Sinn Fein Press Release 10/16/97 id DAA04084; Fri, 17 Oct 1997 03:30:54 -0400 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:Padraigin Newell Thu, 16 Oct 1997 Sinn Fiin Nuacht Raiteas Press Office, Falls Road, Belfast 16 October 1997 'Police Federation Provokes Angry Response' The Sinn Fiin spolesperson on prison issues, Councillor Michael Browne has reacted angrily to a call from the Police Federation urging the British government not to consider the early release of political prisoners. Mr. Browne said: "It is to be hoped that the negative utterances of a body which merely reflects the mindset of members of the RUC are ignored by those in positions of responsibility. It comes as no surprise that the initial foray of the Police Federation into matters directly relating to the peace process results in a diatribe against measures which can help advance the process. By arguing for no change to policing arrangements in this part of Ireland and against the release of political prisoners the Police Federation has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that it has no contribution to make toward building the peace in this country. All of this serves as a timely reminder that the interests of the peace process will be best served by the disbandment of the RUC in favour of a policing service which enjoys widespread confidence and is accountable to the public. Unlike the Police Federation and those they represent, those of us who have a vested interest in securing a lasting peace settlement will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of the release of political prisoners. It is widely understood that men and women imprisoned as a direct result of political conflict must be released as part of the process geared toward conflict resolution. As is known to anybody who has given the requirements of a peace process a moments thought it is inconceivable that a peace settlement will be secured while political prisoners remain incarcerated. 16 October 1997 'RUC Lose Personal Files' Statement from Fermanagh Sinn Fiin Councillor, Gerry McHugh, challenging the RUC for their "disregard" in collecting and then losing information on people taking part in last Sunday's march in Enniskillen to commemorate three United Irishmen." Mr. McHugh said: "The RUC have visited the homes of several people in the Fermamnagh area who were on last Sunday's march. They informed them that their lives could be in danger because information that the RUC had compiled while they were on the march had gone missing. The RUC refused to confirm that the information was in the hands of loyalists. I would like to know why the RUC was collating personal information on people who were on a peaceful and legitimate march and why they showed such disregard for the safety of the information." ================================================================= 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-10.17.97-03:30:54-21313