Peoples Democratic Movement leader Oswald Skippings has today issued a long statement demanding proper human rights for Michael Misick, former premier of the TCI Government. Mr Misick is being held in a maximum security prison in Brazil pending extradition proceedings at the request of the British Government. Mr Skippings says hismay be the voice that is least expected to champion the cause of Michael Misick. However, Mr Misick’s “ought to be” champions were conspicuous by their front line absence in defending his cause – and their silence was nothing short of deafening. Here’s Chris Jarrett with more on this story.
REPORTER: Mr Skippings says: “Let me be clear! The sole issue that I’m dealing with here is the blatant violation of Michael Misick’s human rights and the abuse of those rights by the powers that be, by holding him in that prison in Brazil – and preventing his return home to face justice. But I as his most sought after political rival, am highly disappointed at the lack of concern and effort that is being generated by his own camp, so I can imagine how Mike must feel at this time considering what he is going through and who benefitted most from his reign.”
Mr Skippings said his questions included: Where were the thousands of supporters and sympathizers? Even more important, where were the leaders among them to lead this justifiable charge? Where were the voices of authority who were now duly and democratically elected who were babbling before they had such governmental authority? He asked: Had Michael Misick been thrown to the dogs now that elections were over and they had become the government and there was now no more need to take his advice and ride on his sympathy and popularity? Then again, asked Mr Skippings, where were the human rights activists and those in authority who were being paid to look after the human rights of the people? Many people, he said, may be convinced that Mike was a criminal who had done this country and its people much wrong. Even so, he was still a human being and he still had fundamental human rights, both locally and internationally – and someone needed to represent those rights on his behalf. He could not do it for himself in the situation that he was in, added Mr Skippings. He was now incarcerated in a strange country with no lawyers, no family, no friends and no sympathizers. He questioned whether the powers that be had ulterior motives in keeping him away from home – yet he was not resisting coming home to face his fate. In fact from the offset he had volunteered to come home. There was no need for any extradition proceedings to delay his return. Mr Skippings alleged his attorneys were not allowed to see him, and his brother was denied the same privilege. That was a violation of his basic human rights and so was his detention in a maximum security prison – especially in a country like Brazil, where he had committed no crimes. He had not refused to voluntarily leave the country and be brought to justice at home.
To read the full text of Mr Skipping’s press statement please scroll down our website for more.
