Ní Síocháin go Saoirse!

Bilingual Traffic Signs At The Crossroads

2011-01-12T10:34:00.001+00:00

Conor Murphy Signals New Direction For Road Map To A United Ireland

Stormont HQ Minister, Conor Murphy, has announced the possibility of a range of bilingual traffic signs in either Irish or Ulster-Scots as a method of promoting minority languages on the Partitioned Island of Ireland.

The Department for Regional Development claims that this proposed policy will help Norn Irony meet its commitments under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

Announcing the consultation period for the plans yesterday, Mr Murphy said:

"The policy is intended to facilitate the introduction of a number of certain bilingual traffic signs in Irish or Ulster-Scots for the specific purpose of promoting minority languages……….We have obligations under the European Charter for the protection of minority languages and the proposed policy will permit the inclusion of either Irish or Ulster-Scots, on town or village welcome signs, some supplementary plate signs for example a 'school' warning sign and certain tourist signs."

Are Bilingual Traffic Signs ‘Directionless’?

However, Conor Murphy’s proposals may be hit by ‘STOP AND SEARCH’ down the road if the level of criticism by the DUP, the Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionists is anything to go by. Michelle McIlveen (DUP) said:

"Given the range of problems on Connor Murphy's desk he should be focusing on more important matters rather than a pointless political exercise about bilingual signage……This is a Sinn Fein hobby horse and not a sensible proposal given the budgetary constraints faced by departments."

Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott also CHIPPED IN by saying:

"The cost of the consultation and provision of signs is outrageous, the money would be much better spent on repair of roads which are in an appalling state……… The European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages does not place any responsibility on the department in respect of traffic signage and it should be recognised that this could be a politically sensitive issue and divisive."

However, the TUV leader, Jim Allister, was CUTTING NO CORNERS when he claimed that there was no compulsion for such proposals under the Charter on Minority Languages and that it was an attempt to erode:

"Northern Ireland's Britishness".

And talking of 'Britishness' maybe one of our readers could translate this road sign for future reference!!

Devolution of Policing And Justice Litmus Test

2011-01-10T15:04:00.025+00:00

This is a guest article by Helen McClafferty, Chairperson for the Free Gerry McGeough Campaign. Helen is of Irish American descent and is a dedicated human and civil rights campaigner.

Try and picture this scenario going down...

A political candidate stands as an Independent on issues of principle during elections in Zimbabwe. Every political dirty trick and smear in the book is used against him during the campaign.

At the end of the election count, he is arrested as he leaves the Poll Count Center and taken for interrogation. The international community, with Britain taking the lead, would be in uproar squealing over the injustice of it all. Despite his high-profile during the election and before, the Zimbabwe police state that they arrested him at the Center only because they had no idea of his whereabouts prior to that date. The international media are disgusted at the pathetic excuse.

A few days later, the candidate is charged with attacks against the former Rhodesian military going back 35 years and thrown in jail. Only after a massive legal struggle is he granted bail and freed under severe restrictions. Due to these restrictions he is unable to pursue his teaching career, which has an effect on his family as he is the main breadwinner.

While his political enemies continue to slander him on the Internet, he is dragged before courts every month and the case is put back for no good reason every time. Britain continues to highlight the injustice of his case and demands that all politically motivated charges be dropped.

Two-and-a-half years after his arrest, the candidate remains in legal limbo. He suffers a major heart attack. The British press and media are in uproar and demand that Robert Mugabe put an end to this vindictive political persecution.

The candidate survives the heart-attack but his health is now a source of major concern to his legal team. Regardless of this, the Zimbabwe authorities go ahead with a trial against him, which begins exactly three years to the day after his arrest.

In order to try him, a special non-jury court system is resurrected for the event, even though this system has been repealed years earlier and is notoriously corrupt. The British government is hysterical about this human rights abuse.

The trial is stopped for an Abuse of Process application. This is refused despite the excellent legal arguments in its favour.

The trial resumes six months after it first began. On the second day, the candidate is rushed to hospital for emergency heart treatment. The local national media censor all reporting on this major development. The British are outraged.

Following a surgical procedure, the trial is resumed for a third time. The charges against him involve membership of a Nationalist group and the wounding of a Rhodesian soldier during the conflict 30 years earlier.

The evidence against the candidate includes one of his novels, a stated work of fiction, which has been published and on sale for years. A chapter from this novel is read out of context in court and entered as "evidence". The international community is aghast at the idiocy of such a development, and writers' guilds around the world protest at the injustice of such Philistine behavior.

Next, it emerges that the candidate once sought political asylum in Sweden. The Swedish government readily hand over his application papers to the Zimbabwean authorities and dispatch one of their Immigration Officials to testify against the candidate. This constitutes the prosecution's main evidence.

International Human Rights and Refugee Groups are beside themselves with fury and the UN condemns the move. The British threaten a boycott against Zimbabwe and lecture the Swedes on their treachery.

The trial ends and the candidate is told to brace himself for a twenty year sentence.

The above story is hardly imaginable. A government provokes international anger in order to pursue a vindictive, politically motivated trial against someone just because he stood in an election and articulated views that were at odds with the powers that be.

Guess what? All of this has happened, not in Zimbabwe but in the North of Ireland against Gerry McGeough. The only difference is that the British government far from speaking out against the injustice is actually responsible for it. Also, the international community, human rights groups and writers' guilds have been remarkably silent about it all. It's time we all spoke out.

Helen McClafferty (Chairperson for Free Gerry McGeough Campaign)

SHOW YOU SUPPORT BY JOINING THE FREE GERRY MCGEOUGH OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE AND THE JUSTICE FOR GERRY MCGEOUGH FACEBOOK PAGE HERE

Gerry Bradley Remembered

2011-01-05T18:39:00.001+00:00

“I’m not another Denis Donaldson!” ~ Gerry Bradley ~

This is an Obituary written by The Pensive Quill on former PIRA Volunteer, Gerry Bradley, and co-author with veteran Irish historian, Brian Feeney, of ‘Insider: Gerry Bradley’s life in the IRA.’

Gerry Bradley’s publication of his memoirs became a highly contentious and thorny issue within the Irish Republican collective. So much so that he and his family were subject to intimidation in their native North Belfast, which extended to graffiti calling him a ‘Tout’ being dubbed on walls.

However, there was not complete castigation from the Irish Republican movement and several high profile Republicans were quick to stand by their former comrade including former Hunger Striker, Gerard Hodkins, who said:

Gerry Bradley's mistake was he wrote a book without going to them and asking their permission … If you wanted to write a book, they would expect to be presented with a copy for them to censor before it goes to publication.

Fellow PIRA volunteer turned writer, Richard O’Rawe, was also quick to jump to Bradley’s defence and publicly show his support stating:

You have to ask yourself - are they (the leadership) the only ones allowed to write books? Is history never to be recorded properly? It's no coincidence that Gerry felt compelled to write his book. And bear in mind, Gerry Bradley put no one in prison

Whether we agree with former PIRA volunteers writing their memoirs we MUST not forget that there was a 40 year ‘Dirty War’ waged here. Whilst such books may be viewed by some as revealing trade secrets, opportunistic, self-serving etc, are we in a position to judge?

We must candidly ask ourselves do WE have the right to deny future generations of Irish Republicans access to the truth surrounding events, the ability to analysis those events, and hence the opportunity to learn from any mistakes?

"Loyalty to petrified opinion never broke a chain or freed a human soul." ~ Mark Twain~

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Irishmen and Irishwomen Lend Me Your Ears

2010-12-04T20:04:00.001+00:00

The following two candid videos starkly highlight WHY Irishmen and Irishwomen need to begin to re-focus their attention and energies during these turbulent and challenging times,especially as Partitioned Ireland's 2016 centenary as a pseudo Independent and Sovereign Partitioned Republic looms large.

Partitioned Ireland's current socio-economic crisis is hardly a fitting and timely tribute to the sacrifice of the seven signatories (James Connolly, Padraig Pearse, Eamonn Ceannt, Joseph Plunkett, Thomas MacDonagh, Thomas Clarke, and Sean MacDiarmada) and their loyal and dedicated compadres.

These true Sons of Éireann, would never have envisaged her current socio-economic blight when they drafted and signed the most fundamentally important document in Irish history, the cornerstone of her Independence and Sovereignty, Phoblacht Na h'Éireann, on 24th April 1916. The roots of partitioned Ireland 2010's newest blight upon her peoples have this TIME been sown by self-proclaimed Irishmen and Irishwomen who have placed their own self-interest, greed, cronyism and political elitism above the needs of their fellow Irishcountrymen and Irishcountrywomen.

AICSC Condemn Celtic FC Over Poppy Wearing Decision

2010-11-09T22:39:00.000+00:00

The Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs (AICSC) has released a detailed statement regarding the Anti-Poppy banner that was unfurled by the Green Brigade at last weekend’s games at Aberdeen.
This statement comes just hours after Celtic FC manager, Neil Lennon, gave his backing to the Celtic FC board whilst recognised that their contentious decision was a ‘sensitive issue’.
In an interview with a regional newspaper Lennon said:

'I support the club's stance on it. It's a sensitive issue with a lot of supporters, for and against. I go with the club's statement on Monday and I want to draw a line under that today.'

In stark contrast, the AICSC statement reflects that they are not in such a reconciliatory mood. The opening paragraph reiterates what they expressed to the Celtic FC Board in a related communication last month:

We outlined the divisive nature of the poppy in Ireland – the country of Celtic’s heritage and from where a significant proportion of its support comes - and its negative connotations of support for the British army, whose operations in Ireland (and in other parts of the world) have caused division, loss and rancour on a large scale.

They then launch a stinging attack on the Celtic FC Board decision to comply with the SPL ruling and outlined how it is causing much division among loyal supporters:

However, Celtic were wrong to choose once again to use the club jersey – which we all respect and identify with no matter our personal views - as a medium for such a divisive symbol and one which does not recognise the memory of victims of the British military. Indeed, the club’s actions are all the more regrettable after engagements with supporters - either through official bodies such as the AICSC and “Meet the Supporters” events through the year – would have left its officials in no doubt as to the significant level of concern felt by supporters.

Then AICSC statement continues to refute the claim by a Celtic FC spokesperson that the Green Brigade represented a minority of Celtic supporters:

A recent display of banners at Celtic Park spoke for many of us and not, as some would have it, a minority. We believe this was an overdue and welcome message to the club and reflects a large degree of concern at the failure to listen to the views of supporters.

Regarding Celtic FC’s decision to ban those supporters who were actively involved in the unfurling of the banner the AICSC had this message for the Celtic FC Board:

In addition, we deplore any threat to ban those who participated in this display from Celtic Park and call on it to be retracted immediately. We believe that those behind the display have added greatly to the atmosphere at the stadium in recent times and such an attempt to stifle their freedom of expression should be condemned.

The AICSC statement concludes by re-iterating the fact that sport and politics should remain to separate entities and calls on the club to empathise more with the sentiments of their supporters:

We are frequently told that politics has no place in football or within Celtic F.C. Yet, this claim rings hollow against the background of the club agreeing – with full knowledge of the concerns of dedicated and honourable supporters – to use the jersey to identify it with the contentious poppy symbol. We would call on the club to engage once more and on a meaningful basis with its supporters and their representatives on this and other issues.

The full AICSC statement can be read in full here

Celtic FC Condemn Green Brigade Anti Poppy Banner

2010-11-08T22:36:00.000+00:00

The actions of this small minority have no place at Celtic Park.~Celtic Park Spokesperson~

Tonite a spokesperson for Celtic Park has publicly apologised on Sky TV, for the 'The Green Brigade' banner unfurled at Aberdeen last week that read:

"Your deeds would shame all the devils in Hell. Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan. No bloodstained poppy on our Hoops."

The following is the fore mentioned Sky TV interview with this Celtic Park spokesman where he explains the SPL clubs position on the matter.....

Glasgow Celtics New Poppy Clad Remembrance Day Strip

2010-11-08T18:55:00.001+00:00

Celtic Green Brigade Anti Poppy Banner

2010-11-08T18:36:00.001+00:00

Green Brigade Banner Causes Outrage

A banner unfurled by a group of Glasgow Celtic supporters calling themselves the 'Green Brigade' during their 9-0 thrashing of Aberdeen read as follows:

"Your deeds would shame all the devils in Hell. Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan. No bloodstained poppy on our Hoops."

(Photo Courtesy of Mick Click)

Irish Republican Conflict Junkies Unite!!

2010-10-21T20:32:00.000+01:00

…..You Have Nothing To Lose But Your Chains…

The State of Norn Irony’s Deputy First Minister and former Chief Irish Republican negotiator during the Peace Process, Martin McGuinness has recent flagged the alarming increasing blight on Norn Irony society of ‘Conflict Junkies’.-so called dissident Irish Republicans…

If a 'Conflict Junky' support group existed, it could be called, F.A. (Fenian Anonymous, formerly Fenian Aspiration). If it did exist, then the following 12 Step Programme could be used to assist those who may feel dismayed or left behind by Sinn Fein’s direction on Irish Unity.

The 12 Steps to Stormont

[via Black Op GFA, (Give’m Fcuk All)]

STEP 1: We admitted we were powerless over Irish Partition and British Rule – that our 40 Year Struggle had become unmanageable due to infiltration by Supergrasses, [Steakknife & Stakeknife(**-See Footnotes), Brian Nelson,Kevin Fulton et al,] British State Collusion, Shoot to Kill, Sectarian Loyalist death squads, SAS Big Boy Rules, etc etc

STEP 2: Came to believe that a Power (John Hume/Tony Blair/Bertie Ahern) greater than ‘ourselves alone’ could restore us to sanity (Sunningdale Mark II).

STEP 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our political aspirations over to the care of God (aka Big Ian Paisley) as we understood Big Ian (Never, Never, Never).

STEP 4: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD’s) and ‘The Disappeared”.

STEP 5: Admitted to Big Ian, to ‘ourselves alone’, and to John De Chastelain the exact nature of our WMD’s and where they were…

STEP 6: Were entirely ready to have Big Ian remove all these Fenian defects of character and succumbing to wearing sack clothes and ashes after rigorous mental rehabilitation to produce the Good Friday Agreement (later to be watered down to St Andrew’s/Hillsborough Agreements).

STEP 7: Humbly asked Big Ian should we remove our right to Self Determination through Articles 2 & 3..

STEP 8: Made a list of all persons harmed in the 40 Year Struggle via the Police Ombudsman Office & Historical Enquiries Team etc, and became willing to make amends to them ALL (via Eames/Bradley Report) by palming them of with £12K each!!.

STEP 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, EXCEPT Dissident Irish Republicans where we ask their communities on the ‘Divided Island of Ireland’ to ‘TOUT’ on them to the Garda/PSNI.

STEP 10: Continued to take personal inventory of our Irish Republicanism and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. (EXEMPT: Being an ‘alleged’ member of the Irish Republican Army OR Calling our former Irish Republican comrades ‘Traitors, to the Partitioned Island of Ireland’).

STEP 11: Sought through the GFA/St. Andrew’s agreements, and tree hugging with Tony Blair to improve our conscious contact with Big Ian as we understood Big Ian, praying only for knowledge of Big Ian’s British Imperialist will for us and the power to carry that out after ringing Big Ian seven times for consent.

STEP 12: Having had a spiritual awakening (A Road to Stormont Conversion) as the result of these steps of capitulation, we will try to bluff this message (**, See Foot-notes) to other conflict junkies, and to practice these principles as we administer Britannia’s Rule at Stormont HQ (including her imminent Public sector CUTS) on Irish Soil.

Foot-notes:

*- Note, this is not a typo, there were 2 of them !! Click here for further information.

** - Unlike Richardson’s fertiliser, this MESSAGE has to get a Standard & Poor’s like credibility rating, as it is still currently being tried and tested home and away (Afganistan, Iraq and Palestine).

Dealing with Norn Irony's Dissident Irish Republicans

2010-10-21T17:45:00.005+01:00

Are Dissident Irish Republicans merely 'Conflict Junkies' ?

The State of Norn Irony’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuiness, recently launched a tirade against dissident Irish Republicans as he attended the recent Conservative Party Conference 2010 on the British mainland.

Whilst the Conservative conference had more Union Jacks flying than at the Queen’s coronation, Mr McGuiness remained undeterred and pulled no punches in condemnation of the,

‘when the cat’s away the mice will play bomb attack’

on the UK City of Culture 2011.
One of the less than flattering terms he used to describe the alleged dissident Irish Republican bombers was that of ‘conflict junkies’.

From an Island of Ireland perspective, McGuinness’s timing of the use of the phrase ‘conflict junkies’ could not been worse. At the very best such terminology could be described as extremely ill advised and at worst a cynical side swipe which could have resulted in a PR disaster for the Sinn Fein party within their grass root support. No doubt the current ranglings over NI budget has deflected sufficient attention for now.

An Ill Advised Knee Jerk Reaction?

Ill advised, as it came hot on the heals of Brian Cowan’s (& Ireland’s) very global public humiliation by American chat host Jay Lo of Biffo’s ill-fated morning radio interview. Apart from Cowan’s own personal disgrace, the whole affair re-awakened the world’s perception of the Irish ‘binge’ drinking culture persona. Couple this with McGuinness’s outburst; Irish America may not be exactly amused about the situation on the Island of Ireland!!! Furthermore, this latest dissident Irish Republican side swipe coincided with an extensive UTV news segment which was highlighting the ACTUAL and REAL problems of drug and alcohol addiction in the North. The feature UTV news report highlighted the growing concerns of those providing frontline services to those directly affected by drug/alcohol addiction. Their focus of immediate concern was the lack of adequate rehabilitation facilities which will be further exacerbated by the potential threat of imminent austerity measures and CUTS to N.I. front line medical services.

Politically, within the State of Northern Ireland, the irony that he should highlight this ever spreading blight upon post GFA Norn Iron will be neither lost on the Unionist/loyalist nor the dissident Irish Republican/PSF communities respectively.

Or a Cynical Side Swipe at Dissident Groups?

The ‘Junkies’ terminology is at worst cynical, for those hard-line, (and not necessarily dissident Irish Republicans) who will automatically point to McGuinness’s own contribution to the escalation of the 40 year Struggle and ask, what really has changed on the ground??. Back in the day, Martin McGuinness had a fiery and fanatical dedication to the militant cause of Irish Freedom. This is very evident from his speedy and meteoric rise through the ranks to become the (allegedly) ‘PIRA Chief of Staff’. His unflinching single mindedness towards a military solution earned him the acrimonious title among the unionist community of ,‘IRA godfather of godfathers’!!!!

So much was he revered and admired amongst the ranks of the PIRA, he was plucked from relative media obscurity and selected as part of a PIRA delegation sent to England to meet William Whitelaw during the PIRA ceasefire of July, 1972.

So, to use substance addiction related terminology to judge McGuinness’s pro PIRA rhetoric and the militant gusto of his media interview performances during these times, you could be forgiven for making the assertion;

‘Be Jesus, Wasn’t Martin McGuinness A Serious Boy Back In the Day, he couldn’t be held back from gettin’ at the Brits, at all at all!!!’

The use of the word,' junkies’, denotes a complete lack of Irish Republican ideology behind the military tactics of the dissident groups. Martin McGuinness in a recent TV interview made a point of reinforcing his own Irish Republican credentials whilst emphatically dismissing the results of a poll which showed a 14% level of support for dissidents. But Martin McGuinness is all too aware that Irish Republican history has always swung between periods of conflict and dialogue although with decreasing levels of ferocity.

However, the pendulum still swung?? The highly respected Irish Republican, Gerard Hodgkins, also moved to play down the poll results by making the assumption that a lot of the 14% you wouldn’t want in a Republican movement. That maybe so, but this can be contradicted by the public acknowledgement by British security sources that these new dissident groups whilst being extremely small are extremely close knit. i.e. these new groups have adapted to alleviate the threat of super grass infiltration which blighted the PIRA campaign pre GFA. Such is the perceived threat that the PSNI Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, has been lobbying for access to “more than £200m of special funding from the treasury reserve during the next five years.” As regards the David Cameron's defence cutting measures, extra monies will be made available to MI5/6 to keep a beady eye on the Fenian hordes in Norn Irony according to a recent report in the Financial Times:

‘International terrorism is another “tier 1” concern. The document points strikingly to the risk of a “significant increase in the levels of terrorism relating to Northern Ireland”. That indicates MI5 believes dissident republican groups are gaining strength – and might be able to mount a significant attack on the mainland. ‘

Could Martin McGuinness himself be pigeon holed as a reformed ‘Conflict Junky’?

Those of the DUP/loyalist persuasion will point to Mr McGuinness’s own involvement during the 40 year struggle and automatically adopt a ‘kettle-pot’ analogy, since in their mind set ALL Irish Republican’s are tarred of the one brush. They may even see Mr McGuinness himself as a reformed ‘conflict junky’ as they once described him as the ‘IRA Godfather of Godfathers’. Given his transformation in strategies for Irish re-unification from armalite to unequivocal ballot box, they must quietly hope that he doesn’t suffer a relapse given the increasing pressure from dissident Irish Republican groups who are long past the micro group stage. They will also be scratching their heads in wondering why he cannot show more apathy towards dissuading and helping these ‘misguided’ Irish Republicans. In fact, there would be some who will be questioning why the DFM isn’t adopting a more hands on approach through dialogue with these Irish Republican militants.

Au contraire, anyone who had watched a recent DFM interview would have observed how he recognised the political dissident groups (32 CSM and others) whilst saying that the British/Irish governments were in communication with the militant groupings- perhaps a bit Pontius Pilate like? Surely such a self-centred attitude is not in keeping of a reformed 'conflict junky' and could well be construed in some quarters as egotistical??

No one can fault the PSF stalwarts that have stood behind the current leadership through thick and thin since the ousting of Ruairi O’Brodaigh as Sinn Fein President at the 1986 Ard Fheis. Back then Martin McGuinness’s youthful and exuberant speech on abstentionism (Resolution 162) began with the words:

‘I can give a commitment on behalf of the leadership that we have absolutely no intention of going to Westminster or Stormont.’

And concluded by rallying the party faithful with the assertion of:

‘Don’t go my friends. We will lead you to the republic.'

For many Irish Republicans, these words and promises must seem quite hollow now as they reflect on what actually has been achieved. Martin McGuinness and the leadership promised to take the ‘gun’ out of Irish politics. But the big question looming is:

By Sinn Fein’s very involvement in implementing Sunningdale Mark II via the Stormont Executive, are they themselves now complicit in bringing the ‘gun’ back into Irish politics?

Can the Saville Inquiry Satisfy the People of Derry?

2010-06-15T17:08:00.002+01:00

Saville Report- An Expensive Appendix to An Organised Crowd Control Experiment?

Today, 15th June, 2010, the families of the 14 civil rights protestors murdered on the streets of Derry’s Bogside by British Armed Forces of Occupation on 30th January 1972, pensively await for the truth of what happened on ‘Bloody Sunday’ to be recognised by a British judicial system that has served us so infamously in the past.

As no other event, the deliberate orchestrated targeting of civil rights protestors directly reflected the sectarian attitude that echoed through the corridors of Stormont and Whitehall. This belligerent attitude manifested itself in the cold blooded ruthless actions of their enforcers of British colonial rule in Ireland, the British Army. Not only were these tragic events a testimony to the continued oppression suffered by Irish people, they were also designed to send out a clear and unequivocal message of Britain’s intentional use of military force to subdue the Fenian hordes in the State of Northern Ireland! But one simple truth remains, men, women and children of Ireland were deliberately shot off the streets of Derry at the bequest of Stormont based Unionist politicians who bayed for Fenian blood. One doubts if any British controlled tribunal will ever hoodwink any TRUE Irish Republican.

An Elaborate Laboratory Experiment of Crowd Control

The crux of the Saville Inquiry has been to determine whether the actions of the minions of British colonialism, their British Army, were the result of soldiers out running a mock through the streets of Derry. But what if their actions were pre-meditated and cleverly disguised to give this exact impression to the world media?

At that time Civil Rights marches were happening right across the globe as people demanded regime changes and with them came increasing problems of crowd control. All the ingredients were there, the North was Britain’s troubling back yard, the Civil Rights Movement was gaining massive momentum, and world governments were becoming increasingly nervous of anarchy. Therefore, were the civil rights activists on that day, unwitting participants in an experiment in crowd control and suppression in order to provide a template that could be replicated in other global hotspots?

Furthermore, an even greater affront than the murderous actions of the day was the subsequent clandestine frame-up job known as the Widgery Tribunal (a hastily written Lab Report) which predictably and conveniently returned a verdict which placed the blame squarely on those who were shot dead that day. Today’s report by the Saville Inquiry will hopefully expose the reactionary nature of the Widgery Tribunal and its role in defending the interests of the British state in the North of Ireland during that era of colonial control. More importantly will it re-enforce the common Irish Republican perception of:

1969 -2010 – No Change!

Yet, somehow from a grass root Irish Republican perspective the utterances that we will hear from Sinn Fein and the SDLP will only serve to deepen our feeling of consternation. Whilst our political representatives can proclaim form the steps of Stormont that they have now been allowed to be heard shouting from the balcony, the justice being meted out on the court room floor is still intrinsically very British in origin. For a glimpse of the State of Northern Ireland’s new justice dispensation we need look no further than behind the walls of Maghaberry Prison. Widespread indiscriminate internment that marred the 1970’s has been replaced by ‘Selective Internment’, mainly as reaction to the threat of those deemed as being involved in ‘misguided’ micro Irish Republican groups.

However, the irrefutable fact remains, that no spin doctor of Irish or British creed cannot deny that the State of Northern Ireland’s new INJUSTICE system is STILL administered by Whitehall, and is definitely neither JUST REWARD nor RECOMPENSE for the bloodshed and sacrifice by every Irish man, woman and child since. Despite the protestations of the Tory right-wing who expose concerns about the impact that this Inquiry ruling against British soldiers will have on their operational capability in Afghanistan and Pakistan, this ruling will stabilise the British state in Ireland and at home. It will be held up as evidence that the British state is not corrupt, that it is democratic, that it respects the rights of everyone regardless of their religion. That it is a safe pair of hands. This verdict will be used to legitimise British rule in Ireland but also to draw a line under the ‘excesses’ of the past to better conduct similar brutality whether in Afghanistan or to wage war against today’s Irish Republicans.

As has happened so many times before when a revolutionary event or personality is denuded of all content and the form is appropriated by the ruling class, Bloody Sunday is being manipulated and transfigured.

To understand how this happens take, for example, the use of Che Guevara’s image which is used as a marketing tool but his economic works are not studied or the De Valera endorsed popular songs about James Connolly which portray him as a Fianna Failer and obliterate his true position as a socialist revolutionary.

Are We Mere Proverbial Colonial Lab Rats?

Let us look once again at the context for Bloody Sunday. The protesters who marched in Derry that day were protesting for ‘One Man, One Vote’ among other things – it is even one of the most prominent banners on the photographs of that day. To think that in 1972 people in Northern Ireland did not enjoy the full franchise is a hidden scandal but one which our commentators today will carefully step over. The thousands of youth out marching that day were protesting against this state of affairs and were shot off the streets by British paratroopers. Of course the British state covered up their brutality – that is what they do, because they are still the British Army!!! The media were present that day as they are not in Afghanistan today – we don’t get to see the blood and the smashed bodies of the innocents like we have repeatedly seen from 1972.

Yet today we hear nothing of this context. Instead, this is about ‘justice for the families’ – it is the event denuded of political content. Sinn Fein have converted themselves from a militant liberation movement to a constitutional nationalist party and it doesn’t do to highlight the nature of the British state’s indiscretitions in Ireland. The war is no longer being portrayed as a struggle for national self-determination but one for ‘civil rights’. The marchers on Bloody Sunday were not protesting for political rights but ‘civil rights’ – their murder was not an exposure of the nature of the British state in Ireland but a failure for British justice to be meted out to Catholics.

Yet again the working classes are being used as pawns to justify and condone the imperialist’s greed on the world stage. The memories of those murdered, and the quest for justice by their families and loved ones, is being cynically used to portray a worldwide persona that the British State’s conduct on foreign soils is above both impunity and reproach. The events of that fateful day in 1972 and the subsequent 40 year struggle for Irish Unity, which were a source of hope and inspiration for oppressed peoples throughout the world, have now been contorted so that the actions of the British have been given an element of justification. The Saville Report will not only inject an element of justification for their past miss-demeanours but will undoubtedly give the British a legal platform to justify their conduct on their new imperialist battle fields of the 21st Century. Look no further than the selection of David Trimble by Israel as an INDEPENDANT overseer in their internal investigation of the Freedom Flotilla massacre.

Closing down the Sectarian Laboratory called 'Norn Iron'?

Does any TRUE Irish Republican believe that anything fundamental has changed in the State of Northern Ireland? Do we believe that the British army is not day and daily continuing the work that they set upon in Derry that day in other parts of the world? The passage of time has successfully allowed the pain and revulsion to dissipate and wash over us because the majority of Republicans have been goaded into accepting their lot as loyal subjects of the British Crown. Those who have not, continue to bear the brunt of British security pressure and dirty tricks.

It is precisely because the British state continues to be a brutal imperialist abroad that the Tory right-wing is howling at the recent events. They see the sense in ‘drawing a line under events of the past’ but are concerned that British soldiers murdering civilians in Afghanistan today or perhaps Iran tomorrow will not be as confidently white washed in light of this verdict. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein agree to ‘draw a line’ under events and move on – treating this as an exceptional event and this bringing ‘closure’ for the families’ grieving.

If Bloody Sunday can be resolved it is only because the status quo in Northern Ireland is now sufficiently strong to withstand the truth of what happened that day and that is only because Sinn Fein are committed to the security of the state. But progressives should realise that resolving Bloody Sunday will only wash the blood off the British state worldwide allowing them to continue their murderous imperialism elsewhere in the world, and possibly to return to it in Ireland should any opposition to the status quo emerge. The big question still remains:

If the experiments carried out on the streets of Norn Iron do not pay dividends on foreign soils, will the laboratory of sectarian manipulation that is the State of Northern Ireland, be re-opened by our colonial masters for future trials?

The Sinn Fein Palestinian Moral and Ideological Connection

2010-06-01T19:06:00.012+01:00

Should the Deputy First Minister for the State of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness, Call For Expulsion of the UK Israeli Ambassador?

In recent days there have been widespread calls for the Irish Government, particularly the Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, to expel the Irish Ambassador to Ireland, since the Israeli Defence Force naval personnel upon the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international chartered waters of the Mediterranean. However, as yet there has been no pressure brought to bear on the NI Stormont Executive to call for the UK government to consider a similar course of action!

Has Norn Iron's Deputy Dawg Gone Fishing?

In Northern Ireland, sympathies for the Middle East crisis falls along traditional lines with Republicans/nationalists having affinity for the plight of the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza strip, and with unionists/loyalists supporting Israel. In the Republic of Ireland, Sinn Fein’s President Gerry Adams, was adamant in his public demand for the Irish government to expel the Israeli Ambassador, Dr Zion Evrony. This automatically begs the question, WHY has a similar demand from the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, who recently went to great pains to emphasise that he was only deputy in name and hence that he had EQUAL powers to Peter Robinson?

This is not the first time this ideological conundrum has dogged the Sinn Fein leadership in the Republic and in the Occupied State of Northern Ireland. Several months ago Eamonn McCann flagged the cordial meeting geared to building TRADE links with Israel. This meeting was attended by FM Peter Robinson, DFM Martin McGuinness and the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Mr. Posnor.

McCann highlighted the severe contradiction in ideological terms between what Sinn Fein professes to do and what it actually ends up doing. SF has consistently held a firm stance through-out the years in their unequivocal support for the Palestinian peoples. So much so, that in the aftermath of the 22 War 18 months ago, Gerry Adams himself visited the Gaza strip to get a first hand assessment of the carnage and destruction inflicted upon the region. SF compiled an extensive report on the 22 Day War following the visit. Also, similar actions in support of the Palestinian are visible right though the organisation with Ogra Sinn Fein actively promoting Pro Palestinian campaigns on the ground!

On a superficial level McCann makes the observation that there was no onus on Martin McGuinness to even attend this meeting on ethical/moral grounds given his party’s Palestinian stance. Furthermore, the opt-out option which accompanies such a non-formal constitutional event is often preferred by his counterparts in the DUP who have opted out of meetings in the past. From the above photograph of the May 2009 meeting(less than 6 months after the 22 Day War), surely as a minimum requirement the roles should have been reversed with regards the obligatory shaking of hands!!

To read Eamonn McCann’s analysis of the impact that this message transmits to socialists within the Sinn Fein movement please read HERE. Sinn Fein replied to McCann’s article and it and the subsequent SWP response can be read HERE.

Maghaberry Irish Republican Prisoners Tricolour Ribbon Campaign

2010-05-16T14:36:00.003+01:00

Show Your Solidarity for Irish Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry Prison

Irish Republican prisoners currently incarcerated in Maghaberry Prison are demanding that they be granted Political Status with immediate effect!. Over the last few months conditions have worsened exponentially with wide spread allegations of mistreatment and brutal beatings being meated out to Irish Republican inmates, especially in Roe House.

For obvious reasons, local/national and international media news bulletins have been muted in reporting the plight of the Republican inmates as this situation continues to spiral. The principle channels for relevant information from Maghaberry have been press releases from the various Republican Groups who are liasoning on behalf of the prisoners and their families. This information has been inturn relayed through blogs including Ardoyne Republican, The Pensive Quill, Friends of Colin Duffy, and Newry Republican etc.

Ina bid to further inform people and garnish a unified solidarity platform in support of ALL Irish Republican prisoners, a new pressure group has been started on Facebook, entitled 'Tricolour Ribbon Campaign'. Although it is very much in it's infancy, this 'call to action' pressure group is receiving phenomenal follower numbers and attracting endless messages of support from far and wide! The simple but highly effective aim of this group is to promote the wearing of Tricolour ribbons as a symbol of solidarity with these Irish Republican prisoners who are enduring inhuman and degrading conditions in British Gaols in the Occupied 6 counties of Ireland.

I would like to take this opportunity to URGE ALL readers of this blog to join this worthy campaign and ALSO leave a messsage of support...

TRICOLOUR RIBBON CAMPAIGN......

Maghaberry Prison Conditions Throw Back To Maze Prison of '70's

2010-05-11T10:01:00.010+01:00

Rapidly Deteriorating Conditions For Irish Republican Prisoners in Maghaberry Prison!

The following is an open letter by Republican Network for Unity representative Martin Óg Meehan regarding the rapidly deteriorating and deplorable conditions which Irish Republican prisoners have been enduring for several months in Maghaberry Prison. These assertions are all the more poignant in a week which has marked the 29^th anniversary of the death of ’81 Hunger Striker, Bobby Sands.

The primary source of these escalating tensions had been the decision of prison staff to begin industrial action several months ago and their decision to engage in a “withdrawal of goodwill” in protest at the dismissal of a number of night custody officers further exacerbated the situation. The immediate impact of this action upon the Irish Republican detainees at Maghaberry Prison was that they were locked in their cells for long periods of time. Also, relatives and friends of the inmates in Roe House are bearing the brunt of the Prison staff strike action.

Due to the implantation of a ‘work to rule’ policy by the Prison staff, Republican inmates have to eat in their cells, are missing some meals altogether, and are refused exercise and education as a direct consequence of the dispute. Family and legal visits have also been adversely affected.

These aggravated rumblings of discontent boiled over during the run up to the highlight in the Irish Republican calendar, the Easter Rising 1916 anniversary, culminating in 28 Irish Republican prisoners barricading themselves into the jail’s dining room on Easter Sunday.

However, since this conditions have worsened further and are causing ever increasing concern on a daily basis for the families/friends of those incarcerated in Maghaberry Prison.

The Republican Network for Unity Open Letter reads as follows:

9 May 2010

A Chara,

As a former political prisoner, I’d like to express my sadness at the current situation faced by republican prisoners in Maghaberry. On Easter Sunday political prisoners in the gaol took part in a disciplined protest to highlight problems they were enduring. Ever since, republicans in Roe House have been denied proper medical, washing, association and exercise facilities. The refusal of these basic rights is another example of a vindictive prison regime. Who have been criticised in the past by the Human Rights Commission and Prisoner Ombudsman regarding serious irregularities and mismanagement.

The families and friends of republican prisoners are also subjected to long delays and oppressive searches from prison staff during visits to the prison. These negative activities are totally unacceptable and must end immediately. Last week Harry Fitzsimmons was forcibly taken by the prison riot team to a solitary confinement block [where] he suffered a number of injuries from screws who remain wedded to draconian measures and the failed policies of the 1970’s.

What the prisoners require is a reinstatement of the humane conditions which were implemented following the tragic hunger strikes of 1981 [where] human rights and entitlements are safeguarded. Without addressing these concerns properly, the situation will deteriorate further. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us all to challenge what passes for ‘justice’ in Maghaberry!

Is Mise,

Martin Óg Meehan
Republican Network for Unity

America's Mythological Fascination with Cult Outlaw Figures

2010-05-10T23:43:00.004+01:00

Does America's Infatuation With The 'Outlaw' Truly Reflect the Fight of the Working Class Man?

This is a guest post by Rory Dubhdara, the blogger responsible for Fenian Exile, and producer of the weekly Paddy Cast 'Radio Rebel Gael', (the subversive sound of Celtic Rebellion and Musical Mutiny!). In his inaugural article for Rebels Yell!, he explores how the swashbuckling tales of the American Outlaw has captivated the hearts and minds of American audiences (especially the working classes!) for generations. During the late 1800's, outlaws such as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Bill Doolin and Bill Dalton have become idolised as symbols of freedom and in doing immortalised as the 'underdog' and romanticised as defenders of justice and the rights of the common man.

In Depression Era America, the exploits of Bonnie & Clyde, Baby Faced Nelson Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger have catapulted them to celebrity 'cult' status. However, Dillinger became the most famous and flamboyant of them all!! Countless reports on the man and his misdeeds, sprinkled with the added spice of his swashbuckling bravado and cool daring, prooved to be the ideal tonic for an America worn down by the Great Depression.

He continuously confounded state jurisdictional law enforcement by repeatedly crossing state lines to avoid capture. Dillinger’s activities so frustrated law enforcement that his case was taken over by a new national crime-fighting unit that operated beyond state jurisdictions – the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headed by J. Edgar Hoover.

His incredible fame and enduring legacy story reflects American's enduring fascination with outlaws, crime and violence, about the complexity of their transition from rural to urban life, and about the transformation of America during the Great Depression.

However, in the following article Rory questions if these America Idols, who embellish American's fascination with primitive freedom against social convention, are on a similar par to those selfless working class revolutionary icons, Che Guevara, Connolly et al....OR are they mere 'Social Outlaws'??

PUBLIC ENEMIES: The Legend Of John Dillinger (By Rory Dubhdara ~ Fenian Exile)

Michael Mann’s brilliant film “Public Enemies”, starring Johnny Depp, is a great example of America’s fascination, nay, obsession with the outlaw. What is it, really, that causes Americans to cheer on the gangster, despite his or her grisly legacy and blood-soaked trademark? Could it be that Americans have lost faith with the fabled “American Dream”, as more working class people lose hope and end up out of work, impoverished or homeless? Perhaps the American gangster captures the spirit of the Robin Hood or Ned Kelly of yore, fighting back against “the Man”, and using guerilla tactics to survive as he and his kind are continually disenfranchised and plundered by the robber barons of Corporate America.

Whatever the reason may be, American gangsters like John Dillinger remain household names and telling signs of a bankrupt society that continually sees crime as the only alternative to a grim life of hopelessness and perdition. For many , robbing a bank or some other “get rich quick” scheme may seem to be the only viable solution to the despair of poverty. Hence, the tale of Chicago gangster and bankrobber, John Dillinger , packed theaters throughout the country and proved that the American romanticism of the gangster and outlaw is stronger today than ever. Michael Mann’s phenomenal film captures the legend of John Dillinger and his gang, including Babyface Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd, in all their bloodsoaked glory, before Dillinger met his bullet-riddled demise in front of a Chicago theater , one evening on July 22nd in the year of 1934.
Only Michael Mann, who seems to be the master of banker robbery suspense, could take you to the scene of the gun-battle or bank robbery, wherein his cinematic close-ups cause you to feel like you are being shot at, or where you can actually smell the gun smoke. He did the same genius in his brilliant Heat, probably the most realistic bank robbery film I had ever seen when a lady friend bought it for me on my 25th birthday.

As extraordinary Dillinger’s exploits were, from his repeated breakouts from the Indiana State Penitentiary, to his intense gun battle with the FBI in Wisconsin in 1933, these gangsters, who have become American heroes and entered into the realm of myth and legend with their storybook exploits, they are, not, to a Fenian, true working class heroes, or really anyone to look up to, but they do show the strength of the human spirit and that a few men united in pursuit of a goal, can really make the System shake in terror, and for this reason alone, they should be remembered with pride, even if , wistfully. But it’s obvious that their battles were very personal and not surprisingly, did not really benefit the oppressed or the embattled working class in America, but only themselves, as was the aim. They can never be looked up to as selfless martyrs or revolutionary icons, the way James Connolly, friend of the worker, or Seamus Costello, Boy General and Republican Socialist freedom fighter, always will be. They did not die for their love for Freedom and their passion for Justice and their hatred of Tyranny and Injustice like a Che Guevara or a Miriam Daly. Their goals were limited to personal self-fulfillment and often, greed. They conspired, not to right the wrongs perpetrated by a Capitalist Status Quo upon the long-suffering Proletariat, but instead, for a short term self aggrandizement and personal fame and fortune. The Revolutionary Socialist Martyr, Che Guevara, on the other hand, gave up wealth, cast aside a comfortable life, fortune and personal gain, in order to liberate the oppressed working people of Cuba, and after establishing a Socialist Republic in Cuba with compadre Fidel Castro, he next sought to aid the peoples of the Congo and Bolivia, and to fight against the poisonous tentacles of capitalism and imperialism wherever they manifested themselves. Dying a true revolutionary martyr’s death in Bolivia in October of the year of 1967, while Dillinger died a gangster’s death in front of a Chicago theater after seeing “Manhattan Melodrama”, with a local prostitute, here its easy to see the contrast between these two figures ----- one, a selfless revolutionary hero, the other an anti-social and egocentric (albeit astute) gangster, dedicated to making himself a quick fortune and lasting fame.

It is a sad sign of the times that Americans too often, especially the youth, only remember the latter, and very rarely, the former, as people to look up to as heroes. It is the biggest flaw of American culture that the outlaw and glorified “hero”, is too often the criminal, the gangster, the anti-social misfit, the egocentric celebrity or rockstar, or the swindler (alas, that is the crux of capitalism, to glorify the huckster and the shyster) while the selfless working class hero is often forgotten by the common man. In modern suburban America, because the community has been forgotten, those who defend their community and neighborhoods are also.

In closing, the best and most important element of the film is how it highlighted the true nature of J. Edgar Hoover’s monstrosity, the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While the FBI is known for its claim to be a staunch “defender of the U.S. constitution and the Bill of Rights”, Michael Mann’s film points out the glaring untruths of such fallacious statements. One scene in the movie shows the FBI beating and torturing Dillinger’s girlfriend, who had never committed a crime, in order to get her to divulge her lover’s location and hideouts. Also, the illegal and unconstitutional means that the Bureau gathers information and tracks its suspects is no different from Stalin’s KGB or Hitler’s Gestapo. Even the final scene of the movie, where Dillinger was murdered in cold blood is a true indictment of both the Federal government of the United States and the FBI, and proves that the Bill of Rights and the U.S. constitution, has never been an interest by either the Bureau or the Federal government, and in fact. The FBI and the U.S. government has never respected the basic human rights of American citizens. A solid case in point is the attempted killing of Judi Bari of Earth First on May 24th, 1990 and the FBI’s COINTELPRO campaigns against Martin Luther King Jr., The Black Panther Party, and the FBI’s harassment of American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier and the siege of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota in 1975, to illustrate how draconic these Federal goons truly are. For this reason alone, PUBLIC ENEMIES, is a great must see film, where you can celebrate those few who shot back against the Federal Beast.

EXPOSED Greek Riots Athens Marfin Bank Deaths

2010-05-06T13:31:00.000+01:00

Astonishing Revelations by Marfin Bank Employee!

During the Greek riots between anti-measure protesters and police in Athens resulted in Marfin Bank Stadiou street branch three workers (one a pregnant woman) tragically suffocated to death as a result of a fire in the building. Contrary to conflicting media reports, the attendance at the protests on May 5^th is reported to be around 200,000, with at least 20,000 protestors attending the demonstration organised by PAME (Communist Party union).
Whilst the world media and the Greek PM Papandreou were quick to brand the deaths as murder at the hands of Greek anarchists, the Rebels Yell can reveal that there may have been a more sinister turn of events!

Below is a statement released by an employee of Marfin Bank which gives a very different and disturbing background to the chain of events which culminated in these three deaths.

I feel an obligation toward my co-workers who have so unjustly died today to speak out and to say some objective truths. I am sending this message to all media outlets. Anyone who still bares some consciousness should publish it. The rest can continue to play the government’s game.
The fire brigade had never issued an operating license to the building in question. The agreement for it to operate was under the table, as it practically happens with all businesses and companies in Greece.
The building in question has no fire safety mechanisms in place, neither planned nor installed ones – that is, it has no ceiling sprinklers, fire exits or fire hoses. There are only some portable fire extinguishers which, of course, cannot help in dealing with extensive fire in a building that is built with long-outdated security standards.

No branch of Marfin bank has had any member of staff trained in dealing with fire, not even in the use of the few fire extinguishers. The management also uses the high costs of such training as a pretext and will not take even the most basic measures to protect its staff.

There has never been a single evacuation exercise in any building by staff members, nor have there been any training sessions by the fire-brigade, to give instructions for situations like this. The only training sessions that have taken place at Marfin Bank concern terrorist action scenarios and specifically planning the escape of the banks’ “big heads” from their offices in such a situation.

The building in question had no special accommodation for the case of fire, even though its construction is very sensitive under such circumstances and even though it was filled with materials from floor to ceiling. Materials which are very inflammable, such as paper, plastics, wires, furniture. The building is objectively unsuitable for use as a bank due to its construction.

No member of security has any knowledge of first aid or fire extinguishing, even though they are every time practically charged with securing the building. The bank employees have to turn into firemen or security staff according to the appetite of Mr Vgenopoulos [owner of Marfin Bank].

The management of the bank strictly bared the employees from leaving today, even though they had persistently asked so themselves from very early this morning – while they also forced the employees to lock up the doors and repeatedly confirmed that the building remained locked up throughout the day, over the phone. They even blocked off their internet access so as to prevent the employees from communicating with the outside world.

For many days now there has been some complete terrorisation of the bank’s employees in regard to the mobilisations of these days, with the verbal “offer”: you either work, or you get fired.

The two undercover police who are dispatched at the branch in question for robbery prevention did not show up today, even though the bank’s management had verbally promised to the employees that they would be there.

At last, gentlemen, make your self-criticism and stop wandering around pretending to be shocked. You are responsible for what happened today and in any rightful state (like the ones you like to use from time to time as leading examples on your TV shows) you would have already been arrested for the above actions. My co-workers lost their lives today by malice: the malice of Marfin Bank and Mr. Vgenopoulos personally who explicitly stated that whoever didin’t come to work today [May 5th, a day of a general strike!] should not bother showing up for work tomorrow [as they would get fired].

Our Revenge Will Be The Laughter Of Our Children

2010-03-23T00:50:00.001+00:00

The following artwork encapsulates the strong influence that the struggle for Irish Unity has had upon the Palestinian peoples own fight for Freedom. The artist is 16 year old graphic designer, Basmah Felemban! and you can visit his portfolio @ http://www.basmah.co.nr/

RTE's Pat Kenny Frontline Audience Attack

2009-11-10T03:52:00.003+00:00

Pat Kenny Faces A Frontline Attack!

For Pat Kenny, host of the RTE's current affairs programme, 'The Frontline', the latest televised episode definitely lived up to it's name!! Pat found himself at the receiving end of a barrage of personal attacks from a rather irate member of the audience.

The central theme running through the 3 minute lambasting focused on Kenny's massive wages he receives as one of RTE's best paid presenters.

Enjoy............

Dissident Tyrone Sheep Demand Irish Unity

2009-11-05T16:45:00.004+00:00

Sectarian Sheep Painting Northern Ireland

2009-11-04T06:23:00.013+00:00

BREAKING N-EWES:

'Norn Iron' Sectarian Ewe Turn!

A remote field in Arboe, Co. Tyrone has been the scene of a SHEAR DYE-abolical sectarian attack on innocent sheep as they passively grazed in the Irish Republican heartland. During the night 6 sheep were unsuspectingly spray painted with the Irish tricolour by presumably DYED IN THE WOOL Traditional Irish Republicans! Undoubtedly, the RAM-ifications of such a SHEEPISH act will lead to a thorough investigation by the PSNI who will be careful to avoid having the WOOL pulled over their eyes on this 'THORNY' issue.!!

Whilst we may find the funny side, the farmer and the local DUP councillor were less than am-EWE-sed as they painted a grim picture!!! Willie Frazer was eager to HOGG the limelight and re-iterate the plight of the rural border community for which he tirelessly campaigns. He even found the time to produce a EWE Tube broadcast which included CLIPPINGS of the whole LAMB-entable episode!!

Not to GLOSS over such an incident but due consideration must be given to the lack of scope for young rural Traditional Irish Republicans to develop their artistic talent. This is in strong contrast to their urban comrades who have endless scope to perfect their wall mural painting skills. Indeed, we must appreciate the high degree of stencil like accuracy required to skillfully paint the Irish tricolour on such jittery subjects!! Very rarely do we witness such fine examples of the spray painting of moving targets which no doubt even the world renowned Banksy would be envious off!!

Furthermore, given the high media profile that this episode has already received, it would not be inconceivable that the proud owner of these NOW Traditional Irish Republican (Fenian) sheep should seriously consider entering them as an exhibit for the Turner Prize 2010. The massive media attention would surely have the crowds FLOCKING to the Tate Britain in London next year!. The potential £25,000 prize money would definitely off set any loss of earnings incurred by showing such fine specimens of Traditional Irish Republican (Fenian) sheep in potentially hostile 'Norn Iron' livestock markets! The proud owner should be aiming to emulate Damien Hirst who was the victor in 1995 with a pickled sheep in formaldehyde. Such an opportunity should not be missed especially since the markings will have to be retained on the sheep until next May well after the closing date for next year's competition!!

Tiocfaidh ár Baahhhh....

Irish Republicanism, Sinn Fein And Eirigi

2009-10-15T18:22:00.002+01:00

Berlin Witnesses 1970s Style Leftist Violence

2009-08-14T10:33:00.002+01:00

Berlin Fears Resurgence of Radical Leftist Violence

Berlin has witnessed a spate of arson attacks targeting exclusive cars including Mercedes-Benz, Porsches and BMW’s. The German police have warned that these attacks could signify a potential return to leftist and anarchist violence which ravaged the country during the 1970’s. Berlin have prompted police to warn of a resurgence of the leftist and anarchist violence that terrorised Germany in the 1970s.

Head of the German police union, Rainer Wendt, compared the arson attacks to;

"a renaissance of the leftist terror of the 1970s, borne by hatred of the state and its system, directed against the people who represent it".

History of the Red Army Faction

Germany has not witnessed such wide spread anarchy since the infamous Red Army Faction (RAF), founded in 1968, created havoc during much of the 70’s. The radical leftist group were also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang, named after two of their founding leaders, Andreas Baader (1943–77) and Ulrike Meinhof (1934–76).

The Red Army Faction were the first leftist organisation to conduct a sustained armed struggle to combat anti-imperialism in the West. The organisation was steeped in Marxism-Leninism revolutionary ethos and existed for close to 28 years. The RAF affirmed their commitment to violence in pursuit of their anti-imperialist agenda in its first Manifesto entitled ‘The Concept Of The Urban Guerrilla’. This document concluded by stating;

‘To carry out urban guerrilla warfare means to lead the anti-imperialist struggle offensively. The Red Army Fraction creates the connection between legal and illegal struggle, between national struggle and international struggle, between political struggle and armed struggle, between the strategic and tactical position of the international communist movement.’

Between May 11th and May 24th 1972 the RAF embarked on a bombing spree targeting symbols of Western Imperialism including an American military base, a German Police head quarters in Augsburg, the US Armed Forces European Headquarters based in Heidelberg and Springer Press in Hamburg for printing what they regarded anti-left propaganda. Also, they murdered a Karlsruhe federal court judge, Buddenberg, in direct retaliation for alleged mistreatment of RAF prisoners.

However, within the first two weeks of June ’72 the majority of RAF members had been rounded up by German authorities and imprisoned. Undeterred the leftist faction re-organised their strategies and perspectives whilst in prison awaiting their trials. RAF militant activity was to resurface in 1976 when they seized the German embassy in Stockholm. They demanded the release of imprisoned RAF members in exchange for attaches that they were holding hostage. The siege ended when police stormed the building killing two captors.

Ulrike Meinhof was found murdered in her prison cell in September 1976. Following her death German authorities arrested and imprisoned the principle lawyers representing RAF prisoners and their supporters under anti-terrorism laws.

1976 also witnessed the highest number of 2,956 public demonstrations (2,956) in its history which formed the back drop for the now infamous ‘German Autumn’. It is the collective name given to a chain of events which began with the RAF assassination of Chief Federal Prosecutor Siegfried Buback, this killing signalled a significant shift in tactics by the organisation. Previously, the majority of their attacks were confined to western imperialist symbols whilst this killing signified a shift in emphasis to imperialist figure heads. Within 3 months of this attack the RAF struck again this time turning their attentions to Jurgen Ponto, the President of Dresdner Bank. Punto was one of the top five influential businessmen in Germany at the time and represented German interests in NATO and around the globe. However, it emerged that Punto’s assassination was a kidnap attempt that went drastically wrong. In September of ’77 RFA embarked on their most audacious kidnap attempt of their existence.

There target was Germany’s most influential capitalists of his generation, Hans Martin Schleyer, who was both President of the Federal Association of German Industries and the Federal Employers Association. Schleyer was a former Nazi SS officer and was perceived by many as a link between the Third Reich and the post-war Germany. Almost immediately having kidnapped their victim RAF demanded the release of 11 of their members from prison. As the stalemate continued a Palestinian group “Commando Martyr Halimeh” in solidarity with RAF hijacked a Lufthansa airliner and demanded the release of the 11 RAF prisoners and 2 members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) being held in Istanbul. During the following five stand off the prisoners were refused all communication with their lawyers and media under emergency drafted legislation known as ‘Kontaktsperre’.

On day 5 of the hijacking German Special Forces, GSG-9, stormed the aircraft in Mogadishu, Somalia, killing 3 of the 4 hijackers. In retaliation, RAF killed Schleyer. That same night Gudrun Ensslin, Jan-Carl Raspe, and Andreas Baader were killed in suspicious circumstances whilst in their prison cells. Initially regarded as a suicide pact this was related refuted with medical evidence.

Sporadic violence followed until March 1998, when the Red Army Fraction (RAF) announced its dissolution after 28 years of armed struggle.

Are We Witnessing a Re-Emergence of Leftist Revolutionary Action

Regarding this recent resurgence in violence Rainer Wendt was remaining coy regarding any potential escalation saying;

"It cannot be ruled out that in the next level of escalation, politicians could again be back in their sights,"

German Conservative politicians have denounced Berlin’s left-leaning government of showing undue leniency towards the culprits. No comment has been forthcoming from Germany’s Federal government.

Left-wing protests have witnessed an upsurge in violence so far this year with 479 policemen injured in running battles with agitators at a Labour Day riot in the anarchist heartland of Kreuzberg.

Time will tell if this violence will dissipate or will manifest itself in more radical action.

Human Rights Watch White Flag Report

2009-08-14T00:12:00.002+01:00

When A White Flag Becomes A Target!

"The Israeli military is stonewalling in the face of evidence that its soldiers killed civilians waving white flags in areas it controlled and where there were no Palestinian fighters. These cases need thorough, independent investigations."

~Joe Stork (Deputy Director) Human Rights Watch (Middle East)~

Human Rights Watch has released the latest in serious damning reports on human rights violations during the 22 Day war in Gaza. Each report has scrutinised various accusations of IDF troops flouting international human rights interventions including White Phosphorous use, Israeli drone attacks, indiscriminate Israeli fire and Hamas rocket attacks into Israel.

Their 6th report (63-pages) entitled, "White Flag Deaths: Killings of Palestinian
Civilians during Operation Cast Lead”, alleging blatant disregard to rules of engagement during Israel’s recent 22 Day Invasion of the Gaza Strip. Yet again this report alludes to the perpetration of potential war crimes upon innocent Palestinian civilians.

Their previous 5 reports along with those compiled by the International Red Cross and Amnesty International, have been discounted by Israeli authorities as being pro-Palestinian. However, ‘Breaking the Silence’, an Israeli organisation produced a report based upon the testimonies from front line Israeli troops actively involved during the 22 Day bombardment. The intricacies of their findings and how they correlated to those of those of the fore mentioned human rights organisations have already been examined by the Rebels Yell in two previous posts ‘Breaking The Silence’[Part 1] and [Part 2]. In a bid to stem this wave of negative criticism Israel released their own counter report called "The Operation in Gaza - Legal and Factual Aspects," which the Rebels Yell also scrutinised here . It is suffice to say that the central recurrent theme of all these human rights reports has been the allegation of IDF troops war crimes against residents of the Gaza Strip.

This meticulous document explicitly probes into 11 civilian fatalities during Operation Cast Lead where innocent Palestinians were gunned down whilst waving white flags. In all cases examined the civilians were explicitly attempting to distinguish themselves from combatants in the war torn enclave. During the course of the Human Rights Watch investigations the Israel Defense Force (IDF) refused numerous invitations to meet with the organisation to discuss these allegations and failed to reply to written requests presented to them regarding the incidents.

If the allegations are substantiated then 11 Palestinian civilians included 5 women and 4 children were shot in cold blood by Israeli Defense Force (IDF) personnel as they tried to flee the hostilities. Human Rights Watch has urged the Israeli authorities to perform scrutinising and authenticable internal inquiries into the alleged atrocities in order to counteract the culture of impunity that exists regarding IDF protocol during the invasion.

"White Flag Deaths: Killings of Palestinian Civilians during Operation Cast Lead," was compiled on the basis of exhaustive field work analysis of seven alleged scenes within Gaza where white flag fatalities were reported. Human Rights Watch analysis of the allegations included irrefutable examination of ballistic reports compiled for each case, documented medical evidence pertaining to each victim, and exhaustive interviewing of eye-witnesses (minimum 3 people) to the each crime scene.

Whilst these 11 Palestinian fatalities, constitute a tiny proportion of the 1,100 plus Gazan fatalities during the 22 Days of Operation: Cast Lead, it is the manner of their deaths which is highly alarming. ALL these civilian killings have one common thread linking them; They were waving internationally identifiable conflict zone SYMBOLS (WHIT FLAGS AND/OR GARMENTS) of civilian status. Significantly, Human Rights Watch also revealed that there were NO Palestinian fighters in any of the areas when the killings took place.

This latter observation strictly refutes IDF claims to the contrary that Palestinian deaths were of a direct consequence of Hamas using civilians (Human Shields) and heavily populated areas to launch counter attacks on Israeli forces. The IDF has produced alleged claims from two of their commanders that Palestinian fighters were using the disguise of white flags to protect themselves but no corroborating evidence to substantiate both claims was provided. In an attempt to legitimize their soldiers actions an IDF statement read;

"Any person who displays a white flag in this way acts illegally, does not enjoy protection from retaliatory action, and endangers nearby civilian populations."

Human Rights Watch has drawn two possible scenarios to explain IDF personnel actions during each of the incidents. The first is that irrefutable evidence exists that Israeli troops did not employ sufficient precautions to differentiate between Palestinian civilians and combatants as stipulated by the laws of war. The second scenario is in fact the deliberate targeting by IDF personnel of Palestinian civilians which under international constitutes a WAR CRIME.

This WAR CRIME allegation can be substantiated by one particular incident investigated of the crime scene by Human Rights Watch. It took place in eastern Jabalya (07/01/09) and involved 5 members (2 women and 3 girls) of the Khalid ‘Abd Rabbo family. As they stood waving their white flags outside their house an IDF soldier opened fire instantly slaying two of the young girls (aged 2 and 7 respectively) and wounding the third along with their grandmother.

The grandmother in question testified to Human Rights Watch; "We spent seven to nine minutes waving the flags, and our faces were looking at them [the soldiers],.................."And suddenly they opened fire and the girls fell to the ground."

The Human Rights Watch report also reveals that in five of the seven incidents that unarmed civilians visibly brandishing white flags, were shot by IDF whilst attempting to escape from conflict areas.

One particular incident (13/01/09) is the day time shooting by an IDF soldier of two Palestinian women as they walked down a straight road in full view whilst holding a white flag after being ordered by Israeli personnel to leave the vicinity. As they compliantly left the hostile zone, Rawiya al-Najjar (47) who was carrying the white flag was shot dead and her relative, Jasmin al-Najjar (23), was wounded. Israeli soldiers who had commandeered a Palestinian house 230 yards further down the road had speciously failed to fire any warning shots to dissuade the oncoming women.

On July 29th, faced with increased international condemnation, Israeli military officials claimed to be actively conducting "field investigations” into five white flag related shootings perpetrated by their soldiers during Operation: Cast Lead. Of the five cases purported to be under Israeli scrutiny at least 2 (‘Abd Rabbo and al-Najjar cases) were also included in the Human Rights Watch report. However, as of the August 10th there has been no official approach to either family by IDF personnel involved in their internal investigations.

Consequently, Human Rights Watch has called for a full impartial investigation into the alleged incidents by an international body to counter act an endemic culture of impunity which exists with the Israeli military structure. Their Middle East Deputy Director Joe Stork claimed;

"The Israel Defense Forces have for years permitted a pervasive culture of impunity regarding unlawful Palestinian deaths...................Field investigations may serve a useful military purpose, but they are inadequate to determine whether a soldier violated the laws of war, and serve as a pretext that a serious investigation is taking place."

The human rights watch dog has also appealed to UN member states to implement a specific apparatus to accurately assess how both Israel and Hamas undertake their own inquiries into alleged breaches of laws-of-war by their combatants.

"White Flag Deaths: Killings of Palestinian Civilians during Operation Cast Lead” can be read in its’ entirety here

Sinn Féin's Political Dilemma

2009-08-11T08:10:00.020+01:00

Sinn Féin's Ideological Cross Roads

I am penning this post in response to a recent article addressing the lack of progression on Irish Unity by Sinn Fein’s Declan Kearney in An Phoblacht. The article was a timely rallying cry to the remaining Sinn Fein activists prior to yesterday’s Ard Comhairle, in Navan, Co. Meath.

Given Mr Kearney’s esteem within the party hierarchy I thought that his views on Sinn Fein’s political agenda might make interesting reading. Alas, after the first paragraph my hopes of gaining a new political insight were severely dashed! Although eloquently written, it fails miserably to mask the fundamental problem and serves only to re-iterate the much vaunted but now lack lustre Irish Unity strategy adopted by Sinn Fein.

Did Sinn Fein have a Political Plan B?

From preliminary scanning its contents, Mr. Kearney’s article seems a mere pseudo attempt to stir ‘Irish Republican’ sentiment whilst remaining in a delusional (Sunningdale Mark II) comfort zone, hell bent on propping up THEIR ‘so far’ failed Irish Unity strategy and further side swiping and dissing the so-called dissident Irish Republicans! However, whilst remaining within these ‘safe’ confines might be music to the ears for their band wagon ex-SDLP supporters, many traditional Irish Republicans, the very bed rock of Sinn Fein’s foundation, are presumably less than impressed. One interesting observation form the entire article is the stark omission of the words ’32 County Strategy’. Instead he periodically refers to a specific Sinn Fein 26 county strategy. This is hardly conducive to a political party which is supposed to have an alleged 32 County United Ireland agenda at its core.

The first paragraph is quite predictable in re-enforcing upon the reader, Sinn Fein’s progress in true martyrdom style. It also underlines that their pinnacle strategy for Irish Unity still lies in their ‘Political Theatre of Dreams’, The Republic of Ireland. This single minded dogged stance has been the core selling point to Irish Republicans over the years and its continuous rehashing is making it increasingly suspect that Sinn Fein had no apparent Plan B! The only mention of the wee six counties comes to the end of the first paragraph.

Even without the benefit of hindsight given the North's political history, how anyone could actually expect Sunningdale Mark II would advance the cause of Irish Unity is beyond most rational thinking. It could also be construed that this constant infatuation with becoming a power house in Irish politics is in fact a form of acceptance of the failure of Sinn Fein’s Northern Ireland political strategy.

Try as it may and even by the authors self confessed attempts to the contrary, this article amounts to nothing but a string of vague clichés masking the lack of any clear political strategic fore-sight. As regards Sinn Fein’s less than impressive showing in the recent Republic of Ireland European elections, Mr Kearney seems to blame everything and everybody else bar Sinn Fein’s own political stance on the major issues. He lays the blame firmly at the door of various problems including; implementation of the North’s Peace Process, the physical construction of the Sinn Fein political machine in the Republic of Ireland.

Also internal questioning by party members and the existence of political opportunists within SF ranks were also blamed. These latter points have been a proverbial thorn in the side of the party in recent weeks both North and South of the border. In the Republic of Ireland, Christy Burke , John Dwyer and Louise Minihan all sited irreconcilable differences with party policy as their principle reasons for leaving. Louise Minihan gave this summation of her political discontent by claiming that;

"Sinn Féin has over the last 12 years moved steadily away from the core values of Irish socialist republicanism and is no longer willing, or able, to challenge the British occupation of the Six Counties or the rotten capitalist system which is causing so much hardship to working families across Ireland today,"

These resignations were quickly followed up by a public lambasting by Taoiresa Ferris in An Phoblacht regarding the party’s irrelevancy to the Southern electorate. Whilst in the North the recent resignation of Irish Republican stalwart Gerry ‘Gaffer’ Foley in Strabane sent shock waves through the Sinn Fein fraternity.

Whilst Mr Kearney’s article highlighted several peripheral issues within the Sinn Fein’s political structure it did little to address the fundamental political ideological clash and re-balancing required between their nationalist and socialist aspirations.

Nationalism –Vs-Irish Socialism

The whole problem appears to stem from SF’s inability to consolidate a meeting of minds between nationalism and socialism factions as they seek to fight on two political frontiers. This internal struggle to strike a balance between these schools of thought was seen by many as a natural ideological progression following the ‘perceived’ solving of the nationalist question following the Peace Process. However, an alarming out shot has been that nobody within the Sinn Fein party wants to step up to the plate and grasp the nettle of socialism which the party leadership insists is its very essence. This unwillingness in socialist aspiration is in stark contrast to the vision of James Connolly who wrote in ‘Nationalism and Irish Socialism – 1897’;

‘If the national movement of our day is not merely to re-enact the old sad tragedies of our past history, it must show itself capable of rising to the exigencies of the moment.’

The recent European Elections were a golden opportunity for a leftist political party to proverbially milk the leftward swing in Irish electoral sentiment in the midst of the worst recession of a generation.

In a recent article in the Sunday Tribune, ‘The Partitioning of Sinn Fein’ one disillusioned SF party activist bluntly summed up Sinn Fein’s woes;

"Look, Sinn Féin has been imploding for quite a while. The big mystery to everybody is how the media has managed to miss the story for so long............Republicanism is in turmoil. You've got the careerists at the top in their Armani suits gagging to be in government in both parts of the island in time for the centenary of the Rising and they'll get into bed with any other party to do it. And then you've got the people on the ground campaigning on housing and drugs and they see an unelected party official in Dublin involved in selling truckloads of illegal Sky TV boxes. The ties with the dissidents haven't been severed. The leadership turns a blind eye to that and goes off hobnobbing with Fianna Fáil."

Prior to yesterday’s Navan Ard Comhairle, many political pundits believed that the wheels had well and truly come off the Sinn Fein socialist wagon. Time will quickly tell in the boiler room of Irish politics if Sinn Fein can muster a unifying political ideology embracing nationalism and socialism. Or will political events that have yet to transpire show that the ducks have well and truly flown the nest!

‘Without a re-organisation of society on the basis of a broader and more developed form of that common property which underlay the social structure of Ancient Erin - is only national recreancy.

It would be tantamount to a public declaration that our oppressors had so far succeeded in inoculating us with their perverted conceptions of justice and morality that we had finally decided to accept those conceptions as our own, and no longer needed an alien army to force them upon us.’

~James Connolly~

Indian Police Read Riot Act

2009-08-05T07:24:00.002+01:00

Human Rights Watch Read Riot Act To Indian Police

Indian Police Service (IPS) has been read the riot act by a freshly published report by Human Rights Watch. The 118 page inculpating report by the human rights watchdog entitled ‘"Broken System: Dysfunction, Abuse and Impunity in the Indian Police," catalogues a host of human rights violations committed by the IPS. Highlighted human rights infringements include the deployment of illegal procedures such as arbitrary arrest and detention, torture and extrajudicial killings.

Successive Indian governments have publicly recognised institutional failings within the Indian Police Service but privately have elected to fudge the controversial issues of reform and accountability. An Indian Supreme Court judgment in 2006 instructed the government to urgently address the specific issues of public accountability and police autonomy relating to staffing procedures.

Whilst Indian society is evolving economically and socially apace the same cannot be said for the IPS implementation of the rule of law. It remains stubbornly fixed in anachronistic British imperialist style time warp and has vehemently resisted international calls for 21st style reform. Asia director at Human Rights Watch Asian Director, Brad Adams, commented;

"India is modernizing rapidly, but the police continue to use their old methods: abuse and threats...............It's time for the government to stop talking about reform and fix the system."

The damning comprehensive report was compiled using material from was interviews conducted with more than 80 police officers of varying ranks, 60 victim statements and also contributions from both regional experts and Indian reform activists. The litany of human rights violations includes accusations of;

IPS, members adopting an above ‘the law approach’
Insufficient ethical and professional codes of conduct
Inability to counteract India’s criminal elements
IPS was guilty of non registry of crimes, trumping up charges, illegal incarceration, extracting confessions via torture, and extrajudicial murders.

Human Rights Watch representative, Naureen Shah, regards the current Indian police culture is the remnants of institutional practice employed during the reign of British Imperialism in India;

"They are often relying on old methods of policing,.................When they were first constituted as a colonial force in the 1800's they were taught to use repression, fear - the public's fear rather than its cooperation. And, that is still the way they are doing policing today."

The by-product of this endemic attitude has been a wide scale incertitude and consternation towards the fear of police and to people avoiding it, fearing demands for bribes, illegal detention or torture.

Human Rights Watch emphasised a "dangerous state of disrepair" precipitating through all ranks of the Indian Police Service police. Furthermore the generic problems are exacerbated by poor governmental funding leaving the force "overstretched and ill equipped". India currently has triple the global average of police officers per head of population. Coupled with this, the human rights watchdog claims the “police infrastructure is crumbling and decaying police stations lack vehicles, phones or computers. The working environment for low-ranking police is often dismal.” According to Naureen Shah;

"A lot of the police we spoke to did not seem to realize or did not seem to understand that there were other ways of doing things." In the report one police officer said "If we said 'why is it you torture so much to get a confession...............................What do you expect me to do? Do you expect me to sit the fellow down and ask him politely if he committed the crime? He is not going to tell me anything. These harsh methods are necessary.' So, there is a lack of awareness that there are other ways of doing things. "

The comprehensive human rights report identifies that state and local obstruction of IPS implementation of the rule of law is rife throughout India.

Human Rights Watch concludes by invoking the Indian government to urgently address the issues they have highlighted in order to redress the plight of their stricken police force.

Further appraisal and link to the Human Rights Watch report, ‘"Broken System: Dysfunction, Abuse and Impunity in the Indian Police," here