Are we being sold?
A chairde,
Ireland as a national expression is not confined to its
people; it includes its land, its resources - the whole
complex of interdependency that assures a people a
sustained life within its network.
My late mentor and friend, Ken Saro Wiwa, died because
this notion of ethnic nation was being attacked; its
resources were being `stolen' by the state, of which
the Ogoni nation is one of several.
A nation is much more than its people; this living unit
of people, culture, land, air, food, resources is a
whole and it insults the whole nation to split it into
pieces for political expediency. Without our land, our
resources, our territory, we are orphans: children
without a mother.
That this notion is being tampered with at all should
alert us to ask questions about the standing of our
nation at this moment. Is it being bartered for trade
and profit? Is Ireland, its land and people up for
grabs; a convenient haggle over its status may provide
a useful veneer for less obvious bartering. Are we
being sold?
MM McCarron
Kevin Gallagher
A chairde,
I refer to the article in your paper on 5 March. I wish
to make it clear that I, Kevin Gallagher, had no
connection with the recruitment attempt on the South
Armagh businessman. I have never ever been employed by
Smith Kline Beecham, the manufacturers of Lucozade and
have no connection directly or indirectly with that
company. Consent for the use of my name by any person
or persons was never asked nor was it ever given.
Kevin Gallagher
Castlewellan
Co. Down
Take ownership of the process
A chairde,
Nationalists and all those interested in establishing a
true national democracy in Ireland, including
republican activists and supporters, can and should
take ownership of this peace process and ensure that it
contains the necessary dynamic to realise such a
democracy.
What do we mean by taking ownership? It means that we
must resist the temptation to leave it solely up to
political representatives at Castle Buildings. It also
means asking yourself what you can do to become
pro-active in shaping the outcome of this phase of the
negotiations. If the people of this island are to be
asked, in referendum, to decide on the shape of an
agreement that will inevitably affect all our lives
then we all need to be very sure that any such
agreement addresses the concerns and aspirations that
all of us want.
The people are ahead of many of the politicians in
recognising that any possible settlement must address
certain core issues. It is clear that majority opinion
in Ireland wishes to see a unified country. They
recognise that partition has failed and that the
administrative, legislative and security structures in
the Six Counties are unacceptable to the nationalist
community there. Any proposed agreement that does not
satisfactorily address these issues would have failed
to reflect what the majority want.
Whilst Sinn Fein have articulated these concerns, both
at the current negotiations and publicly, it is
necessary that the people of Ireland continue to make
their feelings known to political representatives,
church leaders, union and business organisations, print
and news media. We should continue to protest and
agitate publicly on the streets and assert our rights.
example of politicians lagging behind public opinion
is on possible constitutional change, which has been
flagged-up as a central tenet of any settlement. While
the Irish government is expressing willingness to
dilute Articles 2 and 3, nationalist opinion is
demanding the strengthening of national rights, such as
extending voting rights to Irish citizens in the Six
Counties. We all need to continue to highlight the gap
between what is being suggested as a settlement and
what is required to create an end to conflict in
Ireland. The potential exists and can only benefit from
the expression of the Irish public will.
We would urge the people of Ireland, and beyond, to
assert what they believe should be included in any
peace settlement and to engage in and shape any
transitional process emanating from it.
PRO
Republican Prisoners,
Portlaoise Prison.
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