Irish Republican Info Svc #191 4/2/97 =========== Posted to multiple newsgroups and lists =========== ===== Redistribute *only* with full header and signature! ===== Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit Irish Republican Information Service, No. 191 Teach Daithi O Conaill, 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1, Ireland Phone: +353-1-872 9747; FAX: 872 9757 e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie or saoirse@indigo.ie Republican Sinn Fein homepage: http://indigo.ie/~saoirse View our SAOIRSE homepage: http://iol.ie/~saoirse In this issue: 1. Sacrifices made for Irish national independence and nothing less 2. Easter Statement from the Leadership of the Republican Movement 3. Continuity IRA to target British Crown Forces 4. Man charged in Coalisland shoot-to-kill incident 5. Pro-British death squad planted bomb in Belfast 6. Amnesty reports mental illness among Irish prisoners in English jails 7. Jimmy Smyth beaten by H-Block prison warders 1. SACRIFICES MADE FOR IRISH NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE AND NOTHING LESS SPEAKING at the Republican Plot in St Finbar's Cemetery, Cork on Easter Sunday Ruairi O Bradaigh, President of Republican Sinn Fein said: "Today's Ireland is based on the defeat of the independence movement from 1916 to 1921 in which Cork played such a significant part. The functioning All-Ireland Dail and the Democratic Programme of that Dail were suppressed in the British-sponsored counter-revolution of 1922-23. "Because of that denial by force of the national will, 60% of the intervening years has been marked by armed conflict against the British Forces of Occupation in the Six Counties. Irish history teaches that this will continue until British disengagement from Ireland. "The sacrifices of those years were not made simply for civil rights, a New Stormont or restructuring of the RUC. They were made for Irish national independence and nothing less. "The so-called peace process was an utter failure because it did not provide for a settlement among the Irish people themselves with the British government publicly committed to leaving Ireland. "It has been accompanied by the deliberate sowing of defeatism among the nationalist people of the Six Occupied Counties and among the Irish people as a whole at home and abroad. "None of the parties in elections this year North or South of the Border includes a demand for an end to British rule in Ireland in their policies. "Only Republican Sinn Fein and the Republican Movement of which it is part has a stated policy, EIRE NUA, for this eventuality. With the British pledged publicly to leave, an All-Ireland constituent assembly based on a single 32-County election would shape the future of our country. "All-Ireland democracy is the main demand achievable through such a constituent assembly. Provincial and local self-determination within the context of national self-determination provide a way out of the impasse in the Occupied Six Counties." In Belfast, a crowd of more than 100 people marched from the gates of Milltown Cemetery to the Republican Plot at 12 noon on Easter Sunday, led by four flag-bearers carrying the National Flag, the Starry Plough and the Cumann na mBan and Fianna Eireann flags. The ceremony was chaired by former Republican prisoner Leo Martin and the oration was given by John Horan. Speaking at the GPO in Dublin on Easter Sunday, Lita Ni Chathmhaoil, General Secretary of Republican Sinn Fein said: "Those nationalist parties in the Occupied Six Counties who refused to stand back and allow an Irishwoman, pregnant in a British jail, to contest the British general election, following in the noble tradition of Bobby Sands and other Republican prisoners of war, in order to highlight her unjust incarceration, have come to a sorry state. "In August last year these same parties were part of the conspiracy which allowed the bigoted Apprentice Boys to once again, after 25 years, march in a triumphalist fashion around the walls of Derry and then parade, along with their sectarian bands, through the city centre, without the knowledge or consent of the people of that city. They are busy doing deals this year also, as we see in Dromore and other places, but they should beware the anger of the beleaguered nationalist people of the Occupied Six Counties, who will not for ever allow them to make their decisions for them." Easter commemorations organised by Republican Sinn Fein took place in all six occupied counties and in 21 of the other 26 counties over the Easter weekend and ceremonies also took place in London, Glasgow, Liverpool and New York. In Gaelic Park, New York the Easter Commemoration was chaired by Frank Durkan and the guest speaker from Ireland was historian, broadcaster and author Nollaig O Gadhra. During his address he questioned what way a possible British Labour government would be different if Tony Blair is in Downing Street on May 3 -- the 81st anniversary of the execution of Padraig Pearse, Tom Clarke and Thomas McDonagh. The British establishment still wants to meddle in Irish affairs, he said. "They are not neutral ring-masters but part of a sad, vicious and soul-destroying device and conquer mess-up that they have no real idea how to solve -- and no real ambition to face the realities either . . . Now that Hong Kong is being wound up, many of the Little Englanders in the 1922 Club and elsewhere are determined that Paddy will never get his way -- even when that way is legitimate, reasonable and democratically expressed." He added: "It would be singularly unfortunate however if a last-ditch stand to shore up that already creaking UK constitutional system became the main cause for Downing Street inaction about the artificial Six-County statelet in Ulster that, try as the British and some Irish media may, is not "a province" -- no more than a 26-county chamber in Dublin, no matter how popular de facto can claim to be Dail Eireann." 2. EASTER STATEMENT FROM THE LEADERSHIP OF THE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT ON THE occasion of the 81st anniversary of the momentous Easter Rising of 1916, the leadership of the Republican Movement sends greetings to all at home in Ireland or in exile around the world who are assembled in commemoration at the graves of our heroic dead or at monuments to their memory. In particular, greetings are extended to the Republican prisoners in Portlaoise and Limerick prisons and to all Irish political prisoners everywhere who stand for British withdrawal and a New Ireland. The prisoners recently transferred from Limerick to Portlaoise who give their allegiance to the Continuity Army Council of the IRA won political status by sacrifice and adherence to principle in the past year. For four months they did not have access to exercise in the fresh air but they were actively supported in protest on the outside by the Relatives Action Committee and the loyal members of Republican Sinn Fein. Congratulations are in order for the prisoners and their supporters. On the political front the boycott campaign of the Stormont Forum elections led by Comhairle Uladh (the Ulster Executive) of Republican Sinn Fein has been completely justified. After nine months of useless wrangling the Stormont talks have been adjourned for a further three months. They have failed so far in their aim of establishing a New Stormont and a new British police force in Ireland which would include former nationalists. The situation which erupted last July and August throughout the Six Occupied Counties has demonstrated -- even to middle-class nationalists -- that there will be no equality of treatment under British rule. The London government will always favour those who support the status quo in Ireland against those who do not. During the year since last Easter it is noted that the Continuity Army Council has delivered on its public undertaking to carry the war to the enemy. IRA Volunteers under its direction have struck at the British Occupation Forces and at economic targets in the occupied area. The revolutionary Republican Movement of history is intact and its objective is clear: British disengagement from Ireland and a totally New Ireland. Others may pursue lesser aims such as "nationalist rights and equality" but as all else fails, nationally-minded people at home and in exile may rest secure in the knowledge that the flame of Irish resistance to British aggression will never die out and will always renew itself. Next year is the bicentenary of the great national uprising of 1798 when Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter fought shoulder to shoulder against English imperialism. They took their stand on a democratic and Republican programme. True Republicans must plan now for the fullest possible involvement in the bicentenary celebrations. The more people mobilise now the nearer will be brought the day of ultimate victory which is not only certain but inevitable. The tide of human progress will not be turned back. The real and meaningful negotiations can only take place when the British government makes that fateful decision to quit Ireland for once and for all. Then the Irish people -- and they alone -- will decide how to live together and order their affairs in brotherhood and peace. But the British decision must come first. Comrades and friends! The organisations which share these objectives and are proud to assert them before the world are the vanguard of the historic freedom-struggle of the Irish people. They are Republican Sinn Fein, the Irish Republican Army under the leadership of the Continuity Army Council, Cumann na mBan and Fianna Eireann. Facing once more the awesome task of confronting an outdated British colonialism in Ireland, these organisations are deserving of and need the wholehearted support of Irish people at home and abroad. The task so nobly undertaken by the men and women of Easter 1916 needs to be completed -- in our time. ...Issued by the Leadership of the Republican Movement, Easter 1997 3. CONTINUITY IRA TO TARGET BRITISH CROWN FORCES TWO representatives of the IRA led by the Continuity Army Council have given an interview in the Easter Sunday edition of the Irish language weekly newspaper 'Foinse'. The text is published below (translation by IRIS FAX): Q. The IRA [Provisionals] has returned to an active campaign. What is the difference between you and them? A. They are engaged in their campaign as a tactic but it is only a partial campaign. They said: 'The armed struggle failed -- let's go political.' But when the 1956-61 campaign failed the IRA said 'The armed struggle has failed this time, but we will resume it at another time'. The Provisional leadership are not fighting for 'Brits out' -- instead they seek 'parity of esteem' and a seat at the talks. Young men are being sent out for that. They are happy to accept the 26-County establishment and Stormont, if it emerges. There is no mention from them of the freedom of Ireland. Q. Is there any connection between yourselves and the IRA [Provisionals]? A. There is no co-operation between us of any sort. We know that a lot of their members are unhappy, because we meet them on the ground and they talk to us. What is said publicly and what is said privately are two different things. The Provisionals are not too happy about our existence, but we don't want any friction with them. When we were re-organised in 1986, there were threats made against us. Q. What is your opinion of the IRA [Provisionals] strategy in the summer of last year? A. In Derry the 'hard men' stood in the middle to prevent any trouble. On the Friday before the [Apprentice Boys] parade there was talk of major protest meetings; in the afternoon they sent their people out to say there would be none. They would have been satisfied to let the Apprentice Boys march around the city walls. They did this without listening to the local people, and they didn't come out of it well. We don't need excuses like 'Drumcree' or anything else. We are not a 'defence committee'; what we want is a campaign against the English. Our targets are the British army, the RUC and the RIR. Before major marches, the RUC and the British army use physical force on local people and it is possible to attack them then. But other matters come into it also -- we would be opposed to any civilian causalities. In cases such as Drumcree the right approach for guerrilla is to encourage the local community to defend itself. Q. Are you willing to talk to loyalists? A. We have talked to them previously and we have talks with them at the moment but their representatives do not want their names to be mentioned. They are Irish people and their future is in this country. They said to us that if the English pulled out they would be for an independent Six Counties but that if that did not work the EIRE NUA plan would be their second choice. We want -- (1) a public declaration of intent by the English that they are leaving; (2) an amnesty for all political prisoners; (3) a new Ireland negotiated by the Irish people themselves. Q. Are you targeting members of the RUC, RIR and RUC Reserve? A. Our struggle is against the British Crown Forces. The British police (RUC) are always armed and always on duty. Q. The IRA [Provisionals] says that after 25 years the struggle cannot continue because people are exhausted? A. The people were prepared to continue the war but they have to see that what the sacrifices were endured for is realised. When the Provisionals changed their objectives, perhaps people saw that the sacrifices were not worth it for those objectives. If the campaign cannot be kept going it should not be ended for all time. Instead, as was done in 1923 and again in 1940s and the 1950s, arms should be kept. It was the 1940s men who trained the 1950s men and it was the 1950s men who went to Belfast and Derry in 1969-70. The Provisional leadership is tired and now they are seeking personal advancement. If it was not for us their campaign would have finished before the 1990s. Q. Do you intend to have a campaign in England? A. Any place in the world where the British army is located! Q. Will you be intensifying your campaign? A. That is our aim, but it is not easy. We have units now in every area where the united IRA (pre-1986) was organised. In 1996 we planted bombs in Belfast and Derry -- you cannot place explosive devices in places unless you have Volunteers there on the ground. We have prisoners in every jail but those in Long Kesh (H-Blocks) say 'we support you but we have to live with the Provisionals'. We have to vet people carefully. We also have young people with us who have no previous involvement in any organisation. 4. MAN CHARGED IN COALISLAND SHOOT-TO-KILL INCIDENT CONFUSION still surrounds the circumstances of the shooting of a 19-year-old Tyroneman by undercover British soldiers on March 26. The shooting happened shortly after an explosion at the perimeter fence of Coalisland RUC station. The injured man, Gareth Doris, a student, was shot in the stomach. The bullet passed through his stomach and broke at least one rib, which punctured one of his lungs. He was then arrested and held under armed guard in hospital. Gareth's mother, Mary Doris, said on March 28, that he had been on his way home from confession when he was shot. "Gareth was on his way home after attending Confession on Wednesday for Holy Thursday. The army shot him for no reason," she said. Coalisland priest, Fr Seamus Rice, also came under fire from Crown Forces after driving away from church where he had just heard confessions. Initially the Crown Forces had announced that they had found a semi-automatic handgun beside the barracks after the shooting. However the British police (RUC) issued a statement on March 28 saying that the "semi-automatic handgun" had been examined and was found to be a starting pistol and was not believed to have any connection with the events of March 26. The British held a Special Court at the hospital bedside of Gareth Doris on April 1, where he was charged with trying to kill members of the Crown Forces and causing an explosion. He was remanded in custody to appear at Belfast Magistrates Court on April 29. 5. PRO-BRITISH DEATH SQUAD PLANTED BOMB IN BELFAST A CAR-BOMB parked outside a Provisional advice centre in Lepper Street in the New Lodge area of Belfast on March 30 has been attributed by loyalist sources to the Red Hand Commando British-backed death-squad. The vehicle contained a beer keg packed with nearly 100lb of homemade explosives. It was spotted parked outside the advice centre at 6.30am. Crown Forces carried out a controlled explosion on the vehicle. 6. AMNESTY REPORTS MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG IRISH PRISONERS IN ENGLISH JAILS AMNESTY International has said it is greatly disturbed at the conditions under which many Category A prisoners are being detained in Britain. The human rights group declared that the Special Secure Units at Belmarsh, Whitemoor and Full Sutton prisons constitute cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. In a new report Amnesty said a prisoner's physical and mental health should not deteriorate as a result of punitive measures which appear to be arbitrarily applied in the name of security. There are over 500,000 prisoners in Britain. Fifty in Category A, mostly Irish politicals. Only one woman prisoner is in Category A -- Roisin McAliskey. 7. JIMMY SMYTH BEATEN BY H-BLOCK PRISON WARDERS Reports from Long Kesh jail indicate that former escapees who were extradited from the US have been badly beaten. Jimmy Smyth, Joe Doherty and six or seven others were singled out for "special treatment" by warders in Long Kesh on Good Friday. Jimmy was beaten severely, leaving him with bruising over most of his body, and nerve damage to one arm from a blow to the elbow, followed by the forcing of the same arm up behind his back. He will have no use of the arm for at least eight weeks. -end- Please circulate the information in IRIS and credit us if reprinting. We welcome your comments and ideas. Send them to: saoirse@iol.ie ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 ================================================================= nytire-04.06.97-16:48:45-7240