Sinn Fein Press Releases 10/15/97 Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source:Padraigin Newell Sinn Fiin Press Centre Belfast, Ireland 15 October 1997 'Imminent Danger' Armagh Sinn Fiin Coucillor Sean McGirr has called on local people to be "extremely vigilant." The call comes in the wake of yet another threat from loyalist killer gangs. Councillor McGirr said: "Loyalist targeting and RUC harrassment of local people especially of Sinn Fiin representatives has been on the increase in these past few weeks. "Myself and fellow Sinn Fiin Coucillors Noel Sheridan and Brian Cunningham have all been singled out for what can only be described as a concerted campaign of harassment by both the RUC and the RIR in recent weeks. After one such incident involving the RUC last week they joked about the Sinn Fiin President's warning on possible attacks from loyalists and in a sinister way reindorsed the threat of an attack to me. We have lodged details of these incidents with a solicitor." Councillor McGirr continued: "There has also been several sightings of known loyalist LVF killer gangs in and around nationalist businessses and areas. A caller to the local Gazette claiming to represent a loyalist killer gang warned of an imminent attack on Catholic firms. The RUC have made a number of calls to the businesses named by the caller demanding the personal details of all the employees. In view of the level of harassment in the area by the RUC and their history of collusion local employers have rightly refused to comply with the RUC request fearing that once again the information will be passed onto the killer gangs. The loyalist threat coupled with the activities of the RUC should leave no one in doubt of the real dangers Catholics in the town and surrounding area face." Concluding Councillor McGirr said: "I am urging all nationalists to exercise extreme vigilance especially in and around the work place. People in the town should remember just how ruthless, deadly and indiscriminate these sectarian killer gangs are. I cannot over emphasise this warning." 'RUC Attempt To Recruit Informers' Statement from South Belfast Sinn Fiin Coucillor Sean Hayes calling on the RUC to end their policy of recruiting informers to spy on republicans. Mr. Hayes said: "In the last week one of my constituents, a young man, was pressurised by the RUC to spy on republicans using the Sinn Fiin advice centre on the Lower Ormeau Road. He was offered money in return for information on those people using the advice centre. Another man from the Short Strand traveling to Liverpool for a soccer match was also approached to act as an informer. These attempts to coerce people into informing, the continued saturation of areas by the British Army and the RUC, raids on homes, the harassment of people, the reinforcement and fortification of bases and the continuing military agenda all stand in stark contrast to the Mitchell Principles of which the British government are a signatory to." 'RUC Should Face Reality' Sinn Fiin Northern Chairperson Gerry S hEara has said that the RUC should face reality and accept that its days are numbered. The assertation in 'Policebeat' magazine that present RUC personnel levels must be maintained is ludicrous and cannot be taken seriously. Mr. S Eara said: "The RUC magazine editorial writer is indulging in wishful thinking if he believes that the RUC, even in a scaled down version, is acceptable to the nationalist population. The RUC should face reality and accept the fact that its days are numbered. In any new agreed structures of government for this island there will have to be a genuinely Civil Policing Service which will be unarmed, drawn from and be accountable to the community it serves. The creation of a new policing service will not preclude serving members of the RUC but membership will not be automatic." 14 October 97 'Loyalists Targeting Catholics' Statement from Lower Falls Sinn Fiin Coucillor Fra McCann on recent targeting by loyalists. Councillor McCann said: "I've received reliable information that a group of known loyalists were targeting a number of catholic construction workers on the Falls Road yesterday afternoon while they were carrying out renovation on a local bar." Mr. McCann concluded: "I've informed the men concerned and I am calling on all nationalists in Belfast to be cautious in their places of work and going to and from work. This confirms the recent warning from Gerry Adams about targeting by loyalists and other reports from across the six counties." Sinn Fiin Press Centre Shantallow, Derry City, Ireland "UN Rapporteur Investigation A Welcome Development" - O hEara Sinn Fiin's Northern Chairperson, Gerry S hEara has welcomed the announcement that the United Nations rapporteur is to investigate the intimidation of defence lawyers here by the RUC. The Sinn Fiin spokesperson said: "RUC intimidation of defence lawyers here is well documented. It is to be hoped that this investigation will not only lay open for the whole world to see, the lengths to which this already discredited force will go to intimidate the very legal profession which is charged with protecting those individuals held in custody." Mr. S hEara continued: "The case of civil rights lawyer, Pat Finnucane is not only the best documented case of intimidation of the legal profession but also of the extent of collusion involving the RUC the British Crown Forces, intelligence services and the Judiciary in order to ensure high rates of convictions in the special non-jury Diplock courts. The Sinn Fiin representative concluded: "After continuous intimidation of both Pat Finnucane and his clients the RUC used UDA/M16 double agent Brian Nelson to set Pat up for assassination in front of his wife and children. I have no doubt that the findings of the UN Rapporteur will add to the long list of indictments against Britain for Human Rights violations in Ireland." ================================================================= 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-10.16.97-02:32:11-24003