ARCHIVE

The following items are from the Republican News (www.republican-news.org) unless otherwise marked

 

Tuesday-Thursday, 15-17 June, 2004
1. THREE MUST STAY IN COLOMBIA
2. Progress seen in talks
3. Final Bloody Sunday witness recounts gun battle plan
4. Low-flying helicopter scare
5. Number of Orange parades challenged
6. Anger as Holy Cross case dismissed
7. Book Review: A Very British Jihad
8. Analysis: The elephant will not be going away

 

 

>>>>> SF making huge gains; Referendum count over
A huge 'Yes' vote in Friday's referendum has failed to shore up support for the conservative coalition government in Dublin, Sinn Féin said in a statement released on Sunday.

Both Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fail party and Michael McDowell's Progressive Democrats continue to suffer losses in the local elections, which also took place on Friday.

Sinn Féin said it had made major gains at the expense of Fianna Fail, particularly in the main urban areas around the 26 Counties.

Of the seats, 432 of the 883 have so far been filled - 137 by Fianna Fail candidates, 144 Fine Gael, 64 Labour, 34 Sinn Féin, 8 PDs, 6 Greens, and 39 Others. Sinn Féin has topped the poll in several wards in Dublin, where it has already secured nine seats on Dublin city council and two on South Dublin city council.

It is also expecting to make a breakthrough on Fingal council in north Dublin.

Around the country, Sin Féin said it has gained seats in Cavan, Cork, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, and Wexford and expects to win representation in almost all of the 26 Counties. The breakthrough on local councils, where it is now challenging to become the third largest party in the State behind Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, sets the party up to substantially increase its representation in the Dublin parliament next year.

Counting for the European parliament seats is now also underway, and the latest tallies show SF's Mary Lou McDonald set to gain a seat in Dublin, with Pearse Doherty in with an outside chance of a gain in the Northwest area.

Meanwhile, Sunday's newspapers have pointed out that the almost 10% drop in Fianna Fail support - from 42% to 33%, according to exit polls - places a question mark over the continued leadership of Bertie Ahern, who has been increasingly linked to the lucrative post of president of the European Commission.

LOCATION	YES	%	NO	%
CORK CITY	38931	78.7	10531	21.2
LIMERICK CITY	17059	80.7	4077	19.2
WATERFORD	14113	80.9	3321	19.0
GALWAY CITY	15849	75.8	5045	24.1
DUN LAOGHAIRE	57869	70.9	23740	29.0
SOUTH DUBLIN	75510	82.1	16403	17.8
FINGAL	63448	81.2	14600	18.7
CARLOW	17393	80.7	4151	19.2
CAVAN	25320	80.7	6030	19.2
CLARE	42822	80.5	10329	19.4
CORK COUNTY	127992	79.1	33805	20.8
DONEGAL	52985	74.6	17990	25.3
GALWAY COUNTY	60770	80.3	14848	19.6
KERRY	56147	79.3	14635	20.6
KILDARE	54108	81.7	12070	18.2
KILKENNY	32079	79.5	8251	20.4
LAOIS	24809	81.7	5549	18.2
LEITRIM	12977	76.2	4034	23.7
LIMERICK	47858	80.4	11643	19.5
LONGFORD	15970	84.3	2958	15.6
LOUTH	39633	82.8	8185	17.1
MAYO	48029	77.2	14164	22.7
MEATH	52291	83.2	10535	16.7
MONAGHAN	23868	79.6	6107	20.3
OFFALY	25771	80.5	6207	19.4
ROSCOMMON	24269	79.6	6191	20.3
SLIGO	23405	73.3	8499	26.6
TIPPERARY	27671	77.9	7815	22.0
TIPPERARY	32246	79.0	8557	20.9
WATERFORD	23301	80.4	5671	19.5
WESTMEATH	27782	80.8	6565	19.1
WEXFORD	45488	79.4	11790	20.5
WICKLOW	41072	77.2	12076	22.7

June 13, 2004
CITIZENSHIP REFERENDUM 79.17% YES—20.83% NO
59.95% TURNOUT
The result of the referendum on citizenship was confirmed early Sunday morning, with the proposal to restrict citizenship rights passed by a margin of almost four to one.

The vote means that non Irish national parents of a child born within Ireland will no longer automatically be entitled to remain in Ireland as Irish citizenship will no longer automatically be conferred upon children born to non-Irish nationals living in Ireland unless they pass certain qualifying criteria, such as for example, duration of residence within ireland.

The final referendum count showed the Yes vote at 79.17% and the No vote at 20.83%. The turnout was given as 59.95% - an unusually high turn-out for a referendum.

Conservative Longford produced the highest Yes vote at 84%, while the biggest No was registered in leafy Dublin suburb Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, with 29% against the proposal.

Campaigners for a No vote have expressed disappointment at the outcome and have called for wide consultation before legislation is drawn up.

The Immigrant Council called for a forum on immigration to examine all issues arising from the referendum, while the Alliance for Children's Rights said the government must now honour commitments made during the campaign to protect the rights of all children.

The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, welcomed the result, claiming the change was needed. He claimed he was 'owed an apology' in light of the overwhelming support for the measure. He said opponents had used "pernicious language" during the campaign.

 

Report prepared by Republican News © and others.
Articles may be reprinted with credit.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> THREE MUST STAY IN COLOMBIA
A court tribunal in Bogota has refused the Colombia 3 permission to return to Ireland while an appeal against their recent exoneration is being heard.

Supporters expressed bitter disappointment at the decision, which emerged as the men were finally released from a Colombian jail almost three years since their original arrest on charges of training rebels and using false passports.

The men left La Modelo Gaol on Tuesday evening under private security. An offer of state security for the men was refused because of fears of collusion with right-wing forces.

They now face a lengthy stay in the country, with the constant fear of attacks by right-wing paramilitaries. The men have been targeted following prejudicial media coverage and comments by political leaders.

Defence lawyers petitioned the three-member appeal tribunal to allow the men to go back to Ireland while the appeal was under consideration. But this week the tribunal, headed by Marta Lucia Tamayo, turned down the men's request to leave the country.

The spokeswoman for the Bring Them Home Campaign and Sinn Féin member of the Belfast Assembly, Caitriona Ruane called on the Colombian judiciary to expedite the appeal.

It was also reported that the men were ordered to vacate La Modelo prison, where they had remained as a security measure.

"Colombia is not a secure environment for the men," said Ms Ruane. "The Judge's decision that the men were innocent of the serious charges should have been the end of the matter. We believe it is unjust that they have to remain in the country. They remain in very difficult and dangerous circumstances.

"We are calling on the Colombian Judicial system to expedite this case in the interests of natural justice. We are calling on Bertie Ahern to make urgent representation to President Uribe on this matter.

"The men are in good spirits and we look forward to the men returning to Ireland to be reunited with their families".

Sinn Féin Assembly member, speaking from Bogota, said he was astonished at the decision of Colombian Magistrates to refuse to allow the three to retun home. He called on the Irish government to intervene immediately to ensure that the men are brought home safely to their families.

"It is astonishing given the imminent danger they face and given the intervention of the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, that the Colombian Magistrates have refused this request," he said.

"I am now calling on the Irish government to make representations to the Colombian authorities to get this matter sorted out as soon as possible for the safety of the men."

Background item
>>>>>> Flash: Colombia 3 leave prison for undisclosed location
The three Irishmen known as the Colombia 3 have left prison in Bogota last night and may soon be allowed to return home. The three have left a Bogota prison.

After their arrest and a lengthy trial, the three were recently cleared of charges they were training left-wing rebels in the country's civil war.

Niall Connolly, James Monaghan and Martin McCauley left La Modelo prison late last night after paying fines for using false documentation in their visit to Colombia 3 years ago.

The men were reported to have left the prison in off-road vehicles under heavy security.

A judge has said that they should remain in the country pending an appeal by the prosecution, but the Colomian authorities have said they can return to Ireland while the appeal is being heard - if the court agrees. The court has not said yet whether it would accept such a deal.

The appeal process could take years.

Defence lawyers said at the time their clients preferred to remain in jail for their own safety, saying they might be targeted by right-wing death squads in Colombia.

A Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman confirmed in Dublin today that the prisoners were released last night on condition that they remain in the country.

She said: "It is a matter for Colombian officials to decide if the three men can return home.

"They left prison at about midnight (GMT) last night. That option was always available to them.

"They have gone to an undisclosed location. The legal position is that they must remain in the country until an appeal has been heard unless magistrates decide otherwise."
c. Republican News and others.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> Progress seen in talks
The formal review of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement resumed on Tuesday in Belfast with feelings mixed on its prospect for success.

In the absence of the British and Irish Prime Ministers, the British government is preparing a paper for the parties summarising the views expressed so far.

The talks will continue next week.

British Direct Ruler Paul Murphy and the Minister for arts, sport and tourism in the 26 Counties, John O'Donoghue, sid they were upbeat that a political deal was achievable, pointing to genuine constructive engagement between the parties.

At a press conference Mr Murphy said that the past two days had marked some of the most positive meetings yet in terms of the details discussed.

He said the parties would receive a "progress report" on Monday in order to focus on key issues and next Tuesday the governments would continue to discuss with the parties issues relating to North-South relations and relations between the islands.

He said the two premiers would be meeting in Brussels tomorrow and would decide whether their direct involvement with the parties would be useful before the summer break.

"I remain absolutely convinced that progress can be made if the will is there on all sides. For their part the two governments will continue to make every effort to facilitate an agreed way forward.

"Where there is the will I believe there can be progress." Mr Murphy pointed out that discussions had been taking place between the governments and the DUP and with Sinn Féin over the last number of weeks, and that those issues were also being dealt with.

"These are the issues in front of us which need to be resolved to produce the confidence that is necessary to restore the institutions," he said.

"On the one hand there is im-portance from a republican and nationalist side that they have confidence that unionists will engage in an executive here in Stormont.

"And on the other hand, of course, we have the issue of continued paramilitary activity which has to be addressed.

"These issues have to be addressed and we have been talking during the election period, mainly at officials' levels, be-tween the governments and those two parties." Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh assembly member Conor Murphy said there had been greater application over the past couple of days in terms of trying to deal with the issues comprehensively than in previous discussions and that this was encouraging.

"We want to see a comprehensive resolution of all of the outstanding issues facing us," he said.

"From Sinn Féin's point of view we are very much up for finding that resolution. We will know next week whether all of the parties and both governments are similarly up for resolution." Ulster Unionists, who remain outside the review process, have claimed that the DUP is planning a deal to restore the North's political institutions by the Autumn.

But DUP leader Ian Paisley said his party delegation members had left the Secretary of State and Mr O'Donoghue in no doubt that they would not accept any fudge of democracy on any of the issues.

"The DUP position of no terrorists in government is unalterable," Mr Paisley said.

"The British government and the government of the Irish Republic must get down to business. There are difficult issues to resolve and they must be faced.

"The days of the Belfast Agreement are over. It is time to move forward on a democratic bas- is that allows government in Northern Ireland and any relationship with the Republic to be fully accountable.

"Unlike the Ulster Unionist Party, the DUP will keep its word.

"That false prophet in the form of (Ulster Unionist) Michael McGimpsey can rave as much as he likes about a deal but the reality is that unlike his party the DUP will not be putting terrorists into any government."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> Final Bloody Sunday witness recounts gun battle plan
A witness has told the Bloody Sunday Inquiry that Derry's police chief told him the morning after the Bogside killings that the British army's plan for the day was to "take out two or three soft targets" in a bid to provoke a gun battle with the IRA.

The inquiry into the 1972 massacre of civil rights demonstrators heard from its last witness on Wednesday.

Leading Derry businessman Brendan Duddy said that 10 days before Bloody Sunday, the local RUC police commander Frank Lagan asked him to seek assurances from republican armed groups that there would be no guns near the march.

He said that during a meeting with the late Malachy McGurran of the Official Republican Movement, he was told that there would be no arms, but individual members would participate in the march.

He said he drove to County Roscommon to speak to former Sinn Féin president Ruairi O Bradaigh regarding the Provisional IRA.

Mr Duddy said he was contacted three days before Bloody Sunday by either Mr O Bradaigh or a representative and told that there would be no weapons near the march.

"I got exactly the same reaction from Ruairi O Bradaigh that I did from Malachy McGurran. Ruairi did not see the point of seeking assurances about weapons because it was well known that the Provisionals' policy was not to engage the armed forces during marches," he told the inquiry's three judges.

Mr Duddy said he gave details of these conversations to Mr Lagan who he said was "non-committal" and said "that's fine", however he added that Mr Lagan was "constantly worried about the march in the period leading up to it".

The witness said that after the shooting of 27 people by paratroopers, Mr Lagan arrived at his home. "I was very angry at the loss of life and I knew that the city was heading for a very difficult period.

"When Frank Lagan came to see me, I was in something of a dilemma. I did not know at that stage that he had not been in any position to influence to control events. Basically I was saying to him: 'how did you let it happen?' "He told me that the army had decided to take out two or three soft targets in the area of the High Flats with the intention of provoking a firefight with the IRA.

"These were virtually his exact words. I remember the phrase 'taking out' in particular. It sticks in my mind. I was appalled. I could not accept that a human being would kill another human being indiscriminately," he added.

said the local police commander Frank Lagan, who subsequently told him that the Army's intention was to take out a few "soft targets" in an attempt to draw the IRA into a gun battle.

"I was appalled. I could not accept that a human being would kill another human being indiscriminately," he said.

Mr Duddy was the 921st and last witness to the inquiry.

The inquiry has now adjourned until October, when Mr Clarke will deliver his closing statement. This is expected to last two weeks.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> Low-flying helicopter scare
A British Army helicopter hit a tree in the garden of a family home in Crossmaglen yesterday morning.

The propeller of a military helicopter struck a tree in the garden of a house adjacent to a British Army barracks in Crossmaglen at around 11.30am yesterday.

The helicopter hit the tree, causing part of it to fall off onto the washing line in the garden of a house where an elderly woman lives.

Sinn Féin councillor Terry Hearty said the aircraft had flown extremely low to the ground, and the helicopter could have struck the resident of the house had she been in the garden at the time.

Mr Hearty added: "There is a seriously bad accident waiting to happen in that area. I can't believe it is allowed to go on." A PSNI/British Army patrol in the area was said to have abused the woman when she asked to make a complaint about the incident. The PSNI police also hung up when she attempt to raise the matter by telephone.

Local Assembly member Conor Murphy said he would be raising the matter with the British government today.

"It was only through good fortune that local people were not killed or seriously injured in this mornings incident which is the latest in a long line of such incidents involving British Army helicopters in this area," he said.

"The attitude of the PSNI to this mornings event while not surprising is another illustration of just how far we have to travel before we reach the Good Friday Agreement goal of an accountable and acceptable policing service".

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> Number of Orange parades challenged
The Protestant Orange Order in Scotland may reduce the number of parades held by the organisation after coming under pressure from the authorities there.

Scottish Orange Order Grand Master Ian Wilson yesterday confirmed that Orangemen had to consider dropping the number of parades they hold.

Following discussions with Scottish police earlier this year, local Orange Order Grand Master Ian Wilson said the order has undertaken a review of all its parades.

"If we find we are guilty of parading ourselves too much and making ourselves unwelcome we have got to take a long, hard look at that because we have got to be realistic," Mr Wilson said.

Npw fresh questions are being asked about the need by the Protestant marching orders to hold 2,500 parades in the Six Counties every year. Many are highly contentious with nationalist residents, whol see them as sectarian and triumhalist. The parades have led to standoffs, rioting and large-scale disturbances in recent years, although last sumer was relatively peaceful.

Sinn Féin Upper Bann assembly member John O'Dowd last night welcomed the news from Scotland.

"I would hope that local Orangemen will follow the example of their brethren in Scotland and consider reducing the hundreds of parades (they hold) across the north each year," Mr O'Dowd said.

"Sinn Féin views Mr Wilson's comments as a welcome step forward on behalf of the order and hopes that such a stance can be reciprocated in the six counties.

"We believe that dialogue is key to resolving parades disputes in the north and that a lot could be achieved if the Orange Order dropped its ban over engaging in talks with local residents." Meanwhile, talks took place in north Belfast yesterday ahead of this year's Tour of the North parade, which is due to take place tomorrow.

More than 2,000 Orangemen and 21 accompanying bands are due to take part in the parade around north Belfast.

Last week the Parades Commission banned the Orange Order from marching through the nationalist Cliftonpark Avenue, Cliftonville Road and Antrim Road areas, where there had been serious violence during a previous march in 1996.

Orangemen will, however, be allowed to parade along a flashpoint interface at North Queen Street between the nationalist New Lodge and loyalist Tigers Bay, where violence erupted two years ago.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> Anger as Holy Cross case dismissed
Nationalists have criticised the dismissal of a court case taken against the PSNI over their role in the Holy Cross School blockade.

The infamous scenes of young schoolgirls forced to endure a gauntlet of naked hatred, abuse and violence while the PSNI looked on made international headlines in 2001. For three months, sectarian intimidation continued unabated at the school, while pressure was placed on Catholic families to take their children to school by a back door.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr, who dismissed an application for judicial review of the police handling of the dispute, admitted there was overwhelming evidence that many of those involved in the "protest" had as their purpose the terrorising of these innocent children and their parents.

However, he said that was a separate issue to the the legality of the policing strategy and the decisions taken as to how the protest should be handled.

"That appraisal must take place within a well-defined legal framework," he said.

"Having conducted that assessment, I have concluded that the policing judgments made have withstood the challenge that has been presented to them. The application for judicial review must be dismissed." Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast Kathy Stanton said the result was 'undoubtedly influenced by the disgraceful public commentary made by Human Rights Commission Chief Brice Dickson'.

Dickson, appointed to defend human rights in the Six Counties, scandalised the Commission he heads when he expressed support for the police actions at the time. About half of the members of the commission have resigned their posts.

Ms Stanton said the PSNI did not act to protect either the children or the parents at Holy Cross school "The parent who took this case deserves our support and thanks for challenging in a very public way the complete failure by the PSNI to provide adequate protection for the children.

"The chances of the case succeeding were greatly diminished by the public intervention of the Human Rights Commission Chief Brice Dickson. His contribution in support of Ronnie Flanagan has without any doubt played a significant role in the failure of this case to proceed further.

"Brice Dickson should reflect upon this judgement and do the honourable thing and resign from the Commission rather than continuing to hang on to his post until next year and continuing to be an obstruction to the development of a rights based society here."

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> Book Review: A Very British Jihad
A Very British Jihad: by Paul Larkin, Collusion, conspiracy and cover up in Northern Ireland
Beyond the Pale Publications, €10.99 pbk
Review by By David Granville
Based on research undertaken by award-winning investigative journalist and film producer Paul Larkin, A Very British Jihad is an important contribution to highlighting the depths to which the British state has been prepared to sink in its war against Irish republicans.

Much of the material centres on research undertaken between the late 1980s and mid-1990s when Larkin worked on documentary film projects for the BBC Northern Ireland current affairs programme Spotlight, the Irish state broadcaster RTE and as an independent film maker.

At the heart of the author's exploration of the murkier corners of the conflict lies the thorny issue of collusion between key sections Britain's political, military and intelligence apparatus and the most sectarian elements of their imperial garrison allies, in the shape of loyalist murder gangs.

Larkin deals both with important individual cases, such as the murder Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, as well as wider issues, such as British-state involvement in the procurement of loyalist weaponry from apartheid South Africa.

Using his own research and extracts from the diary of convicted British agent Brian Nelson, Larkin paints a disturbing picture of the numerous levels on which collusion operated during Britain's 'dirty war'.

Larkin demonstrates that covert military, security and intelligence operations frequently involved more than just providing 'useful' information to loyalist killers or providing cover for their nefarious, and frequently bloody, deeds - in itself, shocking enough for most readers.

He also shows how paid British agents under the direction of intelligence service handlers were responsible for directing and participating in sectarian murder campaign and insists that knowledge and political oversight of the dirty war strategy reached the highest levels of government.

The author's exploration of Ian Paisley and the DUP's links to loyalist paramilitary activity is also given a rare and welcome airing.

However I must part company with the author over his contention that what has been going on in the six counties of Northern Ireland since the first stirrings of the civil rights movement constitutes a holy war, a jihad, prosecuted on an 'ethnic' basis in defence of Protestantism.

While it would be wrong to suggest that religion is not an important factor in the conflict, indeed the religious divide has been manipulated adroitly by the pro-empire loyalists at all levels of the British state and in the mainstream British media, its elevation above the political issues at the heart of the conflict is, in my opinion, both misleading and inappropriate.

More worryingly, in his attempt to prove the existence of a 'jihad' Larkin unintentionally reinforces the favoured British establishment view of the conflict as an intractable religious war between Catholic and Protestant 'tribes', a view used to great effect as a smokescreen to obscure the reality underpinning the British state's dirty colonial war in Ireland.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

>>>>>> Analysis: The elephant will not be going away
By Brian Feeney (for the Irish News)
Listening to some of the pundits marking time as the dreadfully slow count at the King's Hall dragged on interminably was at times a bit surreal.

You got the impression that if you could see them sitting there, you would also see an elephant that they were ignoring in the studio set. And you'd burst out laughing.

They studiously talked about whether the DUP would enter talks with Sinn Féin, and when. What they would offer, what they might accept.

Would SF and the DUP wait until after the next British election and the complete annihilation of the SDLP and UUP, perhaps allow us all to relish the humiliation of Trimble losing his seat and trailing alone, sans prancing partner, out of Portadown where he disgraced himself in 1995? All perfectly valid points, but still ignoring the elephant standing there.

You see it was all six-county stuff. The elephant in the room is the Sinn Féin vote in the Republic.

Last weekend changed Irish politics for a generation to come. As the Taoiseach said, Fianna Fail lost and Sinn Féin won. Sinn Féin have arrived on the national stage. It is certain that within 10 years, and probably by 2012, SF will be in the Dublin government.

Here's the timetable. They already have five TDs. In the Republic's next general election they will at least double that number. That's about three years away. Could be sooner, but after these results Bertie Ahern will not be rushing to a general election.

Say there's an election in 2007 and SF get 10 seats. Fine Gael and Labour will probably combine with a couple of PDs, if they're still around, to exclude SF from government.

By 2012, time for the next general election, Sinn Féin TDs will number well into double figures and be too big to exclude. They'll be like Dick Spring's Labour party in the late 80s, early 90s. You couldn't have a government without them.

You can argue about the precise dates and the numbers, but you can't argue it won't happen: it will. By the time of the Republic's next election, 2007 at the latest, the IRA will have become an old comrades association.

Why wouldn't they? As Gerry Adams said on Monday, the results north and south 'vindicate Sinn Féin's peace strategy'. That's shorthand for saying it's more to the advantage of the republican movement not to have an armed wing than to have one. Who can argue with that now? What does it all mean for here? Decision time for the DUP, that's what. You could measure the shock Jim Allister felt by the near hysteria of his graceless victory speech.

Here was a guy who understands exactly what SF's breakthrough in the Republic means. If the DUP don't use the position of strength they now enjoy and do a deal with SF soon, they're going to have to deal with an Irish government which includes SF or which is strongly influenced, even blackmailed, by SF votes in the Dail.

It may be that the DUP want to wait to consolidate their position in 2005's British election, to see off Trimble, whom they clearly despise, perhaps also to see if they can take advantage of a weakened Tony Blair, to see if they can exercise some leverage on a Labour government with a reduced majority.

Perhaps. That still means 2006 is the last chance the DUP have to make a deal advantageous to unionism. Guys like Robinson and Dodds are well aware of the basic ingredient in the history of unionism's decline over the last 40 years. They know that every time unionists walked away from the table, there was less on it for them the next time they returned.

If ever a man sounded cornered it was Allister ranting in the King's Hall on Monday. Sinn Féin's emergence as an all-Ireland electoral force has driven home more clearly that at any time since 1921 unionism's position as a minority in this island.

Allister, shouting at all and sundry to 'Listen up', presented a picture of a man with his back to the wall. It was a cry for help, an admission of political weakness.

Noises like those emanating from Allister might make people think the chances of a deal are nil, that the DUP's strong showing makes one impossible.

The correct way to look at the results is that Sinn Féin's strong showing on the national stage makes the DUP leadership realise they have no choice but to settle with Sinn Féin before SF can negotiate with the British as Irish cabinet ministers.

As John Major said when he became prime minister, 'Well, who would have thought it?'

©. Republican News and others. Articles may be reprinted with credit.

 

Back to main Sinn Féin news page

news resources
Afghanistan | Africa | Albania | Algeria | Andorra | Angola | Anguilla | Antigua | Argentina | Armenia | Aruba | Asia | Australia | Austria | Azerbaijan | Bahamas | Bahrain | Balkans | Bangladesh | Barbados | Belarus | Belgium | Belize | Benin | Bermuda | Bhutan | Bosnia | Bolivia | Botswana | Brazil | Brunei | Bulgaria | Burkina | Burma | Burundi | Cambodia | Cameroon | Canada | Cape Verde | Caribbean | Cayman Islands | Cen African Rep | Chad | Chile | China | Christmas Island | Columbia | Comoros | Congo | Cook Island | Costa Rica | Croatia | Cuba | Cyprus | Czech/Slovakia | Denmark | Djibouti | Dominican Republic | Dubai | East Timor | Ecuador | Egypt | El Salvador | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Estonia | Ethiopia | Europe | Faroe Islands | Fiji | Finland | France | Gabon | Gambia | Georgia | Germany | Ghana | Greece | Greenland | Grenada | Guadeloupe | Guam | Guatemala | Guinea | Guyana | Haiti | Holland | Honduras | Hong Kong | Hungary | Iceland | India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | Ireland | Israel | Italy | Ivory Coast | Jamaica | Japan | Jordan | Kazakhstan | Kenya | Kiribati | Korea | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Latvia | Lebanon | Lesotho | Liberia | Libya | Lietchtenstein | Lithuania | London | Luxembourg | Macau | Macedonia | Madagascar | Malawi | Malaysia | Maldives | Mali | Malta | Marshall Islands | Martinique | Mauritania | Mauritius | Mexico | Micronesia | Moldova | Monaco | Mongolia | Montenegro | Montserrat | Morocco | Mozambique | Namibia | Nauru | New Zealand | Nicaragua | Niue | Niger | Nigeria | Northern Ireland | Norway | Oman | Pakistan | Palau | Palestine | Panama | Paraguay | Peru | Philippines | Pitcairn Islands | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Romania | Russia | Rwanda | Samoa | San Marino | Sao Tomé | Saudi Arabia | Scandinavia | Senegal | Serbia | Seychelles | Sierra Leone | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | Solomon Islands | Somalia | South Africa | South Americas | Spain | Sri Lanka | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Pierre | St Vincent | Sudan | Suriname | Swaziliand | Sweden | Switzerland | Syria | Taiwan | Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand | Tibet | Togo | Tonga | Trinidad | Tunisia | Turkey | Turkmenistan | Turks & Caicos | Tuvalu | Uganda | Ukraine | United Kingdom | United States | Uruguay | Uzbekistan | Vanuatu | Venezuela | Vietnam | Virgin Islands | Walli & Futuna | Yemen | Zambia | Zimbabwe | World
Human Rights | Science | Journalism | Music | Showbiz | Sport | Technology
Clickable News Globe

---

Top | Privacy | Forum | Comment MP3 Sounds | Links | Publicity | Contact
On-line Editing | Publish news | Guestbook | Site Status | Site Map
Seed Newsvine
© Newsmedianews—

Web newsmedianews

See traffic details for this site

Items published on this page are informational & do not
necessarily represent the views of Newsmedianews