From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Sinn Fein: Week In Review Sinn Féin International Department -------------------- The week in review -------------------- 1-11 January 2001 Holy Cross - attacks escalate ------------------------------ Loyalist attacks on catholic schools and on nationalist residents in north Belfast intensified at the beginning of the year, leading to the closure of Holy Cross School on 9 and 10 January. On 9 January Sinn Féin north Belfast Councillor Margaret McClenaghan accused loyalists of deliberately trying to raise sectarian tensions in the area after they verbally and physically abused parents going to pick up their children at Holy Cross Primary school. Cllr. McClenaghan said: `As parents of children at Holy Cross made their way up the Ardoyne Road this afternoon to collect their children from school they were verbally abused, spat on and assaulted by loyalists in the Glenbryn area. Loyalists appear to have renewed the blockade of the school, with parents unable to get their children home. Clearly the actions of these loyalists were organised to some degree. Those responsible for these attacks and the blockade are clearly intent on raising sectarian tensions in the area, following the same agenda as the UDA have been following over the past number of years.' She called upon unionist and loyalist politicians to work to end this situation `before it gets out of control.' On 10 November the situation escalated, with an attack on another Catholic school, Our Lady of Mercy in Ballyscillan. North Belfast Sinn Féin Councillor Eoin O Broin said the attack was `clearly part of an orchestrated loyalist campaign aimed at driving nationalists from the North Belfast area. ' He called for the attacks to stop and for `loyalist and unionist politicians to stand up to those responsible for this campaign of terror and enter into dialogue to resolve the issue of sectarianism in the North Belfast area.' Education minister Martin McGuinness, speaking after the attack on the school, also urged unionist politicians to confront loyalists over the attacks. He said `everybody concerned with the education of our children has to be absolutely appalled and disgusted at this unacceptable deterioration of the situation . Yesterday was bad enough, and I think there was some hope that common sense would prevail... but the latest escalation of all of this, this morning, I think has sent people almost to the point of despair. My message is that we should not despair, that there is a particular responsibility in my view on politicians and community leaders to do everything in their power to bring this to an end as a matter of urgency. The key priority in all of this has to be the protection of our children.' Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons on 10 January urging the British government to urgently bring an end to the attacks and ensure the safety of the school children. Proposed Bill of Rights Fails Good Friday Test ------------------------------------------------ On 3 January, Sinn Fein responded to the Human Rights Commission consultation document 'Making a Bill of Rights'. Spokesperson on Human Rights Pat McNamee said that despite some progress, the proposed Bill of Rights `failed the Good Friday Agreement test'. He outlined a number of areas of concern: * Parity of Esteem - Is a key principle of the Good Friday Agreement, recognised by the two governments and all of the pro-Agreement parties. Yet the Human Rights Commission is recommending that it should not be rooted as a principle in the proposed Bill of Rights. * The Irish Language - was given special recognition under the Good Friday Agreement. This is again ignored in the consultation document. * The Constitutional Position - the Good Friday Agreement affords the right for nationalists and republicans to work towards constitutional change. The Human Rights Commission has simply avoided what is a crucial issue for the vast majority of people living in the Six Counties. * Consitutional Court - given the bigotry of the judiciary in the Six Counties, Sinn Féin is proposing that an All-Ireland Constitutional Court is the only appropriate machanism for arbitration on Human Rights issues. Irish unity debate must begin ----------------------------- Speaking to an elected representative's conference in Belfast in early January, Sinn Féin Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin said that the major political topic for debate still outstanding was the issue of Irish unity. Mr Mc Laughlin told the conference; `Republicans at every opportunity must begin discussions with unionists and other political opponents on the benefits of Irish unity. We can not afford to wait for anyone else to initiate these discussions because who else other than republicans have the motivation do so. `As our electoral strength continues to grow across the 32 counties of Ireland we need to use that strength to bring about a United Ireland which will accommodate unionist concerns. With the increase of political strength comes the responsibility for advancing the type of united Ireland that can accommodate all. We will have to begin discussions that will bring that about by engaging with our political opponents - unionist, nationalists and others. Coming from a strong constituency of nationalism and republicanism - one that is getting stronger, we need to address the fears of those concerned about future constitutional change. `The core outstanding issue of political debate in Ireland at present is that of constitutional change leading to the dismantling of partition. It can no longer be ignored. The advances made by Sinn Féin in last years Westminster and Local Government elections in the North will be replicated in the forthcoming general election in the 26 counties. But we should not allow ourselves become complacent by listening to predictions in the media of an increase of as many as eight Dáil seats. These wild predictions are being made by political pundits that have no love of republicans so that if they do not transpire then it can be claimed that Sinn Féin did not do as well as expected. We will do very well but this is not a short-term project it needs long term commitment to build the strength required to complete our political project. `Our success in acquiring Westminster facilities as of right will also assist us in this project. I believe that it will be as significant and as successful as our Washington Bureau since its opening a number of years ago. I also expect progress in the coming months on northern representation in the Irish political system. This will be highly significant as it will for the first time since partition give Irish citizens in the North a voice - albeit one limited to those issues not explicit to the 26 counties - in the affairs of the 'Nation'. Ferris throws down the gauntlet to Bertie Ahern ------------------------------------------------ Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle member Cllr Martin Ferris speaking on 6 January the Feargal O'Hanlon Memorial Lecture in Monaghan threw down the gauntlet to An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, stating `the story of the 2002 general election will be the success of Sinn Féin'. Cllr Ferris said: `The year 2001 will be remembered in electoral terms as the year Sinn Féin became the largest nationalist party in the Six Counties and won four Westminster seats, and when our party played a key role in defeating the Nice Treaty referendum in the 26 Counties. He added that the story of the 2002 general election would be `the success of Sinn Féin.' He said: `I confidently predict that our sole TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin will be re-elected in Cavan/Monaghan. That will be an historic achievement because not since the 1920s has Sinn Féin retained a Leinster House seat. But we will [also] send a strong contingent of Sinn Féin TDs to Leinster House and make an impact on the political scene as never before. I look forward to taking my place on that team.' Responding to comments made recently by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Cllr. Ferris said: `In an interview in last week's Sunday Business Post the Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil Bertie Ahern stated that it "would not be tenable for Sinn Féin to participate in a sovereign Irish government" and he referred to the "continued existence of an illegal private army associated with a political party". The Taoiseach appeared to rule out negotiations with Sinn Féin about the formation of a government after the general election. I would remind the Taoiseach that Sinn Féin does not have a private army. What we do have is an electoral mandate, a mandate that will be increased after the general election. I think the electorate should be told plainly by the Taoiseach that he regards votes cast for Sinn Féin as less valid than those cast for other parties, and TDs elected for Sinn Féin as less qualified to represent the people. Because if no party emerges with a clear majority then all parties whose numbers in Leinster House make them relevant must be considered in the negotiations to form a government. The Taoiseach does not really believe that it would be untenable for Sinn Féin to participate in government in this State. His statement is merely another instalment in the negative campaigning by the establishment parties as they attempt to frighten voters from supporting Sinn Féin. `The Taoiseach need not be too concerned on Sinn Féin's behalf as we are not holding our breath in anticipation of entering government with Fianna Fáil. Yes, we want to be in government, but the government we are aiming for is a national government in a 32-County parliament with a Sinn Féin majority. That is our ultimate aim and though it may seem distant now, we need only look at the rapid changes, which occurred, in recent years to realise that it is no pipe dream.' He concluded: `Sinn Féin is the only party in a position to challenge the stale, corrupt and careerist establishment which has dominated politics in the 26 Counties for so long. The gross inequalities and inefficiencies in our health service, despite unprecedented economic prosperity, provide just one indication of the failure of successive governments to serve the people. Sinn Féin is building the radical alternative and pointing the way forward to an all-Ireland democracy, an Ireland of equals.' Adams - all electoral mandates must be treated equally -------------------------------------------------------- Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP, speaking in Dublin, said that the sudden re-emergence of anti-Sinn Féin rhetoric this New Year was due to the fact that Sinn Féin will be challenging all of the establishment parties, including Fianna Fáil, in constituencies such as Dublin South West and Kerry North in the coming election. Mr. Adams said: `Over the last number of days we have seen the beginning of the general election campaign but with a concentration of post election arrangements rather than on the issues which need to be addressed. And part of this has involved Fianna Fáil comments on the validity of Sinn Féin¹s electoral mandate. `I believe that it is important to set out some basic points on this very important issue. First of all I want to completely refute the comments. Sinn Féin is a political party with an electoral mandate. We do not have a private army nor are we linked to a private army. In the last election (EU 1999) Sinn Féin received over 200,000 votes on this island and those votes are as valid as the votes received by other any party. And if the electorate places Sinn Féin in a position of strength following the general election then there is an obligation on other parties to respect this mandate. `But this is not about Sinn Féin waiting to win the right number of Leinster House seats and the correct parliamentary arithmetic before heading straight into a coalition government with Fianna Fáil. It is an issue of equality. As we approach the General Election Sinn Féin will be concentrating on the many issues which successive governments have failed to address despite the economic prosperity of recent years. Issues which we are putting on the agenda are: *A vigorous pursuit of the all-Ireland agenda in all its aspects *Radical action to solve the housing crisis including price and rent controls and increased resources for local authority housing programmes *Complete reform of the health service which would provide free care for all and end the two tier system of health for wealth that operates at present *Support for a position of positive neutrality including a constitutional referendum on the matter and calling on the government to respect and act upon the decision of the electorate on the Nice Treaty He concluded: `Sinn Féin is building the radical alternative and pointing the way forward to an all-Ireland democracy, an Ireland of equals.' Arms - `let the Independent Commission do its job' --------------------------------------------------- The 9 January saw the House of Commons debate the extension of legislation concerning decommissioning. Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry said: `The issue of arms is now back where it always should have been, with General de Chastelain and the IICD (Independing International Commission on Decommissioning). That is what the Good Friday Agreement prescribed and they should now be allowed to get on with their work. The Tories and the unionists who are attempting today to scupper the process in Westminster are at one end of the scale, at the other end of which are the loyalist gangs who are engaging in nightly attacks on Catholic homes. Yet in the face of this loyalist campaign we have had at best ambivalence form the unionist political establishment? Those MPs attempting to block this measure should get real and stop attempting to do the job of the IICD.' _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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