Now is the Time to Take a Stand Against the Anti Good Friday Agreement Unionists

Posted by Jim on May 25, 2012

While it appears that Nigel Dodds and other Dissidents within the DUP have got themselves into a frenzy over the stance taken by the SDLP on issues of human rights and their calls for the release of Gerry McGeough and Marian Price, it is important to understand that this is not just a stamping of Dissident DUP feet. …There are more sinister elements working quietly behind the scenes. Those Dissident Unionists, of which there are many, including Foster and Morrow, have never supported the Good Friday Agreement. They do not want the Good Friday Agreement to work. They do not want the Peace Process to work. Of course, they will willingly accept the benefits of that same process. They will accept the grants, the funding, the Ministries, the pay cheques, but they will continue to thwart all attempts to build a sustainable peace in Ireland. What they want is a return to the days of a Protestant State for a Protestant People, a return to the days of the B-Specials.

The recent letter presented to the British Secretary of State by Morrow asking for Gerry McGeough to serve his full sentence and remain in prison until 2031 is an attempt by the Dissident Unionists to thwart and manipulate an International Agreement under which Gerry would be released after serving two years. They will use whatever means possible to achieve this. Gerry’s imprisonment is destabilising the Peace Process. The internment of Marian Price, Martin Corey without charge is destabilising the Peace Process. The Dissident Unionists, now being led by Nigel Dodds and Maurice Morrow know this. But Dodds and Morrow are only puppets being used by what Gerry Adams refers to as ‘securocrats’ who work quietly behind the scenes directing the Anti Good Friday Campaign.

The stance taken by the SDLP and Fianna Fáil has to be supported. Sinn Féin have also called for the release of Gerry, Marian, Martin and others. While our campaign has ciriticised Sinn Fein for their lack of effective action on these issues, our stance has been vindicated by the statement released by Anita Cavlan on her resignation from the party. However, we have always accepted that the imprisonment of Gerry and others does not benefit Sinn Féin, the SDLP or the Nationalist People of Ireland. It will only ever benefit the Dissident Unionists and we must never forget this.

Our campaign has succeeded to bringing together the people of Irish America, the people of Catalonia and the people of Ireland in supporting justice for Gerry McGeough. We have brought on board politicians from the SDLP, Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Independents and the Socialist Party. TD’s, MLA’s, MEP’s, the ERC and ICV and Councillors have come together in a single cause. To support the release of Gerry McGeough and to protect the Good Friday Agreement in the interests of peace and justice.

Now is the time for all those who support peace, justice and equality to stand together, regardless of political affiliation, against the attempts of Dissident Unionists to bring down the Good Friday Agreement.

 

Damian Herron

Chairman – Northern Ireland

Free Gerry McGeough Campaign