Newry Palestine Support Group Take Direct Action Against Marks & Spencer

Below we publish a statement from the Newry Palestine Support Group, The Newry Palestine Support Group is a recently formed group of activists and is not aligned to any specific political group or party. Their aim is simply to raise awareness, show support and solidarity to the people of Palestine using various means. Following this highly successful protest the NPSG received a substantial amount of media coverage locally, nationally and internationally. They featured in The Mirror, Sunday Life, The Examiner, Newry Reporter, Newry Democrat, Sabbah News and the website of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP].

Several dozen pro-Palestinian activists descended on the, high profile Zionist linked, Marks & Spencer store in Newry’s Buttercrane shopping centre on Saturday August 23, in a robust protest organised by the recently formed Newry Palestine Support Group.

The protesters made their way to the city centre supermarket carrying flags, banners and placards depicting images and slogans calling for a boycott of Israeli goods. Air horns also echoed around the busy shopping centre as the protesters chanting slogans in support of the people of Palestine. The participants then cleared the shelves of goods before leaving the full trolleys at the checkouts. Posters and stickers were also plastered on the goods, during the protest which drew a lot of attention from the many Saturday shoppers and passers-by.

The peaceful, but noisy, protest was organised in response to the ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza which, in recent weeks, has caused outrage around the world with horrific images of innocent civilians, most of whom are children. As a result we have seen people taking to the streets in their hundreds and thousands in various countries, including Ireland. We were also joined on the protest with a comrade from Palestine who is staying in Ireland.

In a disturbing twist a number of peaceful protesters were manhandled and physically assaulted by M&S staff and security staff. This heavy handed response by staff is in stark contrast to other protests that have taken place in Belfast.

Commenting on the highly successful protest, a spokesperson from the Newry Palestine Support Group said “Today’s protest has been a huge success and we have raised some much needed awareness to the situation in Gaza.

“The reason we chose to protest at this location is due to the fact that Marks & Spencer are very much complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people and are assisting in the funding of Israel’s war machine. From it’s birth M&S has been inextricably linked to Zionism. In fact Lord Marcus Sieff - long time Chairman of M&S - stated that one of the fundamental objectives of M&S is to aid the economic development of Israel.”

The spokesperson continued “ It has also been reported that M&S are profiteering from the illegal occupation of Palestine by selling goods purportedly produced in the State of Israel and exported internationally by the Zionist regime, which are actually produced in the Occupied Territories and sold under 'Made in Israel' labels. Products imported from Israel in the West are produced in Israeli settlements within the Occupied Territories, often by the hands of exploited Palestinian labourers. The actions are illegal according to international law and are in violation of EU trade agreements. By importing goods produced in the Occupied Territories, M&S demonstrates its support for the regime's illegal and brutal colonisation of Palestine through expanding settlement activity, and thereby its complicity in Israeli war crimes.”

"It's very worrying that M&S staff and security staff resorted to violence by assaulting and man-handling several peaceful protesters. We take this opportunity to commend our activists for remaining calm and peaceful despite such bully-boy tactics"

Concluding the representative, of the Newry Palestine Support Group, outlined the groups future intentions “This is not a one off token protest, we are currently looking at other initiatives to partake in to support the besieged Palestinians in Gaza. Our members are made up of seasoned activists who have plenty of experience in campaigning on various humanitarian issues of concern over the years.

Today’s event is simply the first of many.

Video of M&S staff man-handling peaceful protesters

A message of support from the PFLP

 "Thank you for this excellent report and this direct action in solidarity with the Palestinian people. We salute you and your comrades, and your own struggle against British colonialism. We salute the comrades in Ireland who took up this action, to the Newry Palestine Support Group, and to all of the solidarity organizations and movements around the world who are escalating the struggle for Palestine through demonstrations, mobilizations, boycott, and direct action and confrontation around the world. We also stand in solidarity with our Irish comrades in their own long struggle to defeat British colonialism."

A selection of photographs of the protest

Just some media coverage the NPSG secured

éirígí Newry - PSNI Normalisation Stunts in Newry Must Cease

The latest from éirígí Newry

In the past few days residents of a Newry housing estate have approached the socialist republican party éirígí with serious concerns about the inclusion of the PSNI in a community based fun day which took part in the Barcroft estate.

A number of PSNI vehicles and armed personnel complete with flak jackets, guns and batons were present in what can only be described as an attempt to normalise British state forces in the Newry area.

The residents said that they had received no prior notice that the PSNI would be taking part in the events.

éirígí's Newry representative Stephen Murney said “A number of residents from the Barcroft estate contacted our party regarding the PSNI's presence at this event. Those residents said that their families felt unable to participate in the event due to the PSNI presence. That presence, they said, effectively meant that the fun-day was not the inclusive or welcoming event it should have been for all residents of the estate.  

"While the community group in question should be commended for organising a very successful community festival, it's unfortunate that they felt the need to invite members of the British state forces to take part."

“It should also be mentioned that a number of families in the Barcroft estate have in the past been subjected to early morning house raids by this same force, and young children have also had to go through the ordeal of watching their fathers being arrested and dragged to an interrogation centre, coupled with local residents having to endure hundreds of stop and searches at the hands of this force with their children present.

“In fact,  a number of residents of the Barcroft area have had incidents of PSNI harassment and brutality logged and documented with the independent human rights organisation CAJ and their legal representatives.”

Stephen continued “What we have here is a situation where some local community associations seem to ignore the reality of the adverse impact that the PSNI is having within our communities, particularly in relation to young children. 

"They ignore the harassment, house raids and arrests and pursue a strategy of providing fig-leaf cover for the force by including them in events such as this.

“On another more serious note, it’s quite alarming that these PSNI gunmen and women were carrying firearms in the vicinity of children. All right-thinking persons would agree that loaded weapons should not be permitted to be anywhere near young children.”

Murney concluded “Given the fact that other services such as the fire brigade were present would suggest that this was a meek attempt to portray the PSNI along the same lines as genuine emergency services. The PSNI is anything but a normal emergency service. 

“We would urge local community groups to reconsider such attempts to normalise an abnormal police force. If they insist on inviting the PSNI to participate in such events then they should have the courtesy of giving residents prior notice to ensure that young children with previous traumatic experiences at the hands of the PSNI won’t have to endure further trauma.”

Below we list just some examples of the major issues relating to the PSNI which have been publicly  criticised by victims' groups and by human rights organisations:

·         The PSNI continues to prevent effective investigations into the deaths of Irish citizens at the hands of British controlled death squads.

·         The PSNI continues to obstruct and unnecessarily delay inquests into many of those same deaths as a matter of routine.

·         The PSNI continues to withhold information, documentation and intelligence files from the families of those who died as a result of British state terrorism.

·         The PSNI has re-employed huge numbers of ex-RUC Special Branch personnel, many of whom are implicated in the murders of Irish citizens and other serious human rights abuses.

·         Large numbers of PSNI personnel routinely operate under MI5 control. A report by the Committee on the Administration of Justice in 2012 suggests the actual figure could be as high as 2,500 personnel – one third of the PSNI’s total manpower. This clearly indicates the formal establishment of an unaccountable ‘a force within a force’, rather than the existence of a small ‘cabal’ of rogue cops.

·         The PSNI regularly calls upon Britain’s shadowy military force, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, to conduct undercover operations on its behalf.

·         The PSNI ignored rulings of the European Court of Human Rights by continuing to conduct thousands of unlawful ‘stop and searches’, almost exclusively against republicans. Evidence shows that MI5 directs the usage of stop and search powers by the PSNI.

·         The PSNI has engaged in evidence tampering in a number of cases against republicans.

·         The PSNI has fired large number of plastic bullets at unarmed civilians and stockpiled many thousands of those lethal projectiles.

·         The PSNI has approved use of child informers.

·         The British state has introduced 28 day detention for those under arrest.

·         The PSNI and the British courts routinely use ‘internment by remand’ to imprison political opponents for periods of up three years.

·         The PSNI and the British courts impose a draconian form of internal exile upon political opponents within the Six Counties. Such measures have not been used in the Six Counties since the abolition of the old Special Powers Act.

·         The PSNI and the British courts have flouted European court rulings by retaining DNA samples and fingerprints of thousands of innocent people, including children.

·         Facilitated illegal unionist demonstrations and co-operated with unionist paramilitaries in a manner that echoes the behaviour of the RUC.

·         Suppressed legitimate peaceful political protests by nationalists, republicans and other progressives.

·         Introduced and used Taser stun guns.

·         Introduced and used CS gas spray.

·         Updated its vast arsenal of weapons including automatic assault rifles and heavily armoured vehicles. 

·   Expanded the already extensive network of ‘big brother’ style cameras and other surveillance equipment.

Roe 4 Republican Prisoner Statement 29th July 2014

The meeting of Tuesday 29th July 2014, between Republican prisoner representatives and Sinn Féin laid bare the reality of the current situation in the gaol generally and specifically the nature of the current relationship between Sinn Féin and the Republican activists imprisoned by the British State.

The contrast between the Sinn Féin delegation of today and those same people, who once stood shoulder to shoulder with us during previous gaol conflicts, could not be more stark. To be sat down discussing our current gaol struggle with former comrades some of whom were our OC’s in the H Blocks but are now fulfilling a role a kin to the “Board of Visitors” is a pathetic and sorry reflection of just how far these people have gone in propping up both the prison regime and the unionist statelet we once resisted together.

No-one can ever second guess what analysis martyred comrades would support today, but it is beyond doubt, they would not support our gaolers. Today former comrades may not be turning the key to physically lock our cell doors or degrading or tormenting Republican prisoners and our families directly but they are absolutely in league with the six county “Justice” minister and MI5 puppet masters in their efforts to criminalise us.

Sinn Fein and others like them in the constitutionally nationalist camp along with David Ford should remember; just as before with the segregation battle in Crumlin Road Gaol and the fight for political status in the H Blocks Republican prisoners will resist all attempts to criminalise us whether through controlled movement, strip-searching or isolation.

If Sinn Féin does not want to be an enabler of a British State criminalisation policy it should make it clear publicly and cease its support of the Stormont regime and the “Justice” Minister." Tactics of Pontius Pilate and the uttering of polite, meaningless words have failed in the past and they will fail in the future. Twenty first century Republicanism needs to be defined by actions, not aspirations.

Nathan Hastings PRO
Roe 4, Maghaberry

Roe 4 Republican Prisoner Statement. July 11th 2014.

Politicking, Ignorance and Inactivity Create Potential for Conflict.
Republican prisoners Roe 4, Maghaberry Gaol, ceased protest actions in November 2012 to create the space for a dialectical process of engagement to resolve all outstanding issues, such as controlled movement, forced strip searching and isolation of Republican prisoners. Throughout this process we have made clear our position to a variety of bodies, individuals and organisations. This has led to widespread criticism of the gaol administration and their corrupt regime from various quarters including consecutive prisoner ombudsman, C.J.I.N.I and Dáil politicians. 

The Gaol administration spurred on by the N.I.O, MI5 and David Ford have responded to logic, common sense and the weight of progressive opinion with deceit, subterfuge and intransigence. They have taken deliberate steps to provoke Republican prisoners in order to distract us from our campaign. This includes attacking our families through recent plans to downgrade our already excessively intrusive and unacceptable visiting arrangements.

The potential negative implications of such behaviour were recently addressed by Dáil TD’s. Obviously concerned by this public intervention by TD’s Éamon Ó Cuív, Clare Daly, Mick Wallace, Maureen O Sullivan, Thomas Pringle and others, the so-called Justice Minister responded with the usual N.I.O rhetoric. Furthermore Sinn Féin and the S.D.L.P have been notable by their absence. To suggest Sinn Féin’s lack of interest is due, merely to political impotence in these matters only serves to conceal their true intentions and their devious subliminal use of the “dark side” to press forward with their mutual necessity to crush Irish political prisoners. This is a pre-requisite from a Sinn Fein and MI5 perspective to criminalise the present Republican struggle and its activists. Constitutional nationalist politicians, who live and work in our communities, have abandoned political prisoners leaving our plight to be addressed by politician’s based ninety miles away.

Claiming to hold political power entails responsibility for the treatment of political prisoners. The on-going and intensifying attacks on Republican prisoners and our families have created the potential for conflict. Sound bites such as “we are against strip searching” and calls for a resolution are no substitute for solid political action. Republican prisoners will resist all attempts to criminalise us. David Ford and the quislings in Stormont should let history be their guide.

Nathan Hastings PRO
Roe 4, Maghaberry.

Increase in sectarian parades creating tension in Newry

A marked increase in sectarian unionist parades in Newry will only serve to create tension in the area according to the socialist republican party éirígí.

According to the Parades Commission a total of nine sectarian parades are due to take place in Newry on the 11th and 12^th July, an increase from 6 parades on the same dates the previous year.

Voicing the party’s concerns éirígí Newry representative Stephen Murney said “Quite a number of local people from various parts of Newry have contacted us over the past week in relation to the number of parades due to be held next weekend. It must be made clear that the areas in which the majority of these parades will take place are not considered to be unionist/loyalist areas. They are in fact mixed areas and in some cases area considered to be predominantly nationalist.

“The increase in sectarian parades due to take place in Newry on the 11^th and 12^th July is a very worrying development, particularly as the leaders of Orangeism and unionism are clearly embarking upon a joint strategy of street protests over contentious marches. That strategy is raising concerns that there may be attempts to repeat the the ill-fated unionist actions which were marked by large-scale disruption across the Six Counties during the period around Drumcree in the late 1990's. 

"Nine unionist parades are listed to take place in the Newry area over the space of next weekend. The route of some of these parades are scheduled to include main roads and city centre streets, which will only ensure a massive security lock-down resulting in shops losing trade, and members of the general public either being unable to or afraid to venture onto their own streets. This will have an extremely negative impact upon the local economy on two of the busiest days of the summer. 

"It’s also clear that some of these parades are totally pointless and includes a number of marches to the city centre bus depot so that members of the Orange Order board a bus to take them elsewhere, then when they return that evening they march from the depot. 

"This is clearly marching for the sake of marching. One has to ask why they simply refuse to board these buses outside the Orange Hall instead of insisting upon creating disruption for the whole town."

Hundreds Protest in Newry against Internment

On Saturday [June 28] upwards of 120 people took to the streets of Newry to protest against the ongoing use of Internment by remand.

The picket was a non-party political event organised by the Anti-Internment Group of Ireland and was supported by the IRPWA. Scores of people, including many éirígí activists, attended the event which drew a lot of attention from shoppers and the general public in Newry

The colourful picket stretched the length of Monaghan St, one of the busiest streets in the city, and the protesters carried many flags, placards and banners. Republican music was also played for the duration of the picket which added to the atmosphere.

The main speaker at the event was éirígí's Newry spokesperson Stephen Murney, who was released from Maghaberry prison 5 months ago after being interned by remand for 14 months.

Stephen began by speaking about the historical aspect to internment and how it’s current day use is a more sinister and deceptive practice as it gives a false impression of “due process”.

Stephen said “All too often we hear of Republican activists being arrested, charged and remanded. And all too often we hear of those charges being withdrawn or the victim being found innocent but only after spending a lengthy period of time in a British prison. If that's not a form of internment, then I don't know what is.”

Murney continued by pointing out the conditions and further punishment political internees can expect to endure “And it's while in those prisons that they are further punished, violated and oppressed by the British state using various means. While this picket today has been organised to highlight and oppose internment, we can't do so without acknowledging the fact that there are numerous other issues that stem from being interned. A few examples are forced strip searches, a brutal practice, the graphic details of which which we are only all too familiar with. Controlled movement which limits and severely restricts the freedom of movement and association between political prisoners. Isolation of Republican prisoners such as Gavin Coyle who has been locked up since 2011 in a small cell for 23 hours a day, he has no contact with any other prisoner. This amounts to psychological torture.”

Stephen finished by thanking the organisers and participants for taking part in the protest and urged everyone to continue to highlight and oppose internment in it’s current day form.

Speaking after the protest the éirígí activist said “What we have achieved here today is very important, we have brought this message to hundreds of everyday people here in Newry. And the message is that internment is still in use and it needs to be opposed by everyone. It’s interesting to note that not one single newly elected nationalist councillor from Newry and Mourne District Council or indeed the new Mayor of Newry attended this event in their home town. In the run up to the elections you would have tripped over them but now they are nowhere to be seen. They portray themselves as champions of human rights, but they must have had more important issues to deal with on Saturday.

Murney concluded “Events like these are vital to raise awareness i would urge everyone to organise and participate in similar initiatives to highlight internment.”

éirígí reject offer of PSNI engagement in Newry

The socialist republican party, éirígí, has said that there would be absolutely no merit or value in taking up an offer to engage with the PSNI in the Newry area.

The offer was put forward by the force after éirígí’s Newry spokesperson, Stephen Murney, condemned the PSNI for taking part in a series of aggressive early morning house raids carried out in the town recently.

The PSNI Area Commander, Davy Beck, had offered to meet with éirígí to discuss the issue.

In response, éirígí's Newry representative Stephen Murney said “There would be absolutely no merit or value in meeting with the PSNI to discuss these matters. This force is responsible for ongoing and repeated human rights’ violations in Newry and elsewhere in the Six Counties.

“Indeed, an independent human rights organisation has published reports which demonstrate that PSNI operations, such as the recent raids in Newry and the use of stop and search powers, are carried out on the instructions of MI5 and are politically motivated.

“It is noticeable that PSNI has never denied the claims made in those reports which also indicate that one third of PSNI personnel could be under the direct control of MI5.

“Even in my own case, the PSNI actions, which included raids on my home and my detention in prison, were shown to be without any basis when the courts dismissed all charges against me.  I have yet to hear any acknowledgment or admission from the PSNI that their actions were wrong.

“Our party will not provide credence, or provide any fig-leaf of cover, to the PSNI. Neither will we desist from exposing that force’s ongoing actions that repeatedly result in human rights violations.”

http://eiriginewry.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/eirigi-reject-offer-of-psni-engagement.html?spref=fb

éirígí Condemn Derrybeg House Raids

éirígí in Newry have strongly condemned the PSNI for carrying out early morning raids in the Derrybeg area on Wednesday morning and have described the raid as an attack on the entire community.

Heavily armed members of the PSNI's Tactical Support Group (TSG) arrived in force and proceeded to search a house in the estate using "Anti-terror" legislation.

Speaking from Derrybeg éirígí's Newry spokesperson Stephen Murney blasted the PSNI's actions "I witnessed this heavy handed raid this morning and I spoke with the family targeted. This family have lived in this estate for over 50 years and are highly respected in the area. This isn't the first time that this family have been targeted by the state forces in this manner, they have endured numerous house raids over the years. The victim is a former community activist who hasn't been politically active for a number of years due to ill health"

"During the raid numerous boiler suited PSNI members, some of whom were masked, stormed their way into the property along with sniffer dogs. While other PSNI personnel were situated around the house and surrounding streets wielding automatic assault rifles. Damage was also caused to the house during the raid and unsurprisingly nothing was found."

Stephen continued "This isn't just an attack on this family, it is an attack on the entire Derrybeg community. Serious questions also have to be asked of the newly elected councillors, the same people who claim to represent the people in this community. Will they remain forever silent? or will they speak out and condemn such attacks on our community at the hands of the British state forces. 

"In recent times elected representatives in Newry & Mourne Council have expressed concern about the treatment of people from other areas at the hands of the PSNI. We demand that they express the same concern and condemnation of similar treatment directed towards their own constituents rather than engage in selective condemnation when it suits them".

"The family in question have thanked éirígí for offering and showing support and solidarity during this ordeal.

Murney concluded "As always éirígí will stand with the victims and will continue to speak out against such human rights abuses. Others should do likewise rather than provide political cover for the perpetrators."

Anti-Internment Picket, Sat 28th June, Newry

The Anti-Internment Group of Ireland will be holding a white line picket on Saturday 28th June at 3pm in Monaghan St, Newry. Posters and banners will be provided by the organisers.

 This event is supported by the IRPWA and they are calling on all members and supporters to attend. The main speaker at the event will be Stephen Murney 

Letter- Selective Condemnation Ignores the Reality of Political Policing

 In recent times the national media along with the international media have been dominated with headlines in relation to political policing. Indeed some prominent apologists for the British state forces have referred to a "dark side" of policing. 

Political policing and the "dark side" that comes with it did not just become a reality last Wednesday. It is something that has been part and parcel of British occupation for decades and it's an issue that we in éirígí have been highlighting, exposing and opposing since our party were formed. Yet these new found opponents of political policing demonised and labelled those of us who spoke out against the unchanged nature of British policing, this can only be described as hypocrisy at it's best. 

Along with the political dark side of policing comes the issue of Internment by remand. Bear in mind, normally, when republicans are arrested Nationalist parties such as Sinn Fein and the SDLP call for them to face "due process", which as we know can include being charged and interned for 14 months and even longer. It's noticable that there were no such calls for "due process" last week from those same quarters. 

Internment by remand is an issue, which on a regular basis, directly emanates from political policing, and which the PSNI along with the British "justice" system and PPS are directly involved in. It entails the victim going through a conveyor belt type of process which includes several days of interrorgation in Antrim, charged and remanded by a non-jury Diplock court for up to 3 years in Maghaberry before the case either collapses or the charges are withdrawn. 

I would urge all right minded people to oppose and speak out against political policing and Internment, not only when it suits or directly effects them but each time it happens. To remain silent is to accept it and to engage in selective condemnation means simply to ignore the reality of British policing in Ireland.

 To quote Patsy O Hara "After we are gone what will you say you were doing? Will you say you were with us in our struggle? Or were you conforming to the very system that drove us to our deaths?"

 Is mise
Stephen Murney
éirígí Newry

éirígí Newry raise concerns after drugs apparatus found in Derrybeg

éirígí in Newry have raised concerns after a Derrybeg resident came across a syringe close to a children’s play park.

 

The syringe was found in Second Avenue, where many young people play daily.

 

Commenting on the incident éirígí's Newry spokesperson Stephen Murney said “A local resident contacted our party after they came across a syringe lying in the street. The resident then safely disposed of the syringe”

 

“While it’s unclear if the syringe was for legitimate medical use or if it was of a more sinister background, the very fact that it was left lying in a residential street, a few yards from a children’s play park is very concerning”

 

Stephen continued “If a young child had of come across this syringe, the outcome could have been very serious. I would urge any young people who may come across anything of this nature not to touch it but to contact a responsible adult, to ensure that it is disposed of responsibly”