St. Andrews led to the full restoration of the Stormont Assembly in May, 2007. Almost immediately, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Catholic Church and Community Workers across the North. Began a massive charm offensive to convince their followers that the RUC/PSNI were the 'New Beginning to Policing'. Like the Good Friday Agreement. After generations of Political, Sectarian and Partial Policing, Nationalists desired a Civil Police Service that would uphold their religious, cultural and political rights endorsed by the GFA. In the rush to find such a service, many accepted what Politicians, Clergy, Community Workers and the GAA were propagating about the renamed RUC. In the past five years, Nationalist Politicians, Catholic Clergy, Community Workers and the GAA across the North have been heavily engaged in a charm offensives To a certain degree, the illusion of a new Police Service has worked. Despite the optics of a new name, badge and uniform there is a growing realisation within Working-Class Republican areas. That the new beginning to Policing has not taken place. There are now more Republicans highlighting this and many more associated issues in the mainstream and social medias. There are now a number of active Republican Groups and Parties articulating core values and principles. Including the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP), Republican Sinn Fein (RSF), 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM), Eirigi, Republican Network for Unity (RNU) and the 1916 Societies. Although, I'm an RNU member, I respect the right of each of the above Groups and Parties to exist and organise. In spite of huge Media Distortions, Political Smears and Demonisation. They all actively oppose British Policing in Ireland and highlight the ongoing and increased repression of Republican Activists.
Instead of getting a new Civil Police Service in the North, we got an unreformed RUC. That still retains a Special Branch, albeit under a different name. Although it still directs Political Policing in the Six Counties. Under the management of the British Secret Service, MI5. To target, intimidate, arrest and imprison citizens, Groups and Parties unhappy with the Status Quo. The unjust Laws used against people for generations are still used with gusto by the renamed RUC and Court System to Intern Republicans by Remand. Where a citizen can remain behind bars for over three years before facing 'Trial' in a Non-Jury (Diplock) Court. Bail is often refused by British Judges until a prisoners is forced to accept, living under restrictive measures outside and far away from their families. Former Political Prisoners like Marian Price and Martin Corey can again be incarcerated at the stroke of a British Minister's pen. The RUC/PSNI also retain and use lethal Plastic Bullets, now called Baton Rounds.
The above human right abuses are accepted by the same advocates of the RUC/PSNI. Who in the past actively opposed these unjust and anti-democratic practises. It is they who need to explain to the Nationalist/Republican community, for their reasons. The Community Report into the murder of Whitewell resident, Gerard Lawlor and CAJ Paper on Policing. Alongside the lack of arrests and active facilitation of illegal demonstrations over the five weeks during Loyalist Flag Protests have again proved the unchanged nature of Policing in the Six Counties.
In Ardoyne, over a dozen residents have been 'cautioned' and files sent to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) by the RUC/PSNI for observing another unwelcome Apprentice Boys' march through the local community in early December. Some ten Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective (GARC) Activists have also been imprisoned for their refusal to pay fines imposed on them by a Belfast Court for a peaceful protest against an Orange Order Parade in July, 2010. Even though DUP Leader, Peter Robinson claimed five weeks ago that; 'everyone had a right to peaceful protest'. Three other residents will face trial in Belfast this March for alleged 'Disorderly Behaviour' in August, 2011.
It is quite clear to Ardoyne people that the Stormont/British Regimes, MI5, RUC/PSNI and Courts are intent on stopping GARC asserting the Civil Rights of our community. The question must be asked, what are the positions of the Social Democratic & Labour Party (SDLP), Sinn Fein, Catholic Clergy and other supporters of the rebranded RUC regarding this campaign of attrition against GARC?
Martin you have brought a lot of people into your rant about the pro s and cons of the psni . What sort of irish man would ridicule the gaa , do u understand how many members will be offended at your remarks , you have lost the plot. A blind man on a galloping could see the different policing tactics re garc blocking a road and loyalist flag protesters blocking a road . sf and the sdlp have been bringing these isues up at policing board meetings , but you seem to be sugesting we just get rid of the psni full stop . If your as opposed to batton rounds as you say , why diddent you condem there use in east belfast against loyalists ? By the way if we all rise up and reject the psni in there entirety , who does the policing in areas like ardoyne ? - garc, rnu , go on martin who would you intrust to police our area let the rest of us know before we dump the present poor policing , what would replace it ?
ReplyDelete@Anoymous;
ReplyDeleteFirstly you again call the rebranded RUC, the PSNI? Let's be honest and call them what they are - RUC..
As for criticising the GAA concerning their support for the British Police in Ireland? Am I as an Irishman not entitled to ask them why they endorse Human Rights abusers? The GAA are a well-respected sporting organisation across Irish society and as such they have failed to help end these ongoing abuses!Many, many GAA members never agreed wth British Policing and they still don't.
As for loosing the plot? Why? Am I not entitled to express my opinions? Surely, no-one who claims to be a Democrat, Socialist and Republican can deny me that most basic right..
Policing Board meetings are nothing more than an optical illusion to convince some within our community that Nationalist Politicans are actually helping to change the RUC!
As someone who suffered from being shot with a Plastic Bullet in my own home in 1989, I can assure anyone that my opposition is catagoric chara!
I reitarite my above post that the entire community in Ardoyne & beyond must boycott the British Police and demand they disband.In answer to your predictable question, as to who would Police Ardoyne in such an event? Quite simply, we never needed a Political Police Force prior to 2007 and we don't need one now..Ardoyne has always Policed itself and the past five years haven't changed much.
I never said GARC nor RNU should replace anyone chara. Although, I have enough confidence in my own community to know that local people can do a much better job than a bunch of Political, Sectarian and Partial of Career-people who couldn't careless about Ardoyne or its residents!
Now let's hear an answer from you, with your correct name attached for clarity!
Several years ago i was present at a meeting in the glenpark, many ex republican pow s where present from the districts of ardoyne and the bone . In my opinion some of the finest men and women that ever drew breath where there , none finer than your late father Martin meehan snr ,god rest him .
ReplyDeleteI like yourself did not belive republicans should accept the so called new police ,as a matter of fact i was still reeling with regards decommissioning issue .
I hope you dont take offence if i quote your fathers words on that night , he said on the subject [ my heart says no , but my head says yes ] i cant tell a lie i left there with a heavy heart i was bitterly disapointed .
But the truth is i thought about it for days and i couldent get my head around it at all , my role in republicanism was miniscule compared to your father s , he was and still is a republican icon to me , and i said to my self that day ;if its good enough for MARTIN MEEHAN its good enough for me . Dont get me wrong , i know your , your own man and fair play to you , you make your own decisions and theres nothing wrong with that , but i just wanted to let you know how my opinion changed with the help of an ardoyne legend . show me the man '
I fully appreciate your contribution above chara. I too was at the same meeting and I can recall the words of many including my Dad. Like many there, I hoped we were being told the truth and not being taken for fools by the SF Leadership...
ReplyDeleteEven though I didn't agree with my Dad's view on Policing, I will defend his right to hold it. However, he did have serious issues and only wanted his support to be tempoary as he didn't feel he could give full support!
The bottom line is that everyone is their own person and should be entitled to hold and express those opinions chara. Unfortunatly, that's still considered 'a crime' in Ireland today and until there is full social, economic and territorial freedom, then the political struggle to obtain them will continue unabated chara...
Thanks for your contribution and good luck.
They are using these illegal type of courts in Norfolk to detain innocent suspects, they are now moving into new arrears where they
ReplyDeleteare using fines and arrest warrants of other detainees, altering the names with tipex, and then making copies and putting the provo
suspects name over the real prisoners name to detain them, they are
also operating from the DVLA in Swansea via the Norwich Court, putting thousands of pounds worth of fabbriated fines on court accounts
and then arresting republicans and sending them to prison with no
right of public trial, the recent incidents with the DVLA will be
refered to human rights tests and other investigations, the courts
and the Police Coroner WH Armstron are aware of the tipex pratices
by the police, he has covered the matter up despite being paid over
£70,000 in legal fees claiming files lost in office LSO no good, Ann Abraham claims she has no powers over lawyers.