Media lies may signal end of SNP if they don’t change

John Swinney as SNP leader and First Minister has tried his best to bring much-needed stability to the SNP and the Scottish Government but even though ‘the missing party funds saga’ should hopefully be brought to a conclusion shortly, there is still no obvious sign of a spark that will light the fires in the hearts of independence supporters within and without the SNP.

Brexit Britain is broken but the media in Scotland and the rest of the UK, fed partial news by the BBC, is intent on only highlighting narrowly perceived failings of the Scottish Government.

This “fake reality” of UK politics indicates that it is going to take a special politician within the SNP to turn the party’s fortunes around and to provide the visionary inspiration necessary to lead not just the party, but the wider independence movement, to enabling the people of Scotland to determine their own future.

Having spent much of my career helping to build businesses around the globe, I’ve had the good fortune to witness and experience first-hand the enormous benefit brought to organisations through having visionary leaders capable of inspiring others to achieve what at times, and in the opinions of others, appeared the impossible.

Now, I don’t know him personally, but from what I’ve seen of Stephen Flynn, he strikes me as having the necessary attributes (which would be complemented by those of a talented and imaginative “team” around him) to take his party and his country forward (preferably in consultation with representatives of the wider “independence movement” and perhaps with the assistance of recommendations from a “Citizens’ Convention”).

Although, in the current adverse political circumstances, and perhaps natural feelings of self-doubt concerning his readiness at a relatively young age for such a demanding and pivotal role, one could understand any reluctance to step forward at this time to seek to lead his party.

From outside the party, the most important question to be discussed at the coming SNP National Conference is what “fundamental change” is needed within the party, not only to win the next Scottish Election in 2026, but to lead the wider independence movement to achieving independence within the next five years.

Simply attempting to mask any decline in ambition by focusing on increasing “list seat” numbers won’t cut it and disastrously may even sound the death knell of the SNP
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry 

NATHAN Thrall, an American author, essayist and journalist based in Jerusalem, was recently interviewed on Channel 4 News. Nathan is Jewish and identifies as Jewish. His mother is an emigrée from the Soviet Union. He wrote the book, A Day In The Life Of Abed Salama: Anatomy Of A Jerusalem Tragedy. His book won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction and was shortlisted for the 2024 Orwell Prize for Political Writing.

(Image: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Channel 4 News presenter, Matt Frei, stated that lives for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are often stalked by violence, like the recent deadly attack by Israeli settlers. He said that when Nathan decided to write about their experience, he wanted to expose what he called a moral catastrophe and expressed the hope that people would read it with open hearts and open minds.

Nathan’s book focused on a school bus crash in 2012 (ie 11 years before October 2023!) which killed six Palestinian bairns and injured many more. However, and ye cannae make this up, it was published in the same week of the Hamas attacks of October 7! Matt stated the obvious about the timing: “Hearts and minds have, if anything, closed further.”

Nathan explained that although the school bus was burning, it was more than half an hour before the first Israeli firetruck arrived on the scene even though there was an Israeli checkpoint close by to the incident and bystanders ran to the checkpoint and begged Israeli soldiers to come and help deal with the fire. Due to the unforgivable inaction by the Israeli soldiers, it was left to a heroic Palestinian bystander and one of the teachers to enter the burning bus and pull out dozens of the bairns, saving their lives.

Nathan then spoke more generally about Israel committing the crime of apartheid against Palestinians. He stressed that even the former attorney-general of Israel – the highest legal authority in Israel – as well as a former Mossad intelligence agency director deemed it to be apartheid. He mentioned the dehumanisation of Palestinians by the Israeli state and how many Israeli citizens celebrated the deaths of these poor Palestinian bairns that died in the crash on social media without even bothering to do it anonymously. He added there is a great deal of dehumanisation on both sides which is a fundamental reality that enables the terrible bloodshed we see today.

In my mind, I was contrasting this piece on Channel 4 News in relation to the views of a Jewish author, no less, as well as the scenes of Armageddon in Gaza I watch on my telly screen every night, to the grotesquely flippant views of the likes of John Mason – an SNP MSP no less! Aye, someone in oor big independence tent! Must be a hell of a ginormous tent to include folk willing to make such comments and to 100% stand by them! God knows what Humza Yousaf, his wife Nadia El-Nakla and her family think of John Mason right now!

The former American president Lyndon B Johnson’s famous quote was: “Better to have your enemies inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.” For once, I disagree with that philosophy. As far as I’m concerned, I wouldn’t care less if events transpired meaning John Mason ended up pissing into the SNP’s tent
Ivor Telfer
Dalgety Bay 

AS Bangladesh ushers in a new era of leadership under Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the world watches with hope and anticipation. His leadership – emerging from a period of student-led protests and political upheaval – symbolises a triumph of democracy and justice in a region long plagued by strife. But as Bangladesh looks inward to heal and rebuild, there is an urgent call for its new leadership to turn its gaze toward a neighbour in dire need – Myanmar.

Myanmar, once a beacon of hope under the leadership of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi (below), has spiralled into chaos since the military coup in 2021. The nation is now teetering on the brink of genocide, with tens of thousands imprisoned, tortured and executed by a ruthless military regime. Among the imprisoned is Aung San Suu Kyi (below), the symbol of Myanmar’s struggle for freedom, who languishes in solitary confinement, her fate unknown.

The Rohingya crisis has rightfully drawn global attention, exposing the brutal persecution of a marginalised group. Yet, this tragedy is but one chapter in a much larger story of systemic violence that has afflicted Myanmar for decades. The suffering extends far beyond the Rohingya, affecting various ethnic groups who have long endured the military’s oppression.

Aung San Suu Kyi’s efforts to address these issues were derailed in 2017 when the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launched attacks that triggered a military crackdown. Her commitment to peace and justice was clear in her decision to commission a study by the late Kofi Annan, seeking solutions for the crisis in Rakhine State. However, the situation quickly escalated, leading to widespread suffering and displacement.

Professor Yunus, as Bangladesh’s new leader, holds a unique position of influence. His country shares a border with Myanmar and has been directly affected by the influx of Rohingya refugees. Bangladesh’s leadership can be a powerful force for good, not only within its own borders but in advocating for the release of Myanmar’s political prisoners and the restoration of democracy.

In a letter sent on August 16, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasised the urgent need for the government to ensure the protection of all citizens, especially minorities, and to safeguard the well-being of the one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. His words are timely, as the only hope for true reconciliation and the safe return of the Rohingya to Myanmar lies in the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the entire democratically elected government.

There is a profound crisis of truth in our world today – a crisis exacerbated by misinformation and the distortion of facts. Aung San Suu Kyi has been vilified by many, her legacy marred by accusations of collusion with the military. Yet evidence strongly refutes these claims.

Her speeches and actions over the years, documented in a comprehensive four-volume series by myself and my colleague Fergus Harlow, reveal a leader steadfast in her commitment to justice and democracy.

The situation in Myanmar is escalating. Weapons supplied by global powers like Russia and China are fuelling the conflict, pushing the nation closer to the abyss. The world cannot afford to turn a blind eye. It is in this context that I appeal to Professor Yunus. His leadership in Bangladesh offers a rare opportunity to influence the course of history in Myanmar.

We propose the Ashoka Peace Accords – a call for the immediate release of Myanmar’s democratic leaders and an end to the violence that threatens to engulf the nation. The world is crying out for peace, dialogue, and reconciliation – not state-sanctioned murder. This initiative could mark the beginning of a second wave of independence in Myanmar, where truth, dignity and the power of conscience prevail over tyranny.

The assassination of Ko Ni, Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer, is a chilling reminder of the stakes involved. His murder, while holding his grandchild in broad daylight, was not just an attack on an individual; it was an attack on justice, freedom and the rule of law. This act of brutality underscores the urgent need for international intervention.

Professor Yunus has the power to be a catalyst for change in Myanmar. His voice, his influence and his moral authority can shine a light on the injustices occurring in Myanmar, galvanising global action. The recent victory in Bangladesh can serve as an inspiration – a demonstration of what is possible when courage and conscience come together.

The people of Myanmar, like those in Bangladesh, yearn for freedom, justice and the restoration of democracy.

The release of Aung San Suu Kyi and the thousands of political prisoners rotting in Myanmar’s prisons is not just a necessity for Myanmar’s future, it is a moral imperative for the world.

As Bangladesh navigates its own path forward, let it also lead the charge for justice and freedom in Myanmar. The world is watching, and the stakes could not be higher.

This is a moment for bold leadership and unwavering commitment to the principles that unite us all as human beings.
Alan Clements
via email