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ON-BOARD EXPLOSIVE devices caused the 2010 Smolensk air disaster that killed Poland’s then-president, a special Polish investigative commission has said.
95 others also died in the crash in western Russia that claimed the life of president Lech Kaczynski, the twin brother of current governing party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski.
The official delegation was en route to Smolensk for a ceremony to mark the murder of thousands of Poles by Soviet secret police at Katyn, in 1940.
The cause of the crash has been the subject of a fierce debate that has divided Poland ever since, with some believing it was deliberate and others rejecting that as a conspiracy theory.
“The real cause of the Smolensk catastrophe was two explosions in the final phase of the flight,” the government commission said in a report on its website, suggesting explosive devices had been planted aboard.
The governing Law and Justice (PiS) party has for years alleged the crash was not an accident, in contrast to initial findings that blamed bad weather, errors by the Polish pilots and Russian air traffic controllers.
That official investigation in the wake of the crash had been conducted under the previous liberal government of Donald Tusk, Jaroslaw Kaczynski’s arch rival.
Russia, which refuses to hand over the plane wreckage until it concludes its own investigation, has categorically rejected any responsibility for the crash, blaming Poland.
Warsaw’s new report says traces of explosives were found on fragments of the plane and claims two explosive devices may have been introduced onboard during repairs in Russia.
It said that overhaul took place in Samara at a plant of the manufacturer Aviakor “belonging at the time to the Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, friend of then Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin”.
The report uses cautious language, speaking of “possibilities” of planting explosives, and posits that the Polish president was targeted because of his anti-Russia politics but stops short of calling the crash an assassination.
Jaroslaw Kaczynski on Sunday went so far as to describe the crash as “an attack”, calling for “those who took the decision and those who carried it out, in Poland, but most of all in Russia” to be identified and punished.
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That most traditional Summer pass time of the North.
Orangemen spend sunny day drinking and singing sectarian songs about Fenian blood and then decide to “stiff a taig”.
The herd mentality that takes over Unionism in the summer is a unique frenzy. Even people that would not be sectarian or political can become frothing bigots as they get carried away with the marching season.
What makes you think they were Loyalist?
Johnny I think you’re
a loyal troll.
Presumptive of me, certainly.
North Down has a very active UDA and it is overwhelmingly Unionist.
I think we both know that it is Unionism once again. If my dog does its business on a very regular basis on the patio. I can be forgiven for blaming it when I’m picking it up and not a cat some morning.
The cat pun was not intended.
Why is that Glen?
I would use a pooper scooper in reference to my precious post.
Defo sounds like drunken orange men who thought it would be fun to fire off a few rounds at a Taig.
Clough would be more south Down than north, but yes it is a very loyalist little village. Not supposed to be a nice place for Catholics to live in or visit.
All the people of the north would benefit by banning the orange order. It is after all a hate group.
Clough is neither in North Down, nor is the area UDA dominanted. It is a tiny loyalist village surrounded in nationalist South Down.
Anyone who knows Clough knows exactly who is behind this latest attack. Maybe those who put up the most recent batch of UVF flags in the area would have some information useful to the PSNI.
I don’t know Clough. Who was behind the attack?
The local UVF. Must be wonderful to be a Catholic up North this time of year. Why are these hate marches tolerated any longer? They banned the KKK in the States years ago from displaying naked bigotry. Same should be done here. If this is what they consider culture, they would be better simply not to have any.
That’s not culture Jamie? Hatred is not culture!! The plug needs to be pulled on these loons. And the BBC and UTV need to cop themselves on. 2014 and still showing these facist parades on tv!! A total and utter disgrace.
I love watching the coverage on UTV of the Glorious 12th, as they cover family fun day outs across the Province, portraying lovely images of old men sitting in fields eating sandwiches and kids running around eating ice cream. Meanwhile the firebrand up on stage talks about never sharing their wee country with terrorists and how their loyalty should be respected etc etc etc.
UVF aresho•es
A Black Hole.
Normally it would state if it was a loyalist or republican who were targeted.
So I’ll go for a eastern European or Muslim just a guess mind.
I’m wondering what happens if the Orange Order come to the attention of a radical islamist group for their targeting of muslims. What would the rest of the norths factions do ? Put the feet up and just let them work away?
It’s only sectarian when a republican group does it….it’s a plain ould crime when a loyalist/fg group does it
The word sectarian means catholic vs Protestant on this island. If a Muslim etc were involved it would be racist.
True Story
Ban the Orange Order. Consign marching season and all the trouble it brings forever.
The well worth a visit Clogh castle! A real dump.
http://extramuralactivity.files.wordpress.com/2006/07/2006-08-16-cloughcastle1.jpg
Charming. Vandalism and bigotry. You’d nearly feel sorry for them.
One sided news as usual.On the British Loyalist side of course:The attack was made by UVF/UDA so it was sectarian.Had it been the Republican side the attack would have been murder.
PSNI:RUC.
Two parked cars were shot up big bleeding deal who cares
They owners of the vehicles? Any other Catholics in that village, or indeed in any loyalist area over the coming weeks?
have your say