Anti-torture group wants to bar Aero from airport

SMITHFIELD -- A citizens group that opposes government-sponsored torture asked Johnston County commissioners on Monday to bar Aero Contractors from using the county-owned airport because of allegations that the company has helped with the kidnap and abuse of detainees.

Christina Cowger with N.C. Stop Torture Now said the group also asked the board to encourage law enforcement to investigate claims against the company. The board was not persuaded.

Aero Contractors Ltd. was started at the Johnston County airport in 1979 by a pilot who flew missions for the CIA. In recent years it has been widely suspected of involvement in flying prisoners captured in one country to be held in another, a practice called extraordinary rendition. The flights have been the subject of several investigations in Europe.

"Our tax dollars pay for these airports, which is the infrastructure that's being used," Cowger said. "The American people deserve to know what's being done in their names."

Board Chairman Wade Stewart said the board gave N.C. Stop Torture Now almost 90 minutes to speak, but took no action on its requests.

"We're not going to get involved in that," Stewart said. "This company, for all I know, they're a legitimate aviation group that provides transportation and flights for lots of different reasons. I don't know what all the reasons are, and I don't care. I'm told they employ in the neighborhood of 138 people out there.

"I'm not going to touch that thing, not as long as they are a good job provider for the citizens of Johnston County."