From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Ireland: Changing Times For Sinn Fein - BBC Wednesday, 3 October, 2001, 09:55 GMT 10:55 UK Changing times for Sinn Fein =================== http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/northern_ireland/newsid_1576000/1576874. stm Sinn Fein: Asked to explain men's presence in Colombia BBC Dublin correspondent Shane Harrison reports that the US terror attacks and the Colombia affair have clearly changed attitudes to Sinn Fein amongst Ireland's political parties. With a general election due in the Irish Republic before next summer, the atmosphere in the Dublin parliament - the Dail - is expected to be more confrontational than normal as the parties try to make their mark with the voters. The hard-line republican party Sinn Fein, which is linked to the IRA, has only one member of the 166 seat Dail, but it is hoping to increase its representation after the election. If this was any other party there would be a judicial tribunal of inquiry Conor Lenihan Fianna Fail TD on Sinn Fein The arrests of three IRA suspects in Colombia with false passports and the terror attacks on the US, have, however, produced changed attitudes to the party led by Gerry Adams. While most of the concern expressed about Colombia in Northern Ireland centres on whether the three were testing explosives in rebel-controlled territory, south of the Irish border greater concern is expressed about alleged links between republicans and FARC, the Marxist guerrilla group linked by the US to cocaine growing and trafficking. Public representatives from all the main parties have asked Sinn Fein to explain the presence of the three in Colombia. Sinn Fein is hoping to increase members in the Dail They have also accused republicans of hypocrisy for being involved in anti-drug vigilateeism in the Irish Republic while cavorting with narco-terrorists in the South American jungle. Dail members of both the government and opposition have said they have felt they have had to bite their lips as Gerry Adams lectured them about morality and allegations of corruption in the republic. They say they did not want to be seen to attack Sinn Fein and remind that party of past IRA activities, including murders and kidnappings, in case they were accused of jeopardising the peace process. Now that has changed. Conor Lenihan, a member of Fianna Fail - the main government party, says: "We still believe Sinn Fein is sincere in pursuit of peace. "However, they are a political party and they do have questions to answer about their involvement with drug dealers. "If this was any other party there would be a judicial tribunal of enquiry." Level of support Despite public unease about what was going on in Colombia, Sinn Fein's support in a recent opinion poll has risen from 4% to 6%. If that level of support is replicated in the general election, Sinn Fein could hold the balance of power. At its recent annual conference or ard fheis in Dublin, Sinn Fein debated whether to go into coalition in the republic after the election. Martin McGuinness: "Politics of corruption" It was clear that delegates would be reluctant to do so saying they didn't want to be associated with what senior party member Martin McGuinness called: "the politics of corruption and self-interest that has for far too long been the norm in this part of the island". Sinn Fein voted to keep an open mind on coalition and hold a special conference after the election to decide the issue. But privately, senior members say they need about five years in opposition to build up their organisation south of the border before they are in a position to go into government. But in many ways the debate is academic as the Irish constitution appears to be clear that no party with a private army, whether or not on ceasefire, can be part of the government. And that means that until the IRA ceases to be, Sinn Fein is unlikely to be in government north or south of the border, a key aim for a party that wants Irish unity. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
