Celtic League International    |     home
about Celtic League   |   join   |   buy badges   |   Carn magazine   |   links
about Celtic League
The Celtic League is an non-governmental inter-Celtic organisation working to promote cooperation between the six Celtic Nations of the western British Isles and Brittany.

aims of the Celtic League
The fundamental aim of the Celtic League is to contribute, as an international organisation, in the struggles of the six Celtic Nations to secure or win their political, cultural, social and economic freedom. This includes:
Fostering co-operation between Celtic peoples.
Developing the consciousness of the special relationship and solidarity between them.
Making our national struggles and achievements better known abroad.
Campaining for a formal association of Celtic Nations to take place once two or more of them have achieved self-government.
Advocating the use of the national resources of each of the Celtic countries for the benefit of all its people.

By Celtic Nations we mean the peoples living in Brittany, Cornwall, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales.

The Celtic League campaigns on a broad range of issues. We have highlighted economic exploitation and social matters. We have vigorously campaigned to rectify human rights abuses and taken a particular interest in the treatment of political detainees in the Celtic countries over the past forty years.
On the cultural side, we publicise the activities of national organisations such as those working to sustain the Celtic languages.
We project a vigorous publicity profile, using the media in the Celtic countries and internationally.
A feature of the League's effort over four decades has been to aid local communities.
We have also developed a specialised programme aimed at monitoring the impact of military activity on the Celtic areas from both a social and environmental perspective.

The Celtic League has six national branches: Alba, Breizh, Cymru, Éire, Kernow and Mannin. There are also branches in Canada, USA and England. The international branch has a membership which is worldwide.

 Join the free Celtic League mailing list on Yahoo Groups
or read sample postings below:


 sample1
CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

BREIZH - STATE POLICE DETENTION POLICIES CONDEMNED
Breton activists falsely imprisoned by the French State have enjoyed
some judicial success and applications to the European Court are still
pending. In the article below Celtic League General Secretary, Rhisiart
Tal-e-bot, suggests that the experience of the Bretons may give some
encouragement to those suffering police repression in another Celtic
country - Kernow
'The Cour d'Appel de Rennes (Court of Appeal in Rennes) has condemned
the French state for keeping Bretons in police detention for extended
periods of time in contravention of their human rights.
Between December 1999 and June 2000 especially, tens of people were
remanded in police custody by officers of the Division Nationale Anti-Terroriste
(Anti Terrorist National Division), for excessive periods of time,
with one person remaining in custody for 80 hours and 20 minutes.
All those detained were described as simples témoins (simple witnesses)
and could only be held for a limited period.
On the 24th January 2008, the Court of Appeal in Rennes ruled that
compensation of between 1500 and 4000 Euros should now be granted
to those detainees held for extended periods. Previously in October
2007, the Cour d'Appel d'Angers (Court of Appeal in Angers) ruled
that the French state should compensate one man, who almost died while
in custody, to the tune of 7000 Euros for damages and 2000 Euros to
cover his legal expenses.
In June 2006, the French Cour de cassation (Supreme Court of Appeal)
had thrown out four cases brought against the French state from defendants
who claimed that they had been held unlawfully by the police. Those
same four have now lodged a case at the European Court of the Humans
right for violation of the European Convention on Humans Rights and
each are claiming 50000 Euro damages. Some of the witnesses detained
also had personal possessions confiscated, including computer equipment,
for unspecified periods of time.
The Rennes ruling could possibly have implications for those people
arrested in Cornwall in 2007, including Celtic League members. In
one instance, as reported recently in the Celtic League news pages,
a member of the League (Member B) was called to answer police bail
on 16th January 2008, four months after his arrest and interrogation.
Member B was interrogated for a further ten hours on the 16th January,
only to be released again without charge, and has once again been
called to answer police bail in March 2008.
Member B also had a large quantity of items confiscated by police,
including computers, books and files, which have not yet been returned.
Neither has Member B received confirmation from the police if his
possessions will be returned to him or for how long his police bail
will last or if he will ever be charged.
It would seem pertinent to question whether this abnormally long period
of police bail and its continued renewal for an unspecified period
of time is in contravention of Member B's human rights. The Celtic
League have lodged a police complaint against the treatment of activists
from the Kernow Branch of the League and it may be worth other non
League members in Cornwall, who have also been arrested and not charged
in 2007, to do the same.
The Celtic League welcomes the decision of the Rennes Court of Appeal
and congratulates those organisations and individuals who helped to
ensure justice was upheld. We hope the same thing can now be done
in Cornwall and that the UK state is made to answer for the undue
suffering and stress caused to Cornish activists who have fallen victim
to what appears to be another misuse by the police of anti terrorism
legislation.

(Article prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)
J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
28/01/08


 sample2
CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

PLAN FOR HOUSING ON TRUST LAND BLOCKED
The victory last week in a referendum in the Wrecsam/Wrexham area
proves that it is possible for local people to stand up against developers
and win - at least in part.
The referendum, organised by Wrecsam Council, was held to decide the
future of a proposed development by The National Trust on its Erddig
Estate. The Trust had planned to build 223 homes on land that it manages
for the people of Wales and on which stands Erddig Hall. However,
a Local Resident's Committee and Cymuned, a Welsh housing and language
campaign group, objected to the plans on the grounds that it was not
wanted by the community.
The Rhostyllen Residents' Committee claimed the development would
cause increased traffic, environmental damage, pressure on services
and loss of local identity. With help from Cymuned, the Committee
was able to persuade Wrexham Council to stage the referendum in the
ward of Esclusham. 385 people voted against the development with 209
in favour and the referendum saw an unusually high 25% turn out. The
campaigners are now hoping that The National Trust will withdraw their
plans, who had previously claimed that the development had the support
of the local community.
If The National Trust doesn't withdraw its plans, the application
will go back to Wrecsam Council's Planning Committee for further scrutiny.
However, in view of the referendum result, the Planning Committee
will have to take The Trust's claims and proposals into very careful
consideration.
Meanwhile Ceredigion Council has been criticised for approval planning
applications, against the advice of planners, because the development
proposals came from Welsh speakers. The Planning Inspector from the
Welsh Assembly Government, Ian Osborne, said that it was "discriminatory"
to approval plans on the basis of language only and Ceredigion Council's
senior planning officer Aled Richards agreed. Richards said that the
accusations should be taken seriously, because there was a risk that
the Planning Committee could loose its planning powers for breach
of regulations. Some Planning Committee members however disagreed.
Cllr Lyndon Lloyd told BBC Wales that:
"We have assembly government ministers saying there should be policies
in rural areas that rely on positive discretion, and then we have
comments from Mr Osborne that seem so rigid... All we're trying to
do is stand up for our young people and our communities. There seems
to be a lack of awareness of that in Cardiff from the assembly's officials."
There is certainly an increasing pressure at a grassroots level in
Wales for planners to listen to the voice of the community and in
Welsh speaking areas especially local people are demanding that Councils
take serious account of language issues when considering planning
applications.
The Esclusham community referendum could point the way to those communities
in Scotland, as previously reported in Celtic News, who also oppose
the way National Trust Scotland manage the properties and land it
also holds in trust for the people of Scotland.

(Report prepared for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)
J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
29/01/08


 sample3
CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

GAELIC TV FREEVIEW OMISSION SHORT-SIGHTED

In what many in Scotland who support Gaelic TV broadcasting will see
as a short-sighted move the new Gaelic TV service will not initially
be available on digital Freeview.
Although the BBC Trust has approved the Gaelic Digital Service (GDS) to
be launched in the summer. It will at first be available only on cable,
satellite and broadband not on Freeview amid concern over its value
for money.
The decision seems to be at odds with an earlier Ofcom (Office of
Communications regulator) commitment see section 1:39:
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/dttfuture/summary/
The Ofcom report seems to give a clear public service broadcasting
commitment in relation to S4C, the Scottish GDS Serviceand TG4 in
N. Ireland.
The trust do give a vague commitment to carry out 'a review' of the
services before the switch-over to digital television in the main
Gaelic-speaking regions of Scotland in 2010 and 2011.
However digital Freeview television is already available in large
areas of Scotland (see map link below) and the inclusion of the new
Gaelic TV service from launch date would have ensured the reach of
the services with immediate effect.
An added disadvantage is that the Freeview service is (as the title)
would suggest is relatively cost free whereas the other platforms for
the initial launch (cable, satellite and broadband) all come at a
cost.
In addition although the service will be available on Freesat, a new
free high definition (HD) satellite TV service available this spring
anyone wishing to use it will have to buy an HD digital box, satellite
receiver and HD-ready television at considerable cost.
Supporters of Gaelic TV who believe the service will make a valuable
contribution to the culture and economy of Scotland and help save
the Gaelic language have vowed to press for the service to be available
on Freeview.
GDS chief executive Donald Campbell said "As far as we are concerned
it must be on Freeview. Freeview will be the principle means of access
for future television programmes after switch-over."
Another important political supporter of the service, Western Isles
MP Angus MacNeil, said he is confident the case will be made for the
Gaelic service to be allocated space on Freeview, saying, "It seems
peculiar to me to put it on the satellite but not on Freeview," he
said.
It is to be hoped that Gaelic TV in Scotland can be swiftly awarded
a slot on Freeview in line with prevous Ofcom assurances. Several
of the major Celtic Languages already enjoy maximum broadcast penetration
with Welsh channel S4C available on Freeview, satellite and analogue
services.
Meanwhile, in Ireland Irish language channel TG4 has major audience
penetration being carried on satellite services across the whole Ireland
with analogue provision on both the 26 county and some parts of the
6 county terrestrial TV systems. In addition the Freeview service
in the north is expected to carry the TG4 service whilst the separate
Irish digital terrestrial system (DTT) serving the south is already
testing the channel.
See link below for United Kingdom digital terrestrial television (DTT)
coverage map 2004 at which time the number of homes in Scotland receiving
the service was estimated at 57% (that number has since grown considerably).
Analogue switch-off in Scotland is scheduled for 2011.
http://www.wolfbane.com/articles/ukdcmap2.htm
See also related articles on Celtic News:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2416
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2313
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2276
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2269
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2166
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2164

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League

29/01/08


 sample4
CELTIC LEAGUE - PRESS INFORMATION

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT TAKES CHESSMEN CAMPAIGN TO LONDON
(Whilst the Scottish government is openly campaigning for the return
of the Chessmen little has been heard from the Manx government about
its avowed intention to seek the recovery of 'The Chronicles of Man
and the Isles'.)
The Scottish governments Minister for Europe, External Affairs and
Culture, Linda Fabiani MSP, has used the opportunity presented by
a visit to the British Museum last week to press the case for the
return of the Lewis Chessmen.
The 12th-century figures were found on a Lewis beach in 1830. Of the
93 chessmen, 82 are on permanent display in London, a position that
the Scottish Minister last week said was "unacceptable". The remaining
11 are on display in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The Scottish first minister Alex Salmond also called for their return
of the Chessmen last year and it seems that the SNP government mean
to step up the impetus of their campaign to have the artefacts returned.
The remaining 11 are on display in the National Museum of Scotland
in Edinburgh.
Following discussions between the Scottish Culture Minister and Museum
officials the British Museum issued a somewhat anodyne statement reiterating:
"that the chessmen are an important symbol of European civilisation
and the museum places them within the context of interconnected world
cultures."
The British Museum have not however explained why they believe that
symbols such as the chessmen need to be centralised for exhibition
purposes in the south-east of England when their relevance and provenance
is more pertinent to Scotland.
Whilst the Scottish government is openly campaigning for the return
of the Chessmen little has been heard from the Manx government about
its avowed intention to seek the recovery of 'The Chronicles of Man
and the Isles'. The Chronicles which are the most significant and
oldest historical document to the Isle of Man were for many years held
on the Island but then in circumstances which are still obscure appear
to have been removed from the Island and ultimately ending up in a
collection in the British Library.
Whilst arguments abound over the precedent which might be created
by the transfer of contested artefacts internationally it is unclear
what defence the British Museum or British Library could advance for
returning a small number of artefacts to jurisdictions within the
British Isles which at this moment in time all come under the Crown.
The two institutions seem motivated more by selfishness and avarice
than any commitment to custodianship.

J B Moffatt
Director of Information
Celtic League
27/01/08