Saville Report- An Expensive Appendix to An Organised Crowd Control Experiment?
Today, 15th June, 2010, the families of the 14 civil rights protestors murdered on the streets of Derry’s Bogside by British Armed Forces of Occupation on 30th January 1972, pensively await for the truth of what happened on ‘Bloody Sunday’ to be recognised by a British judicial system that has served us so infamously in the past.
As no other event, the deliberate orchestrated targeting of civil rights protestors directly reflected the sectarian attitude that echoed through the corridors of Stormont and Whitehall. This belligerent attitude manifested itself in the cold blooded ruthless actions of their enforcers of British colonial rule in Ireland, the British Army. Not only were these tragic events a testimony to the continued oppression suffered by Irish people, they were also designed to send out a clear and unequivocal message of Britain’s intentional use of military force to subdue the Fenian hordes in the State of Northern Ireland! But one simple truth remains, men, women and children of Ireland were deliberately shot off the streets of Derry at the bequest of Stormont based Unionist politicians who bayed for Fenian blood. One doubts if any British controlled tribunal will ever hoodwink any TRUE Irish Republican.
An Elaborate Laboratory Experiment of Crowd Control
The crux of the Saville Inquiry has been to determine whether the actions of the minions of British colonialism, their British Army, were the result of soldiers out running a mock through the streets of Derry. But what if their actions were pre-meditated and cleverly disguised to give this exact impression to the world media?
At that time Civil Rights marches were happening right across the globe as people demanded regime changes and with them came increasing problems of crowd control. All the ingredients were there, the North was Britain’s troubling back yard, the Civil Rights Movement was gaining massive momentum, and world governments were becoming increasingly nervous of anarchy. Therefore, were the civil rights activists on that day, unwitting participants in an experiment in crowd control and suppression in order to provide a template that could be replicated in other global hotspots?
Furthermore, an even greater affront than the murderous actions of the day was the subsequent clandestine frame-up job known as the Widgery Tribunal (a hastily written Lab Report) which predictably and conveniently returned a verdict which placed the blame squarely on those who were shot dead that day. Today’s report by the Saville Inquiry will hopefully expose the reactionary nature of the Widgery Tribunal and its role in defending the interests of the British state in the North of Ireland during that era of colonial control. More importantly will it re-enforce the common Irish Republican perception of:
1969 -2010 – No Change!
Yet, somehow from a grass root Irish Republican perspective the utterances that we will hear from Sinn Fein and the SDLP will only serve to deepen our feeling of consternation. Whilst our political representatives can proclaim form the steps of Stormont that they have now been allowed to be heard shouting from the balcony, the justice being meted out on the court room floor is still intrinsically very British in origin. For a glimpse of the State of Northern Ireland’s new justice dispensation we need look no further than behind the walls of Maghaberry Prison. Widespread indiscriminate internment that marred the 1970’s has been replaced by ‘Selective Internment’, mainly as reaction to the threat of those deemed as being involved in ‘misguided’ micro Irish Republican groups.
However, the irrefutable fact remains, that no spin doctor of Irish or British creed cannot deny that the State of Northern Ireland’s new INJUSTICE system is STILL administered by Whitehall, and is definitely neither JUST REWARD nor RECOMPENSE for the bloodshed and sacrifice by every Irish man, woman and child since. Despite the protestations of the Tory right-wing who expose concerns about the impact that this Inquiry ruling against British soldiers will have on their operational capability in Afghanistan and Pakistan, this ruling will stabilise the British state in Ireland and at home. It will be held up as evidence that the British state is not corrupt, that it is democratic, that it respects the rights of everyone regardless of their religion. That it is a safe pair of hands. This verdict will be used to legitimise British rule in Ireland but also to draw a line under the ‘excesses’ of the past to better conduct similar brutality whether in Afghanistan or to wage war against today’s Irish Republicans.
As has happened so many times before when a revolutionary event or personality is denuded of all content and the form is appropriated by the ruling class, Bloody Sunday is being manipulated and transfigured.
To understand how this happens take, for example, the use of Che Guevara’s image which is used as a marketing tool but his economic works are not studied or the De Valera endorsed popular songs about James Connolly which portray him as a Fianna Failer and obliterate his true position as a socialist revolutionary.
Are We Mere Proverbial Colonial Lab Rats?
Let us look once again at the context for Bloody Sunday. The protesters who marched in Derry that day were protesting for ‘One Man, One Vote’ among other things – it is even one of the most prominent banners on the photographs of that day. To think that in 1972 people in Northern Ireland did not enjoy the full franchise is a hidden scandal but one which our commentators today will carefully step over. The thousands of youth out marching that day were protesting against this state of affairs and were shot off the streets by British paratroopers. Of course the British state covered up their brutality – that is what they do, because they are still the British Army!!! The media were present that day as they are not in Afghanistan today – we don’t get to see the blood and the smashed bodies of the innocents like we have repeatedly seen from 1972.
Yet today we hear nothing of this context. Instead, this is about ‘justice for the families’ – it is the event denuded of political content. Sinn Fein have converted themselves from a militant liberation movement to a constitutional nationalist party and it doesn’t do to highlight the nature of the British state’s indiscretitions in Ireland. The war is no longer being portrayed as a struggle for national self-determination but one for ‘civil rights’. The marchers on Bloody Sunday were not protesting for political rights but ‘civil rights’ – their murder was not an exposure of the nature of the British state in Ireland but a failure for British justice to be meted out to Catholics.
Yet again the working classes are being used as pawns to justify and condone the imperialist’s greed on the world stage. The memories of those murdered, and the quest for justice by their families and loved ones, is being cynically used to portray a worldwide persona that the British State’s conduct on foreign soils is above both impunity and reproach. The events of that fateful day in 1972 and the subsequent 40 year struggle for Irish Unity, which were a source of hope and inspiration for oppressed peoples throughout the world, have now been contorted so that the actions of the British have been given an element of justification. The Saville Report will not only inject an element of justification for their past miss-demeanours but will undoubtedly give the British a legal platform to justify their conduct on their new imperialist battle fields of the 21st Century. Look no further than the selection of David Trimble by Israel as an INDEPENDANT overseer in their internal investigation of the Freedom Flotilla massacre.
Closing down the Sectarian Laboratory called 'Norn Iron'?
Does any TRUE Irish Republican believe that anything fundamental has changed in the State of Northern Ireland? Do we believe that the British army is not day and daily continuing the work that they set upon in Derry that day in other parts of the world? The passage of time has successfully allowed the pain and revulsion to dissipate and wash over us because the majority of Republicans have been goaded into accepting their lot as loyal subjects of the British Crown. Those who have not, continue to bear the brunt of British security pressure and dirty tricks.
It is precisely because the British state continues to be a brutal imperialist abroad that the Tory right-wing is howling at the recent events. They see the sense in ‘drawing a line under events of the past’ but are concerned that British soldiers murdering civilians in Afghanistan today or perhaps Iran tomorrow will not be as confidently white washed in light of this verdict. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein agree to ‘draw a line’ under events and move on – treating this as an exceptional event and this bringing ‘closure’ for the families’ grieving.
If Bloody Sunday can be resolved it is only because the status quo in Northern Ireland is now sufficiently strong to withstand the truth of what happened that day and that is only because Sinn Fein are committed to the security of the state. But progressives should realise that resolving Bloody Sunday will only wash the blood off the British state worldwide allowing them to continue their murderous imperialism elsewhere in the world, and possibly to return to it in Ireland should any opposition to the status quo emerge. The big question still remains:
If the experiments carried out on the streets of Norn Iron do not pay dividends on foreign soils, will the laboratory of sectarian manipulation that is the State of Northern Ireland, be re-opened by our colonial masters for future trials?
This latest Paddycast instalment from Radio Rebels Gael, 'The Subversive Sound of Celtic Rebellion and Musical Mutiny' by Rory Dubhdara (Fenian Exile) is entitled 'Summer Swelter Songs: Celtic Heat From the Street!' is sure to get you in the mood for Summer 2010 in true Fenian style!!
There is an eclectic mix of all your finest Fenian favorites including Alistair Hulett, Kevin Flynn & The Avondale Ramblers, Auld Corn Brigade, Biblecode Sundays, Black 47, Roaring Jack, JD & The Longfellows, Whiskey Still, The Dubliners, The Tossers, Whiskey of the Damned, and much more !
Should the Deputy First Minister for the State of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, Call For Expulsion of the UK Israeli Ambassador?
In recent days there have been widespread calls for the Irish Government, particularly the Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, to expel the Irish Ambassador to Ireland, since the Israeli Defence Force naval personnel upon the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international chartered waters of the Mediterranean.However, as yet there has been no pressure brought to bear on the NI Stormont Executive to call for the UK government to consider a similar course of action!
Has Norn Iron's Deputy Dawg Gone Fishing?
In Northern Ireland, sympathies for the Middle East crisis falls along traditional lines with Republicans/nationalists having affinity for the plight of the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip, and with unionists/loyalists supporting Israel.In the Republic of Ireland, Sinn Fein’s President Gerry Adams, was adamant in his public demand for the Irish government to expel the Israeli Ambassador, Dr Zion Evrony.This automatically begs the question, WHY has a similar demand from the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, who recently went to great pains to emphasise that he was only deputy in name and hence that he had EQUAL powers to Peter Robinson?
This is not the first time this ideological conundrum has dogged the Sinn Fein leadership in the Republic and in the Occupied State of Northern Ireland.Several months ago Eamonn McCann flagged the cordial meeting geared to building TRADE links with Israel.This meeting was attended by FM Peter Robinson, DFM Martin McGuinness and the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Mr. Posnor.
McCann highlighted the severe contradiction in ideological terms between what Sinn Fein professes to do and what it actually ends up doing.SF has consistently held a firm stance through-out the years in their unequivocal support for the Palestinian peoples.So much so, that in the aftermath of the 22 War 18 months ago, Gerry Adams himself visited the Gaza strip to get a first hand assessment of the carnage and destruction inflicted upon the region.SF compiled an extensive report on the 22 Day War following the visit.Also, similar actions in support of the Palestinian are visible right though the organisation with Ogra Sinn Fein actively promoting Pro Palestinian campaigns on the ground!
On a superficial level McCann makes the observation that there was no onus on Martin McGuinness to even attend this meeting on ethical/moral grounds given his party’s Palestinian stance. Furthermore, the opt-out option which accompanies such a non-formal constitutional event is often preferred by his counterparts in the DUP who have opted out of meetings in the past.From the above photograph of the May 2009 meeting(less than 6 months after the 22 Day War), surely as a minimum requirement the roles should have been reversed with regards the obligatory shaking of hands!!
To read Eamonn McCann’s analysis of the impact that this message transmits to socialists within the Sinn Fein movement please read HERE.Sinn Fein replied to McCann’s article and it and the subsequent SWP response can be read HERE.
Sign The Petition Below to Pressurise The Irish Government to Expel the Irish Ambassador to Ireland, Zion Evrony.
In the wake of the attack by Israeli Defence Force naval personnel upon Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international chartered waters of the Mediterranean, there is increasing pressure on the Irish Government and particularly the Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, to expel the Israeli Ambassador ,Zion Evrony, from Ireland’s shores.
The Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM) has organised called emergency public protest at the Israeli embassy in Ballsbridge earlier today to voice their anger at this murderous outrage by IDF troops. The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) held a subsequent demonstration this evening at the Spire in O' Connell St, Dublin.
A spokesperson for the IAWM said:
"This is an outrageous terror act by the Israeli State on a peaceful flotilla attempting to bring vital humanitarian aid to the besieged people of Gaza. This further shocking proof that Israel is a rouge terrorist state. We need immediate protests against the horrendous act of murder. The Israeli ambassador should be immediately expelled from this country and all trade and diplomatic links with Israel should now be severed.
TD’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Fein) and Chris Andrews (Fianna Fail) have also called openly for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.
There have also been calls for Israeli Ambassadors in other countries most notably from Viva Palestina’s founder George Galloway in a press statement earlier today. Hugo Chavez has already expelled Venezuela’s Israeli ambassador and there are public demonstration planned in cities throughout Europe and throughout the world.
On Saturday the 5th of June at 2pm there will be a protest held at Drogheda Town Centre, West Street, Drogheda, Co Louth, the purpose of this protest is to highlight the barbaric prison regime within the 6 occupied counties, and to show solidarity with republican prisoners who continually endure inhuman and degrading treatment under this regime.
Currently prisoners in Maghaberry Gaol in Antrim are being subjected to physical and psychological torture by their British jailers, some examples of the abuse being met to the prisoners is beatings, 23/24 hour lock-ups, strip searches before and after visits(this always includes family members and friends visiting), continued illegal internment for those on remand with no sign of any future trial, prohibition of practise of Irish culture, music, etc
There has been a media blackout in the South regarding this crucial matter, and most of the political establishment have chosen to ignore the issue and in some cases advocate the behavior of the British prison administration in their criminalisation of republican prisoners. In 1981 ten republican prisoners perished through hunger strike in a desperate bid to have to have their right to POW status and dignity recognised, their efforts became world renowned , unfortunately in 2010 their legacy is slowly being eroded and it is now time for republicans to remember the sacrifice of Bobby Sands and his comrades and take a stand in opposition to the British criminalisation and torture of current republican prisoners.
As this is an independently ran protest, we ask ALL republicans and those concerned about the issue who are able to attend to please do so, all banners, flags, leaflets, etc welcome
See you all on the 5th, for futher information Email: duleekmonument@live.ie
POLITICAL STATUS FOR REPUBLICAN PRISONERS NOW!
Tiocfaidh ar la
Tommy Lynch
Duleek, Co Meath
The following is a letter from a former Maghaberry Irish Republican P.O.W., calling for a united voice in support of the Irish Republican prisoner, Liam Hannway, who is currently on his 42nd day of Hunger Strike in Maghaberry.
Dear Readers,
Once again we are seeing history repeat itself for Republican prisoners in Maghaberry, who are now facing the same day to day conditions that are best described as a throwback to the notorious Long Kesh Prison of the 70’s and early 80's.
Now in 2010, more than 10 years after the Good Friday Agreement, we are yet again witnessing an Irish Republican P.O.W, just after ending his 42 day hunger strike. As regards the deplorable conditions faced by ALL the Irish Republican P.O.W.'s, there doesn’t seem to be an imminent end in sight, as the N.I. Prison authorities are yet again digging their heels in and refusing to allow the men their simple prisoner human rights. The situation is being further exaserbated by a local/national and international media black-out which has been in existence for the last several months behind Maghaberry's Walls.
All Irish Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry have been facing 23hr a day lock downs, not to mention some of the prisoners have been repeatedly beaten and abused by loyalist screws. Just recently a P.O.W, Harry Fitzsimmons, was viciously set upon by screws while he was in his cell and directly after was again subject to another vicious assault whilst been removed from his cell, in full view of his Irish Republican comrades on the landing. They then forcibly moved him to a cell in the P.S.U (Punishment Block), and while he was there he had his clothes removed by the screws using extreme force, and left naked and handcuffed to his bed.
Prisoners have also had their water supply in their cells turned off, forcing them to urinate into a bucket and the only means of getting rid of the urine is to empty the contents under the door onto the landing. As you can imagine with the current hot weather and the cramped living conditions, the resulting putrid smell on the wing is unbearable and a definite public health hazard to all the Irish Republican inmates.
Moreover, due to the limitations upon prisoner mobility throughout the wing, as a direct result of ongoing Prison officers industrial action, the prisoners are expected to eat irregular meals in these conditions whilst being forced to stand, and all meals must be eaten within a 15 minute time frame.
They bear the brunt of constant, aggressive mental and physical abuse plus they are subject to demanding and unwarranted strip-searches on a daily basis, not to mention the added turmoil of random cell searches by Prison officers dressed in full riot gear!.
As a former Irish Republican P.O.W. incarcerated in Maghaberry Prison, I call on all Irish Republicans, past and present, to unite in support of the men in Maghaberry Gaol. At present all these men have to suffer this draconian regime, imposed upon them by the Northern Ireland Prison Authorities, simply because they demand their basic human rights back and more importantly THEIR Political status (won by the 10 Brave Irish Martyrs of '81) re-instated which was threw away by Sinn Fein as part of the Good Friday Agreement.
Is Mise,
Former Irish Republican Prisoner (Maghaberry Prison)
Republican Prisoner, Liam Hannaway has ended his 42 Day Hunger Strike in Maghaberry Prison just a day after being moved to the health care unit at Maghaberry Prison.
Prison sources said there were no immediate concerns for his health and the move was to enable medical staff to monitor his condition more closely.
Meanwhile, conditions in the republican wing Hannaway's family say he wants to be moved to are now under investigation after complaints by prisoners.
In a statement, Prisoner Ombudsman Pauline McCabe said she was investigating complaints from a number of prisoners and hoped to produce a report within a few weeks.
Hunger Striker Wavers Legal Right to be Resuscitated in Maghaberry Prison Hospital
A second cousin of Gerry Adams, Liam Hannaway, (member of the micro Republican Group, Saor Uladh), enters his 40th Day on Hunger Strike in Maghaberry Prison. His current medical condition has been described as reaching a critical turning point. It has also been revealed that hat Mr Hannaway has signed legal papers stating that he is not to be revived in the event of him slipping into unconsciousness.
Carl Reilly, representing Republican Network for Unity (RNU), confirmed that Liam Hannaway, went on hunger strike in protest at being the victim of brutality whilst under segregation in the Loyalist section of Maghaberry Prison and also alleged that his food was being tampered with by loyalists working in Maghaberry’s Prison kitchen.
Carl Reilly from the Republican Network for Unity, went onto elaborate on Mr Hannaway’s condition:
“We are entering a critical phase.................Liam was already being treated for coronary problems before he went on his hunger strike. The prison authorities and the Northern Ireland Office have been trying to play this situation down but now it has reached a serious turning point.”
There is still uncertainty surrounding why Hannaway was initially moved from Republican Wing of Roe House into the Loyalist segregation unit of Maghaberry. Also, there has been an eery wall of silence up until now surrounding Hannaway’s hunger strike, with only one Republican group, the American based, Irish Freedom Committee, issuing a statement supporting him as a Republican Political prisoner on his 35th day of Hunger strike. According to PSNI intelligence relayed to the Northern Ireland Prison Service, there is the suggestion that Hannaway’s life would be under threat (read comments left HERE ) if he was to return to Maghaberry's Republican wing.
However, The RNU spokesperson moved to quash this speculation by saying;
“Republican Unity Network has spoken to all the major republican organisations with prisoners in Roe houses 3 and 4 in Maghaberry and all of them say there is absolutely no threat to Liam Hannaway.”
This statement follows one made by the IFC claiming that Liam Hannaway would be welcomed back on the Republican wing “with open arms”!
A statement from the Northern Ireland Prison Service said this weekend Hannaway had not applied for a transfer. This announcement also confirmed that they believed that his life would be in danger if he was to return to the Republican section of the wing;
“The Prison Service is attempting to work through the issues of concern with Mr Hannaway. However, the safety of prisoners is paramount and the Prison Service has received intelligence of a specific threat against Mr Hannaway. We cannot comment on the nature of the threat.”
S.O.S Mr Paterson, Liam Hannaway is Refusing Crossmaglen Bread!!
Today, a political prisoner, Liam Hannaway, enters his 40th day on Hunger Strike over 'prison conditions' whilst being incarcerated at Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s pleasure at Maghaberry Gaol, located in occupied Irish territory that is known as the State of Northern Ireland. During the recent history of Ireland’s quest for ‘Unity’, Irish Republican defiance against Britain’s colonial Prison regime in the North has already been presided over by this current British monarch and by a Conservative government in Westminster! – The 1981 Hunger Strike- Lest We Forget!
The burning question is that if both fore-mentioned parties’ are going to permit this tragic chapter of ‘The Troubles’ to repeat itself? As Liam Hannaway enters Day 40 of Hunger Strike, with his health deteriorating rapidly, this hunger stike further re-inforces serious 'allegations' about the conduct of NI Prison Service members and their 'hands on' involvement in grave 'Human Rights' abuses against Maghaberry's Irish Republican prisoners ( notably Harry Fitzsimmons) as recently flagged up by groups such as Republican Network for Unity and RSF among others.
The selective myopia being adopted by local/national/international media outlets re-enforces the British public’s blinkered perception of the North’s 'Struggle’. By preventing the dissemination of information on the plight of these Political Prisoners behind Maghaberry’s walls, it is hoped that their accusations will be portrayed as mere vain and futile attempt at having Political Status (gained by the '81 Hunger Strikers) re-instated!! Yet again, the British establishment seems quite willing to twiddle their thumbs in the corridors of Whitehall wilfully adopting the attitude of ‘Let Them Rot’!
Ireland’s Historical Affiliation with The Hunger Striker
"Under certain circumstances, fasting is the one weapon God has given us for use in times of utter helplessness.” ~Mahatma Gandhi~
The significance of the Hunger Strike is deeply embedded into Ireland’s history and mythology, and for Irish Republican’s especially, this religio-political martyrdom has an iconic connection with THEIR pantheon of fallen comrades. The use of Hunger strike (The Troscad) dates back to pre-Christian Ireland when there was a strong tradition of oral laws, Brehon Laws (Laws of the Fénechus). In ancient Ireland, self-help was the only method at people’s disposal to enforce a claim or right a wrong within the context of these laws. The hunger striker gave notice of their intent and, according to the law tract Di Chetharslicht Athgabhála, if the person who is being fasted against does not come to arbitration, and actually allows the protester to die, then the moral judgement went against them and they endured shame and contempt until they made recompense to the family of the dead person. If they failed to make such amends, they were not only damned by society but damned in the next world. They were held within Irish society to be without honour and without morality.
In the 20th Century, the Hunger striking phenomenon as a form of Irish Republican political protest has been unparalleled in its ability to capture attention and catalyse social reaction. As regards, the Hunger Strike phenomenon being deployed by Irish Republicans in the 20th century. The first recorded Hunger Strike in 20th Century Irish Republicanism is that of the bold James Connolly in 1913. In 1920 the Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, died after 74 days on hunger strike, which focused the eyes of the world attention on the Irish Struggle, and generated massive support for Irish Republicanism. In October 1923, 8,000 men went on Hunger Strike in protest at the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and resulted in the deaths of two men before it was brought to a cessation.
However, the 1981 Hunger Strike in the Maze Prison, demonstrated how successful a tool this powerful individual statement against injustice potentially can be in creating awareness and mobilize the public support. . The living testament to the full utilisation and strategic management of the public sentiment in the aftermath of the sacrifices of these 10 Brave Irish Martyrs can be found in the corridors of power at Stormont!
Irish Republican Hunger Striker Roll of Honour
Between 1917 and 1981 a total of 22 Irish men have died on Hunger-Strike in this phase of the Struggle for Irish Unity! The Roll of Honour of these icons of Irish Republicanism is as follows:
Thomas Ashe, Kerry, 5 days, 25 September 1917 (force fed by tube, died as a result).
Terence McSwiney, Cork, 74 days, 25 October 1920.
Michael Fitzgerald, Cork, 67 days, 17 October 1920.
Joseph Murphy, Cork, 76 days, 25 October 1920.
Joe Witty, Wexford, 2 September 1923.
Dennis Barry, Cork, 34 days, 20 November 1923.
Andy O Sullivan, Cork, 40 days, 22 November 1923.
Tony Darcy, Galway, 52 days, 16 April 1940.
Jack 'Sean' McNeela, Mayo, 55 days, 19 April 1940.
Sean McCaughey, Tyrone, 22 days, 11 May 1946 (hunger and thirst Strike).
Michael Gaughan, Mayo, 64 days, 3 June 1974.
Frank Stagg, Mayo, 62 days, 12 February 1976.
Bobby Sands, Belfast, 66 days, 5 May 1981.
Frank Hughes , Bellaghy (Derry) , 59 days, 12 May 1981.
Raymond McCreesh , South Armagh , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Patsy O Hara , Derry , 61 days, 21 May 1981.
Joe McDonnell , Belfast , 61 days, 8 July 1981.
Martin Hurson , Tyrone , 46 days, 13 July 1981.
Kevin Lynch, Dungiven (Derry) ,71 days, 1 August 1981.
Kieran Doherty , Belfast , 73 days, 2 August 1981.
Tom McIlwee , Bellaghy (Derry) , 62 days, 8 August 1981.
Micky Devine , Derry , 60 days, 20 August 1981.
The ‘Let Them Rot’ Approach Will Not Wash!
They think that they have pacified Ireland. They think that they have purchased half of us, and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything. They think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace
~Padraig Pearse~'Grave Side Oration of O'Donovan Rossa'
Readers, as these immortal words resonate in your head, BE under no illusion that their meaning and poignancy have NOT been diluted by the sands of time!
'an example of the type of activity that would come under this....if there was a protest against the closure of a sporting facility, thats a million miles way from the Garvaghy Road isn't it.....that is a significant curtailment of Civil Rights and I tell you what if that had of happened a few years ago John would have been out along side me with a placrad in his hand and protesting against this....'
The Rebel Spat....
John O'Dowd:
Eamonn ....because you have set yourself up as the Rebel without a cause does not make you the only citizen...
Eamonn McCann Response:
And incidentally John, I will not allow you to sit there and say Eamonn McCann is a rebel without a cause, anything I am rebeling against here in relation to this document has good cause as the Human Right Commission was saying'
Eamonn McCann
there was a time John before your party got into the executive that you would have been with me rebeling on these issues but you have changed your tune since you got your backside on Executive tables...
Seconds Out !! Eamonn McCann -vs- John O'Dowd...
Join the 'No To Public Assemblies Bill' Facebook Group HERE
The following is a blog post by Anthony McIntyre, author of 'The Pensive Quill', which includes the text of a speech given by Maureen Fitzsimmons, sister of Irish Republican prisoner, Harry Fitzsimmons, who has been receiving the brunt of Maghaberry Prison Officer's aggression and maltreatment in recent months. This blog post also carrys a video of the most recent protest adn the public addresses outside the gates of Maghaberry Prison.
Show Your Solidarity for Irish Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry Prison
Irish Republican prisoners currently incarcerated in Maghaberry Prison are demanding that they be granted Political Status with immediate effect!. Over the last few months conditions have worsened exponentially with wide spread allegations of mistreatment and brutal beatings being meated out to Irish Republican inmates, especially in Roe House.
For obvious reasons, local/national and international media news bulletins have been muted in reporting the plight of the Republican inmates as this situation continues to spiral. The principle channels for relevant information from Maghaberry have been press releases from the various Republican Groups who are liasoning on behalf of the prisoners and their families. This information has been inturn relayed through blogs including Ardoyne Republican, The Pensive Quill, Friends of Colin Duffy, and Newry Republican etc.
Ina bid to further inform people and garnish a unified solidarity platform in support of ALL Irish Republican prisoners, a new pressure group has been started on Facebook, entitled 'Tricolour Ribbon Campaign'. Although it is very much in it's infancy, this 'call to action' pressure group is receiving phenomenal follower numbers and attracting endless messages of support from far and wide! The simple but highly effective aim of this group is to promote the wearing of Tricolour ribbons as a symbol of solidarity with these Irish Republican prisoners who are enduring inhuman and degrading conditions in British Gaols in the Occupied 6 counties of Ireland.
I would like to take this opportunity to URGE ALL readers of this blog to join this worthy campaign and ALSO leave a messsage of support...
The Sinn Fein Leadership’s lurch to the right has been highlighted by its incessant quest for Policing and Justice powers to be devolved by Royal Assent to the neo-liberal and partitioned Six County Stormont Executive. Part of this Stormont Executive salvage mission has been movement on the conjoined issue of Parades and the proposed abolition of the Parades Commission is a centre-piece of the DUP’s negotiating platform.
On the 20th April 2010, the First Minister (Peter Robinson) and Deputy First Minister (Martin McGuinness) published draft legislation in the form of the “Draft Public Assemblies, Parades and Protests Bill”. If the Bill becomes law, ALL gatherings involving 50 or more people, and which take place in any “public space” will be required to give 37 days prior notice. Under the devious guise of dealing with contentious parades which cynically distracted the scrutinous eye, this potentially draconian legislationwill affect EVERY INDIVIDUAL’S right to organise themselves collectively as workers, trade unionists, community campaigners and political activists.
In the late 1990s, parades in the North represented a microcosm of NI politics. Unionists unable to recognise the rights of expanding working-class Catholic enclaves and demographic change, Irish Republicans/Nationalists battered off the streets by RUC who were only too keen to collapse to the annual July stand offs. Like the ritual annual pilgrimage made by Muslims to Mecca (The Hajj),middle-class elements in the North flocked for the Costa Del Provo (or the nearest airport) to escape the notorious ‘Twelfth weekend’, whilst the world scratched their heads pondering Britain’s continued role in Ireland.
The Shift From ‘No Walk’ to ‘Walk Anywhere!’
Today, on the surface the facade appears much different. The DUP are attempting to rebrand the ‘Twelfth’ as a cultural tourism event open to all complete with Orange Man at the helm! The Sinn Fein Leadership have shifted their stance on the issue of contentious parades to the point that it is not inconceivable that Orangemen may yet march down the Garvaghy road! The level of distrust of this current party leadership, in what they would have described as their heartlands, is that they are now regarded as mere concessional minions of the British Colonial State. So much so, that the common perception in these areas is that if you are an open SF supporter, then you are automatically expected to inform on your neighbour if you suspect them of being involved in taking up the mantle of resisting British military forces to a newly reconstituted RUC (PSNI). This is in conjunction with Sinn Fein’s attempts to re-brand ‘The Troubles’ as about civil rather than national rights and their attitude to the Orange Orders marching have also changed. The commitments to ‘no walk’ have been replaced by ‘walk any where!’, through the recognition from Sinn Fein that Orange men have rights too and that there are no absolutes!
Back in the 1990s, only a handful of parties attempted to maintain this middle ground. Most notably for left-Republicans was Joe Higgins’ Socialist Party who held a position which at least in theory approximates that now held by Sinn Fein. Whatever the rights and wrongs of their position, to their credit, the socialists never recognised the role of the Parades Commission believing it to be a concession to the capitalist state – their perhaps unrealistic alternative was for trade unions to mediate in a process of dialogue. Where the socialists demanded a system operating outside the capitalist state, Sinn Fein now stand firmly behind it and seek resolution and reinforcement through the legal and administrative structures of Stormont.
The crux of the Socialist party position then was that legislation being enforced to prevent Orange men walking down the Garvaghy or Ormeau Roads would eventually be turned against working class people in the same way other diminutions of human rights which are at first justified by public anger at exceptionally unpopular ‘criminals’ usually find their way into the mainstream legal system. As today, Diplock courts which were originally devised for Republicans are now used for ordinary decent criminals. Back then Sinn Fein highlighted the implications of the socialists’ stance in leaving communities unprotected from Orange parades, it appears now that the warnings of Joe Higgins and all ring true in a way once unimaginable.
As part of the negotiations which led to the devolution of Policing and Justice, the DUP and Sinn Fein agreed to negotiation a new Public Assemblies Bill which would provide a legislative framework that would enable decisions to be made on Orange parades. The consultation document on this bill has just been released (April 20th) and it details a framework which clearly doesn’t fall either side of the stool. It remains unclear exactly how nominees agreed by both parties will determine on these cases. As far as Orange parades goes this is a fudge suggesting further potential movement on this issue from Republicans.
But the one thing that the legislation is clear upon, however, is that the legislation will require all those planning public assemblies or protests to give at least 37 days notice and that the absolute right to protest is conditional on the decision of the nominated Public Assemblies working group. The draft legislation specifically targets trade unions and even provides a case study where a community opposing the closure of a ‘local sports facility’ would have to ask for permission from all and sundry to organise a demonstration! If implemented, this proposed legislation is quite possibly the most regressive that has been brought into effect any where in Western Europe.
On the face of it this is an abrogation of fundamental rights as defined under the ECHR, but it may be that this represents a domestic reading of these rights which seek to limit the rights of workers and communities to protest. Indeed, given the financial straits across the EU, Sinn Fein and the DUP might be considered to be pioneers of limitations on these fundamental rights and might find other Governments copying their model. (What wouldn’t the Greek government give to be able to restrict the rights of protestors today!!)
Norn Iron’s Version of the Hammer And Sickle!
It is perhaps logical that Sinn Fein as part of the Stormont regime should support such repressive and right-wing measures. Their Ministers are in government accelerating the use of Private Finance Initiatives which are privatising whole chunks of what used to be the Public Sector in the North. The party has gone along with the removal of the Water Service from Public Ownership and its priming for future privatisation. It signed up to the selling off of virtually all assets owned by the Public sector in a strategy called Workplace 2010 – a strategy that has only been shelved as a result of the collapse in property prices. It shares the belief – alongside most of the mainstream parties – that the Public sector in the Six Counties is way too big – so sell-offs privatisations and stealth taxes are to redouble under its watchful view.
Indeed, the party is gearing up to oversee the closure of schools under its Minister for Education.
It is estimated that up to 47% of all rural primary schools may be closed in the next few years despite the birth rate in Northern Ireland being one of the highest in Europe. The party is part of an executive which has agreed 3% cuts in public services every year for the next three years and that was before the new British Government applied an estimated £1 billion cut to the NI budget. The coming wave of cuts will be devastating for the local economy and will dramatically impact living conditions for the poorest in the North.
It is perhaps unsurprising that in that context, Sinn Fein as part of the Stormont regime, might seek to prevent communities and trade unions who might want to protest against these cuts. Just as it is understandable that they seek to support the PSNI in attempting to dismantle so called ‘dissident’ Republican groups whose only crime is espousing the same principles that so effectively elevated them to the lofty positions that they find themselves in today!
Sinn Fein dominates the Irish Republican/nationalist political landscape for now, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that this situation is unsustainable if they continue to pursue this right wing agenda. If they wish to act as the British state’s Hammer in Ireland and the PSNI/MI5 as their Sickle, then they can be sure that they will meet a nail that will not budge and a swathe much tougher to slash, than during the Thatcher era!!. Resistance to their neo-Thatcherite policies is growing and will continue to gather momentum as the realisation dawns on the workers that all the mainstream parties no longer have their best interests at heart.
A monumental sea change is on the horizon...and no British draconian law will prevent the bedrock of society, the working classes, from exacting their just revenge upon their total realisation that the very people who derived their trust for political expediency have now sold them out!
Are We Witnessing Irish Republican History Repeating Itself?
The history of Ireland teaches us, that the pro-treaty Irish and the British are always on the same side. Called dissidents today, in 1922 they were called irregulars, they inherit the mantle of resistance to British rule in occupied Ireland. In 1922 Liam Cosgrave, leader of what is now called Fine Gael in Ireland, shot 77 republicans to prove his compliant British neo-colonial credentials to his masters, so did Eamon de Valera, leader of what is today called Fianna Fail, who later hanged Irish republicans in the 1940s. Both men dealt with dissident republicans in a brutal manner, they learned from their British masters.
Today it is Martin McGuinness, who has branded republican dissidents his former comrades as traitors, repeating Irish republican history, perfectly on cue in tragic repetition.
McGuinness in return has been branded Voltaire's Irish bastard. Voltaire, unlike McGuinness was an enlightened writer and philosopher, famous for his wit, advocacy of civil liberties, including religious freedom. He was an outspoken journalist of progressive social reform, despite censorship, he frequently criticized intolerance and particularly the monarchy. Along with Rousseau, he was one of the founding fathers of Republicanism in France, later exported to Ireland and the USA. Not surprisingly then "genuine thinking republicans" question, where exactly McGuinness and his mentally masturbating colleagues claim their heritage from, hence the tag, Voltaire's Irish Bastards.
Westminster created the present legislation of Martial Law, giving McGuinness, like his predecessor Cosgrave and de Valera, the armed power of a British micro state, to try to crush and suppress their former comrades, now political opponents. The majority of people, indoctrinated by a media mafia in Ireland, coupled with a censorship blackout, will support them. Sinn Fein justifies their actions by having democratically elected representatives, given an exclusive republican platform by the British, having been previously censored themselves, in the name of democracy, claiming legitimacy, to defend a negotiated process of surrender to the British, in the name of peace and the republican tradition from an initial position of strength.
Sinn Fein's 'power' to negotiate came from armed rebellion, including innocent civilian casualties. Sinn Fein's validity, is compromised by its servile, SDLP like condemnation of dissidents and defence of the Provisional IRA, for precisely the same activity. The only possible justification for this, is that rebellion can be wrong in timing but not in content. Adams excuse is that in earlier days there was no peaceful way forward, while ignoring the present climate of censorship, martial law like emergency legislation, intimidation and political assassinations. His argument against dissidents is that his violence was justified, dissidents are not. He claims dissidents have no support, no strategy and no chance of winning despite the obvious impediments to freedom of speech or dissemination of political ideas, facilitated by McGuinness and Sinn Fein.
McGuinness suggests high levels of British media facilitated support, justifying killing by claiming morality is determined by the majority. The dissidents do have a strategy to target the British establishment in Ireland and elsewhere, until their demands are met. It is the same strategy pursued by PIRA for 30 years, without electoral support in the six counties, prior to Bobby Sands creating popular support with his hunger strike and the subsequent electoral platform given to them, in the process of their premature surrender. Dissidents already know, they will not win militarily in the traditional military sense, just as a relay runner in a race knows he will pass on the baton or as the IRB did or the ICA in the Easter Rising in Dublin for example.
This political hypocrisy and dishonesty led McGuinness to call principled dissidents traitors, in a pathetic effort to justify his own political bankruptcy, which certainly does not have a republican heritage. Now Sinn Fein have pretensions of republican purity in echoes of brown-shirt fascism, like the night of the long knives, when Hitler himself like McGuinness was branded a traitor and turned on his own comrades backs. Hitler too like McGuinness hated a free press. McGuinness also advised the British Government that the present traditional Irish republican prisoners issue, is the "soft underbelly" of their resistance, he conveniently forgets he rode to power on the backs those same prisoners.. Journalists who challenge what is generally now known derisively as "The Bad Friday" agreement, are termed "dissident journalists" by McGuinness. Recently one Editor of Ireland's biggest Sunday newspaper was interrogated by McGuinness's British police and threatened with a long prison sentence.
McGuinness refers to his own followers as "thinking republicans" prompting observations from the street, besides the fascist tag of a "Mentally Masturbating McGuinness", swelling the glut of "gombeen politicians" in Ireland, otherwise known as crony capitalists, robbing their own people. McGuinness and his colleagues in pro-treaty Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, have morphed into the modern corporate politicians of the right, facilitating a fascist Ireland that has enabled the bankruptcy of the country and the destruction of the livelihoods of the plain people of Ireland paying for bank bailouts and creating a new generation of Irish people of no property.
This third betrayal of the Irish people of no property in the last century by McGuinness, is a combination of castle Catholics aligning with British capitalism and evolving into the modern corporate fascist state. What follows then is ruthless exploitation, heartless repression of dissent and a media mafia's complicit indoctrination of its slaves, like Goebbels the Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany.
Obviously, Voltaire the forefather of republicanism, never envisaged its possible nightmare evolution into fascism, perhaps there is an inherent weakness in traditional republicanism, that keeps facilitating these monsters, perhaps a more evolved form of republican and socialist doctrine is required, as an objective citizen journalist I can't say, I don't know but I believe that its fair to say, McGuinness's Mental Masturbators are truly Voltaire's Irish Bastards and that his careerists gombeens are the soft underbelly that climb to power on the back of Irish resistance to British occupation.
This was a guest post by journalist, Brian Clarke NUJ, and it was originally published HERE
Rapidly Deteriorating Conditions For Irish Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry Prison!
The following is an open letter by Republican Network for Unity representative Martin Óg Meehan regarding the rapidly deteriorating and deplorable conditions which Irish Republican prisoners have been enduring for several months in Maghaberry Prison. These assertions are all the more poignant in a week which has marked the 29th anniversary of the death of ’81 Hunger Striker, Bobby Sands.
The primary source of these escalating tensions had been the decision of prison staff to begin industrial action several months ago and their decision to engage in a “withdrawal of goodwill” in protest at the dismissal of a number of night custody officers further exacerbated the situation. The immediate impact of this action upon the Irish Republican detainees at Maghaberry Prison was that they were locked in their cells for long periods of time. Also, relatives and friends of the inmates in Roe House are bearing the brunt of the Prison staff strike action.
Due to the implantation of a ‘work to rule’ policy by the Prison staff, Republican inmates have to eat in their cells, are missing some meals altogether, and are refused exercise and education as a direct consequence of the dispute. Family and legal visits have also been adversely affected.
These aggravated rumblings of discontent boiled over during the run up to the highlight in the Irish Republican calendar, the Easter Rising 1916 anniversary, culminating in 28 Irish Republican prisoners barricading themselves into the jail’s dining room on Easter Sunday.
However, since this conditions have worsened further and are causing ever increasing concern on a daily basis for the families/friends of those incarcerated in Maghaberry Prison.
As a former political prisoner, I’d like to express my sadness at the current situation faced by republican prisoners in Maghaberry. On Easter Sunday political prisoners in the gaol took part in a disciplined protest to highlight problems they were enduring. Ever since, republicans in Roe House have been denied proper medical, washing, association and exercise facilities. The refusal of these basic rights is another example of a vindictive prison regime. Who have been criticised in the past by the Human Rights Commission and Prisoner Ombudsman regarding serious irregularities and mismanagement.
The families and friends of republican prisoners are also subjected to long delays and oppressive searches from prison staff during visits to the prison. These negative activities are totally unacceptable and must end immediately. Last week Harry Fitzsimmons was forcibly taken by the prison riot team to a solitary confinement block [where] he suffered a number of injuries from screws who remain wedded to draconian measures and the failed policies of the 1970’s.
What the prisoners require is a reinstatement of the humane conditions which were implemented following the tragic hunger strikes of 1981 [where] human rights and entitlements are safeguarded. Without addressing these concerns properly, the situation will deteriorate further. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us all to challenge what passes for ‘justice’ in Maghaberry!
Does America's Infatuation With The 'Outlaw' Truly Reflect the Fight of the Working Class Man?
This is a guest post by Rory Dubhdara, the blogger responsible for Fenian Exile, and producer of the weekly Paddy Cast 'Radio Rebel Gael', (the subversive sound of Celtic Rebellion and Musical Mutiny!). In his inaugural article for Rebels Yell!, he explores how the swashbuckling tales of the American Outlaw has captivated the hearts and minds of American audiences (especially the working classes!) for generations. During the late 1800's, outlaws such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Bill Doolin and Bill Dalton have become idolised as symbols of freedom and in doing immortalised as the 'underdog' and romanticised as defenders of justice and the rights of the common man.
In Depression Era America, the exploits of Bonnie & Clyde, Baby Faced Nelson Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger have catapulted them to celebrity 'cult' status. However, Dillinger became the most famous and flamboyant of them all!! Countless reports on the man and his misdeeds, sprinkled with the added spice of his swashbuckling bravado and cool daring, prooved to be the ideal tonic for an America worn down by the Great Depression.
He continuously confounded state jurisdictional law enforcement by repeatedly crossing state lines to avoid capture. Dillinger’s activities so frustrated law enforcement that his case was taken over by a new national crime-fighting unit that operated beyond state jurisdictions – the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headed by J. Edgar Hoover.
His incredible fame and enduring legacy story reflects American's enduring fascination with outlaws, crime and violence, about the complexity of their transition from rural to urban life, and about the transformation of America during the Great Depression.
However, in the following article Rory questions if these America Idols, who embellish American's fascination with primitive freedom against social convention, are on a similar par to those selfless working class revolutionary icons, Che Guevara, Connolly et al....OR are they mere 'Social Outlaws'??
PUBLIC ENEMIES: The Legend Of John Dillinger (By Rory Dubhdara ~ Fenian Exile)
Michael Mann’s brilliant film “Public Enemies”, starring Johnny Depp, is a great example of America’s fascination, nay, obsession with the outlaw. What is it, really, that causes Americans to cheer on the gangster, despite his or her grisly legacy and blood-soaked trademark? Could it be that Americans have lost faith with the fabled “American Dream”, as more working class people lose hope and end up out of work, impoverished or homeless? Perhaps the American gangster captures the spirit of the Robin Hood or Ned Kelly of yore, fighting back against “the Man”, and using guerilla tactics to survive as he and his kind are continually disenfranchised and plundered by the robber barons of Corporate America.
Whatever the reason may be, American gangsters like John Dillinger remain household names and telling signs of a bankrupt society that continually sees crime as the only alternative to a grim life of hopelessness and perdition. For many , robbing a bank or some other “get rich quick” scheme may seem to be the only viable solution to the despair of poverty. Hence, the tale of Chicago gangster and bankrobber, John Dillinger , packed theaters throughout the country and proved that the American romanticism of the gangster and outlaw is stronger today than ever. Michael Mann’s phenomenal film captures the legend of John Dillinger and his gang, including Babyface Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, in all their bloodsoaked glory, before Dillinger met his bullet-riddled demise in front of a Chicago theater , one evening on July 22nd in the year of 1934.
Only Michael Mann, who seems to be the master of banker robbery suspense, could take you to the scene of the gun-battle or bank robbery, wherein his cinematic close-ups cause you to feel like you are being shot at, or where you can actually smell the gun smoke. He did the same genius in his brilliant Heat, probably the most realistic bank robbery film I had ever seen when a lady friend bought it for me on my 25th birthday.
As extraordinary Dillinger’s exploits were, from his repeated breakouts from the Indiana State Penitentiary, to his intense gun battle with the FBI in Wisconsin in 1933, these gangsters, who have become American heroes and entered into the realm of myth and legend with their storybook exploits, they are, not, to a Fenian, true working class heroes, or really anyone to look up to, but they do show the strength of the human spirit and that a few men united in pursuit of a goal, can really make the System shake in terror, and for this reason alone, they should be remembered with pride, even if , wistfully. But it’s obvious that their battles were very personal and not surprisingly, did not really benefit the oppressed or the embattled working class in America, but only themselves, as was the aim. They can never be looked up to as selfless martyrs or revolutionary icons, the way James Connolly, friend of the worker, or Seamus Costello, Boy General and Republican Socialist freedom fighter, always will be. They did not die for their love for Freedom and their passion for Justice and their hatred of Tyranny and Injustice like a Che Guevara or a Miriam Daly. Their goals were limited to personal self-fulfillment and often, greed. They conspired, not to right the wrongs perpetrated by a Capitalist Status Quo upon the long-suffering Proletariat, but instead, for a short term self aggrandizement and personal fame and fortune. The Revolutionary Socialist Martyr, Che Guevara, on the other hand, gave up wealth, cast aside a comfortable life, fortune and personal gain, in order to liberate the oppressed working people of Cuba, and after establishing a Socialist Republic in Cuba with compadre Fidel Castro, he next sought to aid the peoples of the Congo and Bolivia, and to fight against the poisonous tentacles of capitalism and imperialism wherever they manifested themselves. Dying a true revolutionary martyr’s death in Bolivia in October of the year of 1967, while Dillinger died a gangster’s death in front of a Chicago theater after seeing “Manhattan Melodrama”, with a local prostitute, here its easy to see the contrast between these two figures ----- one, a selfless revolutionary hero, the other an anti-social and egocentric (albeit astute) gangster, dedicated to making himself a quick fortune and lasting fame.
It is a sad sign of the times that Americans too often, especially the youth, only remember the latter, and very rarely, the former, as people to look up to as heroes. It is the biggest flaw of American culture that the outlaw and glorified “hero”, is too often the criminal, the gangster, the anti-social misfit, the egocentric celebrity or rockstar, or the swindler (alas, that is the crux of capitalism, to glorify the huckster and the shyster) while the selfless working class hero is often forgotten by the common man. In modern suburban America, because the community has been forgotten, those who defend their community and neighborhoods are also.
In closing, the best and most important element of the film is how it highlighted the true nature of J. Edgar Hoover’s monstrosity, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While the FBI is known for its claim to be a staunch “defender of the U.S. constitution and the Bill of Rights”, Michael Mann’s film points out the glaring untruths of such fallacious statements. One scene in the movie shows the FBI beating and torturing Dillinger’s girlfriend, who had never committed a crime, in order to get her to divulge her lover’s location and hideouts. Also, the illegal and unconstitutional means that the Bureau gathers information and tracks its suspects is no different from Stalin’s KGB or Hitler’s Gestapo. Even the final scene of the movie, where Dillinger was murdered in cold blood is a true indictment of both the Federal government of the United States and the FBI, and proves that the Bill of Rights and the U.S. constitution, has never been an interest by either the Bureau or the Federal government, and in fact. The FBI and the U.S. government has never respected the basic human rights of American citizens. A solid case in point is the attempted killing of Judi Bari of Earth First on May 24th, 1990 and the FBI’s COINTELPRO campaigns against Martin Luther King Jr., The Black Panther Party, and the FBI’s harassment of American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier and the siege of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1975, to illustrate how draconic these Federal goons truly are. For this reason alone, PUBLIC ENEMIES, is a great must see film, where you can celebrate those few who shot back against the Federal Beast.
The Spirit of Bobby Sands will Never be Extinguished!
The re-election of Sinn Fein's Michelle Gildernew to Westminster for a third consecutive spell, in the 'unique' constituency of Fermanagh/South Tyrone, represents a massive achievement for the Irish Republican/nationalist community for several reasons. Primarily, through the ballot box they have unequivocally shown the Red Card to the deliberate attempt to re-assert Orange hegemony through the selection of the unionist 'unity' candidate (unionist/Tory/Orange Order) Rodney Connor. Furthermore, this sectarian affront to Irish republican/nationalist sentiment in the constituency was set to be a precursor ('template'-Peter Robinson) for a cynical return of the blight of 'them' and 'us' alignments across the 'Occupied 6 counties' in future elections.
This 'unique' sectarian predicament for Republicans/nationalists was further exacerbated by the decision of the SDLP to play 'fantasy politics' by entering Fearghal McKinney into the fray. The cold harsh sectarian underbelly of the North's society left this section of the constituents, especially Irish Republicans, with some salient issues to address:
By the selection of a unionist 'unity' candidate this became nothing more than a sectarian headcount. The Republican/nationalist community could not capitulate and allow the orange feet to march all over us again!!
The inability of SF & the SDLP to find a suitable nationalist 'unity' candidate had resulted in the only realistic chance of this being republican/nationalist retained is through the re-electing the sitting MP.
If only for posterity's sake alone, in the memory of Bobby Sands who died for the constituents of Fermanagh/South Tyrone the seat had to be retained.
Whilst there are VERY justified rumblings and disgruntlement and disillusion (an issue we will examine fully in the next post) within the broad Irish Republican family, this 'unique' attempt to play the Orange card had to galvanize ALL Republican sentiment at least for the duration of this election.
Unmistakably, win or lose these personality/ideological differences would have still existed post election! Logically, these issues will be much easier resolved from a position of political strength rather than weakness, and it is imperative that valid attempts are made by ALL Republican groups to strive for a coherent 'united' vision for our Holy Grail, a 32 County Irish Republic! The onus is now very much on Sinn Fein, the self-proclaimed head of the Irish Republican family, to reach out and consolidate Republican sentiment- they must start adopting a,
'NO MAN LEFT BEHIND' approach!!
The only losers in a haze of bitter recrimination and infighting will be the loyal Irish Republican/nationalist electorate of F/ST. Also, we must not forget the added pressure that was upon the voters regarding the uncertainty associated with the Quinn Group debacle and its potentially catastrophic impact upon the socio-economic fabric of the constituency and wider region.
With retrospect, given these 'unique' set of circumstances, the mind shudders how any pseudo Republican/nationalist in a position of influence could attempt to dissuade voter participation/advocate vote splitting in the face of such blatant sectarian Orange Order instigated overtures. Especially, given the chequered history of the ballot box in the constituency (gerrymandering, Phil Clarke being stripped of his seat in 1955, Bobby Sands '81 Hunger Strike and the 18 year tenure by former UDR Major Ken Maginnis!!)
However, the indelible mark of the sacrifice of one of the greatest symbols of British Imperial resistance in this current phase of the struggle for Irish Unity, Bobby Sands, had a major influence on the voters of Fermanagh/South Tyrone. That impact (due to the esteem of which he is held) can be best described as simply the feeling of self-empowerment which manifested itself in the Irish republican/nationalist voters of F/ST sending a clear emphatic NO, NO, NO to vain attempts to re-introduce the Orange card!!
It is only fitting on the anniversary of his burial (May 7th, 1981) that the final word should go to a TRUE Irish Republican icon of Resistance who's ultimate unselfish sacrifice captivated a generation of Irish men and women and will be eternally enshrined in the hearts and minds of the people of Fermanagh/South Tyrone......
'They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn't want to be broken.'
I.R.A. Vol. Bobby Sands, Rt. Hon MP Fermanagh South Tyrone R.I.P.
During the Greek riots between anti-measure protesters and police in Athens resulted in Marfin Bank Stadiou street branch three workers (one a pregnant woman) tragically suffocated to death as a result of a fire in the building. Contrary to conflicting media reports, the attendance at the protests on May 5th is reported to be around 200,000, with at least 20,000 protestors attending the demonstration organised by PAME (Communist Party union).
Whilst the world media and the Greek PM Papandreou were quick to brand the deaths as murder at the hands of Greek anarchists, the Rebels Yell can reveal that there may have been a more sinister turn of events!
Below is a statement released by an employee of Marfin Bank which gives a very different and disturbing background to the chain of events which culminated in these three deaths.
I feel an obligation toward my co-workers who have so unjustly died today to speak out and to say some objective truths. I am sending this message to all media outlets. Anyone who still bares some consciousness should publish it. The rest can continue to play the government’s game.
The fire brigade had never issued an operating license to the building in question. The agreement for it to operate was under the table, as it practically happens with all businesses and companies in Greece.
The building in question has no fire safety mechanisms in place, neither planned nor installed ones – that is, it has no ceiling sprinklers, fire exits or fire hoses. There are only some portable fire extinguishers which, of course, cannot help in dealing with extensive fire in a building that is built with long-outdated security standards.
No branch of Marfin bank has had any member of staff trained in dealing with fire, not even in the use of the few fire extinguishers. The management also uses the high costs of such training as a pretext and will not take even the most basic measures to protect its staff.
There has never been a single evacuation exercise in any building by staff members, nor have there been any training sessions by the fire-brigade, to give instructions for situations like this. The only training sessions that have taken place at Marfin Bank concern terrorist action scenarios and specifically planning the escape of the banks’ “big heads” from their offices in such a situation.
The building in question had no special accommodation for the case of fire, even though its construction is very sensitive under such circumstances and even though it was filled with materials from floor to ceiling. Materials which are very inflammable, such as paper, plastics, wires, furniture. The building is objectively unsuitable for use as a bank due to its construction.
No member of security has any knowledge of first aid or fire extinguishing, even though they are every time practically charged with securing the building. The bank employees have to turn into firemen or security staff according to the appetite of Mr Vgenopoulos [owner of Marfin Bank].
The management of the bank strictly bared the employees from leaving today, even though they had persistently asked so themselves from very early this morning – while they also forced the employees to lock up the doors and repeatedly confirmed that the building remained locked up throughout the day, over the phone. They even blocked off their internet access so as to prevent the employees from communicating with the outside world.
For many days now there has been some complete terrorisation of the bank’s employees in regard to the mobilisations of these days, with the verbal “offer”: you either work, or you get fired.
The two undercover police who are dispatched at the branch in question for robbery prevention did not show up today, even though the bank’s management had verbally promised to the employees that they would be there.
At last, gentlemen, make your self-criticism and stop wandering around pretending to be shocked. You are responsible for what happened today and in any rightful state (like the ones you like to use from time to time as leading examples on your TV shows) you would have already been arrested for the above actions. My co-workers lost their lives today by malice: the malice of Marfin Bank and Mr. Vgenopoulos personally who explicitly stated that whoever didin’t come to work today [May 5th, a day of a general strike!] should not bother showing up for work tomorrow [as they would get fired].
As Northern Ireland Election 2010 reaches its climax, the Tory leader, David Cameron makes his impromptu visit to Norn Iron today to try and shore up support for the Sir Reg Empey’s Ulster Unionists who are at a dangerous peril of not even returning one seat on May 6th!.
Unfortunately Mr. Cameron arrival on un-unified Irish soil was ONLY temporarily delayed by the decision earlier today to close Irish airspace due to a fresh volcanic ash plume from Iceland!
Due to his political stature (or lack off!) he avoided airport protocol used to detect General Infectious Diseases such as Swine flu, and managed to smuggle in a fresh dose of the ‘Sectarian Politics’ disease used to inject fresh impetus into the ‘them’ and ‘us’ philosophy which has blighted Eire for 800 years!
The content of a press release in today’s local press to coincide with this visit of the North’s potentially new colonial enforcer, will do little to enthuse Republicans/nationalists of all persuasions ahead of these Westminster Elections 2010. His words will further compound the shear resentment and suspicion amongst Republicans and nationalists as a direct result of the legacy of British Imperialism and specifically the Thatcher era. This resurfacing off old wounds began with Cameron’s Conservatives recent decision to realign with the Ulster Unionist Party which too many signalled the beginning of the end of Britain’s pseudo neutral stance of having:
‘NO selfish strategic or economic interest in Northern Ireland’?
The gravity of this very public affront to the Peace Process was echoed by Shaun Woodward a couple of days ago. He did not mince his words when he accused the Tories of adopting a ‘reckless’ approach towards the ‘Occupied 6 counties’. Woodward also described Cameron’s inability to persuade his UUP colleagues to vote ‘Yes’ in the Devolution of Policing and Justice at Stormont as a ‘terrible risk’.
Much emphasis has been placed by the Conservative spin machine in the build up to Election 2010 on flagging up similarities between Baroness (aka Bogness Bitch!!) Maggie Thatcher and ‘boring’ Cameron.
Cutting though the atypical pre-election dogma exerts of the press release in question most definitely re-affirm what is in store for the North’s Republicans/nationalists and in particular if this electorate permit the election of ‘Unity’ (sectarian) candidate Rodney Connor in Fermanagh/South Tyrone!:
‘If you vote for us on Thursday we will work to put Northern Ireland at the heart of the Union.’
If we compare and contrast this statement to one made by Thatcher at a Tory Party Conference on Oct. 13th 1978 there can be no doubt in the minds of ALL Republican/nationalist voters in F/ST to whom he is trying to emulate!
‘I spent three memorable and moving days in Northern Ireland in June. The constancy and patience of the men and women of the Province who have endured so much pain through ten years of terror is something that I shall never forget. I know that there are those who say "Leave them to solve their own problems and bring our boys back." To them I must reply: "If you wash your hands of Northern Ireland you wash them in blood." So long as Ulster wishes to belong to the United Kingdom she will do so. That is the policy of the Conservative Party and it will be the policy of the next Conservative Government.’ ~Maggie Thatcher, 1978, Tory Press Conference~
Consequently, it is imperative Republican/nationalist voters of Fermanagh/South Tyrone MUST send a clear and unequivocal REPLY at the polls on Thursday, that YOU Mr. Cameron ARE:
"still out of touch with the Republican/nationalist sentiment!"
Cameron’s continued public Eton style affront to Irish Republicanism in the ‘Occupied 6 counties’ will only galvanised hard line attitudes, and if he is successfully elected then he can be rest assured that militant Irish Republicanism will be the REAL winners!
In a recent BBC’s Hearts n' Minds episode dealing with the forthcoming May 6th Westminster Elections, Mark Davenport and Noel Thompson, drew attention to the migration of a few high profile media personnel to the political cauldron of Norn Iron politics. However, the following snippet from this conversation between the two journalists concerning the SDLP/Ulster Unionist candidates, Fearghal McKinney and Rodney Connor, may be of special interest to the electorate of Fermanagh/South Tyrone;
‘And McKinney who most recently worked for Fermanagh TV will be battling the unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor who had been a client of his on the station.’
Whilst at face value this relationship in itself may seem quite cordial the Rebels Yell can EXCLUSIVELY reveal that the connection between both men regarding media production in Fermanagh dates right back to the very inception of Fermanagh.tv which was the flagship product of a company which employed Fearghal McKinney as Sole Director.
Fermanagh.tv: The Prologue
Back in 2007, this company, County Link Media Ltd with Fearghal at the helm, succeeded in obtaining a combined £90,000 contract for Fermanagh.tv offered by Fermanagh District Council as overseen by its then Chief Executive, Rodney Connor. The Fermanagh District Council minutes are as follows:
D82/07 FERMANAGH.TV
The Director of Finance/IT reported on correspondence received from County Link Media Ltd. The company was proposing to launch Fermanagh.tv, a digital television website which could be viewed via the Internet. In addition to promoting Fermanagh worldwide, the platform would also have a home element, in that it would inform the increasing number of local people of all ages using the Internet of events in their own County. A wide range of content was planned; news, sports, local entertainment, schools and colleges activities, Fermanagh District Council news, tourism and much more. Initially, Fermanagh.tv would create four jobs in 2008, County Link Media Ltd would directly create and fund three of the posts, with a fourth in conjunction with Fermanagh College. County Link Media Ltd requested that the Council enter into a three-year arrangement to buy nine packages, three per year, at a cost of £10,000 per package. All of the Council footage made for Fermanagh.tv would be available on DVD to Fermanagh District Council to use as promotional material.
RECOMMENDED: That Fermanagh District Council proceed with a three-year arrangement to buy nine packages at a maximum cost of £10,000 per package subject to:
a) Annual Review, and
b) Further clarification on particular details.
The normal protocol for a contract of this value would be for it to be offered on tender in an open and public process to ensure that the ratepayer is assured of best value. But strangely, in this case, someone within Fermanagh District Council decided to break it up into nine separate contracts for £10,000 each. Moreover, this was not a case of funding a private company (which would be inappropriate) but, rather, as Mr Connor is on record as stating, the council ‘would purchase services as required’ from the company.
As these small contracts fell below the threshold for such open, competitive tendering (at 10k) the deal was concluded with County Link without any other bids being considered (as noted in the council's development committee minutes of April 2007). By May 2009, the company was formally launched and the contracts were renewed through agreement at the Development Committee meeting of that date.
Fearghal’s company’s success in winning such a tender (no doubt bolstering the sales ledger of his company’s outstanding contracts to the local council) was swiftly followed up by the company being snapped up by Bob Geldof’s Ten Alps PLC in February 2009. The business was bought for an undisclosed sum although a similar operation, ‘Below the Radar Ltd’, is known to have been purchased by Ten Alps for just under £800k. Subsequently, Fearghal McKinney was employed by the Belfast-based ‘Below the Radar Ltd’ as an investigative journalist.
As stated previously, in May 2009 Fermanagh TV was launched as a partnership between the Impartial Reporter and the production company ‘Below the Radar Ltd’. The following minutes from Fermanagh District Council were recorded:
D45/09 Fermanagh.tv
The Chief Executive informed the Committee that Fermanagh.tv was holding a Launch in the Clinton Centre on Friday, 22 May 2009. All Councillors would receive an invitation. The Chief Executive reported that Fermanagh District Council was not funding the Fermanagh.tv project but would purchase services as required and as previously agreed by the Committee.
Fermanagh.tv was developed with the involvement of iGeneration (iGen) which was “tasked with designing, developing and marketing the online media platform”. By a strange coincidence, that company, iGen also found itself tied to Ten Alps Vision in December 2009 and its owner was made a director of Geldof’s growing media business. In another tie back to Fermanagh, iGen’s website indicates that it too was also a beneficiary of a contract awarded by Fermanagh District Council for its ‘digitalisation campaign’.
Local on-demand TV: The Big Picture
Rodney Connor is expected to take the Conservative whip and it’s party leader, David Cameron, has as part of his manifesto, pledged to scrap local and regional media ownership rules and allow struggling newspaper groups to merge with rival companies and operate across print, TV, radio and online. Cameron intends to;
"sweep away the bureaucratic rules that mean that a rigid law decides who owns what bits of the media in local communities"
Despite the Office of Fair Trading currently reviewing media ownership rules following the interim Digital Britain interim report by Lord Carter, the Conservatives believe their review to be;
"too narrowly focused on the merger regime between print media companies and fails to examine the media ownership rules with regards to different media outlets".
The Conservative approach is that the relaxation of the current rules will entice UK newspaper groups (currently suffering from massive reductions in advertising revenues due to the recession and increased competition from the internet etc) to diversify into ultra-local television services.
In the summer of 2009 the BBC’s proposals to invest £68m in providing local on-demand video news throughout the UK by 2013 (two of which were proposed for Northern Ireland) on a network of 65 websites. However, their plans were thwarted by the BBC Trust and were met by strong disapproval from the Newspaper Society who described the proposals as “very damaging” and would directly impact upon the viability of over 100 regional press titles. The shadow culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said that:
“The current rules were established in a pre-digital era...It is now time to allow new industry models to emerge that will encourage investment not just in local papers but local online services and new local TV companies.”
Responding to the Conservative plans the NUJ general secretary said:
“These plans fail to deal with the problems facing local journalists. Consolidation of media ownership has meant office and title closures, it has meant journalists taken out of their communities, fundamentally undermining their ability to do their jobs well. The Conservative response to these problems seems to be more of the same, which will do nothing to help quality journalism…The Conservatives might see media regulation as burdensome red tape but it is what ensures people have access to varied media and different voices. To throw that protection away in response to business demands without any plans to secure improvement in journalism is foolhardy and an insult to our local communities.”
As part of the News 3 consortium, which also includes Trinity Mirror and the Press Association, they have just been awarded the contract to provide commercial news bulletins in the Borders and Tyne Tees Region. Also Bob Geldof’s business partner, Alex Connock, called on the BBC to open up a minimum of 25% of its’ £135m-a-year internet content budget to outside producers in a similar fashion to how the BBC already commissions TV programmes to independent production companies.
A Touch of Tory/Unionist/Orange Air Brushing Perhaps?
As regards Ten Alps, through their acquisitions of County Media Links Ltd, Beyond The Radar Ltd and IGeneration and their affiliation with ‘The Impartial Reporter’, definitely fit Jeremy Hunt’s idea of ‘a new business model’. Consequently, they are perfectly poised to enter the market in Northern Ireland if the fore mentioned proposals outlined by David Cameron lead Tories come to fruition post May 6th.
Ironically, the election of Ulster unionist ‘unity’ candidate, Rodney Connor, would also be sympathetic to lobbying on behalf of Fermanagh TV given that he has declared that he will take the conservative whip on issues pertinent to Northern Ireland. Furthermore, he is in a unique position to fully comprehend the implications of this issue given his first hand dealings with Fermanagh TV as Chief Executive of Fermanagh District Council.
A Suspicious Minds rather than Hearts ‘n’ Minds Finale?
As for the SDLP’s Fearghal McKinney, he is still listed on ‘Below the Radar’s’ website as an investigative journalist for the company. Whilst, currently devoting his time to running in this election campaign, one assumes he will be either returning to his former employer or gainfully seeking employment elsewhere post May 6th since he is tipped at 25-1 by William Hill to win!
More importantly, one would assume that he has made clear to the new SDLP Leader, Margaret Ritchie, that he had no short/long term vested interest in the outcome of this Fermanagh/South Tyrone Election. However, the ramifications of any unseemly innuendos being exposed in the future, would undoubtedly have a tsunami effect on the SDLP’s credibility throughout Northern Ireland for an eternity. One can only deduce that Margaret Ritchie has instilled her ‘moving on’ approach through out the SDLP especially since she was the architect of an internal SDLP document entitled “Transparency in Politics”!
I will leave you to ponder upon a quote by US diplomat/politician, John Adams (1st vice-president of US 1789-1797; 2nd president of US 1797-1801) to help you draw your own conclusions:
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”
This forthcoming Westminster election will be the most important for the aspirations of the Republican/nationalist community of Fermanagh/South Tyrone since the election of Bobby Sands in 1981. This is due in no small part to the deliberately orchestrated selection of Rodney Connor as unionist ‘unity’ candidate; definitely no immaculate conception!! To further confound matters the SDLP decided to parachute in their new political soldier-of-fortune, Fearghal McKinney (who currently resides in Belfast), to try and resuscitate their dying political influence in the area as reflected by Tommy Gallaghers’ abysmal performances in the two most recent Westminster Elections.
When it comes down to the electorate turn out in UK Westminster elections, there are none more resolute than the voters of Fermanagh/South Tyrone in supporting the ballot box despite the gerrymandering and vote splitting that has taken place!! The regions electoral history speaks for itself ever since the inception in 1951 which witnessed an unprecedented electoral turnout of 93.4% - a UK record for any election.
Despite keeping the faith in the electoral process by the voters of Fermanagh/South Tyrone, consistent nationalist/republican representation in this majority nationalist constituency has been continuously frustrated by incessant republican/nationalist vote splitting. However, there have been sporadic victories. In the Westminster Elections of 1951 Cahir Healy was elected and Phil Clarke was elected in 1955 only to have his democratic mandate overturned and his seat handed to the unionists because of his involvement in the IRA border campaign ‘Operation Harvest’. From 1971 until 1979, the unity candidate Frank Maguire successfully held the seat despite Austin Curry of the SDLP running without the support of his party.
The 1981 by-election was called due to the untimely death of Frank Maguire amid the Long Kesh Hunger Strike of that year. In a unanimous show of solidarity the voters of Fermanagh/South Tyrone swept Bobby Sands to electoral history on an Anti-H-Block/Armagh Political Prisoner ticket.
In 1983, the SDLP resumed fielding candidates in the constituency with the net result of handing the seat to the unionists. The then SDLP candidate Rosemary Flanagan secured 16.5% of the vote successfully allowing the extension of a 18 year ‘Iron’ grip on the Westminster seat by Ken Maginnis, a former UDR Major (now Lord Maginnis of Drumglass).
It was not until 2001, after the retirement of Ken Maginnis, that the seat returned to republican/nationalist hands by the election of Michelle Gildernew with the slenderest of majorities. A first count had her in the lead by 58 votes, after a recount demanded by irate unionists this had fallen to 53 votes! She secured 34.1% of the vote with the SDLP’s Tommy Gallagher gaining 18.9%. However, had it not been for a split unionist vote the seat would have remained under unionist control.
In 2005, the seat was retained by Sinn Fein with a 38.4% share (an increase of 4.1% at the expense of Tommy Gallagher, -3.9%). Again, her election was aided in no small part by a split unionist vote.
Since 1997, the SDLP have seen their percentage share of the vote decline from 23% (1997) to 18.7% (2001) and 13.8% in the last Westminster Election. This massive swing in republican/nationalist support towards Sinn Fein in the area, coupled with the selection of a unionist ‘unity’ candidate, former Chief Executive of Fermanagh District Council Rodney Connor, the burning question remains as to why the SDLP are running a candidate whose only realistic impact will be to split the vote in favour of unionists? In the recent ‘UTV Leaders Debate’ Gerry Adams summed it up when he asked Margaret Ritchie to;
Stop Insulting the Republican Electorate!
Even when Sinn Fein recently withdrew their candidate, Alex Maskey, from South Belfast the SDLP remained resolute and did not reciprocate the gesture in this constituency.
In fact, any Sinn Fein attempts to resolve the matter have been met by the same hostile and tedious quips that the SDLP are not interested in the sectarian politics of the past. But the electorate are the real losers. The SDLP’s intransigence only serves to deny the Republican/nationalist electorate of Fermanagh/South Tyrone of much warranted political representation, especially with the area’s current socio-economic uncertainty associated with the Quinn Group. That is why many of the electorate will view the sitting Sinn Fein MP, Michelle Gildernew, as the best placed to assess imminent needs of the whole community during the next four or five years. Furthermore, the fact that she is Minister for Agriculture at Stormont is extremely important in an area heavily dependent on the rural agricultural community.
Au contraire, the unionists parties by describing this constituency as ‘unique’ believe that a sectarian head count is very much the politics of today and this Westminster election is a precursor for more potential sectarian pacts throughout the North in the future!! Peter Robinson said during the ‘UTV Leaders Debate’;
'The template could have been used in South Belfast.....by the sight of unionist unity lifted everybody’s spirits in that constituency and so it would be right across the province if we could get our act together and I hope irrespective that we haven’t been able to do it in this election, i hope we can do it in future elections.....it is vital that we do!’
Furthermore, the SDLP have added insult to injury by borrowing a line from the unionist hymn book by attacking Sinn Fein for their abstentionist policy regarding Westminster seats. Upon the release of his decision to run as the unionist unity candidate Rodney Connor declared:
"it is vital that a constituency so far geographically removed from Westminster has its voice and influence maximised in the House of Commons."
Evidence of this conjoined SDLP/unionist/Orange Order anti Michelle Gildernew ticket was clearly visible by Fearghal McKinney’s pandering to unionist sentiment during his verbal pummelling by SF’s Gerry Kelly on a recent BBC live debate. He sounded more like Rodney Connor’s American style running mate than political adversary!
However, the flip side of the coin is that perhaps the SDLP had a more ‘Baldrick’ like cunning plan in their candidate selection, thinking that they themselves may have their own ‘unique’ inside track on Rodney Connor, a man described by Sir Reg Empey as having an “impeccable track record!”...time will tell as MAY 6th draws closer!!!
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Posted on 26 October 2009 | 11:28 pm by rebelsyell
Love Poet, Carpenter: Michael Longley at Seventy (Enitharmon Press) is a festschrift from over 50 literary figures, celebrating the life and works of renowned contemporary Irish poet Michael Longley. Born in Belfast (1993). He is one of the triumvirate of important Northern Irish poets (with Heaney and Mahon) who emerged in the 1960s to collectively bring a new 'renaissance' in Irish writing.
Posted on 26 October 2009 | 11:28 pm by rebelsyell
Mr. Donaldson is a self styled ‘Christian Politician’ and personifies a very smug and pious demeanour as he adorns his ‘Jesus Fish’ symbol on his crusade for the North's Ulster Unionism. However, recent revelations over his repayment of expenses have slightly ruffled this image? A satirical look.....
Posted on 19 October 2009 | 11:51 pm by rebelsyell
Amnesty International has announced that Burmese (Myanmar) pro-democracy leader and Nobel laureate, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, is being bestowed its most prestigious honour – the “Ambassador of Conscience” Award for 2009.
Posted on 19 October 2009 | 11:50 pm by rebelsyell
Berlin fears Resurgence of Radical 1970's style Leftist Violence in the wake of 200 expensive cars including Mercedes, Porsches and BMW's being torched.
Posted on 19 October 2009 | 11:50 pm by rebelsyell
Israeli soldiers 'Breaking the Silence' report puts further International pressure onIsrael regarding allegations of human rights violations during its 22-Day War. However, will this new report force Israel to accept responsibility for their actions?????
'Following a repeated attack on the newly unveiled bronze statue to IRA volunteer Sean Russell in Fairview members of the Dublin 32CSM took to the task of removing slogans which were daubed on the monument. Efforts are underway to find those responsible who deem it appropriate to deface the memorials of our patriot dead.
Human Rights Watch have just released this highly critical report into allegations of the indiscriminate killing of civilians as they waved white flags to try and flee the conflict zone
yet another murder of human rights workers in Chechnya. this time a newly wed couple working Save The Generation were shot to death and their bodies dumped in the boot of their car.
this recently published Human Rights Watch Report paints a dismal picture of the internal workings of the Indian Police Service. Human Rights Violation, Corruption, arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and extrajudicial killings are aprt and parcel of the mechanics of India's police force
Mohammed Yusuf (39), Islamist leader of a Nigerian sect at the heart of days of incessant and bloody violence, has been shot and killed only hours after being arrested.
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Does any TRUE Irish Republican believe that anything fundamental has changed in the State of Northern Ireland? Do we believe that the British army is not day and daily continuing the work that they set upon in Derry that day in other parts of the world? The passage of time has successfully allowed the pain and revulsion to dissipate and wash over us because the majority of Republicans have been goaded into accepting their lot as loyal subjects of the British Crown. Those who have not, continue to bear the brunt of British security pressure and dirty tricks. 
