Reported Belfast 5 abduction: S I questions for S Gerry Adams i, (See page 3) UIMH 122 MEITHEAMH — JUNE 1997 THE British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, made his first major speech on the Six Counties in Belfast on May 16, ruling out British withdrawal and burying the British Labour Party's previous policy of a united Ireland by consent. On his first visit to the Six Counties as British Prime Minister he made it absolutely clear that British rule was going to continue. He offered a meeting of British negotiate cease-fire terms but would discuss government officials with the Provisional' whether the Provisional were "ready to give political organisation without a ceasefire but up violence". delighted the unionists by stating "I believe A reference to "cross-border in the United Kingdom. I value the Union .. arrangements" was even qualified by Tony . my agenda is not a united Ireland . none Blair by saying that "if such arrangements of us in this hall today, even the youngest, is were real ly threatening to unionists we would likely to see Northern Irelandasanything but not negotiate them". He also called on the a part of the United Kingdom. That is the Dublin administration to change Articles 2 reality, because the consent principle is now and 3 of the 193 7 constitution which contain almost universally accepted." a "paper claim" to jurisdiction over the 32 David Trimble suggested on the BBC that counties. This would be a sign of their support one passage could have been lifted directly for the principle of consent', he said. from the Ulster Unionist Party manifesto. Thus the only constitutional change Blair continued: "A political settlement is referred to in his speech was the demand that not a slippery slope to a united Ireland. The the 26 Counties drop Articles 2 and 3 before Government will not be persuaders for unity. any settlement. The wagons do not need to be drawn up in This would mean that nationalists in the a circle." Six Counties could be disowned by the Dublin Tony Blair's "principle of consent" is the government in so far as they could and would unionist veto by which 18% of the people of become British citizens in every sense. Ireland (the unionists) are given the say by The message from Tony Blair is clear and the British government over the wishes of has been predicted by Republican Sinn Fein the other 82%. It is therefore anathema to since the start of this process: a partitionist Irish Republicans and democrats. settlement is the only conceivable outcome • Like his Tory predecessor John Major, the new British prime minister, Tony Blair, is Blair's offer for his officials to meet the of the so-called all-party talks. a Unionist committed to securing British rule in Ireland. Provisional is conditional on their military The alternative peace process based on a organisation continuing their de facto British withdrawal must now be promoted by ceasefire for the Westminster and 26-County all Irish people and friends of Ireland abroad general elections. According to the British as the real path to a lasting and just solution Think before you vote Provo Prime Minister the meeting would not to Ireland's English problem. IN VIEW of the second kidnapping and what sincere Republican-minded people want." interrogation of a faithful Republican in Belfast by Speaking on Radio Ulster's Talkback Wolfe Tone the Provos, Republican Sinn Fein called on May programme on May 28 Provisional councillor in 28 for all Republican-minded people in the Belfast, Alex Maskey, said that their councillors constituencies concerned in the 26 Counties "to would not rule out performing the royalist duties Commemoration consider long and deeply before they vote for of Lord Mayor of that city if they were elected to BODENSTOWN Provisional candidates on June 6." the post. The most recent abduction lasting 24 hours These duties were listed as toasting the British occurred on May 20-21 (Seepage 3 inside). "Even Queen at official dinners; attending Remembrance JUNE 15, 1997 as voting took place in the Six-County local Day ceremonies and greeting members ol the Assemble 2.30pm, Sallins, Co Kildare elections and Provo representatives were talking British Royal Family visiting Belfast. Oration: Mick McManus, Fermanagh to British ofTicials a Republican rejecting any In reaction Ruairi 6 Bradaigh, President, Buses leave: "internal settlement' under British-rule was being Republican Sinn Fein said that "this statement by Dublin, Virgin Megastore, 1.30pm, £3 held and interrogated by the new Broy Harriers," Alex Maskey shows a further deterioration by the Gakvay, Eyre Square, 9.30am, £5 in advance, Tel. 091 -525977 the statement added. Provisional as they depart further from their Limerick, contact Joe Lynch, Tel. 061-31 1457 "In view of these developments Republican roots. Clare, contact Martin Calligan, Tel. 065-53105 Sinn Fein urges would-be Provo voters to think Wexford, Crescent Quay, Wexford town, 10.30am long and hard about where the current process is "As the pace of their absorption into the Other areas: contact your SAOIRSE paper sellers or tel Dublin Theobald Wolfe Tone leading. British systems quickens, Republicans are entitled 872 9747. "Will it mean former Republicans using force to ask how long will it be before they are NOTE: Those attending Bodenstown from the West on June 15 should take the exit marked against their own community in the interests of a indistinguishable - not from the SDLP - but from Kilcock/Naas, drive through Kilcock village and turn right over the motorway to Sallins. reformed British rule in Ireland? Surely this is not the Alliance Party?" SAOIRSE — Meitheamh /June 1997 Belfastman remanded at secret session of Sligo court Intimidation of Harryville churchgoers escalates A BELFAST man appeared before a special centre on May 10 when a in camera session of the Sligo sitting of Sligo District Court in the 26 Counties bomb in a red Proton car was District Court. Only Moyna's ONCE again innocent church-goers had to run on May 17 charged with possession of 2.28 defused by the British army. lawyer, Peter Brady, was the gauntlet of fascist Orange mobs as the 200- kilograms of Semtex explosives in Belfast seven The vehicle contained a allowed into the court, while strong protesters tried to charge through British days previously. quantity of Semtex explosive, the 26-County police ringed the police lines to the Catholic church, at Harryville a timing unit, a battery and a courthouse. Ballymena, Co Antrim on Saturday, May 24. Gerard Michael Moyna The Criminal Law Act has One observer asked detonator which had exploded Tempera GUtred as the loyalist Ingots hurled bottles, stones had been held for 48 hours been described as the "dregs of •whatever happened to justice under the Offences Against the Sunningdale" as it was prematurely. The car had been paint bombs and other missiles in the direction of Our Lady's hijacked in Andersonstown at being seen to be done?". Church. Water service workers who had been operating in the area State Act by the 26-County introduced by the 26-County Another said that even in the Special Branch in Sligo after State in return for the Council 6pm and was discovered at were forced to tlee as their van was set ablaze. 7.10pm in College Avenue. non-jury Special Court in having being discharged from of Ireland' advisory body Green Street, Dublin, members The rioters then charged towards a mechanical digger pushing which never came into being. Gerard Moyna denied the it down an embankment and attacked a lorry carrying stones Sligo General Hospital on of the public and relatives could The 26-County law has charge. He was remanded in Thursday, May 15. attend and sit in the public Their voracious appetite also included break ing up water mains remained on the statute bok custody to the next sitting of On the expiry of that 48- gallery. leaving many homes on the estate without water In contrast to ever since to be used against Sligo District Court on Friday, RUC treatment of nationalists, no plastic bullets were fired during hour period he was again It was also suggested that Irish people. May 23. the riot by the British police arrested and charged with the banning of the public from The charge is being linked In an unprecedented move Former rugby international and DUP Councillor Davy Tweed offences contrary to Section 3 the court may have been for the by the 26-County Special at that second hearing, was there to cheer on the ()range mob The protest in now in its of the Explosives Substances benefit of "shy" British Crown Branch and the British Crown members of his family and ninth month Act 1883, as substituted by Forces personnel attending the Forces in briefings to the media members of the public were Section 4 of the Criminal Law hearing. Act of 1976. to an incident in Belfast city refused entry to what was an A baby girl for Roisin 1981 hunger-strikers ROISIN McAliskey was Finally given leave by a vindictive British system to enter hospital on Friday, May 23. She was released on conditional honoured in New York bail to Whittington Hospital, North London, IN A message to the Cumann na Saoirse (Irish where the staff reported that she was in a severely Freedom Committee) rally held outside the weakened condition, due to asthma attacks in a British Consulate, New York on May 3 to mark Victorian dungeon-like cell in Holloway prison, the 16th anniversary of the 1981 Hunger Strike, London. Republican Sinn Fein sent solidarity greetings to On Monday, May 26 she gave buth to a baby gili weighing those gathered to honour the H-BIock hunger SIba 1302 and mothei and baby arc reported to be doing well.