Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore MP has issued a message for Christmas. Here it is in full:
Christmas is a time for families and friends to come together and spend time reflecting on the year which has passed and their hopes and ambitions for the year to come.
2012 was an important year for Scotland as we saw the next chapter of devolution bring new powers to the Scottish Parliament. We also reached an agreement on a referendum which means people in Scotland will soon vote on whether or not to keep our country within the UK.I believe, as most people living here do, that staying together as that family of nations is the best choice.
At this time of year, we also think of those less fortunate than ourselves and those who cannot be with their families at Christmas. It is a time to extend an extra helping hand to them, such as checking on an elderly neighbour or supporting those who are without their loved ones this year. We also appreciate the dedication of our forces and emergency personnel who work around the clock each day of the year to keep us safe and well.
I wish everyone across Scotland a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
* Caron Lindsay is Co-Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings
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3 Comments
Many thanks you for the write-up. I agree with you and appreciate current Bangladesh government’s willingness to try the war criminals of 1971 war, although it was resolved by the government immediately after the liberation war. However excluding the initially proven 195 war criminals from Pakistan army has made the move seriously questionable and raised the concern that it is designed to intimidate the opposition. Those who have been arrested for these trial are all from opposition party (BNP and BJI), and none from Awami League, despite the allegation that those who committed crimes against humanity during 1971 also do exist in the ruling party. The trial lacks any credibility due to many weaknesses that includes the lengthy pre-charge detention of suspects, interrogation without counsel present, inability to challenge the jurisdiction of the tribunal, lack of presumption of innocence, potential for self-incrimination, lack of protections for witnesses and victims etc. Despite the 17 recommendations made by the International Bar Association to make the tribunal compatible with international standard, almost nothing has been changed. Similarly, the government had ignored the recommendations made by the United Nations, the International Centre for Transitional Justice, Human Rights Watch and US Ambassador at Large Stephen Rapp. The judges, the investigators and the prosecutors have been drawn from the background with ruling party, making it unacceptable to anyone except the ruling party. Recently we have seen that the international lawyers for the accused have been barred to enter Bangladesh and defend the accused. Therefore, it is no wonder that the experts in field has called the ICT a politically motivated podium of unfair trial.
Yes I think bangladesh government want to take revenge opposite leaders with world crime tribunal
bangladesh government, mrs husina want to create dictatorship in government, so many leaders arrested,