Posted by admin on July 7, 2013
By Brian Feeney (for Irish News)
For understandable reasons most of the publicity about petrol bombs flying over interface fencing is focused on east Belfast’s Short Strand. It’s not the only place where there is tension, of course. A couple of weeks ago someone threw a petrol bomb into the small Protestant enclave at Suffolk in west Belfast. In some respects that enclave is a mirror image of the Short Strand but in important ways it is completely different. It’s a tiny orange blob in a vast sea of green facing Lenadoon and Andersonstown across the Stewartstown Road.
Middle-class Catholic housing around Black’s Road completes the encirclement. Fewer than 750 Protestants remain in the district. The Short Strand is much larger, with over 3,000 people hemmed in against the River Lagan by the more than 60,000 in overwhelmingly unionist east Belfast. Both enclaves are cut off from their ethnic soul mates.
There the similarities end. In the case of Suffolk, Sinn Fein people have worked hard to reach out the hand of friendship and develop links across the two communities. It hasn’t always been successful. After all there was that recent petrol-bomb attack. However, immediately afterwards Sinn Fein councillor Gerard O’Neill issued a statement
saying: “Whoever was behind the attack and for whatever motive, it is a disgrace and will not stop the good work continuing between the communities of Suffolk and Lenadoon areas. If it is sectarian then the people of the Suffolk estate should know that those that carried it out do not represent their neighbours in Lenadoon. Sectarianism from whatever guise is a cancer in our society and needs treated as such.”
Of course it was sectarian but apart from that flaw in his remarks O’Neill made an effort to reassure the people in Suffolk.
On the other hand it’s rare to hear similar condemnation of their own side from unionist representatives in east Belfast. Yes, it does happen but almost invariably only after someone in the media has called to ask for a reaction. There’s almost never a spontaneous and unequivocal rejection of sectarianism. The Short Strand’s Niall O Donnghaile last month appealed to unionists to “show leadership”. He’s wasting his breath. Maybe he’s being ironic. Why does he assume that unionists disagree with the antics of Orangemen and the loyalist bands they hire prancing past St Matthew’s? Virtually every elected unionist in Belfast (including the one who occasionally dons the mantle of first minister) signed the notorious letter last year defying the Parades Commission’s statutory role. Unionist politicians march along behind bands that breach Parades Commission determinations. None of them has ever condemned misbehaviour during marches. On the contrary they have justified and excused it. By asking unionists to show leadership presumably Sinn Fein politicians, for it’s not only O Donnghaile, expect them to make speeches castigating misbehaviour. Why would they when they agree with what is being done? That’s why they justify and excuse it.
Yes, it is worthwhile for Sinn Fein to talk of reconciliation and try to find ways to reach out to unionists but the party needs to realise that most unionist public representatives oppose equality and disagree with the Good Friday Agreement and its principles. Most DUP politicians didn’t even agree with the St Andrews fig leaf and have since reneged on what they agreed. Peter Robinson was faced with a revolt at Hillsborough in February 2010 when Gordon Brown and Brian Cowen compelled him to subscribe to devolved policing and justice.
Has any politician of note from any mainstream unionist party made a speech supporting the concept of partnership in northern society? The sad fact is that most unionists who vote, though admittedly we’re approaching the stage where most don’t vote, vote for a party that disagrees fundamentally with the political arrangements they’re operating and look forward to ‘a return to normality’ and you know what that means. So when Sinn Fein appeals to them to show leadership, unionists must be puzzled because the truth is that they are showing leadership. It’s a fallacy to think they’re looking over their shoulders at more hardline rivals. Sinn Fein doesn’t even need to review the DUP’s performance during the ‘fleg protests’. Just consider the idiotic remarks of Paul Girvan about burning tricolours.
Posted by Jim on July 5, 2013
Gang of Eight bill could mean a different Independence Day for 11 million undocumented
The July 4 holiday is a special one this year, with Independence Day for 11 million undocumented immigrants, including 50,000 Irish, hopefully around the corner.
The passage of the Gang of Eight immigration bill through the Senate last week was a masterpiece of bipartisan politics led by Senator Charles Schumer on the Democratic side, while Senator Marco Rubio was the key figure for the GOP.
Without Rubio’s support the Republicans would likely have voted en masse against the bill with the exception of Senator John McCain and a few others.
Now the scene shifts to the House of Representatives, where a bitter battle is expected.
Already, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte of Virginia has made clear he supports a passage to legal status for the undocumented, but not citizenship.
That is a disastrous policy that will replicate disastrous outcomes in Germany and elsewhere in Europe where foreign migrants are forever second-class citizens.
House Speaker John Boehner has been his usual slippery self on immigration reform, seemingly promising swift passage of a bill at one point and then insisting on a Republican majority for passage, not an overall majority.
That hardly sounds like the inspired leadership that this issue needs, but there is still a considerable time to go.
There are many groups engaged in the effort such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Valley giants like Facebook and Google, Catholic and evangelical churches, labor unions and agricultural interests. All are making their voices felt about the need for reform.
For the first time all are on the same side on this bill, which provides a powerful lobby for change.
The Irish American lobby must get cracking now too.
We have better leverage with Republicans than most other ethnic groups, and the ability of organizations such as the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and the AOH to make a major impact is a critical part of the reform efforts.
There is simply no alternative for decades if this current effort fails. Now that a bill has emerged from the Senate with over two-thirds support, there is no reason why it should.
Republicans must surely know that they can never hope to woo the Hispanic vote unless they agree to a comprehensive immigration policy.
Yes, the old Tea Party rump continues to battle for no reform at all, a decision that would have disastrous consequences for the U.S. and the Republican Party.
Despite the discordant noises currently coming from the House, it remains a must-do fro the GOP if they wish be known for something other than primarily the party of older white men.
Rubio, with a magnificent speech in the Senate, showed the way forward for a more inclusive policy.
Let us hope his colleagues in the House follow suit.
Posted by admin on
CAPITOL HILL. Thursday, July 4, 2013
Fr. Sean Mc Manus — President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus has backed the demand by Relatives For Justice ( Belfast) that HET be dissolved.
Speaking shortly after he called for a Congressional Hearing into HET’s cover-up of State-killings, Fr. Mc Manus said: ” I fully support Mark Thompson’s call for the dissolution of HET. We will be disseminating his statement [see below] on behalf of Relative For Relatives to Members of Congress. Mark graphically raised the whole issue of the HET when he testified before Congress in 2012.And Irish-Americans will be working for another Congressional Hearing on this whole issue. British Government cover-up continues to be a cancer at the heart of Northern Ireland. It is nonsense to claim, as the Northern Ireland Government does, that the peace-process is “solid” when there is such cancerous growth.”
END
STATEMENT BY RELATIVES FOR JUSTICE
Speaking in response to today’s news that the Policing Board has no confidence in the leadership of the HET in light of yesterday’s damning report by HMIC, Relatives for Justice has issued the following statement;
‘Removing the HET Director and senior staff, even removing the Chief Constable will not suffice in addressing the fundamental and systemic problems that lie at the very heart of the HET.
‘Such actions would be superficial and cosmetic as the real problem rests with the leadership and intelligence section of the PSNI that in effect created, oversaw and covered the illegal policy practice of the HET in respect of killings by the British Army.
‘The facts are that this policy was overseen by the Chief Constable even though he was aware of this illegal practice since coming into office. His Assistant Chief Constables were aware of it since at least 2009.
‘Such disregard for the rule of law on the part of new policing at the highest levels has clearly demonstrated to families that the PSNI cannot be allowed to reinvestigate these killings. They cannot be trusted.
‘Transferring British Army killings to the PSNI will result in similar tactics aimed at protecting soldiers from prosecution with the continued practice of state impunity for state actions.
‘In order that the British government meet their investigative obligations they must create an independent body similar to the Police Ombudsman to examine British Army killings.
Posted by admin on
CAPITOL HILL. Thursday, July 4, 2013
“I don’t want to say I told you so, but I did — and told the entire U.S. Congress.”
That was how Fr. Sean Mc Manus — President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus — reacted to the positively damning report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) on the Historical Enquiries Team (HET).
HET was established in 2005 as a ” cold cases team” to review all the killings during The Troubles, 1969-1998.
Fr. Mc Manus explained: ” HET, and here’s the rub, is part of the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI). Therefore, it is a case of police and former police investigating themselves. I have always been concerned that HET would cover up State killings. And this Report confirms my fears.”
The Report found, among other things, that the Team’s work did not conform to the European Convention of Human Rights; that it treated police and British Army killings less vigorously; and that it did not conform to policing standards.
The Report unequivocally declares: “The HET treats state involvement cases differently as a matter of policy and this appears to be based on a misinterpretation of the law. This is entirely wrong, and has led to state involvement cases being reviewed with less rigor in some areas than non-state cases.”
Devastatingly, the Report also states: “It is striking that not one state involvement case relating to the British army has to date been referred to the police for further investigation or prosecution.”
Fr. Mc Manus said: ” Like many others I have been hoping against hope that there would be a ” new beginning to policing in Northern Ireland… But now comes this — and on top of the cruel mistreatment of Marian Price, the stonewalling of the British Government over the State assassination of Pat Finucane, etc., etc. It will be seen to add fuel to the Dissidents’ charge that nothing has changed at the core of the judicial and policing establishment in The North.”
Fr. Mc Manus concluded by explaining: ” The Irish National Caucus will be calling for Congressional Hearing into HET’s cover-up.”
END
Fr. Sean Mc Manus
President
Irish National Caucus
P.O. BOX 15128
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC 20003-0849
Tel. 202-544-0568
Fax. 202-488-7537
sean@irishnationalcaucus.org
Posted by Jim on July 2, 2013
By Sandy Boyer
Martin Corey has spent more than three years in Northern Ireland’s Maghaberry Prison. Although he hasn’t been charged with any crime, there is little prospect that he will be released any time in the immediately foreseeable future. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, a British Cabinet Minister, has revoked his license – parole in American terms – which means that he can be imprisoned indefinitely without a trial, sentence or release date.
Martin Corey received a life sentence in December 1973, when he was 19 years old for killing two members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force, in an IRA operation. He served 19 years and was released in June, 1992.
Martin Corey returned home to Lurgan, County Aramgh. He started a business, formed an ongoing relationship, and became a highly respected member of the local community.
The police appeared at Martin Corey’s door and took him away to prison in the early hours of April 16, 2010, almost 18 years after his release
His younger brother Joe described what happened. “They came to the door at around 6am. There was about twelve of them standing there when I answered the door. They asked for Martin and told me the Secretary of State had revoked his licence.”
‘They gave no reason for this. There was no struggle. He just got up and walked out with them..They brought him to Maghaberry, where he has been ever since.”
He was informed that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland had revoked his license because he was a “security risk.” Later it was claimed that “he was involved with dissident republicans.”
The Northern Ireland Parole Commission, which is appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, held secret hearings where neither Corey nor his lawyers could see the evidence. They returned him to prison, saying he was “a risk to the public.”
A Belfast judge ordered him released on unconditional bail on July 9th because he was being held on the basis of secret evidence.. His family rushed to the prison to bring him home.
But while Martin Corey was sitting in the prison reception area and they were waiting outside, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland overruled the judge and ordered him re-arrested.
His lawyers have announced that they will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. But this is a time consuming process that can consume a year or more.
In 2011 Martin Corey told The Lurgan Mail that “I have been in prison for nearly a year and a half, and I still haven’t been given a reason. They have put forward a number of allegations against me, and I’m not able to defend myself against any of them.”
“They say I have been seen speaking to known republicans, and that I visited a number of houses. What does that matter? It doesn’t mean I’ve done anything wrong. They have absolutely nothing on me, and that’s why they haven’t charged me.”
His partner, Lynda Magee, said that “He does not know what he has done and has been told nothing about why he is being held He has already served his time and he was willing to do it. But now he is being held for no reason.”
Martin Corey is a member of Republican Sinn Fein, a legal political party throughout Ireland. They are opposed to the Good Friday Agreement because they believe it perpetuates British rule in Northern Ireland. Republican Sinn Fein is almost universally believed to be affiliated with the Continuity IRA in the same way that Sinn Fein was traditionally affiliated with the IRA. This can be used to justify imprisoning Martin Corey because he is a “dissident republican” and a threat to the peace process.
But people on both sides of the Atlantic who have little or no sympathy with Martin Corey’s politics are demanding that he be released.
Gerry Adams, the President of Sinn Fein, met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in the Dáil (Irish parliament) and urged him to free Martin Corey. Adams stated that “Martin Corey was released by the courts… [He] should be released and I put it very strongly …that this should be done.”
At their last convention, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the largest Irish-American organizationm passed a resolution “that the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America condemns Owen Patterson [the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland] for the continued imprisonment of Martin Corey and urge that be released immediately on unconditional bail. “
Like Martin Corey Marian Price was imprisoned without charge or trial on the basis of secret evidence until she was released in May after her heath was all but broken. They are the most recent targets of the ongoing policy of interning political prisoners.
Martin Corey is only one more victim of the permanent human rights emergency in Northern Ireland. Just in the last few months:
— Stephen Murney has been charged with “possession of materials of use to terrorists” for taking photographs of the Northern Ireland police in action.
— The police tried to intimidate a key witness in order to prevent Brendan McConville and John Paul Wooten from appealing their conviction.
— In May, John Downey was suddenly charged with a 1982 bombing when he went to London from his home in Donegal.
We will need to build campaigns for each of them. If Marian Price is at home today, it is only because there was a very public, very determined campaign to set her free both in Ireland and throughout the world.
As essential as campaigns for individual prisoners are, it’s no longer enough to campaign for one or another of the political prisoners. Both in Ireland and the US we need to try to broaden our campaign to include as many prisoners as possible and challenge the whole attack on basic human rights. Otherwise there will be more political prisoners in the very near future.
As Northern Ireland civil rights leader Bernadette Devlin McAliskey put it “The Good Friday Agreement promised and end to this abuse of human rights and democracy. It is long past time it delivered on this promise. It is also time the international power players who created this deformity of democracy held it to account.”