Posted by Jim on November 10, 2018
No extradition of political prisoners
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The question of extradition has come back into public focus following
the arrest on Monday and detention of Donegal republican John Downey
over IRA charges detain from 1972. After three nights behind bars, Mr
Downey was granted bail on Thursday.
This week Dublin City Council became the third council to pass motions
against the extradition of Irish Republicans to the North. The following
is a piece by councillor Ciaran Perry explaining the campaign which saw
his motion passed this week.
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I had the following motion passed at the Dublin City Council meeting
last night. I was disappointed but not surprised that the leader of the
Labour Party on the council didn’t support a human rights motion in
relation to political prisoners. Dermot Lacey was the only councillor
who didn’t support the motion.
I don’t support the extradition of Irish political prisoners under any
circumstances. Political interference in the system, discrimination
against Republican prisoners, punishment by denying political prisoners
educational opportunities all apply… but this motion is specifically
about opposing extradition to a dangerous prison in an unfair
jurisdiction.
I don’t believe we should be allowing the extradition of political
prisoners to a prison which clearly can’t provide a safe environment for
the current inmates never mind future inmates. If Her Majesty’s Chief
Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales described the prison as the
most dangerous prison he had ever seen, I think we can assume that it
shouldn’t be housing any prisoners let alone political prisoners. The
report by the Inspectorate of Prisons in England and Wales was
absolutely damning and there is no evidence that any of the concerns
raised have been addressed satisfactorily since.
Since 2007 there have been 50 deaths in custody in Maghaberry. This
again highlights the fact that this prison is not a safe environment for
anybody. The Prison Ombudsman has raised concerns that their
recommendations on tackling prison deaths have still not been
implemented. Clearly the administration doesn’t prioritise the safety of
the inmates.
Currently two political prisoners, Sean Farrell and Ciaran Maguire, are
facing extradition to a jurisdiction which is due to leave the European
Union next March under Brexit. This leaves the men in a very precarious
situation regarding rights they currently enjoy. While they may be
extradited under a European Arrest Warrant, after March they do not know
what legislation will apply or what rights of appeal they will have if
found guilty. We cannot extradite the men with such a risk of
uncertainty.
There is an urgency to address this situation because the European Court
of Justice has recently ruled that uncertainty over Brexit isn’t a
reason to stop extradition to Britain or the six counties and the
extradition of prisoners has already begun.
Motion
This council opposes the extradition of Irish political prisoners to
Maghaberry prison in the six counties.
The onset of Brexit in March 2019 will disadvantage any political
prisoners who may have been extradited under the European Arrest Warrant
(EAW) framework but will no longer enjoy rights applying to EU nationals
including EU sentence appeal processes.
Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons in England and Wales Nick
Hardwick described the prison as the most dangerous prison he had ever
seen.
The last comprehensive report on Maghaberry prison by “Her Majesty’s
Inspectorate of Prisons in England and Wales” was damning and described
the prison as “in crisis” and “unsafe and unstable” for prisoners and
staff. The report highlights discrimination against Catholic prisoners.
The conditions in Maghaberry prison are inhumane with forced strip
searches, forced isolation and restricted association.
All Republican prisoners in Maghaberry prison are denied educational
opportunities.
There have been 50 reported deaths in prisons in the six counties since
2007 and the Prison Ombudsman has expressed concern about the
non-implementation of its recommendations on prison deaths.
Reason for the emergency motion: The recent decision by the European
Court of Justice in relation to extradition from Ireland to the UK ruled
that ‘Mere notification by a member state of its intention to withdraw
from the European Union is not an “exceptional” circumstance capable of
justifying a refusal to execute an EAW issued by that member state’.
This decision has resulted in the recent extradition of a prisoner to
Maghaberry prison and may be used to complete the halted extradition of
another 20 current cases.
Posted by Jim on
Unification can prevent Brexit economic crash – report
The reunification of Ireland would lead to a massive economic windfall
for the whole island, while Brexit will have disastrous consequences, a
major new international research study has concluded.
The report, ‘The Cost of Non Unification – Brexit and the Reunification
of Ireland’ was conducted by a team of political science and economics
researchers led by Dr Kurt Huebner, Director of the Institute for
European Studies at the University of British Columbia. It updates their
previous work on the economics of Irish reunification to take into
account the impact of Brexit.
It suggests unification would mean that by 2025, the economic output of
the six northeastern counties of Ireland would be almost #16bn higher
than it otherwise would have been.
There is increasing agreement among economists about the potential
benefits of unification, but some in the Six Counties fear losing the
annual cash injection from Westminster that has long sustained the
dysfunctional statelet.
Dr Hubner’s economic model confirms that unification would lead to major
productivity and output gains which would more than cover the British
subvention.
The latest version is updated with new official data and Brexit impacts.
It continues to suggest a positive, albeit smaller, impact of about
10,000 euros per head by 2025 in event of reunification.
By contrast, Dr Hubner suggests a hard Brexit without reunification
would mean a reverse impact of about 10,000 euros (#8,732) less by 2025,
compared to what it would be in a no-Brexit scenario.
Dr Hubner’s model suggests that the the adoption of the Irish tax
system, greater openness to foreign direct investment and reduced trade
barriers would see Northern Ireland enjoy a period of “economic catch
up.”
He states: “Compared to a hard-Brexit, unification is by far the better
option. As a matter of fact, it is the only option with positive net
effects.”
Commenting at the launch in Belfast today, Sinn Fein Deputy Leader
Michelle O’Neill said such compelling evidence could not be ignored.
“This report, and particular economic modelling, exposes the hard
economic evidence that reunification would provide a massive economic
boost to the entire island,” she said.
“In the words of the report, unification ‘is the only option with
positive net effects’.
“The strength of this evidence cannot be ignored and while we thank Dr
Hubner and his team for this valuable contribution, it is a debate that
the Irish government must now take a much more proactive role in
leading.
“A new generation is already questioning partition, particularly in the
context of Brexit, and it is time now for the Irish government to
encourage and lead an informed, reasoned and respectful public dialogue
on the issue of Irish unity.”
Posted by Jim on
No stone left unturned in Loughinisland cover-up
The arrest of two journalists for the ‘theft’ of ‘secret information’
used in a TV documentary about the Loughinisland massacre has descended
into a pantomime public row, leaving the victims of the atrocity furious
at the abuse of police resources.
Six civilians were killed and five wounded in June 1994 when loyalist
paramilitaries, thought to be acting in collusion with the then RUC
police, opened fire in a busy pub in a County Down village.
Two mainstream journalists who made a film about the massacre, Barry
McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, were recently arrested in high-profile
police operations. Documents and computer equipment were seized by
police officers, who also raided the offices of the film production
company ‘Below The Radar’.
The raids were actually carried out by an English police force, Durham
Constabulary. They said they were requested to do so by the police (now
PSNI) in response to the report of a theft of documents from the office
of the Police Ombudsman’s office.
The source of the ‘theft’ claim was said to have been the Police
Ombudsman’s office itself — but the office this week repeatedly denied
making any such complaint.
Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire repeatedly contradicted the claim that
there had been an allegation of theft, negating the whole basis of the
men’s arrests.
Durham police bizarrely rejected this denial, and have since described
the journalists’ alleged ‘crime’ as “unauthorised disclosure and other
linked offences”.
Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly said there had been an attack on the freedom of
the press. He noted that the documentary took its name from a pledge by
then British Direct Ruler Patrick Mayhew that there would be ‘no stone
unturned’ in the hunt for the killers.
“Instead the families of those murdered have been subject to more than
20 years of state cover-up on collusion into the murders, and no one has
ever been brought before the courts for the Loughinisland Massacre,” he
said.
“And instead of the police taking action against those responsible for
murdering these six people, they arrested the two journalists who
exposed the evidence to TV screens across the world.
“These arrests were an attack on the freedom of press which is a
fundamental element of any democratic society that allows journalists to
carry out their work unhindered and the PSNI clearly have serious
questions to answer.”
The PSNI’s actions fall into a continuing pattern of political,
anti-nationalist policing in the north of Ireland.
Emma Rogan, whose father, Adrian, was one of the six men murdered at
Loughinisland in 1994, said the families were angry that police were
placing such emphasis on the documentary.
“Do the PSNI and Durham not realise that six people were wiped off the
face of the earth, and that this film, along with Dr Maguire’s report,
contained information that could help them to catch the murderers?” she
said.
“We have been down a long dark road to get some truth and justice. We
are still traumatised.”
Lawyers for the two men have already said they will seek to have the
investigation stopped, since it would have no legal basis if a complaint
of theft was never made.
The chairman of the National Union of Journalist’s Belfast and District
Branch chairman Gerry Carson said “the twists and turns” are “rapidly
approaching” farce.
The arrests, said Mr Carson, were an attempt “to warn other journalists
not to criticise the police – a practice adopted in countries where
democracy and the freedom of the press is demonised”.
Posted by Jim on
SAVE ‘OUR PRECIOUS UNION’ FROM BREXIT – DUP
The paradox of the unstoppable force of Brexit and the DUP’s immovable
intransigence may be resolved within days amid reports of a looming
showdown between the British Prime Minister and the DUP.
DUP leader Arlene Foster has rejected the British prime minister’s
proposals for a Brexit withdrawal deal after a leaked letter from the
Tory leader spoke of the North’s “unique circumstances” which she said
“could require specific alignment solutions in some scenarios”.
That comment was in regard to new trade regulations which could apply
differently in the North of Ireland than in Britain, something which is
anathema to unionists.
The future of the Westminster confidence and supply deal agreed between
the two parties 18 months ago is said to under threat once again. That
could leave May requiring support from opposition MPs in order to pass
legislation at Westminster.
Although the letter published by the Times included assurances from Mrs
May that she would not accept any Brexit deal which would “break up the
UK customs territory”, Mrs Foster insisted the correspondence raised
“alarm bells for those who value the integrity of our precious union
[British rule in the north of Ireland]”.
In her letter, Mrs May described the backstop, which experts believe
would likely amount to little more than the checks on agricultural goods
that are already in place, is “an insurance policy that no-one in the UK
or the EU wants or expects to use”.
But the frequent portrayal of potential new regulations as a ‘border
down the Irish Sea’ means the DUP will not back the deal in Westminster.
“No unionist would be able to support that,” Mrs Foster declared. “In
other words we (Northern Ireland) will have a different regulatory
system from the rest of the United Kingdom, and essentially there’s
going to be a border down the Irish Sea.”
The DUP leader said Ms May would also have “a job of work” getting her
cabinet to back her proposals in the context of the “mathematics” of
Westminster. She said the Tory leader now needed to decide whether she
wanted to pursue her proposals without the support of the DUP’s ten MPs.
Sinn Fein Brexit spokesman Mairtin O Muilleoir said the British
government needed to meet its commitments to a backstop and no hard
border “rather than promises to the DUP”.
“The fact is that Theresa May signed up to the Irish backstop in
December and that remains the bottom line in order to prevent a hard
border and safeguard our political and economic stability now and for
the future,” he said.
“It cannot be negotiated downwards. It cannot be watered down or
bargained off. It must be built on to ensure our rights are protected
and translated into legally operable and binding text as part of any
withdrawal agreement.
“The integrity of our peace process is at stake and the onus is on the
Dublin government and the EU 27 to ensure there is no resiling from the
backstop and no return to a hard border on our island.”
SDLP Brexit spokeswoman Claire Hanna said it was unsurprising that the
Tory leader was pushing back on the DUP’s “overzealous demands”.
“The SDLP and others made clear, in advance of the referendum and
incessantly since, that the extreme Brexit that the DUP chase would have
to have consequences,” she said.
Meanwhile, the 26 County government has warned that even if the Tory
cabinet agrees exit plans in the coming days, the rest of the EU must
also back them.
Reports have said that May might be able to win the support of her Tory
cabinet — only for a deal to be rejected by the EU. Fevered reports in
London that senior ministers have been reviewing the text of the
withdrawal agreement are said to have caused bewilderment.
Irish Tanaiste Simon Coveney urged caution. “Repeatedly people seem to
make the same mistake over and over again, assuming that if the British
cabinet agrees something, well, then that’s it then, everything is
agreed.”
The legal detail of an agreement on a backstop – a contingency plan that
would avoid a remilitarised border – remains the main obstacle to
breaking the deadlock.
The 26 County Taoiseach Leo Varadkar appeared to wobble last week in the
face of concerted Tory efforts to unpick the backstop agreement reached
last December. In particular, a demand by Brexit minister Dominic Rabb
for a three month time-limit and his supposed threat to resign appeared
to unnerve the Taoiseach.
An indication by Varadkar that he would consider a review mechanism,
that could allow the backstop to be scrapped, has been largely
retracted. But there were test exchanges in the Dublin parliament when
Mary Lou McDonald reminded the taoiseach of the triumphalist spin which
Varadkar and his party heralded the December deal, and urged him to
remain focused.
There was also an open letter to the Taoiseach, signed by more than
1,000 northern nationalists, including many well known figures from
sports and the arts, calling on him to ensure the rights of that
community are protected as Brexit approaches.
Sinn Fein described it as a “powerful” intervention and showed it was
time for people to make their voices heard.
“Almost twelve months ago the Taoiseach said that no citizen in the
north would ever be left behind again,” said party Deputy Leader
Michelle O’Neill.
“He stated his commitment to no hardening of the border on the island of
Ireland. This is a time of jeopardy with the ramifications from Brexit,
this is about people’s livelihoods and this is people’s rights.
“So I think today’s letter from wider civic nationalism to hold the
Taoiseach to account is very powerful.
“It sends a very strong message that the nationalist community is not
going to stand idly by and allow the British government to disrespect
them when it comes to their rights.”
Posted by Jim on
What is a Freemason and why they should not be included in any Christian Organization including the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians’
Question: “What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?”
Answer: Freemasonry, Eastern Star, and other similar “secret” organizations appear to be harmless fellowship gatherings. Many of them appear to promote belief in God. However, upon closer examination, we find that the only belief requirement is not that one must believe in the True and Living God, but rather, that one must believe in the existence of a “Supreme Being”, which includes the “gods” of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion. The unbiblical and anti-Christian beliefs and practices of this organization are partially hidden beneath an outward appearance of a supposed compatibility with the Christian faith. The following is a comparison of what the Bible says with the “official” position of Freemasonry:
Salvation from Sin:
The Bible’s View: Jesus became the sinner’s sacrifice before God when He shed His blood and died as the propitiation (payment) for the sins of all those who would ever believe (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8, John 3:16).
Mason’s View: The very process of joining the Lodge requires Christians to ignore the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. According to Freemasonry, a person will be saved and go to heaven as a result of his good works and personal self-improvement.
The View of the Bible:
The Bible’s View: The supernatural and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures—that they are inerrant and that their teachings and authority are absolute, supreme, and final. The Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Mason’s View: The Bible is only one of several “Volume(s) of Sacred Law,” all of which are deemed to be equally important in Freemasonry. The Bible is an important book, only as far as those members who claim to be Christians are concerned, just as the Koran is important to Muslims. The Bible is not considered to be the exclusive Word of God, nor is it considered to be God’s sole revelation of himself to humankind; but only one of many religious sourcebooks. It is a good guide for morality. The Bible is used primarily as a symbol of God’s will, which can also be captured in other sacred texts, like the Koran or Rig Vedas.
The Doctrine of God:
The Bible’s View: There is one God. The various names of God refer to the God of Israel and reveal certain attributes of God. To worship other gods or to call upon other deities is idolatry (Exodus 20:3). Paul spoke of idolatry as a heinous sin (1 Corinthians 10:14) and John said that idolaters will perish in hell (Revelation 21:8).
Mason’s View: All members must believe in a deity. Different religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.) acknowledge the same God, only call Him different names. Freemasonry invites people of all faiths, even if they use different names for the ‘Nameless One of a hundred names,’ they are yet praying to the one God and Father of all.
The Doctrine of Jesus and the Trinity:
The Bible’s View: Jesus was God in human form (Matthew 1:18-24, John 1:1). Jesus is the second person of the trinity (Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:9-11). While on earth, He was fully human (Mark 4:38, Matthew 4:2) and fully divine (John 20:28, John 1:1-2, Acts 4:10-12). Christians should pray in Jesus’ name and proclaim Him before others, regardless of offense to non-Christians (John 14:13-14, 1 John 2:23, Acts 4:18-20).
Mason’s View: There is no exclusivity in Jesus Christ or the Triune God who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; therefore there is no doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. It is deemed to be un-Masonic to invoke the name of Jesus when praying, or mention His name in the Lodge. Suggesting that Jesus is the only way to God contradicts the principle of tolerance. The name of Jesus has been omitted from biblical verses that are used in Masonic rituals. Jesus is on the same level as other religious leaders.
Human Nature and Sin:
The Bible’s View: All humans are born with a sinful nature, are totally depraved, and need a Savior from sin (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:1). The Bible denies that because of the Fall, humanity has within itself the capacity for moral perfection (1 John 1:8-10, Romans 1:18-25).
Mason’s View: Through symbols and emblems, Masons teach that man is not sinful, just “rude and imperfect by nature”. Human beings are able to improve their character and behavior in various ways, including acts of charity, moral living, and voluntary performance of civic duty. Humanity possesses the ability of moving from imperfection toward total perfection. Moral and spiritual perfection lies within men and women.
When a Christian takes the oath of Freemasonry, he is swearing to the following doctrines that God has pronounced false and sinful:
1. That salvation can be gained by man’s good works.
2. That Jesus is just one of many equally revered prophets.
3. That they will remain silent in the Lodge and not talk of Christ.
4. That they are approaching the Lodge in spiritual darkness and ignorance, when the Bible says Christians are already in the light, children of the light, and are indwelt by the Light of the World—Jesus Christ.
5. By demanding that Christians take the Masonic oath, Masonry leads Christians into blasphemy and taking the name of the Lord in vain.
6. Masonry teaches that its G.A.O.T.U. [Great Architect of the Universe], whom Masonry believes is the true God of the universe, is representative of all gods in all religions.
7. Masonry makes Christians take a universalist approach in their prayers, demanding a “generic” name be used so as not to offend non-believers who are Masonic “brothers”.
8. By swearing the Masonic oath and participating in the doctrines of the Lodge, Christians are perpetuating a false gospel to other Lodge members, who look only to Masonry’s plan of salvation to get to heaven. By their very membership in such a syncretistic type organization, they have severely compromised their witnessing as Christians.
9. By taking the Masonic obligation, the Christian is agreeing to allow the pollution of his mind, spirit, and body by those who serve false gods and believe false doctrines.
As you can see, Masonry denies and contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture on numerous issues. Masonry also requires people to engage in activities which the Bible condemns. As a result, a Christian should not be a member of any secret society or organization that has any connection with Freemasonry.