>From: "james-tait" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >SINN FEIN NEWS > >> IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP >> http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ >> >> Sunday-Tuesday, 7-9 May, 2000 >> >> >> 1. BRITISH ARMY BASES TO GO >> 2. Unionist demands could undo arms deal >> 3. New wave of scandal in corruption investigation >> 4. Bloody Sunday tribunal resumes >> 5. O'Neill verdict to be appealed >> 6. UN supports ex-prisoners' freedom of expression >> 7. Dubliners reject anti-social behaviour >> 8. Funeral oration for Kieran Nugent >> 9. Analysis: Remembering the Hunger Strikers >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >>>>>> BRITISH ARMY BASES TO GO >> >> >> In an initial British response to the IRA's initiative on >> Saturday, the British military has announced the demilitarisation >> of some of its fortresses and spy-towers in the North of Ireland. >> >> Two British Army bases, in Derry and another in Cookstown, County >> Tyrone, are to be shut. In addition, spy posts on top of >> high-rise buildings at Broadway and New Lodge in west and north >> Belfast, and a spy tower installation at Cloghogue close to the >> border near Newry will also go. >> >> A huge military installation in the middle of republican >> Crossmaglen, south Armagh is also to be demolished within the >> next three months, "subject to continuing reduction in the level >> of threat", according to RUC Chief Ronnie Flanagan. >> >> The demilitarisation moves are part of the carefully worked out >> sequence agreed in recent negotiations to overcome the >> disarmament hurdle and fully implement the Good Friday Agreement. >> >> Sinn Fein North Belfast Assemblyman Gerry Kelly called for >> further rapid progress on demilitarisation. >> >> "The announcement is to be welcomed. This decision is however >> long overdue," he said. "The process of demilitarisation should >> have begun immediately after the signing of the Good Friday >> Agreement. >> >> "Sinn Fein has consistently pressed the British government to >> honour its commitments on demilitarisation for the past two >> years. This was obviously a key issue for us in the recent round >> of negotiations." >> >> Flanagan indicated that there could be further demilitarisation >> in the months ahead, following another "review" in three months. >> >> British Direct Ruler Peter Mandelson, welcomed the move and said >> he hoped that "contributions on the ground will enable us safely >> to make further changes in due course". >> >> Sinn Fein's Mis-Ulster MP, Martin McGuinness, said if the >> demilitarisation programme was carried out diligently it would >> "help create the conditions in which we can demonstrate that >> politics work". >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >>>>>> Unionist demands could undo arms deal >> >> >> Concern is growing that unionist efforts to win new concessions >> on policing and symbols in the North of Ireland could yet unravel >> last weekend's breakthrough agreement aimed at restoring the >> North's power-sharing institutions by May 22nd. >> >> Elements of the Patten proposals for policing reform have been >> targeted by unionist negotiators, who want to retain a >> symbolically imperial name, crest and badges for the new force. >> >> In particular, a proposal that the new policing service becalled >> the Police Service for Northern Ireland is the focus of intense >> resistance, who want the "Royal" designation retained. >> >> Unionists are also seeking a commitment that the British Union >> Jack will continue to be flown over government buildings, >> including the buildings which house the Belfast Assembly and >> power-sharing Executive. >> >> Sinn Fein Vice-President, Mr Pat Doherty, said that any >> "tampering" with the Patten repoirt was "a recipe for disaster". >> >> "Sinn Fein will oppose, tooth and nail, any attempt to dilute >> Patten. The Patten proposals on policing must be implemented in >> full," he said. >> >> He was speaking as the Sinn Fein Ard Chomhairle met in Dublin >> today to consider last weekend's statements by the two >> governments and the IRA. >> >> Welcoming the statements, the SF Ard Chomhairle said that there >> was "considerable unease" among republicans about attempts to >> dilute the Patten proposals on policing. >> >> Mr Doherty said that the issue of the Patten report was being >> used to block progress at a time when there was a "very positive >> and upbeat mood" among people about the peace process. >> >> "As far as Sinn Fein and republicans are concerned, Patten does >> not go far enough in the first place. We need to establish a >> non-partisan, non-political police service that nationalists and >> republicans can recommend young nationalists to join and that >> will serve the entire community." >> >> He added that Sinn Fein was expecting "early and comprehensive" >> developments in the areas of the governments' weekend pledges on >> equality, human rights, supporting the families of all the >> victims of the conflict, demilitarisation, the Irish language and >> a new police service and justice. >> >> But the most vocal critic of the Good Friday Agreement, DUP >> leader Ian Paisley, described the arms deal as the "latest scam >> to help the IRA off the hook of decommissioning". The Ulster >> Unionist MP for West Tyrone, William Thompson, said the IRA >> would still have control over some arms dumps despite the >> appointment of independent arms inspectors. >> >> "The IRA have offered to secure a number of arms dumps, but there >> is nothing to suggest that means all of them. They can still >> control and supervise dumps. >> >> "David Trimble claimed he must have certainty that actual >> decommissioning would happen before he went back into government. >> There is no certainty here," Mr Thompson insisted. >> >> But despite the bickering, there was still confidence that the >> Ulster Unionist Party will give its backing to Trimble at the >> meeting on Saturday week if, as expected, he does decide to >> endorse the Hillsborough proposals. UUP Deputy Leader John Taylor >> yesterday predicted they would be strongly carried by the >> 860-member council, the party's governing body. >> >> "There are still some hiccups, but I think they will be >> overcome," he told BBC Radio. "It will go to the Ulster Unionist >> Council meeting and if this goes the way I personally foresee it >> going, I believe it would be approved strongly by the council," >> Mr Taylor added. >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >>>>>> New wave of scandal in corruption investigation >> >> >> Up to 30 Dublin representatives of the larger political parties >> and 14 developers were implicated in a widespread network of >> corruption by lobbyist and bagman Frank Dunlop in dramatic >> evidence yesterday at the Flood Tribunal into local government >> corruption. >> >> One politician is still receiving payments for his support for >> lucrative planning permission and has received over #100,000 >> during the 1990s. A further #250,000 in bribes has still to be >> accounted for. >> >> In a day of shock disclosures, Mr Dunlop revealed that he had >> paid out almost #50,000 to 14 politicians in late 1992. Three of >> those elected representatives already feature on a list of 15 >> councillors who received a total of #112,000 from Mr Dunlop for >> their support on the controversial Quarryvale development site in >> west Dublin a year earlier. >> >> In addition to these two lists, Mr Dunlop paid bribes to another >> eight politicians after 1993, totalling at least #23,000. >> >> Mr Dunlop described some politicians as insatiable in their >> appetite for bribes, while others muscled in on re-zoning >> proposals simply for the excuse to look for money. >> >> "It was indicated to me that it would be helpful if I was >> generous," Mr Dunlop said in describing how one councillor sought >> a bribe. >> >> The secret ties between property developers and councillors >> unravelled further yesterday as the former Government press >> secretary claimed that he had also received a total of #184,000 >> from 14 different landowners in the period 1991-1993. >> >> These payments, ranging from #5,000 to #30,000, were used as a >> "war chest" to secure the support of politicians for rezoning >> motions in Dublin County Council. >> >> The witness said he would have to use the "road map" of hundreds >> of rezoning motions linked to the 1993 Development Plan of Dublin >> County Council to ensure he did not omit any payments to >> politicians. >> >> Mr Dunlop told the packed auditorium at Dublin Castle that a >> number of politicians named on the lists had attempted to contact >> him since his previous appearance at the Tribunal. One of the >> callers had phoned his home in Dunboyne, Co. Meath, within >> minutes of him arriving back from the planning inquiry in April. >> >> Mr Dunlop said he believed one of the individuals had been >> responsible for a rumour that he would not be appearing at the >> Tribunal yesterday. Asked by Patrick Hanratty SC for the >> Tribunal, if remarks this man made could be considered a threat, >> Mr Dunlop replied: "I have been around too long now to interpret >> things as threats. I just took it as typical." >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >>>>>> Bloody Sunday tribunal resumes >> >> >> The IRA arms initiative on Saturday has cast a new light on the >> forthcoming testimony of British soldiers to the Bloody Sunday >> tribunal, which resumed on Monday in Derry's Guildhall. >> >> At the outset of the resumed hearings, Lord Gifford QC, >> representing the family of James Wray, who was shot dead on >> Bloody Sunday, urged soldiers and former soldiers to change their >> attitude to the inquiry in the light of "the historic events" of >> the last few days. >> >> He questioned the demand of British military personnel and their >> representatives to give their evidence anonymously in a location >> other than Derr. >> >> The latest events offered a real prospect of a breakthrough in >> the peace process, he said. >> >> "I feel that we . . . who take part in this process of the >> tribunal and the inquiry are part of the peace process, for the >> inquiry is dealing with one of the root causes of the conflict >> and we have a duty to do what we can to promote truth and >> reconciliation over Bloody Sunday." >> >> If events proceeded towards a peaceful resolution, "the concerns >> of the soldiers for their safety may well be much reduced in a >> new security situation", he said. >> >> At the tribunal today, a tape was played of the confused military >> communications on the day of the killing of 14 unarmed civil >> rights demonstrators. >> >> One communication claimed that a number of civilian casualties >> has resulted from a "firefight" at Rossville flats in the >> nationalist Bogside of Derry. A British soldier reported "two >> high velocity shots heard in the area of Free ... er, the >> Rossville Flats. People are lying on the ground now there". >> >> Another communication reported shooting a "gunman" at the Bogside >> Inn, according to a transcript referred to by counsel to the >> inquiry, Christopher Clarke QC. >> >> It said: "Hello, Zero, this is 65. Sitrep boils down to the fact >> that the two sub units moved in, ah, got involved in a firefight, >> the ah, shots appearing to have come from the area of Rossville >> flats. The two sub units have now gone secure in that area. Ah >> two civilians are lying wounded or dead, we are not sure yet, in >> the area of Chamberlain Street. Who shot them we don't know. >> Over." >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >>>>>> O'Neill verdict to be appealed >> >> The family of Volunteer Diarmuid O'Neill confirmed on Tuesday >> that they intend to appeal the verdict of lawful killing returned >> by a jury at Kingston Coroner's Court in February. Human rights >> solicitor Gareth Pierce is to act on their behalf, and it is >> believed that barrister Michael Mansfield QC has also agreed to >> be included in the legal team. Both represented the family at the >> original inquest. >> >> The verdict of lawful killing caused bitter disappointment and >> anger amongst those campaigning for an independent inquiry into >> Diarmuid's killing, which bore all the hallmarks of a >> shoot-to-kill operation. Despite initial claims by the police >> that the shooting was a "tragic mistake", once in court the >> officers of the Metropolitan Police maintained that they in fact >> considered the operation to be a complete success and insisted >> that they would do the same again in similar circumstances. >> >> The conduct of the Coroner, Dr John Burton, also caused >> controversy. Dr Burton, who last autumn wrote to the Home Office >> calling for an inquiry into the killing, specifically requested >> permission to conduct the inquest, although he was due to retire >> before it opened. As the jury was about to retire to consider its >> verdict, Dr Burton made an unprecedented intervention, apparently >> setting aside the evidence and telling the jury that a verdict of >> lawful killing would suggest implicit support for the cause for >> which Diarmuid fought and turn him into a martyr. He also drew >> the jury's attention to the fact that Michael Mansfield is listed >> as a supporter on the Justice for Diarmuid O'Neill campaign >> letterhead. >> >> Diarmuid's father, Eoghan, said that after having given many >> hours of thought to their decision the family had finally "come >> to the conclusion that we could not leave it. It would seem as >> though we accept what happened to Diarmuid. The result of the >> inquest was horrible and what the coroner said was outrageous. He >> basically directed the jury to return that verdict. When he told >> them not to make a martyr of Diarmuid, it was a totally political >> comment". >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >>>>>> UN supports ex-prisoners' freedom of expression >> >> A United Nations report on freedom of expression has endorsed >> complaints against the British Broadcasting Corporation initiated >> by the republican ex prisoners co ordinating group Coiste na >> n-Iarchimi. >> >> A report submitted by Special Rapporteur Abid Hussain to the UN >> Commission on Human Rights accuses the BBC of bias and criticises >> the corporation's attitude towards ex prisoners which it says >> inhibits reconciliation within the North of Ireland. >> >> The report went on to call on the British government to scrap >> emergency legislation, ban the use of plastic bullets, stop the >> use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrators, publish >> the Stalker-Sampson inquiry and the Stevens' report and guarantee >> the rights of others are not violated in the exercise of the >> right to assemble and march. >> >> Commenting on the specific issue of freedom of expression for ex >> prisoners Coiste spokesperson and former republican POW Laurence >> McKeown said, "the BBC are living in the past, they're out of >> step with the current peace process and the responsibilities of >> conflict resolution." >> >> In January 1999 during a press conference launch of Coiste na >> n-Iarchimi a BBC film and radio crew interviewed, at their own >> request, three republican ex prisoners who had been recently >> released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. >> >> The former prisoners spoke of their hopes and fears for the >> future and the difficulties of reintegration. All three supported >> the Good Friday Agreement and the self help ethos of the >> Coiste. >> >> The establishment of the Coiste, which represents 20 local groups >> and projects run by and for republican ex prisoners, was a >> significant development towards peace and reconciliation. >> >> It is estimated that 15,000 republicans have experienced >> imprisonment during the last 30 years of conflict. Clearly the >> launch of the Coiste was an important media event which should >> have commanded coverage on local television and radio. >> >> Yet coverage of the launch and the interviews of the three ex >> prisoners were never broadcast by the BBC. Although Radio Ulster >> indicated on air at 12 noon that there would be a report on the >> one o'clock news, when the programme was broadcast there was no >> mention of the launch. >> >> According to a newspaper report at the time, the BBC had "pulled >> a planned radio item about the launch of a prisoner' rights group >> an hour before transmission...The BBC says it stopped the >> broadcast as it did not have enough opportunity or time to >> consult with the relatives of the victims." >> >> Following a formal complaint by Coiste Director Mike Ritchie, the >> BBC cited guidelines drawn up by the corporation to deal with >> interviews with former and serving prisoners "BBC NI has reported >> fully the debate surrounding the release of paramilitary >> prisoners and their future in this society and will continue to >> do so in a fair and comprehensive manner," replied radio news >> editor Kathleen Carragher. >> >> "The guidelines cited by the BBC are geared towards dealing with >> interviews of criminals in England and as such are totally >> inappropriate for dealing with people imprisoned as a result of >> political conflict in the North of Ireland," says Laurence. >> >> In response the Coiste described the guidelines as offensive to >> their clients. "A large element of the conflict concerned >> attempts by the British state to criminalise the republican >> perspective in general and republican prisoners in particular. >> From our point of view , dealing with political prisoners as if >> they are criminals is to abandon neutrality concerning the nature >> of the conflict." >> >> In a submission to UN Special Rapporteur Abid Hussain, the Coiste >> pointed out that the BBC's guidelines "are problematic in that >> they make no distinction between criminal and political >> convictions." The Coiste pointed out that there was a danger >> that ex prisoners "will continue to be defined in media terms in >> relation to their victims rather than in their own right. >> >> "Particularly in relation to a transition from conflict, this is >> unhelpful to our overall project of reintegration and >> reconciliation. Indeed it could be argued that such an approach >> has been deeply undermining of the spirit of the Good Friday >> Agreement which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of >> Ireland." >> >> But it was Dr David Miller of the Stirling Media Research >> Institute who pointed out the BBC's hypocrisy. In a letter to >> Andrew Coleman, the head of news and current affairs of the BBC >> in the Six Counties, Miller asked why interviews with Irish >> republican ex prisoners should be governed by guidelines drawn up >> to deal with criminals. >> >> Miller pointed out that there was a section within the guidelines >> which states "interviewing political dissidents and activists is >> an important part of providing a full understanding of events." >> The BBC's implementation of the guidelines was not only >> inappropriate it was arguably duplicitous. >> >> "Are there any occasions on which you have informed victims of >> the security forces when interviewing them. Have BBC journalists, >> for example, consistently informed Karen Reilly's parents before >> an interview with Lee Clegg was broadcast?" >> >> Of course they had not. In a submission to the UN Special >> Rapporteur, Miller points out that the "different standards which >> are applied to individuals or groups is dependent not on their >> actions but on which side they are." Miller cites the example of >> Lee Clegg and accused the BBC of double standards. >> >> But behind this is an even bigger issue said Miller. "Although >> British forces have been responsible for a large number of >> civilian and paramilitary deaths in the conflict less than ten >> have been jailed for murders committed while on duty. >> >> "This does mean that the operation of the justice system in >> Northern Ireland tends to further disadvantage those who are >> imprisoned in the sense that they are disproportionately regarded >> as criminals." >> >> Miller points out that the censorship of republicans ex prisoners >> comes within the context of a wider suppression of the truth by >> the British state. Miller cites a number of examples. >> >> Tony Geraghty, journalist and author arrested in relation to his >> book "The Irish War". Attempts to interfere with a book written >> by Jack Holland about the covert actions of an RUC Intelligence >> operative killed on the Mull of Kintyre. >> >> Court action against Tribune journalist Ed Moloney after an >> interview with an RUC Special Branch agent William Stobie, which >> implicated the RUC in the murder of Pat Finucane, was >> published. >> >> The imposition of a gagging order on the Sunday Times following >> revelations about the British army's covert Force Research Unit >> and attempts by the British army to destroy evidence gathered by > __________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi ___________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe/unsubscribe messages mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________
