From: "Stasi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Peoples War] Sinn Fein International Dept: Week In Review 19-25 Jan 2002 Sinn Féin International Department The week in review 19-25 January 2002 Sinn Féin take up office facilities at Westminster Sinn Féin MP's Martin McGuinness, Gerry Adams, Michelle Gildernew and Pat Doherty were in London on 21 January, to take up their office facilities at Westminster. Party President Gerry Adams MP and Martin McGuinness MP held talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street in relation to the ongoing loyalist attacks. All four MP's held a press conference in the House of Commons' Jubilee Room. Gerry Adams said Sinn Fein's position in respect of the MPs attendance at Westminster was on the basis on which the electorate voted in last June's election. He said: `prior to the election Sinn Fein made it very clear that any members elected would begin to use the facilities at Westminster available to all other MPs. This is a democratic entitlement of our electorate. But when myself and Martin McGuinness were elected, Betty Boothroyd the then speaker of the British parliament changed the rules so as to prevent Sinn Fein members from usuing the facilites in Westmisnter. Since then we have consistentl raised this issue with the British government in a bid to secure the full rights and entitlements for our electorate and to provide Sinn Fein MPs with all available resources to represent our voters' interests. The recent decision by the British parliament to restore these rights to Sinn Fein members and to revert to the situation which prior to the Boothroyd dictat, was a belated recoginition that this decision was discriminatory and wrong. In the most recent Westminster election last year the majority of the nationalist population endorsed the Sinn Fein positon of abstentionism from the British parliament while at the same time working to ensure our full democratic rights and entitlements.' He went on: `Sinn Fein has long argued that effective representation amounts to much more than parliamentary activity. we are a campaigning party who have consistently brought the republican analysis to an international stage. We opened an office in Washington in 1994 and set up a political lobbying facility in London headed by Michelle Gildernew in 1997. Sinn Fein will use the resources now restored to us to expand this operation and to lobby for support for a democratic British policy in respect of Irish national self-determination. This is a crucial area of work for republicans. An expanded Sinn Fein presence in Londn wil be to the benefit of our electorate, our constiutents and those of us who wish to see the peace process consolidated.' Adams calls on Blair to `rein in securocrats' Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams MP, speaking at a special day long meeting of the party's Ard Chomhairle in Navan on 19 January called for Tony Blair to 'rein in his securocrats to bring an end to the ongoing loyalist murder campaign.' The meeting dealt with two main issues: the outstanding matters under the Good Friday Agreement; and a broad discussion on strategy of moving towards Irish unity. Mr Adams said the Ard Chomhairle welcomed the demonstrations held across the Six Counties on 18 January and said that they had `also reflected the deep anger felt by nationalists and republicans at how the British government has handled the issue of loyalist violence.' He pointed to the more than 300 bomb attacks, countless gun attacks and the many people killed and injured. He added: `this situation is intolerable given the well-documented connections between agencies of the British state and loyalist organisations. For many people the litmus test of Britain's attitude to the peace process will be how they handle this matter.' Justice Bill reaches second reading The Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill reached its second reading in Westminster on 21 November. Sinn Fein spokesperson on the issue, Mitchel McLaughlin MLA expressed `serious concern' that the areas of Diplock Courts and repressive legislation were omitted from the ambit of the Criminal Justice Review. He said that the Review Groups' acknowledgment of the interdependence of Criminal Justice, Policing and Emergency Legislation was `ignored by the British government.' He added: `Democratic structures for the administration of Justice, Diplock political courts and repressive legislation cannot function simultaneously. They are mutually incompatible.' He said that Sinn Féin's position was to ensure the maximum confidence of the community as a whole, and that `the old strategies of exclusion, injustice and repression must end' requiring a `root and branch' transformation of the Criminal Justice System where `the highest standards of justice and respect for human rights are guaranteed.' Further concerns raised over Omagh Speaking on 22 January, Sinn Féin MP for West Tyrone Pat Doherty expressed `great concern' at the latest revelations about the investigations into the Omagh bomb. Mr. Doherty said `The news that a log book disappeared from the RUC base in Omagh before it could be passed on to the Ombudsman or indeed the RUC's own investigating team headed by McVicker raises serious questions. Many people will find it unbelievable that such an important piece of the Omagh investigation could suddenly disappear from within the RUC barracks.' Mr Doherty concluded that, having met with the Ombudsman prior to Christmas, he would be raising the matter with the British government in the coming period. He supported the demand by many of the families for a public inquiry into the circumstances prior to the bomb and the subsequent investigation. Sinn Fein response to Flanagan Report Responding to the leaked report from Ronnie Flanagan attempting to rebut criticism of himself and his force by the Ombudsman, Sinn Fein Chief Whip Alex Maskey MLA, speaking on 23 January, said: `In recent weeks there has been an unprecedented media focus on Ronnie Flanagan and his force. We have seen the PSNI standing by and allowing a UDA pogrom to take root; we have seen further compelling evidence of their involvement in the murder of Pat Finucane and others; and we have read the damning reports by the both the Ombudsman and McVicker into their handling of the Omagh bomb investigation. Ronnie Flanagan is a man of no credibility within the nationalist and republican community. People simply do not believe him. They have seen the lid beginning to lift on past RUC and current PSNI activities and will not settle for a report from Ronnie Flanagan whose aim is to prevent the truth about these matters from coming out. Many questions remain unanswered. The relatives have the right to know the truth about what happened that day. So far they have been denied this. I agree with many of the families that in the light of the Ombudsman's Report and the McVicker report and the media exposure of RUC incompetence and Special Branch cover-ups that the only way the truth can be established is through a public inquiry.' Irish people's rejection of the Treaty of Nice must be respected Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin's representative to the National Forum on Europe addressed a debate hosted by the Friends of Europe in Brussels on 21 January, titled 'What does the Irish Referendum No mean to the Convention'. Mr O Snodaigh said that the Irish government could not `change the rules because they lost the game.' He called for the Irish people's decision on the Treaty of Nice to be respected and for the process of ratification to end. Also on the platform were Fine Gael's John Bruton, Fianna Fáil Brian Crowley and the Green's Patricia McKenna. Mr. Ó Snodaigh said that by voting `no' the electorate had called for a `halt to the headlong rush towards the further centralising of the EU, we were voting no to a two-tier Europe, voting no to undermining sovereignty and voting no to bringing us closer into a European Army and NATO.' He added that Sinn Féin wanted a `Europe of equals' and would continue to campaign for a `better Europe for all rather than a second best one for some.' Ó Caoláin supports Monaghan Hospital protest Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin joined a public protest at Monaghan General Hospital to co-incide with the visit of the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin on 22 January. The Sinn Féin TD called upon the Minister to halt the `totally unacceptable' erosion of services at Monaghan General Hospital, including the closure of the Maternity Unit and threats to the Accident and Emergency. This is totally unacceptable. He called upon the Minister to commit himself `to the restoration of services and further development of Monaghan General Hospital.' Protest demands Sellafield closure Daithí Doolan, Sinn Féin general election candidate for Dublin South East, has called for a united campaign to shut down Sellafield. Speaking in advance of a protest at the British Embassy on 23 January, Mr Doolan said `Sellafield is a threat to all of us who live on the east coast of this island. Radiation recognises no border. Despite the lies peddled by the British government the dangers of Sellafield are very real and have had serious, indeed fatal, consequences in parts of this country.' l Circulated by Sinn Fein London Office 020 7686 0551 (phone) 020 7686 0551 (fax) [EMAIL PROTECTED] _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
