IRISH REPUBLICAN INFORMATION SERVICE (no. 51)

IRISH REPUBLICAN INFORMATION SERVICE (no. 51)
Teach Dáithí Ó Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland
Phone: +353-1-872 9747; FAX: +353-1-872 9757; e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie
Date: 25 Eanáir / January 2006

Internet resources maintained by SAOIRSE-Irish Freedom

http://saoirse.rr.nu

Irish Republican Information Service
THE body styling itself 'Limerick Republican Information Service' is not connected with the Irish Republican Information Service (IRIS), 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, email saoirse@iol.ie and has not been authorised either by IRIS or by the body that sponsors IRIS, Republican Sinn Féin. Therefore it is totally unauthorised and should be regarded as such.

In this issue:
1. RSF Vice President takes on McDowell in debate
2. RSF member targeted again by Brits
3. Finucane family rethink Hain talks
4. Racists target protest march
5. Sam Maguire 'not welcome'
6. Retired police 'escape probes'
7. 26-County State breaking international law, says Chomsky

1. RSF VICE PRESIDENT TAKES ON MCDOWELL IN DEBATE

REPUBLICAN SINN FÉIN Vice President Des Dalton clashed with 26-County Justice Minister in a debate in NUI Galway on January 19. The debate was organised by the college's Literary and Debating Society on the theme "That this house would reclaim the tricolour from the Republican Movement".

During the debate Des Dalton said that attempts were being made to hijack Irish history to further a political agenda, which does not even accept the existence of the historic Irish nation. He said: "This attempt to normalise British rule in Ireland has been coupled with the hijacking and rewriting of Irish history, tailoring it to suit the political agenda of the Stormont Agreement and its supporters. We make no apologies to anyone in clearly stating that for Irish Republicans 1916 is unfinished business.

"The reality is that the underlying cause of conflict in Ireland in 1916, 1981 and in 2006 was and is British occupation and rule in Ireland. Rigorous efforts have been made by the British and 26-County States as well as the various constitutional parties to draw a line under Irish history by pretending that the national question has been resolved."

Referring to Republican Sinn Féin's intention to mark the 90th anniversary of 1916 as well as the 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes he said:

"This year moves are already afoot to hijack the anniversaries of 1916 and the hunger strikes. Bertie Ahern has made his intentions clear using the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in October as a platform to announce that the 26-County army would be staging a parade in O'Connell Street on Easter Sunday.

"Those who seek to hijack the anniversaries also seek to misrepresent the objectives of the men and women of 1916 and the hunger strikers. In both cases however clear statements of their aims and objectives have been left behind in writings and documents, be it the 1916 Proclamation or the prison diary of Bobby Sands. These historic writings and documents give the lie to those who would attempt to distort or rewrite history. and leave the reader in no doubt that what drove these people was an unshakeable belief in Irish freedom and opposition to British Imperialism."

He challenged Michael McDowell as to the whereabouts of files relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974, which have gone missing from the 26-County Department of Justice.

"Michael McDowell accuses Republicans of being sectarian, but ignores the reality that for over thirty years British-backed loyalist death squads murdered innocent uninvolved nationalists in most cases because of their religion, as a matter of policy. The 26-County State has many serious questions to answer over its failure to deal with British backed Loyalist bombing and shootings carried out in the 26-Counties. Michael McDowell should account for what has become of the files relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, the single biggest loss of life in the current conflict, which have gone missing from the 26 County Department of Justice."

He also used the debate to draw attention to Republican Sinn Féin's alternative to the failed and sectarian Stormont Agreement, ÉIRE NUA:

"We are convinced that ÉIRE NUA presents a realistic and workable alternative to what is a clearly failed process. In tandem with our social and economic programme SAOL NUA, our vision is of an Ireland based on Republican, Socialist, Self - reliance and Ecological principles. ÉIRE NUA provides a tangible mechanism by which Theobald Wolfe Tone's dream of substituting the common name of Irish man or woman for Protestant, Catholic or Dissenter, can finally be realised.

"The national flag, like all of the other symbols of our nation, as well as our history, belong to all of the Irish people and are not there to be 'reclaimed' by any one group or sectional interest."

2. RSF MEMBER TARGETED AGAIN BY BRITS

A MEMBER of Republican Sinn Féin in Derry who had previously been threatened by self-confessed members of the British intelligence services last year was again approached by the same two men at around 7pm on January 23rd.

The British Crown agents had previously said that they would speak to him again "at a time and a place of our choosing". In this latest incident the men - this time in plainclothes - approached him as he came out of a shop and told him that they wanted half an hour of his time, adding that they had stated previously that they would keep an eye on him. As he jumped into his car and drove off, they warned that he would only be making more trouble for himself.

This recent incident again demonstrates the sinister nature of this death-dealing organisation in its efforts to destroy Republican opposition to the British occupation of our country.

In a statement Republican Sinn Féin in Derry called on anyone who may have been approached in a similar manner by British or Free State agents, or who may have been compromised, to come forward and approach any member of Republican Sinn Féin or either of our offices at 229, Falls Road, Belfast or 223, Parnell Street, Dublin 1.

3. FINUCANE FAMILY RETHINK HAIN TALKS

THE FAMILY of Pat Finucane are having second thoughts about meeting British Six-County Secretary Peter Hain after he told them to forget about an inquiry into the solicitor's murder if they won't accept the one proposed by the British Government.
Pat Finucane's widow, Geraldine, and other relatives had asked before Christmas to see Peter Hain about the long running dispute over the terms of the inquiry into collusion between British Crown forces and Pat Finucane's UDA killers.

Peter Hain told The Universe, a Catholic newspaper, that the inquiry will be held under the controversial Inquiries Act or there will be "none at all" in the second week in January.0

The family have campaigned for almost 17 years for an inquiry into the murder, but say they "cannot not take part in any Inquiry set up under the Inquiries Act", arguing that it destroys the independence of the tribunal investigating the case.

The British Government rushed the Act through the British Parliament last year in order to hold the Finucane inquiry. It gives British Ministers, rather than chairmen of an inquiry, the power to keep information secret.

"The truth of what happened and why is located in the secret corridors of Whitehall," the Finucanes said in a statement. "The family cannot get involved in any inquiry in which the ministers in charge of those very same corridors will be in charge of Pat's inquiry.

"The family have received widespread international support for their current stance. They will continue and step up their campaign for an independent public judicial inquiry. In view of what Peter Hain has said, the family are now considering whether it is worthwhile meeting him."

The judges in charge of the Bloody Sunday Tribunal and retired Canadian Supreme Court Justice Peter Cory, who recommended the inquiry into the 1989 Finucane murder, have indicated that the conditions imposed by the Act are unacceptable. More than eight months after passing the Act, the British Government has been unable to find a judge who will agree to chair the Finucane inquiry.

4. RACISTS TARGET PROTEST MARCH

A MAN whose brother was killed on Bloody Sunday said a commemoration parade in Scotland had narrowly avoided erupting into serious violence.

A police chief also said he had feared the consequences if a large group of loyalists had managed to attack the parade in Glasgow.

Eleven people were arrested on Saturday, January 21 after loyalist protesters tried to disrupt the Bloody Sunday commemoration. Up to 400 loyalists turned out to oppose a parade to mark the 34th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

Members of the British army's Parachute Regiment gunned down 13 nationalists during a civil rights demonstration on January 30, 1972, with a 14th victim dying of his wounds in June that year.

On January 21 hundreds of police were mobilised after Scottish loyalists, some waving Union flags and giving Nazi salutes, lined the parade route through Glasgow city centre.
The parade was held up for 30 minutes after police expressed concern about the clothing worn by some of the loyalists.

After the march began, participants were subjected to a volley of racist and sectarian chants from loyalist demonstrators, while several bottles were thrown.

Gerry Duddy, whose brother Jackie was among those killed on Bloody Sunday, spoke at the weekend commemoration Gerry Duddy said it had been a frightening experience for those who took part, but praised the restraint of the marchers.

"At one point, there were bottles, glasses and various other things being thrown
at the marchers," he said. "However, despite the provocation, there was little reaction from the marchers and this ensured that things stayed relatively peaceful. The organisers also deserve praise for how well the parade was marshalled."

Strathclyde police confirmed that 11 people had been arrested for offences including breach of the peace, assault, and possession of a knife.

5. SAM MAGUIRE 'NOT WELCOME'

A SCOTTISH politician has called for the Sam Maguire Cup to be banned from Glasgow Celtic's Parkhead stadium.

A member of the Scottish parliament told Tyrone's all-Ireland winners to leave the Sam Maguire Cup in Ireland when the Gaelic footballers visit the Glasgow stadium at the end of January. He said there was no place for the cup in Scotland.

An angry Tyrone GAA county chairman Pat Darcy, speaking on January 18 told Glasgow-based Conservative MSP Bill Aitken to "read up" on his history.

Sam Maguire, a Protestant, was born in Co Cork in 1879. He became a leading member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. He died in 1927.

Members of the Tyrone squad are expected to parade the Sam Maguire Cup at Parkhead before Celtic's Scottish Premier League showdown with Dundee United on January 28.
The Red Hand men won the cup last September when they beat Kerry in the all-Ireland final. It has become a tradition in recent years for the all-Ireland winners to take the Sam Maguire Cup to Parkhead. Bill Aitken branded Sam Maguire a "terrorist". "

Aitken has a Partick Thistle season ticket. He claimed to have researched the life of Sam Maguire.

Pat Darcy said: "This is a sporting occasion. It's not sectarian or political. I think this man would need to go and read his history. If he did, he would understand that this is a sporting thing and he wouldn't come out with this nonsense. I think he's trying to get something started here."

6. RETIRED POLICE 'ESCAPE PROBES'

FORMER members of the RUC are escaping investigation by the British Police Ombudsman's office because they have retired, human rights lobbyists claimed on January 20.

The legal loophole allows retired RUC members to refuse co-operation with Nuala O'Loan's office and has been highlighted as the stream of complaints about Troubles incidents continues.

Jane Winter from the British/Irish Rights Watch pressure group said the matter needed to be pursued.

"Many of the incidents which the Ombudsman investigated are looking at cases which are very old and involve retired officers," she said. "At the minute these officers are retired and are beyond the reach of the Ombudsman's office."

7. 26-COUNTY STATE BREAKING INTERNATIONAL LAW, SAYS CHOMSKY

PHILOSOPHER Noam Chomsky speaking on January 18 claimed that if the 26-County State is allowing so-called rendition - the transportation of political prisoners for interrogation in other states - by the US, then the 26-County state is committing international crime.

Speaking at an Amnesty International lecture in Dublin, he told the audience that the US and Britain are leading terrorist states according to their own definition of terrorism.

The so-called War on Terror could successfully be waged via constructive attempts to stop acting in ways, which enhance the threat of violence, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor said.

But invading Iraq was not only an act of international terrorism, it increased the risk of terror and nuclear proliferation, he said.

Professor Chomsky, a long-standing critic of American foreign policy, was addressing the audience on the subject of the War on Terror.

He said the common definition of terror - the use or threat of violence to attain goals, which are political, ideological or religious in nature - classified the US as a terrorist given its intervention in Iraq, Cuba, Nicaragua and a number of other countries.

He acknowledged terrorism was a major problem in the world, but said that if the priority of the US and Britain was really to tackle that threat they would not have invaded Iraq.

"We find, very easily, a way to reduce the threat of terror - stop acting in ways that, predictably, enhance the threat," he said.

"There is extensive supporting evidence to show that - as anticipated - the invasion increased the risk of terror and nuclear proliferation."

After the invasion, known weapons of mass destruction sites were left unguarded, he said, allowing the theft of equipment for nuclear, chemical and biological weapons for destinations unknown.

Prof Chomsky also said the invasion had intensified feelings of bitter resentment among Arabs towards the West and the ruling elites in the Middle East.

"None of this shows that planners prefer these consequences, of course," he said.

"Rather they are not of much concern in comparison with much higher priorities that are obscure only to those who would prefer what human rights researchers sometimes call 'intentional ignorance'."

Asked why he thought the US led the invasion into Iraq, he told the audience that anyone who was not "deeply enfeebled" by intentional ignorance knew it was to take over the Middle Eastern country's immense resources and gain control of the world's energy supplies.

"You can't talk about exit strategies until you answer the question of why the US and Britain are determined not to leave," he added.

"There are ways to deal constructively with the threat of terror, though not those preferred by 'bin Laden's indispensable ally' (the US), or those who try to avoid the real world by striking heroic poses about Islamofascism, or who simply claim that no proposals are made when there are quite straightforward proposals they do not like.

"The constructive ways have to begin with an honest look in the mirror, never an easy task, always a necessary one," he said.

After a standing ovation from the audience, Prof Chomsky said he supported the day of action planned for March 18 and 19 by the anti-war movement to protest against war in Iraq.

ENDS