Britain responsible in McAliskey case
A Chairde,
May I comment briefly on the article headlined German Confusions
(15.May)?
From my own reading of letters being issued by the German Embassy
in London concerning Germany's application for the extradition of
Róisín McAliskey, it seems that Germany's part in this case is
being misinterpeted.
The Embassy's legal representatives are at pains to point out
time and time again to correspondents that while the Federal
German Prosecutor's Office ``stands by'' its request of 17 December
1996 for Róisín's extradition and continued detention, ``all
further decisions including the enforcement of detention pending
extradition (my emphasis) are solely within the competence of the
English authorities, ultimately the English courts'' (letter dated
4.March 1997).
In a further letter dated 28 April the Embassy official states,
``...since the extradition request and papers were turned over on
17.12.1996, the British authorities alone have had jurisdiction
over all further decisions concerning extradition. This also
applies to the decision whether Ms McAliskey is to remain in
custody pending extradition or whether she might be released on
bail''.
The next comment in this letter is quite extraordinary, if not
unprecedented in diplomatic terms: ``It is up to the British
judicial system alone to assess according to prevailing British
law whether, in particular, it is necessary for her to remain in
custody. It is not bound by the German request that Ms McAliskey
be held in custody pending extradition''. As the applicant for
Róisín's extradition, for Germany to be pointing out to Britain
that Britain ``is not bound'' to abide with a German request could
not be a clearer indication of German intentions.
What we have therefore is a German request/application (Antrag)
for Róisín's extradition with Germany was legally bound to issue
under the provisions of the European Convention on Extradition
(1957) after Britain's approach to the Germans. This request does
not put the British under any legal obligation to prolong
Róisín's detention or refuse her bail. Without actually
overstepping the strict rules applying to all diplomatic
communications, the Germans could not have expressed this fact
any more clearly than they have already done in dozens of letters
to protesters.
May I suggest that any further media attention and investigation,
including that of An Phoblacht, should take this into account
when covering this dreadful case of blatant and wilful human
rights abuse in the UK.
Moya F St Leger,
London
Ceasefire or unconditional surrender?
A Chairde,
There has been a clamorous demand for a `renewed' IRA ceasefire
but are the politicians being honest about what they mean by
ceasefire?
When English politicians call for a renewed IRA ceasefire they
are misusing their own language. The 1994 IRA ``cessation'' was not
a ceasefire even if the English continue to call it so. It was,
in the words of the IRA, a ``complete cessation of military
activity''. No sooner had the words been spoken than the English
got down to doctoring them by calling it a ceasefire and
demanding the addition of the term `permanent' which is a
complete misuse of the English language.
A ceasefire by its very nature can never be permanent. It is
never more, nor can it ever be more, than a period in which both
sides stop fighting each other and sit down (not necessarily with
each other) to devise strategies to end the fighting through
talks and negotiation. The agreed terms for such talks must have
the approval of both sides.
The IRA cessation ensured a period of non-fighting in which
people of goodwill from both sides could get down to discussion
and negotiation with the aim of producing the groundwork for a
just resolution of those issues on which we disagree. This did
not happen because there was never anything but suspicion and
ill-will on the part of England. Peace, on any terms but their
own, was the last thing England wanted. Their terms, as soon
became clear, were complete unconditional surrender not only of
Republican arms but of Republican thinking. Their stalling
strategies during the cessation prove this.
I have this to say to the English and I'm sure I speak for every
Republican. Come clean! Tell us in unambiguous language what it
is you want, and we will give you an unambiguous reply. Is it a
ceasefire, in the only true meaning of that term, or is it
unconditional surrender?
If you can convince us that it is the former then the fighting
can stop and people of honour and goodwill can get down to
devising strategies through which talks between contenders in the
conflict can begin. But there can be no `baddies' and `goodies'
around the table. It must be a level playing-field with England
unable to ``put in the boot'' to get their own way.
If, however, it is unconditional surrender you want you are
knocking on the wrong door. No Irish republican, whether they
bear arms for their ideals or not, is a criminal, nor will they
consent to be made one by an English government. Neither will
they put on sackcloth and ashes and crawl and beg for English
pardon. The eight centuries, and not just the last twenty-five
years, that Ireland has endured under English rule and during
which you have committed such inhuman crimes against our people
as will never be forgotten or forgiven has firmly put that option
out of court.
Finally, if you continue to usurp any part of our national
territory you will not do so in peace - not even a peace induced
by fear - but by implacable and unrelenting war.
There will be no unconditional surrender.
Irish Republican,
Armagh.
Untrue republicans
A Chairde,
Fianna Fáil election posters are carrying the slogan, ``People
Before Politics''. This is a mere copy of the Sinn Féin policy of
``Putting People First'' which has long been adopted and practised
by our party, unlike theirs.
Also, they seem to have taken up this notion of being the
``Republican Party'', but I can never remember seeing comrade
Bertie campaigning up and down the streets for a bit of fair
treatment for the true republicans, our 40 years men in
Portlaoise jail, or even speaking out against the vindictive
arrest of Sean Kinsella in Cavan last February. And this is not
to mention the continuous harassment carried at by the Branchmen
towards all real republicans, members of Sinn Féin.
Isn't it funny the way the prodigal will always try to return or
do Fianna Fail want to reconsider that decision taken in 1927
because then they can become the true ``Republican Party'' and
begin to really put ``People before Politics''.
Shane Galligan,
County Cavan
IRA medal
A chairde,
I recently came across a medal which I believe was issued during
or after the IRA campaign (1920s?). If any of your readers could
give me any information or guidance in my research I would be
very grateful.
The details, on the circular rim of the medal, include the
following:
RD 400771
Cooke/Wexford
M Murphy - from the boys of Wexford
GB0W9C
The medal belongs to the grandson of the above M Murphy.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
Gerard Sheehan]
(can be contacted via An Phoblacht)
Involve the youth
A Chairde,
With Sinn Féin's excellent performance in the elections in mind,
I'd like to make a few points. As a young man who has always had
affiliations to republicanism and been interested in their
political ideologies, I'd like to know how the youth of today can
fit into the arena of republican politics.
Originally I was involved in smaller organisations where the
youth were given the chance to enhance their knowledge and
capabilities through participation and discussion. I had followed
republicanism at a distance but now feel to sustain Sinn Féin
performances the youth need to get more involved. The aims,
objectives and principles of republicanism need to be carried
forward from one generation to the next. The republican youth of
today need to come together and be given the knowledge,
understanding and wisdom from longer-standing members.
It is suggested Sinn Féin got a lot of first time votes. We need
to bring the youth into our politics and give us direction. We
need to build our political awareness so the republican tradition
can strengthen and finally, we need the support and advice of our
seniors to go ever forward, for the voice of the youth today are
in reality our future.
A young Republican,
Belfast.
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