Irish Republican Info Svc #218 10/13/97 id PAA24609; Mon, 13 Oct 1997 15:36:58 -0400 =========== 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. 218) Teach Daithi O Conaill 223 Parnell Street Dublin 1, Ireland Phone: +353-1-872-9747; FAX: +353-1-872-9757; e-mail: saoirse@iol.ie October 13, 1997 Republican Sinn Fein: http://iol.ie/~saoirse/rsf SAOIRSE Online: http://iol.ie/~saoirse Release Josephine Hayden: http://iol.ie/~saoirse/hayden 1798 Ireland: http://iol.ie/~fagann/1798/ 1. BRITISH PLAYING WITH FIRE IN RESTRICTING IRISH CULTURE 2. NEW BRITISH POLICE FORCE SLAMMED 3. COMMEMORATIVE MARCH ATTACKED BY LOYALISTS 4. LOYALISTS DEATH SQUADS PARADE UNHINDERED IN BELFAST 5. DUFFY ASSAULTED BY BRITS 6. SCOTTISH KILLER'S MOVE TO SIX COUNTIES BLOCKED 7. McALISKEY CASE ADJOURNED UNTIL OCTOBER 23 8. ANDREWS RULES OUT 'UNITED IRELAND' IN HIS LIFETIME 9. H-BLOCK ESCAPERS DENIED CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER 10. ECONOMIC IMPERIALISM BACKING UP CURRENT PROCESS 11. COLONIAL POLICE CHIEF CRITICISED BY UD CONGRESSMEN BRITISH PLAYING WITH FIRE IN RESTRICTING IRISH CULTURE NEWSPAPERS in Dublin carried reports on October 12 that the British government plans to extend the powers of their Parade's Commission to police Irish cultural organisations such as the GAA and language and music bodies. The Parades Commission was originally set up by the British to deal with Orange Order marches through nationalist areas. The British are now proposing to restrict what they call "other expressions of cultural identity" in their bill outlining the remit of the Parades Commission, due to be published before the end of October. In a statement on October 13, Ruairi O Bradaigh, President, Republican Sinn Fein said that "the proposal had caused the deepest concern among the nationalist community that in a so-called balancing exercise restrictions would be placed on Irish music and language events and on Gaelic games. "Republican Sinn Fein protests against this attempt in the interests of political expediency to equate provocative and triumphalist Orange marches through nationalist areas with for instance a county Fleadh Cheoil, an Irish language Feis or a Gaelic hurling or football march," he said. "These latter have never been controversial and have always been peaceful cultural events open to being enjoyed by all sections. They have never been exclusive in nature since they are felt to be the common inheritance of all. "The British government is playing with fire if it seeks to treat such displays of a peaceful culture on the same level as manifestations like Drumcree or Harryville." He added that if the supremacists are to be further pandered to, it is only a matter of time until restrictions are actually placed on religious worship itself. "In that case the situation would be moved back to the era of the Penal Laws with consequences which could inflict serious damage on community relations. Is that where the current process is leading us?" he concluded. NEW BRITISH POLICE FORCE SLAMMED REPUBLICAN Sinn Fein has claimed plans are being made to form a neighbourhood police force, drawn up from Republicans, to work alongside the RUC British police. The Sean Keenan-Tommy Toner Cumann in Derry is to raise the matter at next month's Ard-Fheis of the organisation in Dublin. A spokesperson claimed yesterday that the Provisional leadership was considering a plan for joint policing with the RUC. "It is now clear to the more intelligent amongst us that Provisionalism andRepublicanism are two distinct and separate entities. "The former have embraced constitutionalism whereas the latter, rooted in the ideals of 1798, and the sacrifices of 1916 and since, remains truly revolutionary," the Cumann spokesperson said in a statement. Some top Provisionals were so keen to gain parity of esteem that they were willing to work with neighbourhood watch schemes, he said. A speech given by the President of the Provisionals' political wing, Gerry Adams last month, in which he called for neighbourhood watch schemes, should "sound warning bells" to all Republicans. "In time, there is little doubt that those elements who support this trend will turn their attention to watching, baiting and harassing young people, traditional Republicans in particular, and anti-partitionists generally," the spokesperson said. COMMEMORATIVE MARCH ATTACKED BY LOYALISTS RIOTING broke out along the route of a march in County Fermanagh to commemorate three United Irishmen who were executed by the British in 1797 on October 12. The loyalist protesters, who objected to what they described as a "triumphalist" march, included the leader of the Orange Order Spirit of Drumcree faction, Dunloy Orange Order representative John Finlay and loyalists from throughout Fermanagh, Portadown and Ballymena. The march, organised by the Provisional-dominated Roslea Martyr Bicentenary Commemoration Association, took a 22-mile route from Enniskillen to the village of Roslea  marking the route taken by the three United Irishmen before they were hanged in Enniskillen. At Enniskillen, loyalist protesters held back by British police (RUC) hurled abused at RUC members. A section of the crowd turned on the RUC. An RUC vehicle was overturned and bottles and stones thrown at RUC members. The marchers allowed themselves to be re-routed out of Enniskillen and were then met again eight miles from the town on the main Belfast road, lose to Maguiresbridge. The crowd, numbering 500, waved loyalist flags and threw fireworks at the RUC. RUC in riot gear ran at the loyalists who broke up hoardings and fences to use as weapons and clashes between the two groups ensued. LOYALIST DEATH SQUADS PARADE UNHINDERED IN BELFAST A UDP rally in Belfast, attracting a crowd of several thousand loyalists, to mark the third anniversary of the loyalist ceasefire, was attended by a colour party and people carrying UDA/UFF death squad banners on October 12. At the conclusion of the rally, as the colour party marched from the platform, the UFF-adopted anthem, 'Simply the Best' by Tina Turner was played. DUFFY ASSAULTED BY BRITS LURGAN man Colin Duffy, who was released from custody after a case against him collapsed the previous week was arrested and assaulted by British Crown Forces on October 9. Colin Duffy described what happened: "Today, my wife, daughter and two-year-old nephew were travelling up the main street in Lurgan and the car was spied by an RIR man. He jumped out in front of the car and I had to brake hard to avoid him. They were walking down the road at the time." The car was surrounded by soldiers while approximately three soldiers proceeded to carry out a search on Colin Duffy. "I was asked if it was OK for a search and that was OK. There was no problem with my upper half but when he moved down to my lower half he grabbed the belt on my trousers and started yanking it up the ways. It was pretty sore around the testicle area," Colin Duffy said. "So from that I told him I was complying with the search and there was no need to be rough and violent about it. "He didn't listen. He went on with the same thing again. He then stuck his hands in my pockets and started hauling about but at the same time thumping me in the testicles when he was doing it." Duffy was then arrested for assault. A doctor was called to the barracks to attend to him. He was released about 6pm. SCOTTISH KILLER'S MOVE TO SIX COUNTIES BLOCKED THE British Scottish Office has stopped the transfer of a Scot convicted of killing a Glasgow Celtic football club supporter to a loyalist death squad compound in Long Kesh prison in the Six Counties on October 10. The PUP had requested that Jason Campbell, whose family has links with the Scottish UVF, be transferred, saying that he was "well rated" by loyalists. Campbell is serving a life sentence for the sectarian killing of 16-year-old Mark Scott on a crowded street in Glasgow. He slit the boy's throat after a football match because he was wearing a Glasgow Celtic jersey. Campbell was a Glasgow Rangers supporter. McALISKEY CASE ADJOURNED UNTIL OCTOBER 23 EXTRADITION proceedings against Roisin McAliskey were adjourned again on October 9 in Bow Street magistrates' court in London. The adjournment until October 23 was made due to the absence of Roisin McAliskey who was too ill to attend. Magistrate Nicholas Evans repeated his decision which he made on September 30 that he was prepared to grant an extradition order against McAliskey, who is wanted for questioning in Germany, but he was not prepared to make such an order in her absence. Roisin McAliskey's lawyer, Gareth Pierce, said the magistrate had once again clearly decided there could be no extradition decision in McAliskey's absence. "Clearly she is not able and not well enough to be in court and that will be a prolonged situation and so we are proposing to use our best endeavours jointly with the prosecution to see if there are ways in which this can be moved forward, given the fact that the two circumstances are incompatible at this stage." ANDREWS RULES OUT 'UNITED IRELAND' IN HIS LIFETIME THE new minister for foreign affairs in Dublin, David Andrews, said on October 10 that there would not be a united Ireland in the foreseeable future. David Andrews is a leading member of the Dublin administration talks delegation in the "three-strands" talks process in Stormont. Speaking in an interview with the BBC David Andrews said he didn't believe there would be a united Ireland in his lifetime. Many commentators described Andrews comments as a "gaffe", others praised him for his honesty. The Provisionals' political organisation said his comments were "regrettable". H-BLOCK ESCAPERS DENIED CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER THREE participants in the 1983 Long Kesh prison escape, who are facing extradition from the US are being denied contact with each other, the Irish American Unity Conference has claimed. Kevin Barry Artt has been moved to North Oakland jail while Terence Kirby is held in the federal prison. Pol Brennan is in solitary confinement. A spokesperson for the Conference expressed concern about the welfare of the prisoners and demanded an investigation. ECONOMIC IMPERIALISM BACKING UP CURRENT PROCESS LEADING US politicians are proposing a free trade agreement between the Six Counties, Border counties and the US to support the current process which is aiming to stabilise Britain's first colony. Twelve northern Irish counties would be able to export goods to the US without paying tariffs and the quid pro quo would be an influx of US goods into the area and provide a springboard for US access to the EU market. Similar free trade status was negotiated in the US Congress for Gaza and the West Bank territories in Palestine. The deal applies to certain manufacturers and to agri-products only and is currently being opposed by the European Commission and the London and Dublin administrations. If it is passed by the US Congress it authorises President Clinton to negotiate a free trade agreement with Dublin, London and Brussels. News of the plan came as the US trade mission to the Six Counties commenced in Belfast on October 13. The 'Irish News' commented (October 7) that the Six Counties was "seen by American investors as a useful stepping-stone into the lucrative European market of 370 million people and a turnover of $7.3 trillion. At present there are around 100 US firms in the Six Counties, employing around 10,000 people. COLONIAL POLICE CHIEF CRITICISED BY US CONGRESSMEN THE head of Britain's colonial police in Occupied Ireland (RUC), Ronnie Flanagan, andchief of the colonial court, Robert Carswell, came in for scathing criticism from two American Congressmen. Congressman Chris Smith (Republican), Chairperson of a House of Representatives Sub-committee on International Human Rights, reporting on a fact-finding mission to the Six Counties, said his "most disappointing" discussions were with these two men. "Both men head up departments, police and judiciary respectively which had been severely criticised by human rights groups all over the world," he said. "Both men remained in a state of denial, refusing to admit that human rights abuses take place in their agencies. It was easy to see why so few in the Catholic community have any confidence in the ability of the police or judiciary to make any meaningful reforms on their own." Still placing faith in a reformed Six Counties British colony Congressman Smith said, "The reforms in these departments will have to come from from external pressure and sources." The hearing which took place recently was titled 'Human Rights and the Peace Process in Northern Ireland'. It's very name shows up the US input into maintaining Britain's colonial stranglehold on the Six Counties as a necessary base for the NATO alliance. Congressman Ben Gilman who chaired the hearing spoke of the "seven Irish nationals facing harsh and unfavourable deportation back to the North who recently had their immigration and naturalisation proceedings suspended . . . The goal of these hearings is to provide peaceful solutions for the problems of Northern Ireland." Welcoming the recent release of Provisional prisoners by the 26 Counties' administration, he asked, "When will the British government step up to the plate in this area of reconciliation and human rights reform? For example, it is time for announcing the end of the use of plastic bullets by the security forces, especially now that we have a ceasefire." Among those testifying on October 9, Jane Winter, director of British Irish Humans Rights Watch, said, "Violations of human rights have been a persistent feature, during the past 27 years of conflict in the Six Counties. The first of these hearings began on June 24 at which Amnesty International and other Rights groups testified. -end- Please circulate the information in IRIS and credit us if reprinting. We welcome your comments and ideas. Send them via e-mail 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 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-10.13.97-15:36:59-21574