Saturday, July 26, 2003

Towards an accomodation Siobhan O'Dwyer As the American roadshow again came to town on 5th February, in the person of Richard Haass, US Special Envoy on Northern Ireland, it became clear that Britain has saved the last dance for the Provisional IRA. Richard Haass, when he had finished giving Bertie Ahern a good telling off for the bad behaviour of Irish citizens in Shannon, deigned to tell us that we can expect big steps and bold actions from Irish Republicans. Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein MLA, said on television on Thursday, that he couldn't comment on big steps by the IRA but that if Britain plays ball on demilitarisation, human rights, policing etc., then we (i.e. Sinn Fein) can devise a mechanism where we all move together but Britain has a major role to play. Martin was actually paraphrasing Britain's friend Haass who made it clear that Irish Republicans, Britain and then the Unionists will all have to take part in this last sequence though he expects Republicans to move first and others to fall into line quickly. [Fourthwrite: Towards an accomodation] Comments: 12:06:49 PM

No news is good news -- (according to RTÉ) MacCool Five hours after the BBC announced the deaths of four American soldiers in Iraq RTÉ Aertel reported three injured. On the day Geraldine Finucane received o43,000 for violation of her human rights by the British government RTÉ made no mention of it. A bomb at Ballymagorry in Tyrone and one in Derry received no mention. RTÉ has a policy and always has had of reporting earthquakes and disasters in foreign countries. A policy of minimising bad news at home, with the exception of car accidents and acts of God over which we have little control and therefore which serves to remind us of the apparent powerlessness of the individual. [Saoirse: No news is good news -- (according to RTÉ)] Comments: 12:06:42 PM

Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss Anthony McIntyre Politically motivated raids by the RUC on the homes of those in nationalist communities are nothing new. Even with its face lift white jeeps and new PSNI name the RUC still invades working class areas and occupies houses. At one time, even if for pure harassment, such forays were ostensibly aimed at seizing weapons and explosives. Today there has been a marked shift in emphasis towards depriving people of the ability to provide alternative media services. Not only are computers seized with depressing regularity, but all the means essential to sustaining a forum for alternative voices not approved by officialdom are subject to confiscation. These include mobile phones, computer discs, electronic organisers, notebooks, letters and cameras. [The Blanket: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss] Comments: 12:06:36 PM

Loyalist is bailed to attend the Twelfth Laura Friel Could it happen anywhere but the Six Counties? The fact that a man facing 64 serious charges, including murder, has been granted bail at all is amazing. The fact that those conditions were 'relaxed' to allow him to attend a Twelfth of July parade is utterly astonishing. Or it would be if anyone could be surprised at the crazy operation of the sectarian Orange state. [AP/RN: Loyalist is bailed to attend the Twelfth] Comments: 12:06:19 PM

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