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Loydstsb : we apologise for any inconvenience experienced today at our branch

south west resident | 25.01.2009 21:58 | Anti-militarism | Palestine | Terror War

The following was handed out to customers (and some non customers present) at a Bath branch of Lloydtsb, as far as I'm aware its the first 'official' statement the bank has offered on its decision to force the closure of aid charity Interpals account.

"we apologise for any inconvenience experience today at our branch.

We'd like to give you some background and explain why your visit may be disrupted today.

Because Lloyds TSB, like many other banks has dealings with the United States, we have no option but to comply with US government economic sanctions laws which prevent us from offering services to companies that have been identified by the US government as global terrorists. The US has classified Interpal as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist which means that Lloyds TSB cannot provide any services to Interpal. Therefore we had to tell our customer, the Islamic Bank of Britain which maintains a relationship with Interpal, that we are not able to offer clearing services for Interpal.

We understand the strength of feeling about this issue but unfortunately our hands are tied. This is an issue for any company dealing with Interpal (directly or indirectly). The way to resolve this issue is either for Interpal to persuade the US government to remove them from their sanctions list, or for Interpal to work to find an industry wide solution/alternative to the current position - possibly with the assistance of the government.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused today.

Mon-Fri
0207 356 2493

All Other Times
0207 626 1500

Lloyds TSB | for the journey..."

The photocopy doesn't read that well, and the contact numbers on it are hand written, suggesting it was a rush job! No mention that Lloydstsb are the sole clearing bank not offering its clearing services meant the IBB had no choice but to close the account.

This note really makes clear how much this decision goes against one of the foundations of 'justice' (such as it is) in this country and many others ie "innocent until proven guilty". LTSB's idea of a solution is for Interpal to convince the US government it shouldn't be sanctioned. Rather than stating the burden of proof lies the US government to prove Interpal is actually guilty of something. The US has repeatedly failed to do so, and the legal proceedings and charity commission investigation should be enough proof of Interpals innocence.

Also its worth noting that the US classifying Interpal as a "specially designated global terrorist" is not a new, and that raises the obvious question, why now?

south west resident
- Homepage: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpal

Additions

Background

26.01.2009 11:40

Palestine aid charity seeks to delay forced closure of bank account
Third Sector Online, 16 January 2009
 http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/DailyBulletin/874016/Palestine-aid-charity-seeks-delay-forced-closure-bank-account/4CC3732E7844F43D54D237DF08BF2263/?DCMP=EMC-DailyBulletin
"A spokesman for Barclays said the bank does not comment on individual accounts."

Lloyds TSB has written to Scottish PSC smearing UK registered charity Interpal. The bank, which has withdrawn banking facilities to the charity whose main work is to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, links Interpal with global terrorism.
 http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2798:lloyds-tsb-smears-uk-charity-interpal&catid=236&Itemid=200065

What has happened here is that Lloysd TSB, like the BBC, have disrupted aid from getting to Gaza as part of Israel's latest round of ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Many Zionists in positions of authority within governments and the financial sector are doing their bit to help keep their "demographic problem" in check. Zionists are not necessarily Jewish; they believe that Israel should be "the Jewish State"; that Israel should represent all ethnic Jews irrespective of religion, nationality or political opinion. Whether or not Lloysd TSB are acting lawfully, they are actioning decisions whose objective is genocide.

The term "European bankers" has been used by racists as a code for "Jews". It may be that the decision to use a bank as an instrument of Zionist genocide could be aimed at strengthening racist elements within the Palestine Solidarity movement. This has been done before when Israel suppressed all civilian projects in the West Bank and Gaza other than those controlled by Hamas. (Ref. Chomsky: Fateful Triangle).

What a bunch of bankers


Comments

Display the following 2 comments

  1. fine — south west resident
  2. Sanctions — Innocent Dave
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