Mairtin Óg Meehan Severely Beaten and Arrested by PSNI

Once again the PSNI has shown it's ugly unchanged ways. The latest incident came in the form of a vicious assault and arrest of Ex-POW and former combatant Mairtin Óg Meehan.

Mairtin is no stranger to such attacks against him and i have covered similar incidents in previous blog posts, including the time he was sprayed in the face with CS gas.

Mairtin descibed the latest incident as follows:

I stopped earlier to ask a friend how he was on the Antrim Rd, as the Peelers had him pulled over. He's a regular victim of harrassment and as such I was concerned for him. As I approached and asked him, two RUC men searched me under the 'justice act' etc. Once I'd asertained he was okay, I walked back to my car. My sister and neice who were in my car were being questioned by a third scumbag. As soon as I got back into my car my right wrist was cuffed and I was ordered out of the car because I assaulted a Peeler? They eventually trailed me from the car cuffed both hands and literally trailed me into the back of the jeep, were they punched the head, chest and legs of me. Two leg restraints were then put around my legs and at that stage I couldn't breath. My sister had told the driver (Peeler) that I'd had two heart attacks in the past and she phoned an ambulance. I was then taken to the barrcks, where after seeing the Doctor was released

Sadly there are those amongst us who think that endorsing and supporting these unaccountable thugs is the right way to go. They think that informing on Republicans, getting them dragged through British courts and incarcerated in British prisons is the right thing to do. They should hang their heads in shame

When will it end?

To be honest it will never end, not until we achieve a Socialist Republic and secure a 32 county police service that's in full control of the Irish people. Anyone who thinks that supporting a British partitionist force made up of these British terrorists is the answer they are seriously deluded and are only isolating themselves from Republicanism and the struggle for Irish freedom.

Knowing the type of person Mairtin is i have no doubt he will take this on the chin. But that doesn't excuse the brutality being inflicted upon Republicans on a regualr basis.


Republicans in Newry send their best wishes to Mairtin and his clann.

Most PSNI members were in the RUC

An interesting find by the Andersonstown News that over half of the PSNI served when the force was known as the RUC.

Through information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, it has been revealed that as of last December, 4,331 former RUC officers, including full and part time personnel, are now on the beat as members of the PSNI, the current strength of which stands at just over 8,000

This rubbishes the constitutional claim that "80% of PSNI officers were not RUC members". That's something that's always spouted by supporters of British forces when they try to fool people (including themselves) into believing that the PSNI has changed.

It recently came to light that a serving PSNI officer would not be investigated for his alleged role in the UVF Loughinisland massacre.


The fact that this officer is still serving in the PSNI is evidence that this unaccountable force is completely unworthy of support. It is just one of many instances where the PSNI has been proven to be culpable in the activities of unionist death squads. Political and sectarian policing remains a reality in the Six Counties, this has been highlighted many times recently by éirígí in the Newry area with the PSNI resorting to tearing down posters erected by the party, a perfect example of their political priorities. The malign influence of PSNI Special Branch, which is still staffed by its RUC veterans, is a worrying issue. In the run up to the policing debates we were told that the “old hands” would be gone, yet many of the RUC detectives who went into early retirement have since been re-employed by the PSNI. The increased involvement of MI5, who themselves have a disgraceful history of aiding and abetting unionist death squads, can only make a bad situation worse.

Indeed there is clear proof that the PSNI continues to collude with unionist death squads, in 2007 a PSNI employee was in court for passing the personal information of 70 nationalists to an alleged senior UVF figure in Antrim. The PSNI employee walked free after receiving a suspended sentence.

People are not fooled by these lies about a "few bad apples". Indeed just this afternoon a close comrade of mine, Mairtin Óg Meehan was severely beaten and arrested by the PSNI in Belfast. The only change in this force is the name and badge.

PSNI cheerleaders don't have to worry about being stopped and searched in front of their kids, getting trailed out of cars at gunpoint, getting accused of being "Terrorists" whilst having assault rifles pointed at them and having their front doors kicked in. That is something that has always happened to Republicans so maybe they should ask themselves why it isn't happening to them?

The "lick of paint" approach we have seen to date will achieve little. Meaningful progress on the issue of policing can only be achieved in the context of a British withdrawal and the establishment of truly democratic policing structures on an island-wide basis

Maybe in future those who left the Republican struggle, and abandoned the working class, should research their statistics before embarrassing themselves.

Who's the Neanderthal?

To be honest there was little surprise from any republican about the condemnations following the IRA attack in Derry recently. There is a media ebb and flow in relation to the current campaign and the printed responses have gained an almost hysterical nature in their attempts to outdo each other in vitriol. Although occasionally humorous in their contradictory analysis, I particularly enjoy the oft repeated "no support" line which is followed quickly by "minority support", these statements can give us some insight into the mindsets of those issuing them. Martin McGuiness however managed to take the top prize for inventive language by lambasting republicans, from a Tory party podium as being "conflict junkies and Neanderthals". The sdlp, no doubt still smarting from the provisional movement snatching the mantle of constitutional nationalism, chose instead to label them as "born again provos". No doubt these sound bites were rehearsed well in advance and they were waiting with baited breath for the IRA to strike so that they might be deployed! But it may be a useful exercise to analyse the terms themselves which I think not only highlight the lack of real insight into republicanism today but also display a not inconsiderable concern that republicans are making real inroads in the six counties.

McGuinness has consistently shot himself in the foot with his abuse of republicans, in particular during the notorious "traitors" press conference which seemed to take even Hugh Orde by surprise in its sheer hypocrisy and stupidity. There is an air of near paternal outrage about martin when he starts mouthing off on the topic of the IRA. He has all the mannerisms of a disgruntled parent dealing with a difficult child. I think that analogy does in fact sum up his view of republicans. He is most annoyed, not at our refusal to submit to British rule but our refusal to submit to provisional rule. The personality cult surrounding the provisional leadership was not put in place overnight but rather grew over a period of many years. The cult of leadership was wielded as a weapon to suppress dissent. Unfortunately for martin his authority has no credibility amongst republicans in Derry. It is this cold hard fact that nags at his ego. And it is this fact that drove him to use the term "Neanderthal". Martin isn't an anthropologist so I think it's safe to say that he was intent on depicting "dissidents" as backwards, politically unsophisticated and stupid.

The truth however is that republicanism since the Good Friday Agreement has been forced to undergo an even greater degree of political turmoil that has led to a greater questioning of its role as an ideology and that has led to lengthy debate and discussion about its future. Constitutional nationalism on the other hand has merely retreated to its most comfortable and its original stance, that of a pressure group for middle class Catholics.

Any student of history can point to movements such as the home rule party as being largely representative of the nature of nationalism in Ireland. That is to say moderate, and more often than not seeking to build a broad coalition of powerful institutions to argue for internal reform rather than revolution. In the past this usually focused on the Catholic Church as seen in the structuring of both the GAA and the Home rule movement along parish lines. Thankfully the Catholic Church does not wield the influence that it once did but this hasn't fundamentally altered the tactics of nationalists. The relationship with the Irish-American lobby is a good example as it shows how political elites are recruited as allies to try and gain a sympathetic ear whilst Martin begs for crumbs from Cameron.

Republicanism on the other hand is fundamentally a revolutionary tradition, the only tradition on this island with the longevity and historical and social importance that is capable of enacting radical change. With the changing of circumstances republicanism too has undergone reality checks and it would be most unwise to pursue any revolutionary agenda on this island that did not seek to fundamentally change the economic and power structures currently in place. This message is gaining ground, whilst the provisional's are forced into populist left-nationalist rhetoric whilst sitting in coalition with a reactionary and sectarian party. The so-called Neanderthals it would seem are the ones developing their political analysis and seeking to transform rather than reform their country.

Martin couldn't resist painting republicans as war mongering either, ironic given his party's contention that it was the IRA who made their ideal peace agreement possible! Calling republicans conflict junkies was no doubt designed to portray us as those with no agenda other than mayhem. But how does that square with reality?

A bomb timed to cause maximum political capital and directed against a capitalist target is not a tactic wielded by individuals ignorant of sophisticated political thinking. Rather it is the product of a strategy designed to cause maximum disruption to an uneasy settlement that is and always has been predicated on lies. There are those in the media who contend that republicans have no strategy other than chaos, this is untrue. The strategy is clear. They may not like it, or agree with it but it is undeniably effective. The New Zealand government issued travel warnings to its citizens travelling to the six counties recently. The myth of tranquillity is being blown apart in the so-called city of culture! The message being sent around the world however is not necessarily what's worrying Martin most, rather it is the message that is being listened to by increasing numbers of people in the Bogside and Creggan. For it is from communities such as these that his own movement was born and sustained and he knows it! His compatriot in the SDLP also cast some interesting light on the conflict within nationalism. His use of the term born again provos makes little actual sense in any historical way. It is common knowledge that the IRA has within its ranks the majority of those who in 1997 rejected fundamentally changing the raison d'être of the IRA.

Therefore it is in fact the provisionals who have been evangelized to the church of constitutional reform. However it was as much a jibe aimed at Sinn Fein as it was one against republicans. For the stoops have not forgotten that not so long ago it was they who stood alone condemning republican actions whilst Martin defended them. They resent the fact that PSF stole their language and their voting base. So they seek to remind what is left of their voters that these people are hiding behind a carefully constructed façade, a narrative of deceit. Unfortunately for them it will do them little good. The provisionals successfully ditched republicanism whilst deluding many republicans into following them. Having achieved that they began to seduce the nationalists who did not have the stomach for fighting the brits but were more than happy to have the republican rhetoric without the armalites to back it up!

And so whilst our one time comrades seek to condemn and cajole republicans we can sit content in the knowledge that if they are that worked up about us, we must be doing something right.

http://www.32csm.info/sovnat.html

Letter from Maghaberry POW Gerard McManus

The following letter was received from Republican POW Gerard McManus. He asked for it to be seen by all Republicans on the outside so they can see the brutal torture that is still inflicted upon the POWs on protest in Maghaberry Gaol. There are parts of the letter you can understand i won't publish on here but below are the most important parts of the letter from the Republican POW.


A Chairde how are you? I'm just writing here to keep in touch with you a chara. Ive been so busy with the ongoing protest and my case that i didn't get the proper time to write to you. I actually started this letter several weeks ago but had to stop due to what is currently going on here.


As you probably know by now that the screws have broken the agreement and with only 6 of us keeping to the original deal that was agreed. We 6 are subjected to repeated and very violent strip searches as we come to and from the court and even all the time when we come back from visits. I personally have been stripped numerous times along with my co accused Kevin Barry Nolan. Our friend from Lurgan Colin Duffy is getting special attention from the screws all the time he is getting done more than the rest of us.

Not to long ago when i was on my way back from visits i was violently battered and forcefully stripped because i refused to open my mouth 8 to 12 strong riot team battered me with helmets and shields i near passed out. I was then dragged of to the punishment block where i was dragged handcuffed with my hands behind my back all the way over from the wing. Thankfully my chairde were alerted and were all out in force shouting abuse at the screws and encouragement to me which really lifted my spirits as what i was going through.


What happens when they strip search you is that they first of all give you verbal orders to strip which of course we refuse to do which leads them to threaten to forcefully strip you they then give you about 30-45 mins to think it over. After that 3 of them come at you head on all dressed up in riot gear there is one of them with a shield he comes for your face while the others go to left and right and grab your arms.They then put a lock on your arms and wrists which is incredibly painful then forcing you to the ground. After this they put further locks and twists on you and then forcefully rip your clothes off the whole time you are in extreme pain.


Our friend Colin Duffy this happened him a total of 8 times in 4 days no-one else has went through as much as this man has with the lengths of pain and suffering a chara. Our friend Harry Fitzimmons from Belfast was the first of us forcefully stripped searched during this protest. Damien Mc Laughlin from Ardboe in Tyrone also has suffered a lot a chara. Even after being dragged to the punishment block and getting violently and brutally stripped searched i had my mouth forced open and a torch rammed down my throat to see was there anything there.

This what you don't see on the news or read in the papers. People in certain quarters would prefer that incidents like this were brushed under the carpet.

Upsurge in Raids

Over the past week or so there has been a notable upsurge in raids directed against Republicans right across the country.

In Belfast workplaces and homes were raided by the British Army and PSNI, as pointed out in a previous blog post. Since that incident more homes have been raided in the New Lodge, several other areas in Belfast, Derry, Lurgan and Munster.

In Kildare a number of men were arrested on a farm by Free State forces who claimed to have found mortars. Then they said they found components. This could mean anything from bits of tubes to milk churns. These items can be found on any farm in Ireland.

In Derry a good comrade of mine had his home raided. a small convoy of our new civic police force arrived at the house whilst it was unoccupied. They soon ordered the son of the said person to contact his father after he arrived on the scene. They rampaged their way through multiple rooms, damaging furniture and rummaging through personal belongings.

So insistent were our reformed police force on ensuring that there was no threat, they took his daughter into a side room, removing her trousers and hand-searching her bra, the same tactics employed by British screws to degenerate women in Armagh gaol. Had such an act been committed by persons who were not in British uniform, it would have been deemed sexual assault and plastered across local media. Other family members where then searched, whilst other officers watched TV and chatted casually, not even attempting to pretend that violating human rights and family homes is not part of their day job.

While this incident is deplorable, the said person is no stranger to having his family targeted. Over the Christmas period whilst the RUC where in full harassment mode, another daughter, a minor, was forced to stand outside a vehicle which was being searched. Stood in freezing conditions for a lengthily period, in full view of the public, she was refused when she requested to sit in the vehicle for heat and a full body search was conducted on her person.

Yesterday morning in Lurgan 3 Republicans were arrested after their homes were raided by the Crown Forces
Raids, harassment and arrests are on the increase both North and South. They are being carried out by the British Army, British Police and their lackeys in the Free State forces.

As per usual this is nothing new, raids are always being carried out, but its clear there is a marked increase and as usual its met with a wall of silence.

If they think they will break Republicans by using such desperate repressive tactics then they can think again

'Spooks' engineer arrest of 32 CSM member.

The Ard Comhairle of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement have urged republicans to be vigilant following the arrest and subsequent approach by British security services to one of its members from South Armagh.

On the evening of Sunday 9th January, the Ard Comhairle member was driving in Forkhill when he was pursued, stopped and detained by an RUC/PSNI landrover and marked car. The RUC/PSNI members informed the republican that this was a routine stop and proceeded to check his car. He was informed that his headlight was 'dim' and that the wall of his tyre was unsuitable for the cold conditions. He was then asked for his address and when he gave it the RUC man told him he didn't believe that was his address and as he did not have indentity to prove it he was arrested and taken to Banbridge RUC station. An RUC/PSNI member drove the republicans car to Banbridge also.

The 32 CSM member who is originally from the 26 counties was asked on arrival at the reception area of the barracks if he wanted them to contact the Irish embassy in London to inform them he was in custody in the United Kingdom. The republican also noticed that a large welcome sign in the station was translated into 20 languages, needless to say Irish was not one. The man was held for 3 hours before being release on five hundred pounds bail.

When leaving the reception he was approached by two men who asked him to "go for a drink and have a chat with them". The republican recognised as the same two men who had made an earlier approach to him. On that occassion the 32 CSM member, who is an building contractor, was rang up concerning an extention and arranged to meet the caller at the B&Q car park in Newry. The person he meet asked him to follow him and took him to isolated and derelict farm buildings in the Mullaglass area of Newry. Here two other men stepped from out houses and the republican, sensing something was not right locked the doors and refused to get out of the car. One of the men came forward with a set of plans but immediately produced a large sum of money and stated that there was no job but that they wanted to talk about the 'political situation', they were told to 'go away' in less polite terms and the republican left and notified his solicitor and the 32 CSM.

Likewise on this occassion the spooks approach was again rebuffed. When the republican went to retrieve his car from outside the station it was torn apart and he was given a docket stating that the car was searched because he 'associated with suspected dissidents'.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement utterly condemn this arrest and state that it was clearly engineered at the behest of RUC special branch in order to facilitate an approach by them in conjunction with MI5. The movement urge anyone who is subjected to such an approach to make contact with their solicitor immediately and we again call on republicans to be vigilant and aware of the wide variety and methods used by the MI5 led British security apparatus currently operating in Ireland.

British Army Involved in Raids

Once again the foreign occupier has shown it's imperialist face, this time on the streets of Belfast where a number of properties and workplaces were raided, the RUC/PSNI also participated in these acts of repression.

One of the targets of these raids was, prominent Belfast Republican, Carl Reilly who had his workplace raided.

The PSNI seized Christmas cards sent to POWs from the USA, which included in them small donations in US dollars to a number of Republican POW's children, Carl protested that the money was for POWs children and that there was no need to take it as it was a relatively small amount of money. They proceeded to make jokes at the expense of the POWs whose names were on the envelopes, including Colin Duffy who they said "be in a simmer frame before he sees daylight "and they made racist comments about Republican POW Willie Wong by making kung-fu sounds, This attack on POWs and their children was done directly across the street from the local Coiste office, who despite gathering to watch what was happening, never enquired into how anyone was, including Carl who is an ex-pow himself....also just as worrying is the fact that men in black combats entered the workplace and scanned the walls for "hides" when challenged by Carl as to who they were, he was informed that they weren't police but that he couldn't say who they were. At the end of the search it was revealed that TSGs from Mahon Rd and New Barnsley PSNI stations were involved and the numbers of the others were given alongside a footnote saying they were from a regiment of the British army. Once again British soldiers on the streets of west Belfast targeting ex-POWs and current POWs and there clanns, suffice to say as with ALL raids on Carls home and his workplace NOTHING was found except for the prisoners envelopes !

The RUC/PSNI also raided five pensioners flats next door to Carl's workplace, simply because he shares a black-bin entry with them.

This isn't the first time that British soldiers have taken part in recent house raids, there have been numerous similar incidents over the past year. Some people are happy enough that the British army are "confined to their barracks" and are "off the streets" but for Irish Republicans thats unacceptable, they should not be in Ireland in any shape of form whether we can see them or not.

I wonder what the cheerleaders of the PSNI make of these joint operations? They are quick enough to condemn Republican operations aimed at the foreign occupier so will they also condemn British Army operations in occupied Ireland?

No doubt severe manners will be put on them at the next DPP meeting

I predict this will be met with a wall of silence

Resistance is Not Terrorism

Over the past few years various phrases and terms have been used to describe Irish Republicans. Many of these terms have been conjured up by the media and British establishment in an attempt to demonise and criminalise Republicans. Some of them have also been used by former Republicans who have short memories.

Republicans have been labelled "Terrorists","Criminals","gangs","Micro-groups", and more recently "traitors", "neanderthals" and "conflict junkies".

This is nothing new, anti-Republicans have always sought to demonise and criminalise the liberation struggle and those who participate in it. The only difference is that some of those who were once on the receiving end of such vilification have now joined with the various anti-Republicans in their attacking rants.

We have the media who will do anything to damage Republicanism. Indeed in a recent article in a local paper they described fallen IRA volunteers as a "gang", thankfully éirígí corrected them on that in an excellent letter in the following edition. Then we have the SDLP,they have been collaborating and endorsing the Crown Forces long before anyone else, indeed they even congratulated the RUC/PSNI when they executed a local IRA volunteer in a shoot to kill operation. Then we have their constitutional chums in Sinn Féin they were once on the receiving end but are now dishing it out more than anyone. Who can forget the image of Martin McGuinness standing alongside the Chief of the British police and call Republican insurgents "Traitors". Recently he labelled them as "conflict junkies" from the comfort of the Tory conference. It's a recurring theme that any time an act of resistance is launched they wheel out McGuinness and he starts foaming at the mouth. I'd say they're actually worse than the SDLP, we're all used to the SDLP being anti-Republican. But it's a new thing for the, once proud, Provisional Movement. They should know better than anyone what happens when people inform yet they endorse it and tell people to pass information to the Crown Forces, even if the end result means imprisonment or even death for Republicans including those who had once proudly served in the ranks of the Provisionals but unlike them they remained on the Republican path. How long will it be before former comrades start congratulating the RUC/PSNI on their "successful operations"?

A new derogatory phrase has been unveiled in recent times. The term"Residual Terrorist Groups" has been created by the NIO to describe Republican revolutionaries, though it doesn't seem to have caught on.

Resistance is not terrorism and those who carry out acts of resistance are not terrorists

Do the British establishment and their lackey's not realise after all these years that their feeble attempts to vilify and criminalise the liberation struggle has failed and always will?

This isn't confined to the Irish struggle for liberation, revolutionary resistance movements across the world are on the receiving end of similar derogatory attacks from their opponents, from the Popular Front for the Liberation  of Palestine (PFLP) to Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) have all suffered the same vilification. They have been portrayed as psychopathic terrorists, yet revolutionary groups across the world use the age old phrase that "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter"


I'll end by quoting on of Ireland's best known revolutionaries who sacrificed his life so the Irish struggle for liberation would not be criminalised or demonised

They call us cons to right the wrongs

They do it with a pen

They call us crims to suit their whims of politics my friend

But they can call us all they want

For the people call us men

-Bobby Sands

New Man at The Helm But Same Old Bigotry

It seems the sectarian cult, known as the Orange Order has chosen a new leader, Edward Stevenson. No sooner had he taken up the post he showed his colours ( not that anyone was surprised). He stated that he wouldn't be meeting with any nationalist residents groups yet at the same time he claimed he wanted "to find a fresh way to resolve marching disputes".

How will he resolve them when his organisation refuses to meet with the very people affected by the sectarian marches forced through their areas?

Will he use telepathy?

Residents groups such as the Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective have been to the fore in opposing such sectarian displays of bigotry. At the same time they have made numerous requests for dialogue, as well as proposing an alternative route and also carrying out a survey in which 1100 households took part.

Its clear there is no short term solution to the issue of contentious sectarian parades. The chain of events that surround these unwanted marches is only all too familiar at this stage, Ardoyne is a prime example.

The British appointed Parades Commission grant them permission to march through nationalist area, when nationalist residents and their supporters peacefully protest against these coat-trailing exercises they are brutalised and beaten off their own streets by the British police who then force the unwanted march through the areas leaving a trail of destruction behind them. Then in the ensuing riots the PSNI fire plastic numerous lethal plastic bullets leaving many people injured. In the following days former Republicans then inform the social services and the Housing executive as to the identities of the nationalist youngsters involved in the rioting and attempt to have them evicted from their homes.

This cycle will continue as the Orange Order along with the PSNI, parades commission and former Republicans continue to ignore the wishes of the residents.

And given this "new" appointment of Edward Stevenson it seems there is no end in sight

éirígí New Year Statement

éirígí extends New Year greetings to its members and supporters across Ireland and beyond and thanks them for their tireless efforts on behalf of the socialist republican struggle in 2010.

As 2011 begins, éirígí remains fully committed to the struggle for a British withdrawal from the occupied Six Counties and the establishment of a 32-county socialist republic.

The last year has been a devastating one for working class communities across Ireland. The Dublin and London governments, aided and abetted by Britain’s puppet parliament at Stormont, have commenced unprecedented attacks upon public services, jobs and benefits that will condemn generations to come to a life of exploitation and poverty.

The budgets unveiled at Leinster House, Westminster and Stormont in recent weeks have deliberately ring-fenced the profits of the wealthy while driving the rest of the population into misery and despair. In this regard, the ruling class are simply accelerating the rate of implementation of the same neo-liberal policies which created the current economic crisis in the first place.

The last 12 months have also seen the first, welcome signs of mass resistance to the policies of the right-wing coalitions in Belfast, Dublin and London. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets demanding that working people are not made the sacrificial lambs for the failure of capitalism.

In 2011, workers and communities across Ireland need to come together in the building of a coordinated campaign of uncompromising opposition to the slash and burn agenda of those in power. If this fight back is to be successful it will need to move beyond occasional street protests and angry rhetoric.

éirígí firmly believes that a period of intense popular resistance in the form of mass street protests, general strikes and acts of civil disobedience has the potential to stop the cutback agenda of the ruling political parties in its tracks.

The organised labour movement, with its unequalled organic and financial resources, represents the most obvious vehicle for the organisation of such a campaign of resistance. If the current trade union leadership is incapable or unwilling to take the necessary actions, then it must be replaced by one that is.

Now is the time for actions that will force those administering the cuts to reflect upon their own anti-social actions. éirígí will not be found wanting in this regard. In the year ahead, éirígí will be stepping up its own socio-economic campaigns across the country, both independently and through working with other progressive individuals and organisations.

While recognising the importance of the politics of protest at this time, éirígí also recognises that protest alone will not deliver the type of society that the people of Ireland deserve. Opposition without a viable alternative will not address the underlying causes of injustice and inequality in our society. Those organisations which oppose the agenda of the right have an obligation to explain what they would do differently were they in power.

For its part, éirígí recently published its From Socialism Alone Can the Salvation of Ireland Come policy paper. This document sets out succinctly the malign role of capitalism and the need for a humane, socialist system to replace it. éirígí will be promoting the politics contained within From Socialism Alone Can the Salvation of Ireland Come throughout 2011.

As it has done since its foundation, éirígí will continue in 2011 to highlight the inter-related nature of the socio-economic struggle and the struggle for national independence.

éirígí has consistently taken the demand for a British withdrawal onto the streets and into the faces of the occupiers, the year ahead will be no different. The presence and activities of the British army, the PSNI and MI5 in Ireland, the mistreatment of republican prisoners and British royal visits to Ireland are but some of the issues which éirígí will be actively campaigning on in 2011.

In doing so, éirígí will also work within working class communities in the occupied Six Counties to unlock the great potential of people power in challenging the occupation.

The building of the cultural revival, the popularisation of the Irish language, the promotion of Gaelic sports, along with the emergence of alternative social and economic structures within working class communities can radically alter the nature of the relationship between Irish citizens and the British state.

Working people themselves can potentially destabilise Britain’s Irish colony and shake the occupation by moving their lives outside the remit of the state. By refusing to speak its language, interact with its police force, or recognise the state’s legitimacy, the people can advance the re-conquest of Ireland by the working people of Ireland.

The British government has invested a massive amount of energy and money into its normalisation agenda over the last two decades. However, normalisation has now peaked. It is time to roll back that agenda.

Through the coordinated use of national, social, economic and cultural struggle throughout 2011, major progress can be made towards the achievement of the socialist republic.

We must do this together as one class and one people. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile.

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest030111_2.html

Open letter to leaders of all Stormont political parties and Sammy Wilson

Dear Minister,

I am a community worker and watched with interest yesterday as the Assembly political parties reached agreement on a draft budget despite having been at loggerheads for weeks. Given the ambiguity with which the budget was presented and the complete lack of clarity as to how the departmental budgets will function and also your commitment to a public consultation, I’m wondering if you could take a few minutes out of your hectic schedule to answer a constituent’s question.

Firstly, I'm particularly interested to know how this budget will in any way alleviate the deep social and economic inequalities that plague this place. In fact I would be interested to know if the assembly has in any way tried to unite in opposition to the paltry investment from Westminster over the next four years? Given that you and your political party have been involved in bringing the assembly down countless times over other issues, did this one not seem important enough?

Also I would like to know if the health service, which is already massively under resourced where it counts and overburdened with fat cat consultants where it doesn't count, is now set to be dismantled further? Shall I maybe start learning how to do basic surgery at home?

I would also like to know whether you and your family rely on the NHS or have private healthcare and wouldn't be affected by these decisions either way. Not that this would have impacted either way on the execution of your duties as a public servant of course ;)

Furthermore, and I apologise for demanding so much of your time as I know that over a four year term and within an assembly with more staff than Westminster it must be difficult to get a minute, but what way will the budget impact on education? In the area where I live there are kids leaving primary school regularly with the reading age of a seven year old yet it seems kids aren't worth investing in as heavily as banks. Your thoughts per chance?

And by the way, while I’ve got you a minute, will my daughter be able to go to university as I don’t earn enough a year and really cant afford £9000 and given the cuts you all seem set on implementing, by the time she finishes university she will never get a job anyway and will be unable to repay herself. Just gimme a heads up and some ideas on this one if possible.

Lastly, community groups, organisations and activists across the state are the buffer which keeps society functioning whilst you’s guys eat those cheap meals and shake your metaphoric phalluses at each other. So how much money will you be taking back out of those communities? (If I misspelt phalluses I apologise. Adult education is becoming very sparse in my area for some reason).

Oh yes and by the way, shall you all be leading from the front during this dire economic climate by taking wage cuts yourselves and maybe getting some of that expenses money back into the public purse?

Yours in complete contempt

Seán Brady

Poleglass

PSNI Provoke Riot in Newry

The Derrybeg estate in Newry was once again placed under siege by the PSNI last night [Friday], provoking some of the most serious rioting in the nationalist area in many years.
A convoy of armoured jeeps descended on the working class housing estate yesterday evening and began sealing off the entrance to the area. They also had a large presence in the Carnagat and Parkhead areas, as well as sealing off several other main roads around Newry.

The PSNI claimed they were responding to a bomb alert at the Camlough Road roundabout, which is, in fact, some distance from Derrybeg. However, local residents, éirígí activists and elected representatives were able to walk right up to the roundabout during the ‘alert’, with traffic flowing freely around it.

As expected, the PSNI spent their time goading young republicans who had gathered nearby. Over four hours of rioting ensued as the youths responded to the attempted intimidation with a range of missiles.

As a direct result of the PSNI actions, there was also a car accident, which resulted in a young man being taken to hospital with minor injuries. Despite being in the vicinity, the PSNI did not even respond to the incident and it was left to éirígí activists and local residents to clear the road and remove the damaged car to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians.

In a blatant attempt to draw young people into further confrontation, the PSNI then decided to enter Derrybeg itself, a tactic which failed miserably.

éirígí activists and other residents remained at the scene for the duration of the trouble and confronted the PSNI as to why they were even in the estate.

After leaving Derrybeg for a short period, the PSNI returned in armoured landrovers in another attempt to stoke tensions.

This time, however, éirígí activists placed themselves in front of the landrovers and refused to let the political police enter the estate. As the activists were joined by other residents, a standoff ensued before the PSNI were forced to admit defeat and, embarrassingly, withdraw.

When a member of the so-called District Policing Partnership arrived on the scene, she informed the residents and éirígí activists that she had been speaking to a senior PSNI officer. She passed on the information that the officer in question told her that “they would be dealing with the people who had surrounded a landrover”. When an éirígí activist challenged her as to what her colleague in the PSNI meant by saying they would “deal” with people and “Did it mean the PSNI would be using violence?”, she refused to answer, stating “I won’t speak to you” before leaving the area.

Rúnaí ginearálta éirígí Breandán Mac Cionnaith said: “Serious questions need to be asked as to why the PSNI felt the need to be anywhere near the Derrybeg estate in the first place, considering the alleged alert was nowhere near the area.

“A pattern seems to be emerging with incidents like this. Several weeks ago, the PSNI used similar tactics in the exact same area, provoking a riot situation. Each time there is an alleged security alert in Newry, the PSNI use it as an excuse to arrive in force to seal off the Derrybeg estate, close roads, antagonise youths and cause riot situations.

“The blame for this situation lies squarely with the PSNI and we commend our activists and the people of Derrybeg who stood shoulder to shoulder and refused to allow the PSNI, who were intent on causing trouble, to enter their area. People across the Six Counties who are suffering due to the unwanted presence of the PSNI should take a leaf from the book of the people of Derrybeg.

“éirígí will fully support any community that is resisting the repressive tactics of Britain’s police force in Ireland.”

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest181210_2.html

Maghaberry Protest in Support of POWS

THIS HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE EXTREME WEATHER, IT WILL BE RE-ORGANISED IN THE NEW YEAR

Once again this is an opportunity to show solidarity with the POWS and their families at this important time of the year. In recent weeks a situation has developed were men are being prevented from seeing their loved ones due to a disputed oral search introduced by the NIPS. This search, like the forcible strip search, is another breech of the August 12th agreement which supposedly dealt with these two issues; as the prisoners understood both procedures would be discontinued in favour of a more humane approach based upon new technologies. The children of these men have saw their fathers once in the past month, yet they continue to travel to the jail each week only to be turned way in disappointment and despair. What type of system treats children in such a way. The NIPS is guilty of playing with the emotions of these children who are desperate to see their fathers before Christmas. It is our job to support these families and to add our voices to the call for the immediate implementation of the 'agreement' which is now long overdue. Let us stand beside them on the 19th and show them we care.

Protest organised by members of the family and friends support group.

Video- éirígí Honour Fallen IRA Volunteers in Newry

éirígí: Fallen IRA Volunteers Remembered in Newry

On Sunday, December 12, around 70 republicans and socialists gathered at the iconic Egyptian Arch in Newry to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of an ambush in which 3 IRA volunteers lost their lives.
The éirígí-organised event entailed the unveiling of a commemorative plaque and was attended by people from across the district and further afield. It was also fitting to have family members of the volunteers in attendance.

During the event, a PSNI helicopter hovered overhead keeping everyone under surveillance, but they failed in their attempts to intimidate those in attendance.

The plaque was unveiled by Jackie Shields, whose grandfather, volunteer Peter Shields, fought bravely in the Egyptian Arch Ambush and died as a result of wounds he received.

A wreath was then laid and a minute’s silence was observed.

The event was chaired by local éirígí activist Stephen Murney.

Murney spoke about the growth of éirígí in the Newry area and the Crown Forces harassment that has come with it.

“The most recent incident occurred just a few hours ago when myself and a fellow éirígí activist were stopped by the British police in Hill Street after we had just collected this memorial plaque,” he said.

“We were surrounded, forced from the vehicle at gunpoint and made to stand with our hands raised above our heads while we were vigorously searched. The vehicle we were in was also extensively searched and the political police attempted to remove the plaque from the boot of the car. We strongly objected to this and lifted it from the car ourselves.


“After roughly 20 minutes, during which time they made snide remarks about the plaque, they let us continue on our way. It’s ironic that we are here commemorating an event in which the then RIC was one of the targets and, now, 90 years on their predecessors in the PSNI are trying to disrupt us and disrupt our commemorative event.

“Let us make one thing clear: no amount of petty harassment and intimidation will ever stop republicans from honouring our patriot dead, nor will it deter us from our political activities.”

The guest speaker for the event was prominent local republican Davy Hyland.

Hyland explained in great detail the history surrounding the ambush and the funerals that followed, which, according to reports, were the biggest ever seen in Newry, with an estimated 20,000 people turning out to pay their respects.

Hyland asked: “What, I wonder, would volunteers Canning, O’Hare and Shields make of contemporary Ireland 90 years on? As staunch Irish republicans, I doubt if they would be enthusiastic or happy with the current state of play.


“In the south, due to the greed of the banks, developers and the corrupt government itself, they have had to be rescued by the IMF and EU at a cost of €85 billion. In their latest budget, their response has been to once again target the most vulnerable in society, with massive cuts being imposed on the young, the old, the sick, the unemployed and those living on the minimum wage.

“Yet the politicians in Leinster House, along with their big business cronies, who were the ones who actually created the crisis, escape with their own wealth intact with their bonuses guaranteed and with their gambling debts paid off by those who played no part in the fiasco.”

Hyland added: “As republicans, we do have a duty, not only to remember the past, but also to organise for the future in a comradely fashion.


“I would like to thank éirígí for organising this commemoration and erecting this plaque for the Egyptian Arch Martyrs. It ensures that volunteers Canning, O’Hare and Shields will always be honoured and remembered.”

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest141210_2.html

Respect Fallen Freedom Fighters

The latest news from éirígí Newry

The following Letter was published in today's Newry Democrat


Since last year éirígí in Newry started planning a commemorative event to remember the 90th anniversary of the Egyptian Arch ambush in which 3 IRA volunteers paid the supreme sacrifice for Irish liberation. For far too long this historic event was largely forgotten about and we felt it would be fitting to pay tribute to the fallen volunteers.

In last week’s edition there was an article regarding éirígí commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Egyptian Arch Ambush.

The title of the article claimed that the Volunteers were part of an “ambush gang”. As the organiser of this commemorative event, and a proud Socialist Republican, i have to say found this description deeply offensive.

I also spoke to relatives of the volunteers and they too shared the disgust and were hurt that their loved one was described as being a member of a “gang”.

The Newry volunteers were soldiers of the Irish Republican Army who took part in a meticulously planned and daring operation involving over 200 volunteers.

Last Sunday people from all walks of life, both young and old, came together with eirigi to pay their respects to these courageous volunteers and the sacrifice made on that cold December night 90 years ago. They didn’t commemorate members of a “gang”, they commemorated soldiers of an army, an army that was to the fore in resisting British occupation. Despite the odds being stacked against them they nonetheless faced the foe with outstanding courage and bravery. The principles by which the organisation stood and for which many of its members paid the ultimate sacrifice remain relevant almost a century later.

Many people would associate the word “gang” with gangsters and criminals. The use of the term in this instance is effectively criminalising the volunteers and their actions. I doubt that was the initial intention but i think a bit more care and consideration should be shown in future when referring to fallen Óglaigh who gave their lives for our liberation.

éirígí Newry

http://eiriginewry.blogspot.com/

éirígí to Commemorate Egyptian Arch Ambush

Republican Congress Public Debate Available for Download

Last night in Belfast, public debate hosted by Comhdháil Poblachtach Ollscoil Banríona, Irish republican socialist student society ( Republican Congress)

 

Is the cure for Ireland's ills a 32 County Socialist Republic?

 

Speakers (in this order)

• Daithí Mac An Mhaistír - Éirígí
• Eoin O’Broin - Sinn Féin and author of , ‘Sinn Féin and the Politics of Left Republicanism’
• Brian Hanley - Author of ‘Lost Revolution- The story of the Official IRA and Workers Party’
• Anthony McIntyre - Author of ‘Good Friday- The Death of Irish Republicanism’
• Q & A session

 

Download here: http://www.archive.org/details/IsTheCureForIrelandsIllsA32CountySocialistRepublic

 

A very good public debate with éirígí's Daithí Mac An Mhaistír up first

Belfast Honours Volunteers Black & Ryan

Around 150 people gathered in Belfast’s Milltown Cemetery on Saturday afternoon [November 20] to mark the 19th anniversary of the deaths of IRA volunteers Patricia Black and Frank Ryan on active service.

Patricia and Frank were killed in an accidental explosion in England on November 15 1991.

Lenadoon woman and former St Genevieve’s Secondary School student Patricia was just 18 at the time of her death. Frank Ryan, who was born in England of Irish parents but later moved to Belfast, lived in Poleglass. Both are buried in Milltown Cemetery.

Saturday’s commemoration, which was organised by the Patricia Black Memorial Flute Band from Glasgow in conjunction with the Black family, included a wreath laying ceremony at the graves of both Patricia and Frank. éirígí’s Rab Jackson gave the oration.

Peter Black, Patricia’s brother, said the family was glad to see his sister being remembered nearly 20 years after her death.

“We as a family are immensely proud of Patricia’s contribution to the freedom struggle and we are honoured that so many republicans came out to commemorate both my sister and her comrade Frank Ryan.”

Peter added: “Patricia was an uncompromising opponent of British rule in Ireland and it is important that the younger generation are informed of the reasons why she and many others like her chose to become involved in struggle.”

Below is the speech which Rab Jackson delivered at the commemoration.

“Nearly 20 years have passed since the deaths of volunteers Patricia Black and Frank Ryan on active service.

“In that time, republicans have experienced much disappointment and turbulence, but those here at this commemoration today and many more people around Ireland have emerged from this period as committed to the struggle for the Socialist Republic as they ever were.

“Indeed, a new generation of young people has become attracted to republicanism. There is little doubt that many more will join the struggle in the time ahead as the economic meltdown wrecks the lives of working class people across the country.

“And it isn’t simply the traditional avenues of republicanism that people are becoming involved in. Through the language revival, sporting and other cultural activities, trade unionism, projects like the Volunteer Patricia Black Memorial Flute Band, many different community initiatives and éirígí, people are again building community pride and cohesion in working class republican areas.

“Our aim at this time must be to build support for the republican struggle in Belfast and further afield, to encourage people, young and old, to get involved in socialist republican politics and, just as importantly, to educate people about the sacrifice that Patricia, Frank and many, many people like them made in pursuance of their beliefs.

“It takes a special type of courage, diligence and ingenuity to be able to take the fight against oppression right into the power base of the oppressor. These are qualities which Patricia and Frank obviously possessed in abundance.

“This is why people like Patricia and Frank are perfect role models for young people in working class communities today. When their community was under attack, their country occupied and their neighbours exploited, oppressed and imprisoned, they didn’t look the other way or keep their heads down. They decided to take risks, to become involved in struggle because they valued the place where they were from and the people who they loved more than anything else.

“This is why it has been such an honour for me to be asked to speak at this commemoration today. I know I am not alone in extending solidarity to the Black and Ryan families and in pledging that the names of Frank and Patricia and the courage they displayed will never be forgotten. But in remembering our fallen volunteers, we must always keep our eyes fixed on what they died for and what remains to be struggled for and achieved.

“People in our communities today, whether that be in Belfast, Dublin, Derry or Cork are still told they are worthless by the great and the good, they are still seen as, at best, expendable and, at worst, suspect, by the people in power. Exploitation and poverty are still the fate of far too many people in working class areas of Belfast and elsewhere.

“However, if we can instill the pride that Patricia and Frank showed in their community, their class and their country then the struggle for national independence and socialism will reach a successful conclusion. Ar aghaidh linn le chéile.”

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest231110.html

Republican Congress: Debate on a Socialist Republic

 

Republican Congress Meeting: Orangefest or carnival of Sectarianism?

Has Society Gone Completely Bonkers?

A close friend and comrade of mine, Sammy Cusick, has made the front page of today's Irish News. Sammy is a well known, North Belfast, community activist and is a member of Concerned Families Against Drugs, the anti-Drugs group.

Now it's not unusual for Sammy to feature in the Irish News, he has been in it numerous times for his community activities, but today's story is slightly different.

Just over a week ago Sammy was in the Irish News after a large quantity of dangerous drugs including Cocaine and Mephadrone were taken off a drug dealer by Óglaigh na hÉireann. The drugs were passed onto CFAD who then destroyed them by flushing them down a drain and a photograph of this was featured in the Irish News on October 20th.

As a result of this the PSNI are seeking to have Sammy charged with possession of Drugs!!

Sammy should be praised, not prosecuted for destroying these dangerous drugs and keeping them off the streets. How many lives have been saved by this action being taken?

Sammy responded to this by saying "that most right-thinking people welcomed the fact that these drugs are no longer being sold to our young people. It's a pity the PSNI don't show the same view"

Sammy continued "In the past we have had mothers, fathers and other members of the public approach us with drugs they have found or removed from young people for us to dispose of. This would mainly be because those people don't have any faith in the PSNI to deal with the problem. When you see this type of action being taken you can understand why the community have so little faith in the PSNI"

CFAD have also issued a statement saying "We view this threat from the PSNI and PPS as nothing more than political policing at its worst. Particularly given the fact that well-known Drug Barons openly live in properties and freely swan about in their flash cars paid for through the proceeds of serious crime.



Since our formation in 2008, the PSNI and so-called Criminal Justice System have failed miserably to tackle the increase in the supply of dangerous drugs onto our streets. CFAD's record speaks for itself and people who live in Nationalist areas of North Belfast know only too well, the positive impact our anti-drugs campaign has had. We will not be threatened by possible hilarious charges from the State and continue to expose anti-community criminals who prey on our youth.


CFAD suggest, that the negative energies of the PSNI and PPS would be better spent questioning their inactivity in seriously combating drugs and related crime in working-class communities across North Belfast."

CFAD have come under attack from many quarters since they were formed including from those who should better. Also the discredited IMC have in past claimed they were a vigilante group who were involved in "punishment shootings", after these claims were made CFAD met the IMC and set the record straight.

It seems some people aren't happy with the great work CFAD are doing, thankfully it's a different story in their respective communities.


A few questions need to be asked regarding the priorities of the PSNI.


Why don't they seek to track down and prosecute the dealers?

Will they also seek to charge priests and other community activists who have in the past destroyed drugs? Indeed i can recall a Councillor in Newry who has also destroyed drugs in the recent past, for which he should be praised, but will the PSNI now be seeking to charge him for possession of drugs?

This is perfect example of how the PSNI are failing Nationalist communities in the 6 counties. Rather than target criminals and drug dealers they are targeting community activists who are taking dangerous drugs of the streets and making their communities safer.

Have they any idea how much this will alienate them from nationalist communities? Thousands of nationalists will be reading today's Irish News and will be left scratching their heads wondering why society is so f**ked up.

I have been speaking to Sammy regarding this and as i expected he will stand firm and continue with his community work.
 
Maith thú Sammy agus CFAD

Interview with Óglaigh na hÉireann

 Brian Rowan interviews Army Council and GHQ staff of Óglaigh na hÉireann

Rowan: I’d like to ask about the roots of your organisation, how it emerged — the when and why of that, what you see as the organisation’s role.

ONH: The organisation began with nothing more than a number of conversations between senior republicans across Ireland [in 2005]. They had watched how the anti-agreement republican military world had the perception of [being] badly organised, ineffective and perceived [as] highly infiltrated, and, in some cases, I suppose they were. They decided that after a very lengthy debate to try and salvage a group of republicans and form them into an organisation. It would have taken a year just to agree to the formation of a group. We had agreed the title Oglaigh na hEireann, but hadn’t made it public. We looked at all of the IRAs, including the Provisional IRA. We looked at all their strengths and weaknesses. We picked out what we believed were flaws in structure and operational, and we designed a structure for Oglaigh na hEireann, that while based on the same format as the Provisionals, had sections that were fundamentally different, which we believed offered better security and limited the security services in the event of them being able to successfully recruit agents and informers.

Rowan: [Is it] a new beginning, or picking up where others had left off?

ONH: It was a mixture of both. At that particular stage a number of people had come to our attention as having become disillusioned with the Provisional IRA strategy and approaches were made both ways [from ONH to individuals, and from individuals to ONH]. We believed that some of the people who were starting to form a core structure were people who could offer a formidable military alternative to what was then on offer militarily. It’s a number of people who were former members of other organisations, and that’s across the spectrum – Provisional IRA, INLA, Real IRA. The vast, vast majority of people who were recruited were deliberately selected for their skills, experience and know-how. This is island-wide. There wasn’t an open recruitment procedure.

Rowan: When does this become a first operation?

ONH: There was a number of training operations, and testing the structure, which have never been claimed. [The] first operation claimed was a kneecapping on south link pitches Andersonstown. The victim was shot six times —elbows, knees, ankles.

Rowan: Talk to me about this description of a two-headed beast, used to describe the Oglaigh na hEireann relationship with the Real IRA — two bits of one organisation?

ONH: It simply isn’t the case. Oglaigh na hEireann is a separate entity. The confusion initially in some media and security circles, we assume, came about [because] there was a handful of former senior members of the Real IRA who were playing pivotal roles in the emerging Oglaigh na hEireann. Unfortunately because Oglaigh na hEireann wasn’t doing interviews or statements at that time the water remained cloudy.

Rowan: That suited you?

ONH: No end.

Rowan: What about joint operations — sharing materials, expertise?

ONH: At the present stage there is a friendly and cordial relationship between Oglaigh na hEireann and other armed republican organisations. That doesn’t cross over into joint operations. I don’t believe there is any sharing of expertise.

Rowan: Let’s deal with the tactics and strategy of your own organisation. Describe your immediate aims, and then we’ll talk about what you think is achievable longer term.

ONH: Our fundamentals are about securing the organisation, about credible recruitment and carrying out credible, high-grade operations. We also want to offer working class communities, who have been abandoned, protection from criminals and drug dealers. Every time we are not involved in an operation we are recruiting, developing expertise, gathering intelligence and planning the next operation. All of that is made easier on the back of some of our operations. The Provisional IRA took approximately 15 years to wind down. There is no ready-made IRA pack that can be assembled in a short period of time. An Oglaigh na hEireann capable of having a sustained campaign will take time to develop. It will take time to develop the structures, personnel, finance and weaponry.

Rowan: If Oglaigh na hEireann went full out [now]?

ONH: I think we would be playing right into the hands of the British, who, while the Provisional IRA were winding down continued with their war machine in Ireland unabated. To go at it full steam would increase momentum short term, but we believe ultimately would fail within a very short period of time.

Rowan: As your expertise builds, as you become more successful in your terms, what happens inside and outside the organisation?

ONH: Inside the organisation successful operations increase morale. It also gives republicans increased confidence to carry out more daring attacks. Republicans who acknowledge that Oglaigh na hEireann are doing the right things offer their services. That in turn increases our capabilities even further.

Rowan: Do you have what previously would have been Provisional IRA bomb-making expertise?

ONH: Yes.

Rowan: Do you want to elaborate?

ONH: No. We have found that former IRA volunteers have applied to join Oglaigh na hEireann on the back of those successful operations.

Rowan: Security activity?

ONH: We have noticed a dramatic increase in both overt and covert surveillance. A number of people have also been approached with offers from the security services to work for them — from right across the security spectrum. Four people in the last week have been approached with at least one offered a substantial amount of money. In the aftermath of Section 44 stop and search, with the increased [security] activity and presence, we watched as they tried to increase their presence on the ground, and, likewise, we adapted to counter that threat.

Rowan note: The interview then deals with a number of specific Oglaigh na hEireann attacks including the car bomb at Palace Barracks military base which houses the MI5 Headquarters in Northern Ireland, and the under-car booby trap bomb attack in which police officer Peadar Heffron was critically injured. It also touches on a dissident intelligence-gathering operation in a wooded area close to Palace Barracks. Over an unspecified period of time, digital cameras were used to record images of activity at the base.

Rowan: Did you target Peadar Heffron, or did you target a police officer?

ONH: We never target an individual in uniform. We target the uniform and what it stands for.

Rowan: Did you target him because of his involvement with the GAA — that he speaks the Irish language? Were you making a point?

ONH: No comment on that.

Rowan: Is he not as Irish — more Irish — than those who make up your organisation?

ONH: Absolutely not. Irish history is littered with mercenaries who have worked for and implemented British laws.

Rowan: What is it about new policing that you object to?

ONH: Policing in the north of Ireland is still controlled by National Security — MI5. All its powers, laws and finance come from England, and it is no different today in 2010 than it was in 1994 [the year the IRA announced a complete cessation of military operations]

Rowan: Do you really believe that?

ONH: Yeah I do ? everything that the RUC did — the abuse, harassment and frame-ups — still continues today.

Rowan: How big an operation was the Palace Barracks attack — its timing [coinciding with the devolution of justice powers] and the fact that MI5 Headquarters is on site?

ONH: The timing of it was deliberate. The significance was deliberate, and a major effort was put into that operation.

Rowan: Did you have the base under camera surveillance prior to that attack?

ONH: We’ll not go into details on duration of our surveillance except to say that we garnered significant intelligence.

Rowan: Is it from this that you target the Army Major [in a planned under-car booby trap bomb attack] in Bangor?

ONH: We won’t go into detail on how we garner intelligence except to say that we have shown that we can pinpoint police officers and soldiers very accurately.

Rowan: Security assessments suggest the fingerprint/type of bomb used in Bangor was
different to the make-up of the device used when you targeted a police dog-handler in east Belfast — clearly suggesting more than one bomb-maker.

ONH: Oglaigh na hEireann has developed explosives expertise.

Rowan: It was the dog-handler you were targeting — not his partner?

ONH: Had we been targeting his partner it [the bomb] would have been under her seat. Our intelligence and surveillance showed us that she regularly drove him to work. We deliberately picked areas [for attacks] that were seen as safe zones for security forces. It was to send a direct message that nowhere is safe.

Rowan: I want to talk about some recent developments — the speech by the Director General of MI5, the threat level raised in Britain, Police Federation calls for a thousand more police officers, a stepping up of overt policing. What does all of this say to your organisation?

ONH: It says that they — MI5/British Intelligence — are acknowledging a growing threat, which they admit they played down and ignored, played it down and underestimated it.

Rowan: Is Britain – attacks there – part of your focus and thinking?

ONH: Oglaigh na hEireann will decide when and where it attacks. Sceptics will say, ‘they would say that because they don’t have the capabilities’. Eighteen months ago, they told us we couldn’t even detonate a bomb. Nothing is beyond our reach.

Rowan note: The interview then deals with a claim by Martin McGuinness that the British and Irish governments have been talking to dissident groups. The Belfast Telegraph has been told of a process of contacts — not face-to-face, but mediators talking to representatives of the dissident groups and separately to British and Irish officials, but with all sides knowing who is involved.

Rowan: Has your organisation met face-to-face with representatives of the British or Irish governments?

ONH: No.

Rowan: Let me talk about contacts, quiet dialogue, involving mediators talking both to your organisation and British and Irish officials. Do you recognise that description?

ONH: I recognise the description, yes.

Rowan: I’m told it’s at two levels — alternatives to punishment attacks, and exploring a way forward without armed struggle/activity. Is that a reasonable description?

ONH: We are a people’s army. It’s inevitable that we will be interacting with the community. Some punishment attacks are resolvable, others aren’t. It’s a giant leap to get from that to a perception of engagement with the British or Irish governments. People from all walks of life talk to us about non-violent ways. Again, we don’t see that as direct contact with either government.

Rowan: How do you respond to the description of dissident republicans as traitors — “conflict junkies”?

ONH: We think it’s farcical. Some of the hypocritical comments coming from former armed republicans who are engaged in demonisation of former comrades for upholding the proclamation and the IRA’s Green Book.

Rowan: We hear a lot about senior Sinn Fein figures being warned of threats. Are they legitimate targets in your eyes?

ONH: No. Ireland has seen enough of feuds while the British sit back and happily watch it.

Rowan: The IRA was better armed, supported, resourced, and they acknowledged a military stalemate. So, what makes you think you can achieve more?

ONH: The overview of the structure we pointed to earlier in the interview, we believe has more durability to penetration. We have no desire to replicate or be a morph of the Provisional IRA. They failed — so, why would we want to copy them? There is a fragile Assembly. There is a forging together of political opposites that is much easier to undermine and defeat than the war that the Provisionals had.

Rowan: Do you think a war can be won?

ONH: We think a war can create the conditions where republicans can create dialogue that will fulfil republican objectives.

Rowan: Brits out?

ONH: A 32 county democratic socialist republic. Brits out is simply not good enough.

Rowan: So it’s a pipedream then?

ONH: Some people say that Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness sitting in a room sharing power in a partitionist Assembly endorsing British policing was also a pipedream.

Rowan: Has killing become the cause, just to say, ‘we haven’t sold out’ — killing for killing’s sake?

ONH: As far as we are concerned we are not engaged in killing for killing’s sake. We are engaged in a war against the illegal occupation of our country and usurpation of Irish sovereignty.

Rowan: So you think that killing will work?

ONH: We think that a war will create the conditions for credible dialogue aimed at British withdrawal. Internal settlements are not what Irish republicans fought, died and went to jail for.

Sowing the Seeds of Division

Recently saw the home of Liam Shannon being targetted in an attempted bomb attack in West Belfast, another device exploded nearby.

Liam has a history of being targeted  by Loyalist paramilitaries, most reports are laying the blame at their feet. However whilst listening to Talkback on BBC Radio Ulster yesterday it was clear that the felon setting had started.

The headline of the show was "Were "Dissidents" Responsible?".

Presenter Wendy Austin pressed Liam on who was responsible and she implied that Republicans may have been responsible, Liam immediately rejected that claim and said that the most likely culprits were Loyalists who had targeted him a number of times over the years. Indeed in one of these previous Loyalist attacks they attached a device to a container of fuel, almost identical to last nights attack.

Next up was, former Republican, Maírtín ÓMillionaire, who spoke highly of Liam yet went against him and tried to lay the blame with Republicans, i found it somewhat bizarre that while the victim was rejecting the claim that republicans were involved Mairtin would push the notion that they were.

The Shinners comrades in the British "Security services" have joined them in the felon setting by stating that "it was more than likely dissident republicans than loyalist paramilitaries"


Óglaigh na hÉireann and the CIRA have both denied responsibility, so that rubbishes the constitutional claim that Republicans were involved.

It needs to be asked, why would former republicans try to cause friction and division in the Republican community by falsely claiming Republicans were responsible for this disgraceful attack? Not only is that wrong but it's also highly dangerous.

Why would they try to sow seeds of division in Nationalist/Republican communities?
Who's agenda does that serve?
Who's pulling their strings?

éirígí Protest Against PSNI Harassment in Newry

Over 40 republicans took to the streets of Newry yesterday [Saturday] to protest against PSNI harassment in the city.


The protest was organised by éirígí in response to a dramatic upsurge in Crown Forces harassment directed towards party activists in the area in recent months. The harassment has included house raids, stop and searches and, more recently, threats and assaults.

The protesters gathered at Ardmore barracks in Newry, where they erected a banner on the fortified sangar situated at the front of the militarised base. They then proceeded to paste posters exposing the unchanged nature of British policing in the Six Counties on the front wall of the barracks.

For the duration of the protest, those in attendance were kept under constant surveillance by the political police, who filmed and videoed the protesters and even went to the lengths of recording the registration numbers of passing motorists who beeped their horns in support.

As the protest was drawing to a close, embarrassed PSNI officers began attempting to tear down the éirígí posters, demonstrating yet again the political priorities of the force.

Speaking after the protest, rúnaí ginearálta éirígí Breandán Mac Cionnaith thanked all those who attended.

“At a time when the PSNI's intimidation tactics in Newry and elsewhere are going into overdrive, those who took the bold step of attending the Ardmore protest are to be commended,” MacCionnaith said.

“Newry republicans have sent out a strong message that they will not sit back and be intimidated by state sponsored thugs. They will resist this harassment with the support of republicans from across Ireland.”

Mac Cionnaith continued: “The task now for republicans and socialists is to spread the message far and wide that the PSNI, like its RUC soulmate before it, is unchanged, unchanging and unchangeable.

“éirígí will continued to stand firm against PSNI harassment. It will take a lot more than the petty tactics of this discredited force to prevent us carrying out our work.”

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest311010.html