Award-Winning Scottish Screen Writer Shames Lammy in Open Letter
The award-winning Scottish screen writer Paul Laverty, whose works include ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley’ won the Palme D'Or, along with films set in Scotland like ‘My Name is Joe’, ‘Sweet Sixteen’ and ‘The Angels Share’ and more recent works such as ‘I am Daniel Blake’ has written an open letter to the UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, on the genocide in Gaza which we are happy to share.
Dear Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy,
It is reported you met in secret with the Isreali Foreign Secretary Mr Gideon Sa'ar on the 16th of April. Did you by any chance, over tea and biscuits on your fine oak desk, discuss the elephant in the sitting room, Genocide in Gaza?
Have you read the 800 page report and quite remarkable interactive platform prepared by Forensic Arhcitecture. Here is the link in case it escaped your attention, and those of your staff.
https://gaza.forensic-architecture.org/database
This creative group of professionals are transparent about their rigorous methodology; carried out at Goldsmiths and headed by Israeli academic Eyan Weizman. It is one of the most impressive pieces of research of our times detailing with tens of thousands of data points, time and place, the course and pattern of the violence which they conclude proves genocide in Gaza is taking place NOW.
Can you confirm if you have studied it?
If not, why not? If you have read it, why do you not denounce the Genocide as is your duty? If you don't think it amounts to Genocide where do you think they got it wrong?
Your statements at the dispatch box also showed clear ignorance of the details of the Genocide Convention. It is hard to figure out if it is wilful ignorance or collusion on your part. Or perhaps a toxic mix of both? Or perhaps you are a bit dim and not up to the job?
Have you ever read the history of the Generals who implemented the dirty war in Argentina? It took decades but in the end they faced justice. So too those who murdered singer song writer Victor Jara in Chile. In their time these war criminals too thought impunity reigned supreme. One day the architects of these crimes in Gaza will have to face up to what they have done. I hope it will include you and Starmer for your collusion.
British arms still going to Israel, UK planes still flying over Gaza and presumably still giving intelligence to the IDF, and of course you and Starmer still giving political cover to them with a nod and wink clearly indicating you have their back. This will not be forgotten.
You have climbed the greasy pole, but one day Mr Foreign Secretary, you will slide back to the bottom where you will come face to face again with your reputation, in the gutter.
Shame on you and your party.
Yours faithfully
Paul Laverty, film maker.
Commenting on the open letter, ALBA Party Leader Kenny MacAskill said:
"The Alba Party shares Paul's outrage and disgust at Britain's collusion with the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Having first met Paul when we were young law apprentices to Willie McRae in Glasgow , we've remained lifelong friends, and he's always been principled, brave and wiling to speak out. It's only right that our Party should promote and publicise his efforts."
