Cops welcomed with smoke bombs and flares Dublin Pride 19:57 Jul 14 0 comments Gemma O'Doherty: The speech you never heard. I wonder why? 05:28 Jan 15 0 comments A Decade of Evidence Demonstrates The Dramatic Failure Of Globalisation 15:39 Aug 23 1 comments Thatcher's " blind eye" to paedophilia 15:27 Mar 12 0 comments Total Revolution. A new philosophy for the 21st century. 15:55 Nov 17 0 comments more >>Blog Feeds
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Human Rights in IrelandPromoting Human Rights in Ireland
Lockdown Skeptics
The Death of Diversity Kitsch Fri Jan 31, 2025 18:01 | Dr David McGrogan
Transgender Emilia P?rez Star Under Fire for Anti-Islam and Anti-BLM Social Media Posts Fri Jan 31, 2025 15:10 | Will Jones
The Reeves CV ? More Questions Fri Jan 31, 2025 13:00 | David Craig
Tenth of Farmland to be Axed for Net Zero Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:28 | Will Jones
Badenoch Rebukes Priti Patel for Defending Sky High Immigration Under Tories Fri Jan 31, 2025 09:00 | Will Jones
Voltaire NetworkVoltaire, international editionMisinterpretations of US trends (1/2), by Thierry Meyssan Tue Jan 28, 2025 06:59 | en Voltaire, International Newsletter #117 Fri Jan 24, 2025 19:54 | en The United States bets its hegemony on the Fourth Industrial Revolution Fri Jan 24, 2025 19:26 | en For Thierry Meyssan, the Sarkozy trial for illegal financing of the 2007 preside... Fri Jan 24, 2025 19:23 | en Should we condemn or not the glorification of Nazism?, by Thierry Meyssan Wed Jan 22, 2025 14:05 | en |
Beggars' Bush
national |
miscellaneous |
news report
Monday April 07, 2003 09:35 by Bearrah - Irish Republicans Against Iraq War
Hillsborough Talks Not a good profile Sinn Fein..... 07-04-02 Now the beasts themselves are coming here to Ireland today. What the hell is going on? After all our protesting the Irish government is not only reiterating its support for the U.S. and U.K. unilateral invasion of Iraq - they’re welcoming Bush and Blair to talks in Hillsborough. Sinn Fein will be present at the talks which will debate the Northern Peace Process - among other things including the Middle East and the Iraqi Crisis - and Sinn Fein have said that they will also use the opportunity to express their opposition to the ongoing invasion of Iraq. I’ll continue but I’m hardly able to summon myself to write about this development. Putting myself in a Republican and Nationalist Leader’s shoes and trying to imagine what his or her motives are for attending such an awful reception: With the Irish governments position of full support to the U.S. and U.K. unilateral military oppression of states and organisations on the ‘axis of evil’ list, I would be worried that these people would meet and side-line the Republican and Nationalist causes even more during these meetings in Hillsborough. As a Republican and Nationalist leader, if I was not present at the meetings I would be considered as sending these people a clear message that WE are not prepared to even enter into talks about the possibility of future peace in the North of Ireland. However, as I’ve written before, after listening to Ireland’s various leaders communicating during the current affairs, I don’t believe that domestic politics can be given priority. There is currently a very real call for Jihad among Arab States while the U.S. and U.K. lead an onslaught on Iraq and images are flooding in of innocent children lying butchered in ill-equipped Iraqi hospitals. In reality I am not a leader but I am a Republican with a very strong international and domestic social outlook. To be true to myself I feel and think that our leaders should be sending out as strong a message as possible that WE do not associate with or condone the current U.S. and U.K. unilateral invasion and attack on Iraq. Therefore I do not consider Sinn Fein’s involvement in these Hillsborough talks to be appropriate. WE as Republicans who have been out marching against this current war in Iraq, cannot enter into negotiations with or be seen to make U-turns in our mighty opposition to these inhumane warmongers. Humanity itself is at stake now, I believe that Sinn Fein’s involvement in these talks sends out a dramatically wrong message to our people and people of other nations with relation to current affairs. With worldwide focus on the North over the next twenty-four hours and with Sinn Fein seen by foreign peoples to be the majority leadership of the Republican and Nationalist People of Ireland – all will see Sinn Fein’s involvement in talks with Ahern, Bush and Blair as close relations. With the real threat now of ‘terrorist’ attack on the Irish and American population in Ireland, we must take a better international stance. Does Sinn Fein really believe in the strength of the Republican and Nationalist movement in Ireland and abroad today? If they do then what’s wrong with Sinn Fein sending out a strong and clear message that they will not enter into dialogue with these inhumane beasts; Bertie, Blair, Bush and their administrations. I wish Sinn Fein would show more belief in our movement and that they will show clear and open disrespect for these warmongers that we have been so actively opposing in recent times. Bearrah, Republican, Connaught, Eire. |
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 4 3 2 1Belfast republican, I think what is really needed is for Shinners to begin to feel able to criticise their leadership about things like this. And to do it openly. There was a big deal in the papers about those Shinners at the Ard Fhéis who were the most hardline on the policing issue. We need to see Shinners taking the same line on Partnership, American imperialism, etc. One of the reasons I left SF was because while it was alright to criticise the party leadership, at least in Dublin, it was frowned upon to say the least if you criticised the leadership to anyone outside the republican community. Shinners need Jeffrey Donaldson type figures, I don't mean nuts, but people who are willing to stand up and publically say when they disagree with the leadership instead of the republican culture of keeping it in the family.
Janus you are quite right.
It appears that the south and most especially Dublin has become the more radical section of the party.
But there are Republicans and Shinners in Belfast who are against this visit aswell.
Unfortunately we are in the minority.
I too am getting frustated not as much with
Adams and McGuinness as they are going on what they´re told. It is those around them who are supposed to have their ears to the ground.
We Republicans need to wake up and listen to our base and to the wider progressive community.
I would urge everyone Republican or otherwise to attend the blockade in Hillsborough on monday and the rally in Belfast on Tuesday at 1pm.
I think a distinction has to be drawn between grassroots Shinners and the leadership, maybe between SF in the SOuth and SF in the North as well.
I was talking to Sinn Féin members from Dublin over the weekend and not one of them supported Adams' decision to go ahead with this meeting. They were all opposed to it and angry about it.