Posted by Jim on September 7, 2012
A chairde, comraidithe is a comh-phoblachtainigh,
Is mor an onoir dum a beith anseo ar a ocaid seo. Tamid anseo cun cuimhniu ar na n-daoine a fuair bas ar na stailc ocrais.
It is indeed a great honor to be addressing this, the 31st Annual Hunger Strike commemoration here in Bundoran. We commemorate not just those who died in the concentration camp of Long Kesh in 1981 but also Frank Stagg and Michael Gaughan who died in the 1970’s in England and Sean McCaughy, Sean McNella and Tony Darcy who died in the 1940’s in Free State jails.
Andrew Sullivan, Denis Barry, Joseph Whitty, who died under Free State rule in the 1920’s; Terrance Mc Swiney, Joseph Murphy and Michael Fitzgerald who also died in the 1920’s under British rule and finally Thomas Ashe who died in 1917 in Mountjoy jail while being force fed. All these men fought and died for their belief in a 32 County Irish Republic. Let us remember too the many who died young as a result of hunger strikes and conditions in many jails in Ireland and England.
The hunger strike of ’81 was a seminal point in the prison struggle and the struggle for a 32 County Irish Republic. For years the POWs in both Long Kesh and Armagh women’s prison were refusing to be treated a criminals and had been refusing to wash or slop out or wear prison uniforms. While the British did engage in talks with the POWs it became clear that this engagement was not genuine and in 1981 a decision was made to undertake a hunger strike. The goal of being recognized as political prisoners was attained but at a high cost, ten men died in Long Kesh and many more men and women had their health ruined due to either the hunger strike or the barbaric act of force feeding. Sadly the hard won victory of political status was sold out by a minority of greedy former comrades later. These men and women couldn’t wait to get their grubby hands on the reigns of power and so for some short term political gain and wads of money they decided to administer British rule in the Occupied Six Counties.
We now have Republican prisoners in the Occupied Six Counties and in the
26 Counties because of their political beliefs. They would never have seen the inside of a prison cell had it not been for British occupation in our country and their resistance to that occupation. In the Occupied Six Counties the POW are once again on dirty protest fighting for political status in filthy squalid cells without the most basic of needs. They are locked up approx 23 hours a day, denied education, free association and all the rights associated with political satus. The screws have an interest in the continuation of this protest as it keeps them in high paid jobs. An agreement was reached in August 2010 between the POWs and the prison administration, facilitated by independent people, but this was subsequently subverted by the screws. I call on this agreement to be implemented in full now.
Internment has once again raised its ugly head. Martin Corry was released from jail in 1992 having served 19 years and was arrested once again in April 2010 and held without trial since. In July this year his release was ordered by a highly renowned human rights judge in the high court in Belfast, Seamus Treacy, who found the Martin’s human rights had been infringed under Article 5 of the Human Rights Act 1998. But this was not to lead to his freedom. Owen Paterson (British secretary of
state) overruled this judgment and martin remains in Magaberry jail. The ruling by Paterson shows that it is the British government that runs the Occupied Six Counties, the Stormont administration is no more than a puppet administration with no REAL powers.
During his hearing it transpired that the so called evidence against Martin was so secret that not even Justice Treacy could see it; the book of evidence given to him was an empty book with the words “the secretary of state states this evidence exists”. To date Martin still has not been given a reason for his arrest, he has not been charged with anything.
Marian Price is another high profile internee. She has been interned for over a year and a half on a spurious charge. She is now gravely ill in hospital, suffering from pneumonia. There is the real possibility of Marion dying while interned, another innocent victim of British injustice in the Occupied Six Counties. There are of course other internees, some having their licences revoked and some interned by remand. I call on everyone here to do their utmost to highlight this abuse of peoples’ human rights. The British can not be allowed to condemn perceived human rights abuses by others while at the same time abusing the human rights of the Irish.
In Lithuania Michael Campbell is incarcerated in a jail that was an actual concentration camp in the Second World War, his toilet a hole in the ground. Communication is almost impossible due to the language barrier. Michael’s sentence of 12 years was appealed by the prosecution.
This it seems orchestrated by MI5 so as to impede and effort to have him repatriated to Ireland. His brother Liam is in jail in Maghaberry awaiting extradition to the same jail and the same conditions.
In June this year the queen of England visited Belfast. Much media attention was made of a handshake between herself and Martin McGuinness, this handshake should not surprise anyone who follows Irish politics.
The fact is this was just a photo of a minister of the crown shaking hands with his commander-in-chief; no more no less. Martin’s insistence as he got in his car – after following the “duke” around trying to shake his hand but the old duke was having none of it – that he was ‘still a Republican’ rang hollow indeed. He certainly is not a Republican in the style of Plunkett, Pearse, Tone, Sands or O’Hara; maybe he is modelling himself on those who sold out in ’21 and then borrowed English guns and turned them on Republicans, or maybe he models himself on de Valera who, once he decided that HIS war was over, happily shot, hanged or interned members of the Republican movement. Indeed I would put it to you that even those who abandoned the Republic in the past did not stoop as low as the Provos have now
The Six-County state and the 26 County-State solution that was imposed on the Irish people over 90 years ago has obviously failed. The 26 Counties is now administered by the descendants of those who sold out in
’21 – families who now have accumulated huge personal wealth, while ordinary people worry on a daily basis how they will manage to pay for food, clothing and the basics to survive. This year in Cork a young girl collapsed while in school and when taken to hospital it was found that she was malnourished. This seems to be the choice for the people, to pay the bills or to eat, while the so-called representatives in Leinster house send billions of Euro in taxes to faceless/nameless people around the world.
The administration in the Occupied Six County in openly and nakedly sectarian. It is allegedly run by the two biggest parties – the Provos and the DUP. While they have divided up the ministerial portfolios between them they think they have control over their own little fiefdoms
– and perhaps they do in a little way. But the truth is the British are their paymasters, Westminster is the real seat of power – and the Stormont ministers will happily do as they are bid. The Unionist veto is alive and well and operating as usual. While Stormont ministers impose cuts on the people they increases allowances to themselves, just like capitalist administrations all over the world. The gap between rich and poor ever widens and until socialist policies like Eire Nua and Saol Nua pertain, that gap will continue to widen and sectarian policies will prevail in Occupied Ireland..
I will leave with a quote from Paul Johnson, who was a friend of MargaretThatcher:
“In Ireland we [the British government] have tried every possible formula; direct rule, indirect rule, genocide, apartheid, puppet parliaments, real parliaments, martial law, civil law, colonisation, lane reform and partition. Nothing has worked. The only solution we have not tried is absolute and unconditional withdrawal”.
Well a chairde, it is time for this solution – the obvious solution to try. I call on the British government to commit to withdraw from Ireland now and leave the running of Ireland to the people of Ireland.”
Posted by Jim on
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has condemned so-called ‘dissidents’ in Dublin despite a rally in the city last weekend which saw several hundred republicans of all hues unite to march in support of interned political activist Marian Price.
The march and rally, organised by the Free Marian Price Dublin Committee, also attracted the support of socialists, trade unionists and human rights advocates. Among those who took part in the rally were a number of members of the Dublin parliament, including Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who spoke at the rally, Sinn Fein’s Dessie Ellis and Socialist TD Clare Daly.
Marian Price, a former prisoner, was originally arrested for holding up a piece of paper while a member of the breakaway ‘Real IRA’ read from it at an Easter commemoration some 18 months ago. She has now fallen seriously ill and is currently being held under armed guard in a Belfast hospital.
The ‘Real IRA’ organisation has since merged with other breakaway groups, and is showing signs of increased activity after two small explosive devices were found in Derry today [Friday].
While Sinn Fein has supported Price’s release as a human and civil rights issue, it has repeated its opposition to the ‘new IRA’. Earlier this month, a military funeral was organised in Dublin for Alan Ryan, who was a senior member. Masked men fired shots over the coffin.
A Garda crackdown against republicans in Dublin since that funeral, which was attended by over a thousand people, has led to charges against Ryan’s brother and two others for IRA membership.
Mr Adams made it clear this week that the [Provisional] IRA has gone for good. But he dismissed the remaining armed republican groups as “mavericks”.
“The IRA is gone,” he said on Tuesday. “We should not confuse those little maverick groups who paraded around this city recently. We should not confuse them with the IRA.
“At the time there was war, the IRA fought the war. The war was over.
The IRA took that opportunity for peace.”
The Louth TD was speaking just hours before a special debate in Stormont, where the DUP put forward a motion which called on the Dublin government to apologise for the emergence of the IRA in the 1970s.
DUP leader Mr Robinson has insisted in recent weeks that there was a “clear connection” between the 26-County government and the Official IRA, which ended its armed struggle in 1972, and the Provisional IRA, which declared a ceasefire in 1994.
Robinson said: “I think the Irish Republic would do well to look at its role and recognise that it was not the way it should have behaved in those days, and apologise for it because massive death and destruction followed.”
The motion has baffled nationalists, but it was nevertheless passed by the unionist-dominated Assembly in Belfast by a single vote, 47 to 46, despite the opposition of Sinn Fein and the SDLP.
Mr Adams insisted there was no connection between the government in Dublin and the IRA. He pointed to the history of repression and violence which republicans in the 26 Counties have long endured at the hands of the police, including the torture techniques practised by the Garda ‘heavy gang’.
“The IRA is not the creation of any Dublin government,” said Mr Adams.
“Whatever the Irish Government may have to apologise for — whether it’s the heavy gang, whether it’s the brutality of prisoners in Portlaoise, whether it’s the failure of successive governments attacking the British in the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and other collusion – I don’t think it has any apologies to make.”
Posted by admin on September 3, 2012
A commemoration for the Protestant republican Henry Joy McCracken, the founder of the United Irishmen, was attacked by a loyalist mob this evening, triggering a wave of rioting in north Belfast.
It was the second time the annual event, organised by the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) has been held.
Last weekend, the PSNI police ignored a decision of the Parades Commission ordering loyalist bands not to engaging in sectarian provocation outside the Catholic St Patrick’s church, near the nationalist Carrickhill area. A protest by nationalist residents was attacked by loyalists amid ugly scenes which have fuelled tensions throughout the week.
The commemoration this evening passed through the nationalist New Lodge and North Queen Street areas, before continuing past Carrickhill to Clifton Street cemetery, where the Irish patriot is buried.
While walking to the cemetery, participants came under a sustained attack from loyalists, including well known figures from within the paramilitary UVF, who had gathered from early morning.
Marchers were showered with a barrage of bricks, stones, golf balls and bottles. Several were badly injured, including children.
Inexplicably, the PSNI had allowed the loyalist mob to gather within metres of the agreed route, ensuring that an outbreak of violence was inevitable.
The RNU said only the efforts of its stewards prevented large-scale hand-to-hand fighting after the mob were able to enter an apartment complex beside the Clifton Street cemetery. Throughout the ceremony, loyalists continued to attack those gathered and at one stage managed to scale the walls. At one point, a small child who was carrying a wreath was injured by a missile.
The RNU blamed DUP Minister Nelson McCausland for bringing negative publicity to the McCracken commemoration in comments he posted on the internet during the week.
“It is our opinion that this is what has motivated elements within the Shankill UVF to organise today’s planned attack,” the group said. “By contrast, last year’s parade passed off without incident.”
“RNU state categorically that we were not to blame for today’s trouble; we are an anti-sectarian organisation and were on our way to honour a fine protestant Republican when we were attacked.
“It is unfortunate that today’s trouble took place at all. We will do all that we can to help ease any tensions in the area.”
Local nationalist youths became involved in sporadic clashes which have deteriorated into full-scale rioting tonight. Trouble is continuing at the Carlisle Circus and Clifton St areas.
The PSNI has deployed water-cannon to the area, but notably did not manage to prevent loyalists attacking a nursing home for old age pensioners at Carlisle Circus.
Sinn Fein Assembly member Fra McCann said a petrol-bomb attack on the home of a Catholic family earlier this evening was also linked to the trouble.
He said: “Only that the Housing Executive have put in place reinforced glass, this attack would have been even worse. There are five children who live in this house and this can only be described as attempted murder by those responsible.”
An Orange Hall in north Belfast was also reported to have been vandalised during the disturbances.
Posted by Jim on September 2, 2012
A row has developed between Protestant church leaders and the anti-Catholic loyal orders following Saturday’s Royal Black Institution march in Belfast.
Two senior Protestant clergymen branded the actions of loyalist bands outside a Catholic Church during the march by the Orange Order’s senior organisation as “blatantly sectarian”.
Their statements mark a significant break between the Protestant churches and the loyal orders over sectarian parades in the north of Ireland.
Fighting broke out and a full-scale riot was narrowly averted when loyalist marchers and the PSNI police jointly ignored a ruling of the Parades Commission through north central Belfast last weekend.
The PSNI made no effort to prevent the highly controversial Young Conway Volunteers (YCV) flute band from parading past St. Patrick’s Catholic church at the corner of Carrick Hill and Donegall Street — contrary to the determination of the Commission, which is supposed to be legally binding.
The YCV and other bands engaged in a number of deliberately offensive and sectarian acts outside the church, to cheers from thousands of loyalists who had gathered nearby. Members of the bands and their supporters roared sectarian abuse at the church and local Catholics.
Bandsmen not only defied the Parades Commission ruling to play only a single drum beat passing the church, but instead played even louder with several playing ‘The Sash’ at the doors of St Patrick’s.
The Shankill Road band had previously signalled its intention to ignore the determination, issuing messages that they would “walk and play”.
It had been banned from walking down part of Clifton Street and Donegall Street after it played the sectarian Famine Song (while marching in circles outside St Patrick’s Church) during the Twelfth of July events.
Nationalist residents from Carrick Hill had a banner calling on the loyalists to ‘Respect St Patrick’s’ ripped out of their hands, before the loyalist mob surged forward and hand-to-hand fighting broke out.
Presbyterian moderator, the Rev Roy Patton and Church ofIreland primate ArchbishopAlan Harper described the behaviour of some of those involved in the parade as “unacceptable”.
“I think we would be very clear as a Church that such behaviour is totally unacceptable and is not in keeping with the values that the loyal orders espouse,” Mr Patton said.
“As a Church we deem such behaviour to be unacceptable.
“How can you expect your own cultural and religious beliefs to be respected if you don’t respect those of others?”
Archbishop Harper saidthere was “no defence” for the actions.
“We recognise that people have particular issues, perhaps with the Parades Commission, but this is not the way to deal with them andsuch behaviour is inconsistent with any profession of Christian faith,” he said.
Whether or not the action were in defiance of the Parades Commission, the outcome was “blatantly sectarian”, he said.
“We’ve spent a long time examining sectarianism within our own Church and we are very clear that sort of thing is not acceptable and is no way to build a harmonious society.
“That is wholly unacceptable to me and to the Church of Ireland.”
Ultra hardliner unionist Jim Allister of the TUV launched a stinging attack on the two churchmen. They should not “attack the Loyal Orders for doing something which they have done for generations without any problems arising,” he said.
But the SDLP’s Alban Maginness welcomed the leadership shown by the Protestant church leaders.
He said: “Hopefully people will listen carefully to the advice of these pastors, and those unionist politicians who have refused to condemn the blatant acts of sectarianism outside St Patrick’s will now reassess their position and show some leadership.”
PSNI ‘MUST EXPLAIN’
As reaction continued to Saturday’s events, the Catholic bishop Noel Treanor this week called on the PSNI to explain why “no visible effort”
was made to prevent loyalist bands from defying Parades Commission rulings during Saturday’s Royal Black Institution parade.
Dr Treanor, the Bishop of Down and Connor, said he was “appalled by the provocative sectarianism and insulting behaviour of some participants in the parade directly in front of St Patrick’s Church.”
He added: “That no visible effort appears to have been made to enforce the lawful restrictions imposed on Saturday’s march will have caused great surprise and concern to many and deserves to be explained by the PSNI.”
He also criticised an open letter signed by several high-profile unionists, including First Minister Peter Robinson, which warned of trouble ahead of the parade and called for the scrapping of the Parades Commission.
Meanwhile, Carrick Hill residents were praised for standing up to the sectarian actions of the loyalist bandsmen by their parish priest, FrMichael Sheehan of St. Patrick’s.
He spoke of his shock at the bandsmen’s behaviour but said he was “proud, elated and encouraged” by those “who stood tall in the midst of such dreadful sectarian hatred and venom”.
Posted by admin on August 29, 2012
Gerry McGeough sends his congratulations to the organizers of the Tyrone Civil Rights March that took place Sunday, August 26, 2012. Gerry said we must all continue to stand up for justice and democracy and there is no welcome in Ireland for the English establishment and they should slither back to their own swamp of a country. All the English empire has brought to Ireland, and other countries, is misery, conflict and evil. The sooner the English empire becomes ancient history, the better for the world. Long live democracy!