As many readers know, we Nicelanders are waiting with bated breath these days for the release of the Black Report – the outcome of the investigation into the bank collapse by a specially-appointed parliamentary committee.
The report was delayed at the beginning of February, among other things because high-ranking officials implicated in the report were to receive notification of the allegations made against them and have a chance to refute those. Those individuals are believed to be guilty of gross negligence or misconduct in their duties, and/or criminal activity.
A couple of days ago it was leaked that twelve individuals [WOT!? ONLY 12?] had received such notifications. At which speculation kicked in as to who those twelve could be.
Both Eyjan and DV have now published a set of names that they claim to be pretty sure are implicated. They are:
Geir H. Haarde, ex-Prime Minister [and ex-head of Independence Party]
Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir ex-Minister for Foreign Affairs [and ex-head of Social Democrats]
Árni M. Mathiessen ex-Minister of Finance [IP]
Björgvin G. Sigurðsson ex-Minister of Banking and Commerce [SD]
Bolli Þór Bollason ex-Permanent Secretary Prime Minister’s Office
Baldur Guðlaugsson ex-Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance
Jónína S. Lárusdóttir Permanent Secretary Ministry of Economic Affairs
Davíð Oddsson ex-Central Bank Director
Ingimundur H. Friðriksson ex-Central Bank Director
Eiríkur Guðnason ex-Central Bank Director
Jónas Fr. Jónsson ex-head of Financial Supervisory Authority
That makes 11. For a while the question was who the twelfth person was, and now Eyjan is speculating that it is Jón Sigurðsson, ex-chairman of the FSA board.
Please note that none of these names have been officially confirmed. It will be interesting to see whether those two news outlets are correct.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
I know that previous posts (and comments) have shown that there is a huge amount of indignation over this process. My first reaction was similar; I thought that people could answer these allegations *after* the Black Report was released.
I think, now, though, that there is some validity in this process. Iceland is working toward becoming a more transparent society, and it is a laudable goal. I am not sure that doing it overnight is the best way, though. Iceland is already a very personal society. Only 320,000 people in the country. I live in a small city in Britain whose population dwarfs that of Reykjavík, and I see people on the street whom I know every day. If the Black Report came out overnight, the damage done to the people named might cross from political and social to physical. They won’t blend in *anywhere* in Icelandic. Even worse, it might be from unproven (but perhaps well-founded) allegations. I think that people that are at such a risk have a right to respond to these accusations. Everyone has skeletons in the closet, and part of being a more open society is being able to react rationally when such information is uncovered. I am not sure Iceland is emotionally mature enough for this just yet.
I also understand how this could seem to be a precursor for a cover-up, where the politicians cover each others’ asses. Only time will tell, but I don’t think that this way of dealing with the Black Report is *inherently* corrupt.
I suppose, in Davið Oddsson’s notion this would rather be the twelve apostles than the dirty dozen (ok, eleven apostles and one saint).
I guess, this one name missing is providing plenty of room for speculations.
As the foundation of the crash had been laid already by the intransparent privatization process of the banks in the past, I would expect to find people from former governments on this list as well.
I kind of OFF topic but same time related to all troubles of Niceland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8504972.stm
« Wikileaks and Iceland MPs propose ‘journalism haven’»
What have you heard about it, Alda?
I was at the first meeting where this was discussed last November. They called a press conference last week but I wasn’t able to attend on such short notice.
Tom- the illogic of this logic is, supposing one of the ‘accused’ objects to something in the report- what then? Is the report then changed? And isn’t that tampering with the evidence? The size of the country is irrelevant – this is all about process and governance. Reconciliation may come in some distant future. At present it’s got to be all about uncovering the truth.
sylvia from viking wirral
You know there will be a fudge arranged Alda so why build peoples hopes up ha ha,this is part of a whole process of getting things back to normal and the airline stewardess out of office,just these pesky debts to be got rid off.Thats where you comrade citizen Alda and your daughter,granny,uncle whatever come in, if things go to plan your beloved Independence Party should be back in office in 5yrs ,hands firmly gripping the steering wheel and you will have renewed your subscription to Morgenbladdid thing so you can read the scriptures according to Saint David
I assume that, if individuals were defamed in the report, they could sue for libel. Giving them an opportunity to respond first is obviously the correct approach. Alternatively, temporarily suspend the law and organise a lynch mob.
I think I prefer the lynch mob idea.
“Tom- the illogic of this logic is, supposing one of the ‘accused’ objects to something in the report- what then? Is the report then changed? And isn’t that tampering with the evidence? The size of the country is irrelevant – this is all about process and governance”
That doesn’t refute my logic at all. You and I could “suppose” whatever we like, that doesn’t make it their true motivation. All I said was that conclusions such as that are by no means the only possibility. If you want to “uncover the truth”, then interviewing these people is probably due diligence. You’re right, if they ended up changing the report, that would be bad. Getting from the news we have heard to that conclusion is leaping over a massive chasm of things we don’t know. The response of these 12 could prove to be valuable addenda to the report.
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