Part 2 > IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP > http://irlnet.com/rmlist > > Tuesday/Wednesday, 11/12 July, 2000 > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Keeping watch on the Garvaghy Road > > by Laura Friel > > There were three of them. Standing alone under an Orange arch at > the furthest end of the Garvaghy Road. Naomi, Judy and Nicole, > young women from Minnesota, who had travelled thousands of miles > to this small corner of Ireland to act as observers during the > Orange marching season at Drumcree. > > A hundred yards further down the road, a British army and RUC > check point was stopping cars driving into the nationalist > enclave. British soldiers watched the International Observers > monitoring them. Conscientiously the three women noted down every > incident. > > A particular car was giving some cause for concern. It had driven > past twice but the driver had been different. The first driver, > corpulent and moustached, had leered out of his open window. The > vehicle slowed down to almost a stop as it approached two of the > observers. The occupant stared into their faces, then making some > kind of gesture with his right hand, he drove off at speed. > > Over head the Orange arch, decorated with canons, sailing ships > and symbols of salvation, Jacob's ladder, Christ's cross and the > flags of unionism, the union jack and a loyalist red hand could > offer neither shelter nor comfort on that lonely stretch of > road. > > Across the street in a row of terraced houses the occasional > chimney smoked, the only sign of life as the light faded and the > sky threatened more rain. Judy lit a cigarette, "I don't normally > smoke at home," she smiles. "Neither do I," says Naomi. > > Another car raced past at speed, the squeal of it's wheels > momentarily filling the evening gloom. "It's so unpredictable," > says Naomi, "even when it's quiet it's still tense." A car drives > past with a couple and three children. "There's a sense of relief > when you see a family," says Naomi. > > Judy is a social worker attached to a secondary school. "I like a > challenge," she says. Judy is concerned about the spate of > teenage suicides which have recently occurred within the Garvaghy > Road community. > > "I've met some of the young people here," she says, "they're > quite different from teenagers at home. More grown up, much more > serious. I guess the situation robs them of their youth." > > Amongst the many international observers from all parts of the > world, there are currently over 160 American and Canadian > Observers in the north of Ireland working in flash points all > over the Six Counties. For many, like the three women from > Minnesota, it was their first time in Ireland, for others in has > been an annual commitment over a number of years. > > Pat Doherty, is a veteran observer on the Garvaghy Road. "It's a > straight forward civil rights issue," says Pat and one quite > familiar to the American people. In the 1950's when six black > school children were to enrol in a formally whites' only > secondary school, the white supremacists and segregationalists in > Little Rock, Arkansas brought the state to a standstill. > > "The KKK threatened violence much the same as the loyalists have > done here," says Pat. The state governor rang President > Eisenhower and told him he couldn't guarantee the children's > safety if integration was forced on the state. > > "Eisenhower was a military man, he said don't worry and dropped > thousands of troops into Arkansas over night," says Pat, "it was > just a matter of facing them down. It'll be much the same here I > guess." The showdown was repeated by Kennedy in the early 60's in > Mississippi and Alabama. > > "Irish Americans have become significant power brokers within the > American political system," says Pat, "both within the Republican > and Democrat Party. The nomination of vice presidential > candidates is to be announced within two weeks. Almost certainly > they'll be Irish Americans." > > As for the Garvaghy Road, the tone of this year's ruling by the > Parades Commission was significantly different. "The residents > have won the argument," says Pat, "in the end who can argue with > the right to live free from sectarian harassment?" > > Amongst the international observers at Drumcree, Donald Payne of > the American Black Caucus is saying much the same. "It's a civil > rights issue," says Payne, "and the Orange Order can't hide > behind notions of tradition and culture." > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Residents protest Springfield Road march > > > > After a night of loyalist attacks on the Springfield Road, the > RUC sealed the area off to allow this year's Twelfth parade > through. The area from Lanark Way to Workman Avenue was littered > with rocks, stones and the broken bottles of a night's attacks. > The RUC members on duty at the time refused to move against the > loyalists, claiming that they were "in a different division". > > The loyalist parade went through the area on Wednesday morning, > 12 July, as residents held a peaceful protest. > > The Parades Commission decision to allow the Orange march on the > Springfield Road was described as "unbelievable" by Sinn Fein > councillor Tom Hartley. He was speaking after party > representatives met with the Commission last Wednesday, 5 July, > in an attempt to have the decision overturned. The Commission had > ruled earlier that it would allow the Twelfth parade to march > along the Springfield Road, despite objections by residents. > > Springfield residents are particularly incensed given that > Orangemen had previously broken every restriction on them made > imposed by the Commission. > > On Saturday, 24 June, men wearing UDA uniform and carrying UDA > banners were allowed participate in the Whiterock Parade and > loyalist music was blasted through a tannoy system in a clear > breach of the spirit of the Commission's ruling that music was > not to be played on the Springfield Road. > > It has now emerged that all members of the Springfield Residents' > Action Group have been cautioned by the RUC in relation to > disturbances that occurred on the Springfield Road that day. > > Some clashes erupted as the RUC, dressed in riot gear, attacked > nationalists. Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly was hit on > the head by an RUC baton and received hospital treatment. > > In a statement Tom Hartley, said: "It would seem that the purpose > of these cautions is to intimidate anyone who might be inclined > to protest against this decision." > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Taxi attacked by gunmen > > > A Catholic taxi driver whose car was attacked by loyalist gunmen > has told how he thought he was about to be murdered. > > The west Belfast man said if his vehicle had been stopped he and > his passengers would have been killed. > > Speaking yesterday about the incident on Sunday night, he urged > other drivers to remain vigilant at all times. > > "They jumped right out to stop the car," the 48-year-old said. > "It's a warning for other taxi men, to let them know what's > happening for their own safety." > > The driver was on his first evening back at work after a year's > sick leave when the attack occurred at around 11pm. > > He was taking two men from his west Belfast depot to a pub in the > south of the city. > > After coming off Broadway roundabout the car was travelling along > the loyalist Glenmachan Street towards Tates Avenue when a number > of masked men appeared in front of the car. > > "The passenger on my side shouted 'Get down' because there was a > guy coming off the pavement dressed in black," the driver > recalled. > > "I didn't take it in at first but when I looked he had his hands > up, pointing a gun at us. Behind him two others spilled across > the road and in front of the car. > > "I got down and put my head below the steering wheel and managed > to swerve towards the pavement and back again." > > A brick was thrown through the rear side window, injuring one > passenger. "Had they got us we were dead," said the taximan. > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Bomb 'an attack on peace process' > > Speaking after a bomb attack in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, on > Sunday, 9 July, Sinn Fein Education Minister Martin McGuinness > said: "This morning's bomb was a deliberate attack on the peace > process. The timing on the mornin of the Drumcree march will be > seen as a deliberate provocation. It was carried out by people of > no credinbility who are opposed to this process. They are locked > in the past and have nothing to offer the future. > > "It is an ironic fact that the Orange Order, the unionist > rejectionists and the group that planted this bomb are working to > the same agenda. We must do all we can to ensure that they are > not allowed to succeed." > > Martin McGuinness has also called for end to attacks on Orange > halls. Speaking after an arson attack on Kilrea Orange Hall, he > said that such attacks have no place in republican politics. The > Mid-Ulster MP said:"Damage caused to the property belonging to > the Orange Order lends nothing useful to the current situation. > > "I wish to state clearly that activity of this nature is > sectarian, it is counter-productive, and it runs contrary to > republican thinking. I appeal to anyone inclined towards such > activity to immediately desist." > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Sinn Fein secures Leitrim County Council chair > > > > Sinn Fein Councillor Michael Colreavy, who was elected chair of > Leitrim County Council last Friday, envisages major > changes on the council. "I've two items on the agenda," he says. > "I want the community more involved in planning and development > in the county, and I want to see more accountability by > councillors in their dealings with the community. > > "We in Sinn Fein, for example, held a public meeting recently in > Manorhamilton, where I tried to bring the business of the council > to the people, the matters which I had brought up on the council, > resolutions, questions and the work of the new Strategic Policy > Committees and so on. There were about 50 people there. I also > gave a clear statement of my expenses. I looked for people's > thoughts on what they would like to see the council doing. > Councillors need to make themselves accountable in this way if we > are going to represent the people here. I want to see this > happening all over the county. > > "People have not been consulted on major developments in Leitrim. > I want a greater involvement of people in policy making. For > example the holiday home development in Tullaghan, there was > little consultation, which meant development which is not in > character with the area. People ask of what benefit to Leitrim > are subsidised holiday homes, dotted across the county? They > might well ask. > > "Recent changes in local government envisage council meetings > which are structured so as to zone in on policy, rather than > dwelling on clientelist issues which councillors should be > bringing to the executive to settle, without endless time wasting > in council meetings. > > "I hope to see the developments envisaged in recent changes in > local government implemented where we take reports back, discuss > issues, and vote on policy, and resist playing a game of party > pacts to keep general issues undiscussed, behind closed doors, in > the hands of unelected council officials. > > "Any councillor who sits on external committees, like the North > Western Health Board, or the VEC, representing the council, is > responsible to the council and should report back to us. Council > meetings need to take seriously their role in county health or > education, and make themselves accountable." > > "The structures are there for us councillors. Whether other party > councillors are able to take the time to work them, to give the > time to council business which it deserves, is another matter. I > hope they can." > > On Monday evening, in another advance for the party in > the 26 Counties, Sinn Fein's Charlie Boylan was elected > vice-chair of Cavan County Council. > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Republican advance alarms Bruton > > > Caoimhghin O Caolain TD has said that the Fine Gael leader John > Bruton is "clearly alarmed at the rise of Sinn Fein" and is > "peddling untruths" in order to discredit the party. The Sinn > Fein TD strongly refuted John Bruton's claim in a speech in > Tralee on Monday that Sinn Fein would be a "prop" for Fianna > Fail. > > O Caolain said: "John Bruton makes the ludicrous claim that 'Sinn > Fein supported Fianna Fail in the last general election'. The > Dail seat won by Sinn Fein in Cavan/Monaghan was formerly > occupied by Fianna Fail. In this and every constituency we > contested in the last general and local elections, we were > challenging Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour for seats, with > many notable successes. It will come as news to Fianna Fail > elected representatives who lost seats to Sinn Fein that we are a > 'pro-Fianna Fail party'. > > "Deputy Bruton is clearly alarmed at the rise of Sinn Fein and is > peddling untruths in order to discredit the party. His outburst > comes just over a week after this Sinn Fein TD voted against the > Fianna Fail-led government in a confidence motion on the last day > of the Dail term. In that debate I described Fianna Fail as a > 'party in the pocket of the privileged'. The only difference with > Fine Gael is that they represent a slightly different section of > the privileged. > > "My voting record in this Dail on a raft of issues from health > and education to political corruption and Irish neutrality shows > clearly my opposition and that of my party to the flawed and > failed approach of Fianna Fail. The difference between John > Bruton's Fine Gael and Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail on social and > economic issues is wafer thin and for Deputy Bruton to present > himself and his party as a real alternative to a Fianna Fail-led > government is laughable. > > "Sinn Fein is not a prop to any political party in Leinster > House. We are a radical alternative to those parties that have > failed to address the fundamental inequalities in Irish society. > Sharing the wealth and creating real change in our country is > Sinn Fein's priority. > > > > FUNDING > > "Deputy Bruton also criticises Sinn Fein for raising funds in the > United States. In the past, Fine Gael members have called for > votes to be given to Irish emigrants. They failed to deliver when > in government and now, in supporting the flawed Labour Party Bill > on party funding, they would also deny those emigrants the right > to contribute to the party of their choice. The truth is that > Deputy Bruton's party has little or no support among those of our > people, and their descendants, who in the past were forced to > emigrate when he and his predecessors were in office. The problem > is not funding of parties by the Irish Diaspora but the > bankrolling of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael by big business in > Ireland in exchange for government policies which favour them. > Sinn Fein is opposed to such corporate donations. > > "The most natural coalition partners are the two conservative > parties, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. As the real opposition rises > in the country in the form of Sinn Fein, other smaller parties > and principled independents, the two major parties will be > weakened. I welcome this and look forward in the next general > election to Sinn Fein reshaping the political landscape North and > South." > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >>>>>> Analysis: The struggle for a new police service goes on > > By Gerry Kelly MLA > > --------------------------------------------------------------- > As the bill reforming policing in the North of Ireland progresses > through the Britsh parliament, Gerry Kelly MLA voices Sinn Fein's > determination that the Patten report will not be watered down > --------------------------------------------------------------- > > THE Good Friday agreement signalled an agenda of widespread > change, including significant change in policing which "is > central in any society". At the centre of this is the agreed > position of those who signed up to the agreement "that this > agreement provides the opportunity for a new beginning to > policing ... with a police service capable of attracting and > sustaining support from the community as a whole." > > This is the litmus test for Patten and the British government > proposals. > > Sinn Fein made its own detailed substantive proposals to the > Patten commission on what, in our view, constitutes a new > beginning to policing. > > We have judiciously and (we believe with hindsight) correctly, > withheld a definitive view on judgment of Patten or any other > proposals. > > While arguing for what we believe is required of a "new > beginning", we will reserve and make our final call on what > ultimately emerges. > > For the Sinn Fein leadership, like all political or civic > leaderships, will have to call on its constituency to support or > join what emerges from this process - or reject what emerges. > > Given the history in Ireland of the RIC and the RUC, that > judgment for nationalists and republicans is an enormously > significant matter. > > At its launch in September 1999, the chairman of the commission, > Christopher Patten, said: > > "The recommendations form a package which we firmly believe needs > to be implemented comprehensively. We counsel strongly against > cherry picking from the report or trying to implement some major > elements of it in isolation from others." > > We have been consistent too, in demanding that the context in > which a new policing service operates is correct. > > This includes an end to repressive emergency legislation and > implementation of the conclusions of a thoroughgoing review of > the justice system that embodies the principles of the Good > Friday agreement - especially justice, equality and inclusivity. > > Policing remains a key aspect of the transitional arrangements > arising out of the GFA. > > The British government's approach to the question of policing - > evident in the Mandelson policing bill - has been to undermine > the potential for a new police service by the adoption of a > minimalist approach to change. > > The outcome of the British government's deliberations and of the > efforts of the RUC and securocrats, was to produce proposed > legislation which bears little resemblance to Patten. > > Since then Sinn Fein has been involved in intense discussions > with the British government. > > We have and are lobbying at Westminister and are in contact with > senior figures in Washington, the White House and the Irish > government. > > Sinn Fein will make periodic assessments of the British proposals > as they unfold in the legislative process. It will suffice for > now to say that there is a gulf between what is proposed in the > initial legislation and the Patten recommendations. > > This is particularly true in the areas of: > > * the powers of the policing board > * the powers of the ombudsman > * the powers and structure of the local accountability mechanisms > * the oath > * the legacy of the RUC including its name, badge and symbols > > The British government now see compromise as somewhere between > their plans and Patten. This could undermine the potential for > stable politics, safety and security in local neighbourhoods > dependent on a new start to policing. > > Many nationalist politicians have made clear that Patten was the > compromise. There is widespread agreement that the British > proposals are flawed. > > The sooner we move the debate back to the ground outlined by > Patten the more likely we are to achieve the intention in the > agreement for the creation of new policing arrangements "capable > of attracting and sustaining support from the community as a > whole". > > According to our assessment of Mandelson's policing bill and of > the implementation plans, it: > > * implements 11 Patten recommendations > * provides insufficient information for a judgment on 75 other > Patten recommendations and > * subverts 89 Patten recommendations > > Even worse: of the 175 Patten recommendations, 75 can be > described as fundamental. > > When analysed we find that: > > * there is insufficient information to make a judgment on 15 of > these key recommendations > * 60 of these key recommendations are being subverted > > Recent alleged concessions which Mr Mandelson has offered in > relation to the powers of the policing board, the application of > human rights to officers' behaviour, the powers of the ombudsman, > and so on, do not go far enough. > > Even with the Patten proposals, Sinn Fein is unsure whether > sufficient momentum for transformation will be built up to ensure > a new start to policing. Any movement away from Patten, however, > will simply confirm that doubt. > > The legislative process needs to redress this situation. > > > > > > c. RM Distribution and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit. > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > RM Distribution > Irish Republican News and Information > http://irlnet.com/rmlist/ > > PO Box 160, Galway, Ireland Phone/Fax: (353)1-6335113 > PO Box 8630, Austin TX 78713, USA mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > > RMD1000712191514p4 >
