The Celtic League has revisited the issue of alleged arms shipments (using Manx front companies) from Iran to Gaza in correspondence with the Manx Chief Minister (see below):
“The Isle of Man Chief Minister
Tony Brown MHK
Government Offices
Douglas
Isle of Man
15/02/11
Dear Chief Minister,
I refer to our exchange of correspondence in Aug/Sept 2011 in relation to Isle of Man Iranian links.
I note that in December 2010 this again became a live issue when the US Treasury designated a number of corporate officers and businesses alleging links to Iran and specifically its weapons programme.
In September 2010 you advised us:
“If you have evidence to support your allegations that a Manx flagged vessel transhipped a consignment of arms destined for Hezbollah to another vessel, the `Francop’, then I suggest that you forward the evidence you have to myself”
I can advise that in September 2010 the Israeli Embassy in London told us (by e-mail) that:
“Given that in November 2009 a Douglas-registered ship (`Visea’), owned by Douglas-based `Byfleet Shipping’ transferred 320 tons worth of arms shipments, including 9,000 mortar shells, thousands of 107-mm Katyusha rockets, 600 122-mm rockets, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of Iranian ammunition, onto another ship, `Francop’, destined for Hezbollah, it seems that the Isle of Man government may indeed have acted in breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1747.”
I trust that you (or your officers) can make the necessary enquiries to establish the veracity of the Israeli claims and if they are proven take whatever actions are necessary. I feel sure I do not need to point out that the 107 – 122 mm rockets mentioned are of a type used to bombard civilian settlements in southern Israel which have caused death and loss of life.
Yours sincerely
J B Moffatt
Director of Information”
Related links on Celtic News:
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3484
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3479
Link to article on US Treasury designation of companies:
https://newsroom-magazine.com/tag/byfleet-shipping-company-limited/
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
15/02/11