Sacred Heart University DigitalCommons@SHU American Irish Newsletter The rI ish American Community Collections 6-1991 American Irish Newsletter - June 1991 American Ireland Education Foundation - PEC Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/irish_ainews Part of the European Languages and Societies Commons, Other American Studies Commons, and the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation American Ireland Education Foundation - PEC, "American Irish Newsletter - June 1991" (1991). American Irish Newsletter. Paper 127. http://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/irish_ainews/127 This Newsletter is brought to you for free and open access by the The rI ish American Community Collections at DigitalCommons@SHU. It has been accepted for inclusion in American Irish Newsletter by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@SHU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AMERICAN IRISH NEWSLEHER AMERICAN Irish Political Education Committee_______________________________________ Volume 16, Number 6 June 1991 POLITICAL VETTING NEWS BITS by Kathy Regan IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND by Sandy Carlson in Ireland Anti-apartheid campaigner Archbishop Desmond Tutu warned in Dublin last night against excluding any group from the The Cork, Ireland, Between organization claims it is the victim Brooke talks. The archbishop, preaching at Christchurch of British-instigated Irish-goverment political vetting. Cathedral near the end of a 10-day visit to Ireland, said in Between has provided holidays for Northern Irish women and apparent reference to Sirm Fein, that people could “kiss goo­ children—both loyalist and nationalist-for the past 20 years. dbye to peace” if any group were left out. (The Cork Examiner Throughout this time. Between has made pronouncements on 4/15/91)_re the Royal Commission to investigate the case of behalf of Irish civihans brutalized by British security forces. Its the Birmingham Sbc: “The galling thing for the judiciary is not June 1989 publication highlighting such abuses, “Cry from the that they] ailed the wrong men, but that the cat was let out of the Heart”, was the impetus of the Dublin’s vetting campaign. The bag. The important thing for them now is not to ensure that leaflet’s 4 stories concern iimocent civilians brutalized by the there is no repeat of such travesties, but to ensure that their British army. Between beUeves the vetting campaign emanated tarnished reputation is restored...If the case of the Birmingham from British sources because the abuses documented were Six is not a watertight argument against extradition, then what British government abuses. is?” (Andersontown News 3/23/91)....A Dublin based peace During his 1990 visit to the U.S., Between’s secretary learned and justice group. Northern Witness, composed of several that the “Irish Government was very displeased” over the docu­ religious congregations demonstrated outside the British Em­ ment. He also learned that when representatives of the Inter­ bassy in Dublin to mark the release of the Birmingham Sbc and national Fund for Ireland (IFI) went to Brussels for EC funding to call for renewed pressure to be placed on the British in early 1990, a senior British official produced the document as authorities to consider other potential “prison victims” includ­ reason for rejecting Between'x grant application. ing the Armagh Four and the Casement Accused. (Anderson- A series of events which began in 1990 support Between’s stown News 3/23/91) belief that the Dublin government comphes with British-gov- A St. Patrick’s Day parade from the [Belfast] City Hall to ernment vetting. One such event was the Britain-based Lawlor Casement Park was banned by the RUC because no parade Foundation’s advising Between that it had been approached by could start from the City Hall although the Boys Brigade will do outside sources which alleged Between was engaged in “politi­ so later this month. Additionally, a Women’s Day marcih was cal” activities and was therefore inehgible for funds. banned because it was fronted by a banner with the words The IFT, which had been “sympathetically considering” Be­ “International Women’s Day” in Irish. The RUC said the tween’s appUcation for 3 1 /2 years, rejected the apphcation in banner was “offensive and likely to lead to a breach of the May 1990 for no clearly stated reason. peace”. (Andersonstown News 3/16/91). Aren’t the huge Orange In August 1990, the Irish Department of Foreign Affars cut by parades which regularly go through the city center also offen­ half Between’s 20,000 pound grant, after it had assured the sec­ sive? The problem is that they are offensive to the “wrong retary that the full amoimt would be forthcoming. people”....Despite the fact that over 92% of the RUC officers Then, on 21 December 1990, the EC Commission withdrew are from the Protestant community, the majority probably its funding on the grounds that, after examining the document, don’t care whether or not nationalists march to Belfast City “some doubts have been raised within the Commission regard­ Hall...However, upholding the unwritten edict that nationalists ing the impartiaUty of your organisation.” This, in spite of the don’t demonstrate below the hallowed dome of City Hall is part fact that three times in 1990 Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs of their role. (Andersonstown News, 3/16/91)....On April 23, Gerard Collins assured Between, in the context of this docu­ more than 50 members of the various organizations working ment, that “representations you have made about the behavior for peace and justice in Northern Ireland travelled to Washing­ of the security forces in Northern Ireland have no bearing ton, DC to lobby Congressional support for the Joe Doherty whatsoever on the grant allocation to Between.” Amicus Brief drafted by Congressman Tom Manton and Sena­ Between foresaw the obstruction they would face in official tor Christopher Dodd. Participants visited the offices of every response to its protests against British security forces’ abuses member of the US Senate and House. This successful lobbying against innocent Irish civilians. However, not until the organi­ effort was organized by Patricia James, PEC Washington, DC zation received the EC Commission’s letter stating that the representative....The Irish Hunger Strike commemoration document was the cause of funding withdrawal did it begin to activities, the Cruise, Mass, Procession and Rally, which took address the issue of the Irish government’s political vetting. place on May 4-5, were a major success. The World Yacth Since early February, Between has invested all its time in pub­ cruise drew a capacity crowd of almost 1700 people. (AIN-PEC licizing their case. 3/8/91)....The Ulster Unionist Party has issued a statement All members are asked to support Between in it’s work to that its aim in the upcoming talks will be to dilute those aspects provide vacations for hard-pressed nationalist and loyalist of the Anglo-Irish Agreement which gives Dublin a say in the women and children by writing a letter in support of Between. international affairs of Northern Ireland. (Irish Post, 4/20/91) Turn to Action Request # i on page 6. Page 2 American Irish Newsletter - June 1991 FROM THE EDITOR The American Irish PEC The solution to the civil and human rights struggle in Northern Ireland is simple enough, but it will require honesty and courage founded 1975 on the part o f the British government. National President....................................................John J. Finucane The British government must accept the fact that Northern \^ce-President.................................................................Albert Doyle Treasurer................................................................Loretta Fitzgibbons Ireland is not a democracy. It is an illegally held colony Ftecording ^ c re ta ry .....................................................Kathy Regan pardoned in 1920from the rest o f Ireland against the wishes of Rnancial Secretary.......................................................Tom Sheridan 80% (eigfity percent) o f all Ireland’s citizens. This is the root cause of all the “troubles”. Britain must take immediate steps to American Irish Newsletter insure that Northern Ireland quickly becomes a democracy. Editor............John J. Finucane The current talks in Northern Ireland offer the British govern­ Assistant Editors Sandy Carlson.......Albert Doyle ment the best opportunity they will ever have for an honorable Stephanie Rnucane...........Kathy Regan solution. If the Loyalists power-brokers say “no” to total equality National Headquarters; Malloy Building for their Nationalist fellow countrymen, which we believe will Stony Point, N.Y. 10980, (914) 947-2726 happen (we hope we are wrong), Britain will have every right to wash its hands o f the whole situation and declare its intent to WESTERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR: Dr. Roger Me Grath,1311 Rancho Lane,Thousand Oaks, CALIFORNIA 91362-(805) 497-6407. withdraw. People o f good-will world-wide will support Britain in such a move. Futhermore, such an honorable decison would not STATE DIFIECTORS: Jack O’Brien, 11109 Belton Street, Upper Marlboro, MARYLAND 20772-(M1)336-5167; Leah Curtin, Hlibernian Ufe, 790 be seen as a victory for the IRA. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 221, St. Paul, MINNESOTA 55116-(612)690- If this is the case Britain must make it unmistakably clear to all 3888; Kathy Regan, 3045 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NEW YORK 10468- concerned that it will withdraw. Both the Loyalist and Nation­ (212) 365-0213; Kevin Mulligan, 21 Miami Street, Nashua, NEW HAMP­ SHIRE 03060-(603) 883-4777; Frank O’Day, 21 Pierce Lane, Madison, alist communities, the Irish government and the churches of CONNECTICUT06443-(203)245-4739; Kevin P. Murphy, P.O. Box 8895, Ireland will then have to deal with a reality - a United Ireland. J.F. Kennedy Station, Boston, MASSACHUSETTS 02114-(617)284-0723; They will be forced to work together for the betterment of all the Bob West, 683Walnut Fload, Wauconda, IILLINOIS60084-(708)526-6520; Terry Deem Reilly, 1123 Clarkson, Denver, COLORADO 80218-(303)837- people of Ireland.