
LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION
BRETONS TRIAL - WAS IT CONTRIVED FOR POLITICAL ENDS?
The trial of a number of Bretons alleged to have been involved in a militant
bombing campaign and links to the ARB has concluded in France.
So far news reaching us is sketchy but it appears four of the eleven were
acquitted and the others received jail terms ranging from 3 to 11 years.
The detention and trial of the men was surrounded with controversy from the
start. Many of those jailed have already served a lengthy period (over four
years) in detention. There have also been allegations that the purpose of the
prosecutions was aimed at discrediting the Breton nationalist movement.
The Celtic League Secretary General has asked Officers of the Leagues Cornish
branch to obtain detail of the results of the trial and prepare a report.
The Cornish branch has taken an active role in campaigning on behalf of the men
organising a demonstration at the French Embassy in Dublin in August and
travelling to support a protest meeting on behalf of the men in Brittany last
month.
The League share the concerns of some in Brittany who believe the case against
these men may have, to a certain extent, been contrived for political ends by
the French government.
The trial may be over but questions still remain.
J B Moffatt
Secretary General
Celtic League
28/03/04
CONSEU MEETING SETS OUT 'RIGHTS' ROAD MAP
A meeting in Nantes, Brittany, of the CONSEU (Conference of European Nations
without State) on the 9th and 10th of January which brought together delegations
from Catalonia, Sardinia, the Canary Islands, Galicia, the Basque country,
Flanders, Brittany and the Celtic League has been scathing in its condemnation
of disregard for Human Rights conventions by leading European States. Prime
offenders identified were France and Spain for their brutal campaigns against
the Basque and Breton peoples.
The problem of the political states passing legislation to exempt them from
Human Rights conventions on¨"so called anti-terrorist" laws in the wake of
September 11th 2001 was also expressly condemned.
There are currently 11 Bretons in Parisian jails, some who have been detained
WITHOUT CHARGES for over four years. Their cases are due to come to court
between the 1st and 26th of March and all are expected to be released without
charges of any form being brought.
The CONSEU have also agreed to set up a monitoring network to gather and
disseminate reliable information on the repression of minorities and nations
without state in Europe.
The Celtic League will play a key role in helping to establish this network
which will put the information on a public access web-site as well as lobbying
political bodies and MEPs.
The Celtic League has been participating in the CONSEU since 1996.
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
11/01/04
CELTIC
LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION
NANTES MEETING TO CONSIDER REPRESSION & HUMAN RIGHTS
The Assistant Secretary General of the Celtic League, Mark Kermode, will travel
to Nantes - Brittany this coming weekend (9-10 January 2004) to take part in a
conference which will consider ongoing repression in several European States.
The conference organised by CONSEU (the body which brings together various
Nationalist and Rights groups in Europe) will consider the current situation in
several nations including the Basque Country, Ireland, Corsica, and Brittany.
The meeting will consider the impact of and limits to current Human Rights
legislation and it will also consider the status of repressive emergency
legislation in Europe and European internal or bilateral agreements currently in
use. The Celtic League has been a committed advocate in this field for sometime.
Over a decade ago we criticised the application of Human Rights legislation in
the Celtic countries and whilst since that time there has been some progress
latterly regressive steps have occurred in several countries. The League has
been outspoken about the rights of those detained. In recent years we have
protested about the continued protracted detention of a number of Bretons
without trial. In August the Leagues Irish and Cornish branches jointly
organised a protest about the detentions at the French Embassy in Dublin.
Subsequently the Celtic League Convenor met with French Embassy representatives.
The League has also spoken out on behalf of those imprisoned in other countries
and has lodged several protests with both governments and Human Rights
organisations about the ill-treatment of Basques detained by Spain. It is hoped
the CONSEU meeting will be able to establish a Pan-European grouping to monitor
and report on violations of human rights, the treatment of those detained and
also scrutinize any new emergency legislation introduced.
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
05/01/04
CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS
INFORMATION
BRETON PRISONERS PLIGHT HIGHLIGHTED AS MANX COMMEMORATE MARTYR
Nationalists should remember those suffering for their beliefs at the present
time in the various Celtic countries, the annual Illiam Dhone commemoration was
told. Manx nationalists had gathered on January 2nd at Hango Hill on the Isle of
Man where seventeenth century patriot, Illiam Dhone (William Christian), was
executed by the English. The Secretary General of the Celtic League in his
concluding remarks to the gathering urged those present to remember those
imprisoned today in the Celtic countries and specifically highlighted the plight
of the Breton prisoners, some of whom have now been in prison almost four years
awaiting trial. The Illiam Dhone commemoration is jointly organised by Mec
Vannin (The Manx Nationalist Party) and the Manx branch of the Celtic League.
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
03/01/04
20/12/2003
CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION
BRETON PRISONERS PLIGHT REMEMBERED AT XMAS
The Breton prisoners support group, CARB, has once again expressed concern about
the health of political prisoner, Paskal Laizé.
CARB has notified Amnesty International about its concerns highlighting its view
that Laizé is being denied necessary medical treatment.
The 38 year old father of two is now well into his fourth year of captivity
without trial. He strenuously denies the allegations made against him.
Meanwhile all Breton prisoners are being remembered at this time by members of
the Celtic League. Cards and booklets have been sent to the various prisons
around Paris in which they are held. Whilst some seem to be accepted in other
instances packages are returned as elements of the French prison authorities
exhibit a 'scrooge like' attitude to the festive season.
The Cornish branch of the Celtic League which organised the successful
demonstration at the French Embassy in Dublin in August has also been ensuring
that the prisoners remain in peoples thoughts at this time. Members were
recently extolled to:
NADELIK LOWEN HA BLYTHEN NOWEDH DHA!
DON'T FORGET THE BRETON POW'S THIS CHRISTMAS
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
20/12/03
Lundi 11, Août 2003
LA FRANCE DOIT CESSER DE TRAITER INJUSTEMENT LES PRISONNIERS BRETONS
Communiqué de presse de la Ligue Celtique
La Ligue Celtique a écrit aux ambassades de France à Dublin et Londres en insistant pour qu'il soit mis fin à la détention injuste de six Bretons.La semaine dernière, la Ligue Celtique a organisé une manifestation devant les locaux de l'Ambassade de France à Dublin et, mardi dernier, le Délégué de la Ligue, Cathal O Luain,a rencontré des représentants de l'Ambassade pour soutenir la demande de libération des prisonniers. La discussion a été positive, cependant la Ligue tient à souligner que de nouvelles protestations seront organisées si la France n'agit pas pour satisfaire les demandes de meilleur traitement pour les six Bretons.
Bernard Moffatt
Secrétaire Général
Annexe 1:
Lettre à Monsieur l'Ambassadeur de France en Irlande.
Monsieur l'Ambassadeur,
Je vous joins le texte d'une résolution adoptée à l'Assemblée Générale Annuelle
de la Ligue Celtique qui s'est déroulée à Dublin au cours du week-end des 2 et 3
août.
Vous recevrez une lettre déposée de ma part par des représentants de la Ligue
Celtique quand ils ont entrepris une démarche auprès de votre Ambassade dans
l'après-midi du 3 août. Suite à cette manifestation, s'est tenu le 5 août un
entretien entre votre personnel et des représentants de la Ligue et je souhaite
vous remercier pour avoir accordé le temps nécessaire pour que ces points de vue
puissent s'exprimer.
La résolution vous permettra de constater que nous sommes sérieusement inquiets
, non seulement en raison de la durée de détention de ces hommes, mais aussi
pour ce qui est de leur bien-être physique et psychologique.
J'espère que vous transmettrez à votre Ministère de la Justice les
préoccupations que contient le présent courrier comme celles exprimées
directement lors de la rencontre à l'Ambassade avec notre Délégué, Cathal O
Luain.
Je souhaite confirmer que la décision de la Ligue Celtique comprend
l'organisation , si nécessaire, de nouvelles protestations directes. Cependant,
j'espère que le Gouvernement Français comprendra
la valeur de notre argumentation sur le fait que ces hommes ont déjà passé trop
de temps en prison, loin de leurs familles. Il faut en finir avec cette
injustice.
J. B. Moffatt
Secrétaire Général
Ligue Celtique
Annexe
2:
Lettre à Monsieur l'Ambassadeur de France en Grande-Bretagne.
Monsieur l'Ambassadeur,
Je vous joins le texte d'une résolution adoptée à l'Assemblée Générale Annuelle
de la Ligue Celtique qui s'est déroulée à Dublin au cours du week-end des 2 et 3
août.
Suite à cette Assemblée Générale Annuelle de la Ligue Celtique , une lettre a
été remise de ma part à l'Ambassade de votre pays à Dublin par des représentants
de la Ligue Celtique. Suite à cette manifestation, s'est tenu le 5 août un
entretien entre des membres de l'Ambassade à qui nous avons exprimé nos
préoccupations.
La résolution vous permettra de constater que nous sommes sérieusement inquiets,
non seulement en raison de la durée de détention de ces hommes, mais aussi pour
ce qui est de leur bien-être physique et psychologique.
J'espère que vous transmettrez à votre Ministère de la Justice les
préoccupations que contient le présent courrier.
Je souhaite confirmer la de la Ligue Celtique à organiser, si nécessaire, de
nouvelles protestations directes. Cependant, j'espère que le Gouvernement
Français comprendra la valeur de notre argumentation sur le fait que ces hommes
ont déjà passé trop de temps en prison, loin de leurs familles. Il faut en finir
avec cette injustice.
J. B. Moffatt
Secrétaire Général
Ligue Celtique
Annexe 3 :
la Ligue Celtique.
La Ligue Celtique comporte des sections dans les six pays celtiques des Iles d'Europe Occidentale et en Bretagne. Elle travaille à développer la coopération entre les pays celtiques et agit dans les domaines politiques, culturels et environnementaux. Elle dénonce les atteintes aux Droits de l'Homme et surveille toutes les activités militaires dans les pays celtiques.
http://www.manxman.co.imcleague/
CELTIC LEAGUE PRESS INFORMATION - 04/08/03 -
LORIENT DEMONSTRATION HIGHLIGHTS HEALTH FEARS FOR PRISONERS
A demonstration was held in Lorient, Brittany on Sunday which coincided with the
protest at the French Embassy in Dublin by members of the Celtic League.
The Lorient demonstration was organised by the Breton prisoners support group,
CARB, (Coordination Anti-Répressive de Bretagne). Several hundred demonstrators
expressed their concern at the treatment and prolonged detention of all the six
Breton prisoners.
However particular expressions of concern were made for Alain Solé. Since being
in prison Solé who suffers from diabetes has had to undergo triple coronary
bypass and also an operation on his leg.
His medical condition and the circumstances of his detention give real cause for
concern. He is the longest serving of the six prisoners, having been in prison
for four years. None of those imprisoned has been brought to trial.
International rights groups, including Amnesty, have expressed concern about the
case of Alain Solé but so far despite all these efforts the French authorities
remain obdurate. However the case of Alain Solé and the other prisoners is now
being pressed outside France and Brittany and on Tuesday the Convenor of the
Celtic League, Cathal O Luain, hopes to meet officials at the French Embassy in
Dublin to reinforce the concerns already expressed by the Celtic League.
Bernard Moffatt
Secretary General
04/08/03
The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries of the western
British Isles and Brittany. It works to promote cooperation between these
countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and
environmental matters. It targets human rights abuse and monitors all military
activity within these areas
TEL (UK)01624 877918 MOBILE (UK)07624 491609
Internet site at
http://www.manxman.co.imcleague/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/
b.moffatt@advsys.co.im