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Issue number 173 September, 2001 BELFAST CHILDREN ESCAPE BOMB |
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For news updates visit:
 Saoirse Online Newsroom |
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Issue number 173 September, 2001 BELFAST CHILDREN ESCAPE BOMB |
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For news updates visit:
Saoirse Online Newsroom |
Majority in Britain favour Irish unityTHE majority of the people of Britain believe that the Six Counties should be part of an All-Ireland settlement rather than remain in the “United Kingdom”, according to a recent opinion poll. The ICM poll – published in England’s Guardian newspaper on August 21, shows that forty-one percent of the people of Britain believe the Six Counties should be joined to the 26. While only 26% say it should stay within the present “UK” arrangement. The findings represent a significant rise in favour of British withdrawal from Ireland. In previous polls taken in the 80s and 90s views were more evenly divided. The latest poll sees those in favour of British withdrawal extend a 15 percent lead over the keep the Six Counties in the “UK” camp. |
IMEACHTAI
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Do not join the British police in IrelandRUAIRÍ Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin, appealed on August 21 to young nationalist not to join the new British police force in Ireland. In a statement he said: “Regardless of any changes in its make-up, the renamed RUC – like its predecessor the RIC – will have as its first task the maintenance of British rule in the Six Occupied Counties. “Quite simply it will remain a British police force in Ireland and as such is totally unacceptable to Irish Republicans. Ordinary 'law and order' considerations will always take second place to defending the British government’s usurping position in this country. “Republican Sinn Féin therefore urges young Irish people not to join the first line of defence of British rule here, thereby providing a wider base of active support for foreign government. “The actions of the Leinster House politicians, the SDLP and the Northern Catholic bishops in promoting the renamed British police in Ireland will be viewed in history as flagrant acts of collaboration with British imperial institutions. “Do not, Republican Sinn Féin says to Irish people, possibly put your young lives in danger by actively protecting the English colonial presence in your country. Witness what happened to the old RIC. “In addition, the attempt to make the British police in Ireland more acceptable, nationally and internationally, by securing the services of members of 26-County police in its ranks is greatly to be deplored from an Irish national standpoint.” |
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British forces attacked in BelfastTHREE armed attacks on the British Crown Forces in north Belfast during August have been claimed by the Continuity IRA. In a message to SAOIRSE using a recognised code-word, a spokesperson for the CIRA claimed responsibility for planting two explosive devices outside British Crown Forces bases and a gun attack on the RUC in Ardoyne during the first week of August. In the first attack a British colonial policeman was struck in the chest by rifle fire in Ardoyne. He was saved from serious injury by his bullet-proof flak jacket. An explosive device containing around 100lb of explosives was left outside the British Crown Forces base on the Antrim Road. It was defused by the British army. This attack was wrongly attributed to loyalist elements at the time.
In the third attack a 60lb device was left in a Ford Transit van outside Girdwood Barracks, Belfast. It was also defused by the Crown Forces. Media reports that it was a hoax device were false.
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Ban National Anthem – the next demand on the GAATHE GAA is coming under increased pressure to end Rule 21 which bars members of British Crown Forces including colonial police personnel from participation in our national games. Dublin, London and the Catholic hierarchy are combined in lambasting the GAA, cynically accusing them of political bias and sectarianism. Rule 21 must be ended, they say, and members and supporters of the GAA encouraged to join the restyled RUC. Is not asking the GAA to become recruiting sergeants for a British police force in Ireland political interference in a sporting body? The association is due to discuss Rule 21 at an upcoming convention. But guess what? The British and their unionist underling are edging for more ie complete surrender of the GAA’s national ethics. They now want a ban on Amhrán na bhFiann and the flying of the Tricolour at GAA events! According to Unionist Lord Mayor of Belfast Jim Rodgers in Lá newspaper (August 30), such changes would have to come about before unionists could feel welcome in the GAA. |
THE following statement from Continuity IRA prisoners in Portlaoise jail was read from the platform in Bundoran by Brendan Magill, ex-Portlaoise POW:
The Continuity Republican prisoners in Portlaoise prison send greetings to all assembled in Bundoran on August 25 at the 20th anniversary commemoration of the H-Block hunger strikers.
We wish to thank everyone who contributed to a resolution of our own recent hunger strike. Unfortunately the agreement reached has not been implemented by the prison regime.
Consequently we are still confined to the Bunker area of the jail and are denied political status. While the hunger strike has ended we are still on protest to achieve that status.
We call on all our supporters to campaign on our behalf and to bring pressure to bear on our jailers. For our part our protest continues until political status is restored.
» The Forgotten Ten AS the remains of the Forgotten Ten Republican prisoners executed by the British regime in 1920-21 are being exhumed from the yard of Mountjoy jail for a 26-County State funeral on October 14 next, SAOIRSE recalls tributes to two of the Republican Volunteers, Kevin Barry, an 18-year-old with three years service in the IRA and Thomas Traynor, a married man in his forties with a large family, Both Republican soldiers were captured after ambushes on the British Crown Forces in Dublin’s city centre during the height of the Tan War . . .
» No to Nice and a general election on the same day THE prediction on August 20 by the EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) that the second Nice Referendum will be held in conjunction with a general election would, if true, expose Bertie Aherns big lie, Republican Sinn Féin has said . . .
» Release all political prisoners! EMGANN, the Breton Independence Movement of the Left, has demanded the immediate liberation of all political prisoners in the French State, including seven Breton activists. The statement was sent to SAOIRSE on August 8 last . . .
» Fidel Castro on the 1981 hunger strikers ON September 15, 1981 Cuban President Fidel Castro gave the opening speech to the 68th conference of the Interparliamentary Union which was held in Havana. The following are Castro’s remarks on the hunger strike by Irish Republican political prisoners in Northern Ireland. Rather than listen to the truth, the British delegation at the conference walked out, joining representatives of the US, Chinese and Salvadoran governments . . .
» ‘It is not a case of holding on for as long as we can; but for as long as it takes’ IN AN official statement from the Peerless Rugs Workers’ in occupation on August 21, 2001 at the factory in Athy, Co Kildare the strikers gave the reasons for their actions . . .
» Support for Peerless Rugs workers KILDARE Republican Sinn Féin spokesperson Des Dalton called on August 22 for all workers in Athy to support the Peerless Rugs workers’ march in Athy on Friday, August 24 . . .
» Loyalist death threats ON Saturday, August 4 Bobby and Geraldine McNamara were visited at their home in Tipperary by members of the Special Branch from Tipperary town. They had come to inform Bobby that following a raid on loyalist premises in the Six Counties by the RUC, a list of names, presumably a hit-list, was found and Bobby’s name and address was on the list of approximately 60 names. Vice-President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Long, who visited the family after being informed of the situation said: “The McNamara family were understandably quite shocked and are taking the matter very seriously. All our members should be very vigilant, especially since we are not prepared to accept any agreement which does not have British withdrawal first and foremost on the agenda.” . . .
» Catherine Dickinson – centenarian Republican REPUBLICANS, friends and well-wishers throughout Clare and Limerick were delighted to hear of the 100th birthday in July of Catherine Dickinson from Limerick . . .
» Fitting memorial to Roger Casement planned for Murlough IN view of the recent complete destruction of the remains of the vandalised monument at Murlough, Co. Antrim to the memory of Roger Casement and others, the local Committee has decided to start work on the creation of a new and fitting monument to replace the vandalised one . . .
» Fianna arrested and strip-searched in Dublin A LOCAL squad of Na Fianna Éireann, were out drilling in the Dublin 4 region on August 20 for the up-coming Bundoran Hunger-Strikers Commemoration in Co Donegal. A spokesperson for the squad gave SAOIRSE this report . . .
Belfast Mural
AS A board calling for support for the Portlaoise hunger strikers was being fixed to a wall on the Falls Road in west Belfast during the first week of August there were reports from local people that a group of up to eight armed men and women, carrying AK47s, hand guns and one carrying what looked like a rocket launcher patrolled the area. It is believed they were members of the Continuity IRA. Newspaper reports have claimed these reports were confirmed by locals.
Postal address: 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1. Letters may also be faxed to Dublin 872 9757 or by e-mail to saoirse@iol.ie.
MEMBERS of Republican Sinn Féin in Co Derry marked the 20th anniversary of the three Derry H-Block hunger strikers who died in August by holding a wreath-laying ceremony at their graves. Michael McGonigle laid a wreath on the grave of Kevin Lynch in Dungiven on August 1; on Thomas McElwee’s grave in Bellaghy on August 8 and at Michael Devine’s grave on August 20.
A WREATH-laying ceremony was held by Republican Sinn Féin at the Republican Plot in St Patrick’s Cemetery, Dundalk on Sunday, August 12 to Republican Volunteer Richard Goss, executed by he 26-County regime in 1941. Liam Gaughran who died as a result of ill-health in custody was also remembered by those in attendance, which included Richard Gposs's sister Barbara \Doran. A decade of the Rosary was recited by Francie Hanratty.
| SAOIRSE October edition published October 9 |
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