I have a meeting today in London with the Ambassadors of Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Ecuador to brief them on Scotland’s continuing struggle for Independence. These nations have been at the forefront of the international movement against colonialism, and know all about the sharp end of neo-Imperialism and the evil-doing of the CIA and other western security agencies.
The test of the Independence of a state is nothing to do with domestic or regional government, or even with bilateral arrangements with the state from which it secedes. The test of Independence is, purely and simply, whether or not you are recognised by other states as independent. That is the very clear cut position in international law. For this reason, it is essential that Scotland reaches out, not just within the EU but to the entire international community. Ultimately we need these people to vote and lobby for us in the United Nations and other international institutions.
Frankly, the SNP is rubbish at this. I am doing this meeting because the hierarchy of the SNP spurned the approach from the Ambassadors, as previously detailed on this blog. This reluctance seems part of the hierarchy’s effort to be NATO friendly and thus CIA friendly. The Ambassadors would far rather be meeting with an official SNP representative than a nobody like me. Unfortunately the SNP won’t do it. That is a disgrace.
I can increasingly foresee, as Westminster governments move ever further to the right and encroach more and more on civil liberties, a situation arising where Scotland wishes to claim its independence without the consent of Westminster. In that situation, we will need all the international support we can get, just as the Palestinians have been making headway in UN institutions. Work needs to be put now into laying the foundations for that support. Personally I would characterise Scottish Independence as an anti-colonial struggle; use of Scots as British cannon fodder and integration of the Scots elite into the Metropolitan elite does not make Scotland any less a colony. Rome had san African Emperor, but still her African possessions were colonies.
But even for those who do not accept that analysis, there is no doubt that Scottish Independence would have a highly beneficial impact on the global balance of power. The weakening of the USA’s most powerful sidekick; the lessening of the UK’s ability to participate in illegal neo-imperial invasions and to host weapons of mass destruction; the re-opening of the question of the undemocratic Security Council structure at the UN.
Then there is also the positive role Scotland can play as a major contributor to UN Peacekeeping Forces, and a voice for sanity, reason, human rights and the pre-eminence of international law. An independent Scotland as a state party will be able to request the International Criminal Court to lay war crime charges against Blair and Straw for the illegal invasion of Iraq, which would be a powerful deterrent to future aggressive war.
I am but one man and a private individual. Everything I can do, I shall.
Ot is on accasions such as this that one sees what a marvellous job the Establishment did when it turned all its guns on Tommy Sheridan and, with plenty of help from the sectarian left, destroyed the Scots Socialist Party, because that is what the Independence movement seems to lack-the heirs of John Maclean’s intellectual legacy pressing the case for real independence. As opposed to kilt wearers at the UN, bagpipes in Brussels and the Black Watch getting paid in dollars.
Bevin
I do not understand your “kilt wearers at the UN” jibe. Scotland needs UN recognition to be an independent state. Without that, it will remain part of the UK and your dream of a socialist republic be impossible. Nothing I have written here is incompatible with socialism in Scotland if that is what the Scottish people want.
Good luck with debating Scotlands future. That the SNP snubbed their approach to talk is quiet revealing and isolationist.
I’m sure that the realities of NATO’s continued stance in Europe will eventually change the character of the SNP, should the reality behind Maidan come out and the preparations for Poland and the Baltic states to receive forward troops be making it obvious that NATO is purveying a US expansionary agenda.
Is it a growing up pain opf a still young party? rather more than an outside interference agenda Craig?
Ooooh look at you! Craig, I
read your posts with great interest. But conflating third world struggles with Scottish Indy is silly. They deserve more respect. Nobody’es died here, yet
Even if the SNP are not enamored of you, Craig, it still seems strange that they would spurn the opportunity to make such potentially fruitful international alliances, so that should the day come where Scotland seeks international recognition, that it could be there, ready and waiting.
All the more strange given Alex Salmond’s trip to Tehran.
One wonders if there maybe some kind of deal in place where the SNP/Scot Gov ‘behave’ over international relations, and allow the UK Gov to lead any such without making too much noise, or overtures of the sort you are making.
Do you think this could be ‘conspiracy’, rather than the sort of short-sighted ‘cock-up’ that you imply it is? That there is a reason for this other than just not seeing the potential benefits?
“The test of Independence is, purely and simply, whether or not you are recognised by other states as independent. That is the very clear cut position in international law”. But first you have to be independent, in the future when and if the Scots electorate vote ‘yes’ for independence in another referendum, and Scotland is legally separated from the rest of the UK, then Scotland will be recognised at the UN. Their is no question that this would be the case since the rest of the UK minus Scotland would be the first to recognise it. Scottish Nationalists would be better advised to spend their time with the prerequisite of changing the minds and getting the support of the ‘no’ voters than trying to influence other Nations who would automatically support a legally constituted independent Scotland.
Harry Law
I am afraid you are simply wrong on a point of fact. The vast majority of countries recognised at the UN became independent without a referendum. it is not a pre-requisite.
Katherine
There I am afraid we must disagree. A very great many people have died in Scotland’s anti-colonial struggle. But not recently.
Good for you Craig, meeting and greeting is very important. Im convinced there’s a important positon for you, in an independent Scotland, you are respected amongst the people. Independence would see the people move away from the SNP to other parties with favourable policies.
Yes the SNP don’t do enough to reach out and make friends.
Though I do recall in the run up to the Scottish referendum and until about a year ago, ministers from many foreign nations attending FMQ’S every Thursday as a guest,
The minister and their entourage would watch the debate (shouting match) from the gallery. But it’s not nearly enough more has to be done. I also recall David Cameron, months before the Scottish referendum travelling around Europe hoping to secure backing from ministers, to oppose an independent Scotland and EU membership.
Craig your work is undoubtedly putting the Scottish independence on the radar of the wider world. As you said acceptance of other states of any entity as an independent state is the acid test that some of the so called states/countries have failed to achieve regardless of the bribe dollars etc.
The fact remains that SNP suffer from their own ghosts and foibles hence their almost off hand behaviour towards you as on exhibit. But as you know today’s detractors could be tomorrow’s sycophants. Politics is a strange beast.
I find the notion (“Scotlands” Anti-Colonial Struggle) to be an odd simplification. The critical divisions are not between nation states, but within them.
I think the constant invocation of this “issue” by aristocrats is largely self serving sectarianism.
I saw very little progressive in the campaign tbh, It was all about money, how indi would be good for capitalism, competition etc. …True, nations with more autonomy CAN do stuff, but why bother with a job for life. And in most cases boarders among people hinders socialist aims because is destroys people solidarity, makes them identify themselves in divisive ways.
Plugging this idea that we can do nothing in the uk has to be one of the worst memes spread.
There have been rumblings at Westminster that a second Scottish referendum wouldn’t be sanctioned. I say to save a lot of bother and to bypass those who were duped into believing that we’re better together, when it patently obvious we’re not, the Scottish government should apply (UDI) Universal Declaration of Independence.
Oh at first they’d be some wailing and gnashing of teeth, and several O/O loyalist drum banging in defiance. But after that, we’d be clear to push Scotland in the direction that most suits its people, my preference would be away from the South and towards the Northern Scandinavian model.
Any contact with the Catalans?
Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom without any referendum. The Sinn Fein victory in the parliamentary election of 1918 was considered as good as a referendum.
Those who say they can see no problems with an Independent Scotland within the EU can also envisage Moldova, Georgia and the Ukraine joining it. I’m not one of them, I differentiate too much.
We will not be asked, decisions will be taken over our heads and those who committed Maidans atrocities might eventually get what they want, to integrate Ukraine into Europe.
The Association agreement also speaks of NATO membership and support, I’m sure that they will get on with Ukraine’s right wing parties, like a house on fire.
The SNP seems to have chosen the existing agenda as theirs, they might even be warned off by the US over Trident and now they are stumm to the rest of the world, thats sad.
Re my last comment, for those of you now resembling Edvard Munch’s Scream painting at the prospect of (UDI) other nations have seen fit to use (UDI) to rid themselves of imperial colonialism.
They include the USA, Egypt, the Republic of Ireland, Albania and the Philippines.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unilateral_declaration_of_independence
The International Court of Justice, in a 2010 advisory opinion, declared that unilateral declarations of independence were not illegal under international law.
Once again Craig you have lifted the lid on something that the establishment would rather people didnt know about and I am begining to class the SNP as the establishment.It is nothing short of a disgrace that the SNP are not talking to the ambasadors of these countries It is after all, not as if they are otherwise too busy adressing the mistakes that were made during the referendum.
“I have a meeting today in London with the Ambassadors of Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Ecuador to brief them on Scotland’s continuing struggle for Independence”
One thing that all those countries have in common is that they have their own independent currencies. I do hope the ambassadors take the opportunity to emphasise to you the utmost importance of this for any country seeking independence.
I think is would be beneficial (for people) to think in larger terms. Seems how change is going to have to happen.
I wonder if the seeming lack of interest in many to Deim25 is because it’s not in the interest of people who benefit from the status quo. But as far as actual solutions go, not just toklen gestures?
Our issues are largely shared and will be faced in a shared democratic manner.
It’s a bit sad the Scottish had no representative speaking at the launch.
Yanis Varoufakis (DiEM25.org) visits Germany: We have to transform the European Union-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjrjO0d7fvI
“there is no doubt that Scottish Independence would have a highly beneficial impact on the global balance of power”
There must surely remain the barest and most fleeting of doubts as to whether it would have any impact whatsoever on the global balance of power.
Good luck Mr Murray, these countries and peoples too have their problems to solve and legacies of colonialism to put behind them, and we can learn from them much too, informal contacts of this sort, sharing experiences and mutually supporting, welcoming, one another, with respect and equality to the fore, can only be positive.
Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Scotland – The six amigos.
@MJ – Ecuador uses the US dollar.
But of all the advice these countries might be able to impart, I’m not sure economic policy is worth heeding. Plenty of European neighbors closer to home who can do that, and hopefully they too, with the experience of the Euro, would strongly recommend Scotland having its own currency.
The issue here is that recognition of independence is fundamentally a political decision, so the question is what Scotland could do that would persuade other countries to recognise it as independent.
Issues like having a recognisable govt, a territorial identity, and popular will for independence should all help, but there’s surely plenty more that can be done, all with the goal of generating the requisite political will abroad.
‘But even for those who do not accept that analysis, there is no doubt that Scottish Independence would have a highly beneficial impact on the global balance of power. The weakening of the USA’s most powerful sidekick; the lessening of the UK’s ability to participate in illegal neo-imperial invasions and to host weapons of mass destruction’
Craig- I certainly don’t accept your analysis that the Scottish independence struggle is ‘anti colonial’- Lysias’s mention of the Catalan struggle is far more pertinent.Scotland should arguably be added to Norman Davies’s list of ‘Vanished Kingdoms’ (the book referred to by Res Diss on another thread), as that more accurately reflects the history; Scotland, unlike Ireland, has not been treated as a submerged, conquered, exploited nation by the rest of the UK during the period it has been linked to it.
Scotch independence would however certainly shake up the global balance of power by smashing the pretentions of KSBNI (the Kingdom of South Britain & Northern Ireland, the initial likely successor state to the UK) to being a global power, and for that the English and Welsh would be grateful, should your struggle bear fruit.
‘A very great many people have died in Scotland’s anti-colonial struggle. But not recently.’
Is that a reference to Culloden & the Highland Clearances ? If there are more recent events do tell.
The SNP doesn’t seek international recognition as an independent nation because it does not want independence. That was clearly indicated by recent statements from Sturgeon and Salmond threatening a new “independence” referendum if Britain leaves the EU. What the SNP wants is not independence but integration with the European Union of Socialist Republics.
Lenin made the mistake of allowing the component nations of the Russian Empire to retain their political and administrative independence subordinate only to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This was the nuclear bomb beneath the USSR that Putin referred to, a bomb that detonated in 1991. The Soviet Communist Party folded and the Soviet Union immediately disintegrated into its self-governing component republics.
The EU is designed to avoid this error. Legislation is increasingly from the undemocratic centre. The legislatures of the component states are of ever diminishing importance. Ultimately, the EU will have a single treasury, and a unified military. Then independence will be inconceivable to the Scots or anyone else.
Spot on. The world and not the ancient conquerors will affirm Scotland’s self-determination.
A useful intermediate objective would be forming a representative body to UNPO standards [ http://unpo.org/section/2/3 ] This would be a civil society organization that increasingly acts as a parallel government. Liaison relationships with UNESCO would offer more opportunities to go over the queen’s head to the international community. UNESCO would also support Scotland’s most subversive doctrine: the culture of peace. With human rights and peace and rule of law you’ll poison Britain till they puke you out.
There is no mechanism in EU law to kick any member or part thereof out of the European union. It has never been done before, and Brussels would just not know how to go about it. So there will not be a question of leaving and re-entering if we find Indy has happened overnight.
Still, it is best to keep all options open, and be prepared for all situations and eventualities. I can understand why the SNP is not keen on foreign contacts right now – it would displease the overlords and makes Scotland quite unnecessarily look like a rebellious province. But it is always nice to have chums around the world, of course.
Uphill, it wasn’t the substantial Yes support and voters, or even the SNP who made the campaign ‘all about money’ that was the unionist troika of Con/Lab/Lib parties in concert with the busted BBC and a full-on assault on the facts by not just a predominantly but by a totally unionist press, setting the delusional twisted news agenda. Remember ‘too poor, too wee, too stupid’, and Project Fear?
I think the BBC at PQ needs to treated as the Berlin Wall was and we en-masse take sledgehammers to the building and raze it to the ground after evacuation. They still have rat problems there, it must be the sewage that runs through it, and this might be the only way of dealing with the problem finally.
Why am I wrong? Scotland is not yet independent so the question of asking other nations or convincing other nations to recognise an independent Scotland does not arise. Even if it did, as I said above, recognition would be a formality. Now I realise it is UDI you seeking in which case a referendum would not be necessary. This would save you the trouble of trying to convince the no voters who you despise so much “I am not going to reach out to you, No voter. You are either evil, or quite extraordinarily thick” https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/10/lack-of-forgiveness/
“I say to save a lot of bother and to bypass those who were duped into believing that we’re better together, when it patently obvious we’re not, the Scottish government should apply (UDI) Universal Declaration of Independence.”
Hmm – there speaks a democrat? Let’s not bother ourselves with the untidy “democracy” thing. Let’s just decide on behalf of the plebs, because we “right-thinkers” are MUCH better qualified to make these “difficult” decisions!
“Re my last comment, for those of you now resembling Edvard Munch’s Scream painting at the prospect of (UDI) other nations have seen fit to use (UDI) to rid themselves of imperial colonialism.
They include the USA, Egypt, the Republic of Ireland, Albania and the Philippines.”
And of course, just months prior to UDI in these countries, they had held a referendum on the issue, which showed only 45% of the population had voted for independence?
ROS displays a breathtaking arrogance in his casual disregard for democracy. Not in my name, my friend!
Craig,I am still baffled why you are not supporting Brexit ?-in the case of Brexit you would get your new referendum which may free the Scots from servitude.