In response to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw’s comments that the USA has not sought permission to use UK airports to move CIA suspects, Director of Liberty Shami Chakrabarti said:

“Whilst we are glad at least that the Government has taken notice of the growing concerns about extraordinary rendition, the Foreign Secretary’s comments are particularly worrying for the answers that they pointedly do not contain:

1. Liberty requested that he ask the US Government whether it has used British territory for the purposes of extraordinary rendition. Has he done this?

2. We asked him to investigate whether British territory has been so used. He appears to respond by saying that “no requests have been made” (to use airports to move CIA suspects).

3. Crucially, we asked him to seek an assurance from the US Government that in the future, neither it not its agents would use Britain for the purposes of extraordinary rendition. Has he done this?

We look forward to a serious response to Liberty’s letter to the Foreign Secretary of 30 November. Few would be naïve enough to expect a foreign power to ask specific permission to use Britain for the shameful and shadowy business of kidnap and torture. We need a proactive investigation rather than an FCO file-check.”

Liberty Press Office on 0207 378 3656 or 07973 831 128

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. On 30 November, Liberty called on Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and the Police Chief Constables of Bedfordshire, Dorset, Essex, Hampshire, the Metropolitan Police, the Ministry of Defence Police, Suffolk, Sussex, Thames Valley, and West Midlands to seek assurances by 14 December from the USA that it is not using UK airports to transport suspects to countries that torture.

2. Liberty’s call to action against extraordinary rendition marks the launch of its “No torture, no compromise” campaign which seeks to make the UK government honour its positive obligation to stop torture and ill-treatment.

3. Andrew Tyrie MP has launched an All Parliamentary Party Group which will investigate claims that CIA planes carrying terrorist suspects have landed at British airfields.

4. The Guardian revealed on 6 December and 12 September 2005 that airports in Biggin Hill, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brize Norton, Farnborough, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, RAF Mildenhall, Northolt, and Stansted have allowed CIA or CIA-chartered jets to land temporarily. These aircraft had flown into the UK approximately 210 times since 2001.