Adams Holds Firm to Cuba Trip

Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit

source - http://www.online.ie, Sept 2, 2001


Adams Cuban trip 'may still go ahead


Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams is still considering a visit to Cuba this
month despite the arrests of three suspected IRA members in Colombia, a
spokesman said today.

The West Belfast MP has been urged by Irish American allies in Washington,
like leading US Congressman Peter King, to reconsider the trip which will
include a meeting with Cuban President Fidel Castro.

Irish American supporters are uneasy about the impact of a visit by the Sinn
Fein leader to Cuba following the arrests by Colombian authorities early
last month of Niall Connolly, Martin McCauley and James Monaghan.

The three Irishmen are accused of using illegal documentation and of
training left wing FARC rebels in urban terrorism.

The suspects are being held in the high security La Mondelo prison following
the decision by the Colombian authorities to further investigate their
activities.

They can be held for eight months before they must be officially charged or
released.

But Colombian authorities have warned that each man faces up to 20 years'
imprisonment if found guilty.

Mr Adams had wanted to travel to Cuba to personally thank Mr Castro for his
country's support for the republican movement over the years - particularly
during the 1981 hunger strikes which saw 10 IRA and INLA prisoners die in
the Maze Prison.

A Sinn Fein spokesman today denied reports quoting a senior Sinn Fein source
as saying the trip could be shelved.

Following a meeting of his party's 120-ruling executive yesterday, Ulster
Unionist leader David Trimble insisted republicans did have a case to answer
about their intentions towards the Northern Ireland peace process.

Mr Trimble said on the basis of the facts already known about Colombia,
republicans had "already destroyed their credibility in terms of a movement,
an alleged movement away from terrorism into political action.

"Now that in itself raises very, very obvious questions. I don't want to say
never (to power sharing with Sinn Fein) because I hope even at this late
stage that the Republican movement will carry out the assurances that they
have given people over the years about their intentions.

"But I have to say to them that there is nobody that I know of who has any
serious present belief in their integrity."

 
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