SAOIRSE32

New Online Project by Irish Republicans - Aontacht.Net

**Received this in my email from ‘Ailin Mac Giolla Bhuidhe’. I’ve previously added Aontacht.Net to my links list and urge you to give it a look and get involved

Getting Republicans into the community
&
Getting the community into Republicanism.

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Aontacht.Net’s
underlining purpose for being set up is to…

..Promote respect and revival for Irish history, language and culture.
..Provide a non-partisan analysis of Republicanism and the current
position of the possibility of unification.
..Evolve a contempory definition of Republicanism and set out it’s
relevance to the people of Ireland.
..Set out the current problems facing those who support unification
and create solutions for these.
..Encourage community awareness and participation in Republican
politics and history.
..Provide an online focal point for those who believe in the
unification of Ireland.
..Discuss the challenges that would arise from unification.
..To encourage people to focus their individual skills for the benefit
of the cause of unification, be they academic, web design, artistic,
oratorical or musical.

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Supporting…

..Secularism in politics and government.
..Co-operation and understanding between different cultural groups in Ireland.
..Co-operation between different political groups in Ireland toward unification.

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Opposing…

..The partition of Ireland and the British Government’s occupation of
Irish national territory.
..An elitist approach to Republicanism.
..Racism and Religious Sectarianism.
..The alienation and disregard for the weaker sections of our society
including the disabled, homeless, drug addicted and immigrants.
..Censorship and revisionism.
..The destruction of Irish heritage and historical sites in Ireland.

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Recognising…

..The right of the island of Ireland to act as a single unit.
..That the basic aim of Republicanism is unification of the national
territory and, equally, unity and understanding among it’s
inhabitants.
..How the above cannot and will not be achieved through the Good
Friday Agreement.
..The current crisis within Ireland insofar as unification is concerned.
..The devision between republican groups in Ireland.
..How the above is counter-productive to even the most basic of
Republicanism’s objectives.
..The concerns of Unionism.
..The right of Unionism as a political entity to exist. However it
does not accept the right of Unionism, as a national minority, to
subvert unification.
..That true Republicanism comes from the people and, as such, without
their support, no plan for unification can hope to succeed.
..That the Irish people have misconceptions of Republicanism that must
be changed.
..That the people are the only reliable foundation of any state.
..That support from the people must be earned through community-level
work of a wide and varying nature.

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Seeing that…

..Modern Republicanism is an amalgamation of diverse idealogies set
around the fundamental position that the island of Ireland is entitled
to complete seperation from Britain.
..[Taking the above into consideration] ..All Republicans are able to
find basic common ground with one another to co-operate.
..Because the Irish people hold diverse political views, so too, do
Republicans and though at times these views may conflict, the basic
tenet of unification holds true.
..In order for the people to become firmly commited to the belief of
unification, Republicans must be educated, credible, patient and
polite in their approach.
..Republicans must have a coherent, though evolving, stand on all
issues of relevance to the people.
..Republicans must set aside party allegiances in lieu of National allegiance.
..The people are the only power that can establish or dismantle a state.
..Those opposed to unification are entitled to their views and that
those views should be aired to create understanding and
interpretation.
..As the world is constantly evolving and creating new challenges, so
too should Republicanism be evolving and creating new ways to meet
these challenges.

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Aontacht.Net is not the website for a political party, nor is it
affiliated with any organisation in Ireland. While Aontacht.Net is
aimed at those who believe in unification, it also welcomes those who
are opposed to it to take part in mature and constructive discussion
on the topic in our forum.

Daily Ireland

Letters to the editor - Courage and intelligence

Francis Hughes’ mother Margaret (holding sign) beside her daughter Dolours and James O’Hara, father of Patsy O’Hara on a demonstration

On May 12, 1981, almost 24 years ago, my brother, Francis Hughes, was the second republican prisoner to die on hunger strike, exactly one week after Bobby Sands MP.
Francis died after 59 days of terrible suffering and remained, until the end, a dignified and courageous Irishman.
I am writing in response to newspaper items about a book published by a former prisoner, Richard O’Rawe, a man whom I do not know.
In that book, Blanketmen, Mr O’Rawe describes the leadership of the republican movement and key individuals from the 1981 period in a way that bears no resemblance to the people I and my family dealt with.
Sinn Féin representatives assisted us, were concerned for us, liaised with us regularly and kept us informed of all initiatives, which was crucial, for example, on those occasions when I myself was sometimes required to act as a spokesperson and respond to particular developments.
I was outraged by Mr O’Rawe’s claims that the republican leadership around the time of Joe McDonnell’s death ordered the prisoners not to accept an offer from the British and used the prisoners as cannon fodder for election purposes.
Having visited my brother on the blanket, I think I can say with some authority that that was never the relationship between the IRA and the prisoners.
I know it for a fact from Francis that the republican movement was opposed to the hunger strike but that, in the event, it would support them totally in all decisions they would make, including ending the strike without concessions.
It is because of this last vital point - which we were always clear about - that Mr O’Rawe’s remarks do not ring true.
In 1980-81, the prisoners had exhausted all means of protest, and Francis fully supported the use of hunger strike and insisted that, if he lapsed into a coma, we were not to authorise medical interventions unless his and his comrades’ demands had been met.
We do not understand why Richard O’Rawe would write such an insensitive book on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the hunger strike.
We had no notice of his book or what he was to say until it appeared serialised in a Sunday newspaper - one certainly not known for its republican sympathies, to say the least.
We have never forgotten what those ten men went through.
They were not just brave men. They were intelligent men, who did with their lives what few are prepared to do - lay them down for their comrades and their people.

Oliver Hughes

Newshound

Allegations of a rejected deal spark fury among republicans

(Catherine Morrison, Irish News)

Senior republicans last night (Monday) rejected controversial claims in a new book that Sinn Féin and the IRA blocked a deal which could have saved the lives of six hunger strikers.

Richard O’Rawe, spokesman for the Provisional IRA in the Maze prison during the hunger strikes, said he accepted a British government deal just days before the fifth hunger striker, Joe McDonnell, died in July 1981.

In Blanketmen: An Untold Story of the H-Block Hunger Strike, Mr O’Rawe claims fellow prisoners’ leader Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane had shared details of a “substantial” offer from Margaret Thatcher’s government, conceding four of the five IRA demands.

The only point the British had refused to concede was the free association of prisoners on the IRA wing.

Mr O’Rawe, who was serving eight years for robbery, claimed both men agreed that the offer, which was tabled by a mysterious middleman called the Mountain Climber, was sufficient to call off the hunger strike.

However, on July 6, the IRA’s army council ruled the offer was not sufficient and the hunger strikers should hold out for more concessions.

Less than 48 hours later Joe McDonnell died.

On July 22, prisoners were told that the Mountain Climber had been in touch again, but that nothing more was on offer.

Five more prisoners were to die before the protest was eventually called off in October, on less favourable terms, but after the politically critical Fermanagh/South Tyrone by-election.

In his book, Mr O’Rawe suggests that one interpretation of events was that six hunger strikers were sacrificed for political gain, to ensure Owen Carron’s election to the seat left vacant by his fellow striker Bobby Sands.

“Perhaps getting a republican elected in Bobby’s former constituency of Fermanagh/South Tyrone and thus kick-starting the shift away from armed struggle and into constitutional politics was the real reason they balked at accepting what appeared to be a very sellable deal,” he writes.

“If that were so, Joe and the five other hunger strikers who died after him were used as cannon fodder.

“No matter which way one views it, the outside leadership alone, not the prison leadership, took the decision to play brinkmanship with Joe McDonnell’s life.

“If Bik and I had had our way, Joe and the five comrades who followed him to the grave would be alive today.”

Owen Carron was successfully elected to the seat in August 1981.

Now a teacher in Co Leitrim, he refused to comment when asked by the Irish News for his views on Mr O’Rawe’s book.

“I am working, I am not going to say anything about this,” he said.

However, Brendan McFarlane strenuously denied the claims in the book, published yesterday.

“I was the person receiving communications – there was no substantive deal at all,” he said.

“The hunger strikers had actually told the ICJT (Irish Commission of Justice and Truth) that there was nothing of substance.

“It did not happen. No deal was offered to the hunger strikers whereby they could say it was acceptable.

“Richard’s whole thrust here is that the army council were responsible some how for hunger strikers dying.

“That is scurrilous, it is wrong and absolutely inaccurate.

“The hunger strikers took the decisions themselves from the first hunger strikers, from Bobby Sands right through to Mickey Devine – they took the decision themselves.

“This is a slander and a slur, this is pointing up Richard’s own idea and how he wants to sell his book. I have no idea why he is saying this.”

Danny Morrison, a former Sinn Féin press officer who was also involved with the hunger strike negotiations at the time, said the claim in the book that the army council had turned the deal down was “totally untrue”.

“After the disgraceful things that were written in that book, Richard O’Rawe should hang his head in shame for what he has said and for the allegations he has made,” he said.

“I explained to them [hunger strikers] what was on offer and we talked about it.

“We all agreed that this could be a resolution but we wanted it to be guaranteed – we couldn’t go on a whim.

“Richard said it was there in black and white, it wasn’t – this was all notional stuff.”

Magherafelt Sinn Féin councillor Oliver Hughes, whose brother Francis died on hunger strike in May 1981, also claimed the author’s allegations “did not ring true”.

“I am outraged by Mr O’Rawe’s claims that the republican leadership around the time of Joe McDonnell’s death ordered the prisoners not to accept an offer from the British,” he said.

“Having visited my brother on the blanket I think I can say with some authority that that was never the relationship between the IRA and the prisoners.”

Former Sinn Féin president Ruairi O’Bradaigh also said it was “not the policy” of the republican movement to prolong the hunger strike until the by-election which followed Bobby Sands’ death.

“I believed then, and still do, that the terms for the settlement were a matter for the H-block prisoners themselves,” he said.

However, Mr O’Rawe insisted yesterday: “This is the boys closing ranks and that is the bottom line here.

“The families are entitled to know what happened as is everybody, including the ordinary blanketmen.”

March 2, 2005
________________

This article appeared first in the March 1, 2005 edition of the Irish News.

BreakingNews.ie

Orde ‘happy if evidence is passed to third parties’

02/03/2005 - 13:06:53

PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde has said he has no problem with people providing evidence about the murder of Robert McCartney to third parties.

Speaking at a meeting of the North’s Policing Board today, Mr Orde said he would be happy if people passed information to solicitors or clergymen if they did not want to approach the police.

Mr McCartney was beaten and stabbed to death outside a pub in Belfast on January 30, allegedly by senior IRA members who cleaned up the forensic evidence afterwards.

His death has led to a backlash against Sinn Féin, which has urged people with information to come forward.

The party has been criticised by its opponents for saying that people who do not trust the police should pass on information through a third party.

However, Mr Orde said today that he would have no difficulty with people speaking to others before statements were taken to be used in the courts.

BreakingNews.ie

Police Ombudsman offers to aid McCartney probe
02/03/2005 - 14:02:14

The office of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman today offered to assist in the investigation of the murder of Belfast man Robert McCartney.

The offer was made as a way of getting republicans not traditionally anxious to make statements to the police to come forward.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde said earlier that he was quite happy for people who did not feel confident about going directly to the police to approach them through a third party.

“I have no difficulty with that, but what we need to do is get the information and then give the people the confidence to go into court and give the evidence,” said Mr Orde.

The family of Mr McCartney, who had his throat slashed after a pub fight last month, have accused IRA members of being responsible and the IRA of covering up the murder and intimidating witnesses to stop them giving information.

The murdered man’s sister, Paula, today said that if witnesses were unwilling to give statements directly to the police the family would like them to give them to the Police Ombudsman.

A spokesman for Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s office said: “We are keen to help in any way we can.”

He added: “We need to agree with the PSNI the best way forward.”

Agreement would be needed on a method of statements being taken and formally passed to the murder investigation team so they could be used in any legal action which follows, he said.

The IRA said at the weekend that three members had been expelled following an internal inquiry into the murder and the forensic clean up of the bar which followed.

A 29-year-old man was last night released without charge after being questioned by detectives investigating the killing. Another man was released without charge at the weekend.

Meanwhile Belfast City Council last night overwhelmingly backed an SDLP motion condemning the murder and calling on witnesses to pass information to the police.

Sinn Féin came under fire after abstaining during the vote after their amendment calling on people to come forward through whatever avenue they chose was heavily defeated.

BBC

‘Deficiencies’ in death inquiries

Pat Finucane was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries

The government must improve the way it investigates deaths caused by police and security forces, the NI Human Rights Commission has urged.

Its call follows a report by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers into how the government responded to six cases.

The committee said action must be taken to address deficiencies in the government’s investigation process.

The 1989 death of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane was one of the cases examined.

The Human Rights Commission is a statutory body which was established under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

Its role is to ensure that the human rights of everyone in Northern Ireland are protected in law, policy and practice.

Findings

Commission chief executive Paddy Sloan said they were pleased with the committee’s findings.

“Urgent steps must be taken to address the weaknesses found by the European Court in the investigation of these deaths and to ensure that this issue does not come before the court again,” she said.

“The government should comply fully with the judgments as soon as possible.”

The five other cases under investigation were the killings of Pearse Jordan in November 1992, Jonathan McKerr in November 1982, Vincent Kelly and others in May 1987, Patrick Shanaghan in December 1990 and Dermot McShane in July 1996.

It also examined circumstances which gave rise to allegations of collusion between the security forces and the loyalist paramilitaries who committed the crimes.

Larkspirit

**Day 2 of Bobby Sands’ diary

Monday 2nd

Much to the distaste of the Screws we ended the no-wash protest this morning. We moved to ‘B’ wing, which was allegedly clean.

We have shown considerable tolerance today. Men are being searched coming back from the toilet. At one point men were waiting three hours to get out to the toilet, and only four or five got washed, which typifies the eagerness (sic) of the Screws to have us off the no-wash. There is a lot of petty vindictiveness from them.

I saw the doctor and I’m 64 kgs. I’ve no problems.

The priest, Fr John Murphy, was in tonight. We had a short talk. I heard that my mother spoke at a parade in Belfast yesterday and that Marcella cried. It gave me heart. I’m not worried about the numbers of the crowds. I was very annoyed last night when I heard Bishop Daly’s statement (issued on Sunday, condemning the hunger-strike). Again he is applying his double set of moral standards. He seems to forget that the people who murdered those innocent Irishmen on Derry’s Bloody Sunday are still as ever among us; and he knows perhaps better than anyone what has and is taking place in H-Block.

He understands why men are being tortured here — the reason for criminalisation. What makes it so disgusting, I believe, is that he agrees with that underlying reason. Only once has he spoken out, of the beatings and inhumanity that are commonplace in H-Block.

I once read an editorial, in late ‘78, following the then Archbishop O Fiaich’s ’sewer pipes of Calcutta’ statement. It said it was to the everlasting shame of the Irish people that the archbishop had to, and I paraphrase, stir the moral conscience of the people on the H-Block issue. A lot of time has passed since then, a lot of torture, in fact the following year was the worst we experienced.

Now I wonder who will stir the Cardinal’s moral conscience…

Bear witness to both right and wrong, stand up and speak out. But don’t we know that what has to be said is ‘political’, and it’s not that these people don’t want to become involved in politics, it’s simply that their politics are different, that is, British.

My dear friend Tomboy’s father died today. I was terribly annoyed, and it has upset me.

I received several notes from my family and friends. I have only read the one from my mother — it was what I needed. She has regained her fighting spirit — I am happy now.

My old friend Seanna (Walsh, a fellow blanket man) has also written.

I have an idea for a poem, perhaps tomorrow I will try to put it together.

Every time I feel down I think of Armagh, and James Connolly. They can never take those thoughts away from me.

BreakingNews.ie

British police arrest Irish anti-war supporters

02/03/2005 - 11:50:49

Five British anti-war activists were arrested today after they forced their way into the Irish Embassy in London

The demonstrators, who chained themselves together, were protesting at the use of Shannon Airport as a stop-over point for American war planes on their way to Iraq.

Embassy officials said the five were arrested for trespass on diplomatic premises at the embassy on Grosvenor Place, south west London, near Buckingham Palace.

The five, who are aligned with the Irish anti-war movement Pit Stop Ploughshares, were campaigning for charges against a number of Irish protesters over alleged damage to a US plane to be dropped.

It was understood the protest began at 9.10am when two women and three men chained themselves to the building.

The five were named as Milan Rai, Alex George, Zelda Jeffers, Maureen Ukairo and William Dawdarn.

Jos Jarman, spokesman for the group, said Irish Ambassador Daithi O’Ceallaigh had held talks with the group in the embassy before police moved in.

Fire officers were called in to release the protesters from the chains before the Metropolitan Police made the arrests.

An embassy spokesman said the demonstration was completely peaceful and a letter of protest had been handed in.

“Some of them managed to get through one of the two security doors but they were quickly stopped,” he said.

“All they are really doing is blocking people from coming into the embassy.”

Protesters also gathered outside the embassy and a banner was displayed declaring “Pit Stop Ploughshares Not Guilty”.

Five members of the Pit Stop Ploughshares are on bail due for trial in Dublin next week accused of disarming a US warplane at Shannon in February 2003.

The damage to the plane was estimated at €1.45m and if found guilty the protesters could face 10 years behind bars.

Mr Jarman said protesters were calling on the Government to drop the charges against Karen Fallon, Deirdre Clancy, Ciaron O’Reilly, Damien Moran and Nuin Dunlop.

“The point is that the war in Iraq was illegal and the Irish Government was breaking its own constitution and its position on neutrality,” Mr Jarman said.

“In light of the fact that war was brought illegally it is just unacceptable that these peace campaigners could be facing prison whilst Bertie Ahern remains at large.”

Mr Jarman claimed that within one month of the attack on the warplane at Shannon, three of the four companies contracted to ferry US troops and weapons had left Ireland.

BreakingNews.ie

Ahern rejects claims of killers controlling jail

02/03/2005 - 10:55:45

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today denied opposition claims that the killers of Detective Garda Jerrry McCabe controlled a prison where they are serving their sentences.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny used a Dáil question to ask if it was true that the four IRA men convicted of the 1996 killing of Garda McCabe had a veto on being integrated with other prisoners in Castlerea Prison.

But Mr Ahern said: “It’s entirely inaccurate that these prisoners are in control of the prison.”

Mr Ahern said that the Castlerea facility was an open prison but not a luxurious one.

The Taoiseach said last Friday that the killers would not be released as part of a Northern Ireland peace deal during his time in office.

BBC

SF reject McCartney police motion

Sinn Fein has been condemned for not backing a council motion urging anyone with information on the Robert McCartney murder to go to the police.

The 33-year-old father-of-two died after being stabbed near Belfast city centre on 30 January.

Mr McCartney’s family has said those responsible must be forced to admit their role in the murder.

Two men have been arrested over the murder in the past week, but both have been released without charge.

Sinn Fein failed to back a motion at Belfast City Council on Tuesday urging anyone with information or evidence on the murder to go to the police.

The SDLP motion was passed by 33 votes to zero.

Sinn Fein’s 13 councillors abstained after its amendment to “encourage anyone with information or evidence to go to the organisation of their choice” was not passed.

SDLP councillor Pat McCarthy, who tabled the motion, said he was disappointed but not surprised Sinn Fein did not back it.

“I would like them to turn round and tell everyone that if they want to go to the police, they can go without any fear of repercussion,” he said.

The motion, debated on Tuesday night, called upon the entire community to show “the same courage and dignity displayed by Mr McCartney’s family”.

Mr McCarthy represents the Markets area where the murder took place.

His motion also demanded “an end to the intimidation of witnesses and calls upon the community to co-operate with the due process of the law to apprehend the organisers and perpetrators of this crime”.

Sinn Fein deputy mayor Joe O’Donnell said many people in the area would not go to the police.

“Our motion was to make sure they used other avenues - it was more inclusive, it represented the wishes of more people and it would ensure that more information was brought forward,” he said.

Unionists and others said Sinn Fein’s words rang hollow, and it was time for action.

Ombudsman

Meanwhile, the Police Ombudsman’s office said it would be willing to assist the investigation in any way possible.

A spokesman for Nuala O’Loan’s office said it would want to liaise with the police about the best way to achieve this.

Mr McCartney’s sister, Paula, has said that if witnesses were unwilling to approach the police, the family would like them to give statements to the Police Ombudsman.

Chief Constable Hugh Orde said that he would encourage people to go through a third party if they did not feel confident about going to the police directly.

Earlier on Wednesday, he told the BBC’s Today programme that it was similar to his experiences in London, where “some communities who didn’t trust us” would go through third parties “as a way of getting to the police”.

“I have no difficulty with that, but what we need to do is get the information and then give the people the confidence to go into court and give the evidence,” he added.

A 29-year-old man arrested over the murder of Mr McCartney was released without charge on Tuesday.

Another man questioned about the murder was released without charge at the weekend.

BBC

**This is late as Blogsome was off the net for awhile

Man held in McCartney probe freed

A 29-year-old man arrested over the murder of Belfast man Robert McCartney has been released without charge.

Mr McCartney, a 33-year-old father-of-two, died after being stabbed near Belfast city centre on 30 January.

Another man questioned about the murder was released without charge at the weekend.

Meanwhile, the police have said they are no longer looking for people outside Northern Ireland in connection with the killing.

Earlier, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said a number of people wanted for questioning had left the jurisdiction.

Mr Orde said he is “not impressed” by the IRA’s decision to expel three members suspected of involvement in the murder.

“I’m not that impressed by illegal organisations ejecting people who have committed illegal acts.

Evidence

“This was not committed just by three people. We are looking to gather evidence against anyone that was involved in the actual offence, or in a conspiracy to commit the offence or in the affray around the offence,” he added.

Mr Orde was speaking at a news conference a short time after Northern Ireland Secretary Paul Murphy also said the expulsions did not go far enough.

Mr Murphy said Sinn Fein should follow Mr McCartney’s family’s example and ask witnesses to go to the police.

He also paid tribute to the family and said he was impressed by the number of people who had shown support for them.

“It (the IRA) doesn’t go far enough,” he said.

“I hope they follow the lead of the McCartney family by telling people, if they know anything about this crime, they should go to the police.

“That should be the plea of every political party here in Northern Ireland, including Sinn Fein.”

Mr McCartney’s family has said expulsion of IRA members did not go far enough.

Speaking in the Irish Parliament on Tuesday night, Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said that until Mr McCartney’s killers “are brought before the courts, no member of the Provisional movement can utter the words truth or justice with any credibility”.

Motion

Meanwhile, a motion demanding justice for the McCartney family has been passed by 33 to 0 at Belfast City Council.

SDLP councillor Pat McCarthy said the motion condemned the killing and commended the family’s courage.

Mr McCartney’s family has said those responsible must be forced to admit their role in the murder.

The motion, debated on Tuesday night, called upon the entire community to show “the same courage and dignity displayed by Mr McCartney’s family”.

Mr McCarthy represents the Markets area where the murder took place.

His motion also demanded “an end to the intimidation of witnesses and calls upon the community to co-operate with the due process of the law to apprehend the organisers and perpetrators of this crime”.

Thirteen Sinn Fein members on Belfast City Council abstained from the motion.

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein is not going to raise funds during Gerry Adams’s trip to the United States for St Patrick’s Day.

Party sources said events billed as fundraisers would now become speaking engagements as fundraising could become a distraction from the work of rebuilding the political process.

It is also understood Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness will not travel to the United States, but will stay at home because of the gravity of the current situation.