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As
you will be aware, last month saw the publication
of a report by the so-called Independent Monitoring
Commission ("SCIMC"), which has dealt yet
another blow to the faltering Good Friday Agreement
("FGFA"). The report was a farrago of scurrilous,
accurate and extremely damaging accusations against
the IRA, an organisation whose members our reporters
have conclusively proved, all retired in 1994. Nevertheless,
securocrats (© RM 1970 plc) continue to peddle
the myth that the organisation has been involved in
punishment beatings and organised crime. These allegations
have been conclusively proven to be false by our reporters
who have scoured the community looking for anyone
who might have made such a suggestion to the authorities.
Everyone to whom we spoke denied being the source,
some indeed finding the suggestion so ludicrous that
it caused momentary loss of bowel control when one
of our community outreach teams visited their homes.
It is clear that the stories have no basis in fact.
If this were not enough, they have gone on to suggest
that the IRA is in some way linked to Sinn Fein, Ireland's
leading civil rights organisation. The fact that both
organisations have denied this is conveniently ignored.
This lie has been used as an excuse to punish Sinn
Fein.
This
community has known dark days in the past. We have
suffered house burnings, plastic bullets and internment,
but never yet have we had to endure the wanton cruelty
of our MLAs being denied their stationary expenses.
On behalf of the nationalist people of the North of
Ireland we say to Mr. Blair, you have gone too far.
Make no mistake, the absence of riots over this is
a testament to the restraint of our people, the city
is nevertheless a seething cauldron of anger on the
office expenses issue.
You,
the ordinary folk of West Belfast are no doubt asking
yourself what you can do. In the words of that great
revolutionary Bobby Sands everyone, republican or
otherwise has their part to play. For most of you,
that will involve giving us your money. Our community
operatives will be passing among you for donations
on "Red Handed Day". Ten pounds will buy
a new hole punch, a hundred will buy a motability
sticker, a thousand will pay a week's mortgage on
one of the party's residential research centres in
Donegal. Forgot your wallet? Never mind, we can make
home visits too. You can also help by supporting local
businesses, many of whom will be donating a portion
of their profits to the movement.
How
long will this go on? As long as it takes to put these
"gangsterism" accusations to rest.
Colombia: An Apology
Over
the last few years, Caribbean Sinn Fein in common
with many other republican organisations may have
inadvertently insinuated that the Colombian Court
system was not all it could be. Stories such as "FARC
you Colombia" and "Anti-Imperialists Slam
Dago Justice" may have led the unsuspecting reader
to conclude that the Court system in that country
was corrupt and unreliable. We are happy to correct
any misapprehension we may have created, and wish
to stress that in our view the Courts of that Great
Nation are temples of justice, presided over by saintly
individuals possessed of the wisdom of Solomon himself.
We would like to take this opportunity of reminding
those enemies of the peace process who insist on harping
on about the passport charges, that one of the cardinal
principles of the GFA is to allow Irishmen of all
traditions to embrace whatever identity they choose.
Catriona
Ruin
Keenan's Folly
Co. Armagh
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