(Forwarded) > IRWG calls for inquiry into shooting of Joseph O'Connor >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > The IRWG deplores the shooting to death of Joseph O Connor. We > understand that the late Mr O Connor was a member of the Real IRA and > while we profoundly disagree with that organisation's pursuit of an > armed campaign, we condemn the murder of any republican. > > The IRWG believe that this incident raises a number of disturbing > questions: > > - Is it true that erstwhile Republicans now supporting the GFA and > the new Stormont administration shot Joseph O Connor dead? > > - Did the BBC's recent Panorama programme isolating the RIRA > influence the timing of the assassination of Joseph O Connor? > > - Why was the RUC so quick to confirm that the deceased was a 'key > RIRA activist'? > > - Why did the RUC initially credit the assassination to dissident > feuding? > > - Was the RUC raid on the RSF Belfast office, at or about the time of > the shooting, done to deliberately sow doubt as to the perpetrators' > identities? > > - Why did SF Councillor Sean McKnight mention 'pre-existing tension' > in his statement, who did this tension exist between, and what, if > any bearing did it have on the murder? > > - Unlike previous occasions, why did Alex Attwood of the SDLP refuse > to speculate on the identity of the perpetrators? > > - Is it a coincidence that the family at the centre of a public > debate regarding state collusion in the murder of Francisco > Notorantonio should be subject to murder again? > > All of these questions raise the frightening probability that Joseph > O Connor was the victim of a political assassination carried out by > forces loyal to the Stormont regime. In short, the execution of > Joseph O Connor may have the same rationale as that which led to the > execution of Rory O Connor in 1922. That is - the killing of an Irish > republican in order to cooperfasten an anti-republican treaty. > > The IRWG believes that it is imperative that a thoroughgoing and > credible inquiry be held to determine the truth of this case and that > a report be published of its findings. Such a report should be > coupled with recommendations to prevent further bloodletting. > > > Visit our webpage at http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Theater/4698 > Subject: IRWG UPDATE Irish Republican Writers Group http://rwg.phoblacht.net HOTSCEAL 'Joe O'Connor killed in Belfast - his mother Margaret blames the Provos' John Meehan "It is essential to draw a line here - political differences among republicans are one thing, but killing political opponents must be rigorously and actively opposed. It is essential to mount a political defence of the elementary right to hold opinions that differ from the Provisional leadership. I understand the Irish Republican Writers' Group has called for an independent enquiry into the killing of Joe O'Connor - this should be supported. Other political initiatives must also be taken - I call on independent activists to make their voices heard on this issue - support for the right to politically "dissent" should extend well beyond the very small number of people who agree with Joe O'Connor's criticisms of the provisional leadership. Independent activists who support the GFA (or who may be sympathetic to aspects of it) have a particular duty to speak up at this time. Nothing could be worse than the starting up of a military republican feud - now is the the essential time for political activists to speak up and act." The full article can be accessed in our HOTSCEAL section http://rwg.phoblacht.net/latestalt.html
