VOTE ‘NO’ to Lisbon Two!

The claim from those demanding that we now vote ‘YES’ to the Lisbon Two Treaty that they “have now secured a Commissioner in Brussels to look after our interests” is a false claim : under EU law , it is actually illegal for a Commissioner from any member State to seek to “look after” the interests of that particular State !
Likewise , the claim from the ‘YES’ side that they have obtained ” protocols and guarantees” from Brussels (ie a “new/changed” Lisbon Treaty) is also false : before any such “new/changed” Lisbon Treaty can legally come into operation ,it would have to be approved by all 27 member States , not just by this State.

What the ‘YES’ side is attempting to sell is a bright , well-paid and very-well-pensioned political career for themselves in Brussels - we are witnessing from them, in effect , predictions from the same people that never saw things coming on what’s going to happen next ! VOTE ‘NO!’ in October 2009 on ‘Lisbon Two’ - we don’t owe them a cushy career . We don’t owe them anything!

“Ní hea, No, Nein, Non, Nyet, Nope, Not, No Means No …”
What part of that don’t they understand ?

On Thursday , 12th June 2008 , a vote was held in this State on the Lisbon Constitution/Treaty : for months beforehand we were repeatedly told by the political ‘establishment’ in Leinster House that that what we were being asked to vote on was “non-negotiable” , that we had to vote on it as it then stood , that it was legally impossible to have anything removed from it or inserted into it. Now that same political ‘establishment’ are asking us to believe that not only was it possible to change that Treaty , but that they had managed to do so to the “benefit” of this State’s position within the EU !

However - Czech prime minister Jan Fischer, who chaired a meeting on the supposed ‘new Irish Lisbon Treaty’ (as his country presently holds the EU presidency) was questioned (on Friday 19th June 2009) on these ‘Irish changes’ and dismissed them as nothing of the sort : “The protocol (”changes”) will clarify but not change either the content or the application of the treaty of Lisbon. It is an explanatory clarifying text which changes not a dot nor comma of the Lisbon Treaty.”
What has actually been ‘achieved’ by those idiots in Leinster House is a promise (”guarantee”) from the bigger political fatcats in Brussels that , at some time in the future, they might look at making a few amendments to the way the Lisbon Two Treaty affects this State! And Brian Cowan and his equally useless cabal of semi-political misfits were never going to get “changes to the Lisbon Treaty” due to the fact that Poland , Holland , Austria , Sweden and Britain used their combined ‘weight’ to ‘lean’ on Brussels , stating that if the Irish were to be offered a new Treaty then they , too , would expect the same offer to be made to them - so a compromise was agreed : Brussels would allow Cowan to claim that a “new Treaty” for the Irish was on offer but , at the same time , made it clear to Cowan that what they were offering was a promise that , if passed this time, they would perhaps - at some future date - take a look at the manner in which the Treaty affected this State. And please have no doubt that that is all that is on offer here - a promise from corrupt millionaire politicians in Brussels that they will , someday , give a curious glance over their well-padded shoulder at the way their tax laws are effecting finances in this State.

Don’t be fooled by them - VOTE NO TO LISBON 2 in October 2009 .

“The meeting and dinner heard how Ireland’s “intellectual mediocrity and lack of political courage” led to the rejection of the Lisbon treaty and included discussions of how to “cuddle and pamper” the Irish voter ahead of a new vote while at the same time “making pressures on them”.
(From here.)

This video gives an apt description of the type of morally and politically corrupt politician and system that are now demanding we vote ‘the right way’ on the already failed Lisbon Treaty. And this video shows what those bent career politicians stand to loose if we don’t vote the way they want us to . As Republican Sinn Féin have stated - “The decision to re-run the referendum on the rejected Lisbon Treaty in the 26-Counties next October represents an attempt to subvert the sovereign will of the people.All kinds of pressure is being applied to those allowed to vote to ensure that they arrive at the result Brian Cowen and the EU ‘élite’ demand…..”
(From here.)
Once again, this blog will be campaigning for a ‘NO’ vote on the Lisbon Treaty , for the same reasons : the “guarantees” which Brian Cowen has received have been given to him by similar unprincipled characters and , even if they were to be written in blood , would still be worthless . VOTE ‘NO!’ and help keep the lifts and corridors of the EU building free of more political rats , who scurry around trying to find the ‘Sign In’ book before they head back home to the political brothels they come from .
Sharon.

Not ‘Terrorist Sympathisers’ or ‘Dissidents’ , but “Protesters” !

The above picture is from the British ‘Sunday Times’ newspaper , issue dated June 21st , 2009 , and it was used to accompany an article on the on-going political unrest in Iran. The caption on the photograph reads - “Protesters set fires in Tehran yesterday, where a young woman, inset, was filmed dying of gunshot wounds. Far left, a battered and bruised masked man.”
When that same newspaper covers stories of political unrest in Ireland in which Irish Republicans are involved , it ’slants’ the story and any photographs to suit its own political agenda : an article like the above would be titled something along the lines of ‘CLASHES : LAST THROW OF THE DISSIDENTS’ and a photograph like the above would be captioned - ‘Terrorist sympathisers riot and loot yesterday in Belfast/Dublin/Derry/Kerry etc as a female dissident lies dying , having been injured by her own side . Far left ,a Republican thug got more than he bargained for when he failed to make good his escape , having attacked the security forces’.
The ‘Sunday Times’ article goes on to highlight how the authorities in Iran are manipulating and ’spinning’ reportage of the unrest , and how they are censoring and attempting to censor the output from journalists covering the story. Pot , kettle = sickening hypocrisy from that particular source.
As Oscar Wilde stated - “There is much to be said in favour of modern journalism . By giving us the opinion of the uneducated , it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.”
In the case of this and other articles in the ‘Sunday Times’ , the printed opinion of the journalists in question keeps us in touch with “the ignorance” (’attempted spin’) of the”community” they work for - the political ‘establishment’ .
Sharon.

THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY.
Twenty-six men were convicted on the word of Harry Kirkpatrick. On their appeal against those convictions could well rest the future of the ‘Anglo-Irish Agreement’
(’The Hillsborough Treaty’) . Based on a full transcript of the Kirkpatrick trials , the story of how these convictions were obtained shows why the ‘Supergrass System’ is a pale shadow of justice.
By Derek Dunne. From ‘MAGILL’ magazine, February 1986.

Life in the annex of Crumlin Road Prison wasn’t too bad for Henry ‘Harry’ Kirkpatrick . It was here that he was serving five life sentences for murder and over seventy other offences. There was a black and white television and a record player in the room and , just down the hallway from his room , there was a colour television set which he could avail of . And he had a guitar , which he played when he sang a song he had composed about ‘Supergrasses’ . He had company in that high security annex - on and off nine or ten ‘grasses’ had spent time there .

Just now , William ‘Budgie’ Allen and James Crockard (see piece dated ‘Thu 21st Feb 1985′) were there , two loyalist ’supergrasses’ . The food wasn’t too bad either , as the annex had it’s own kitchen , separate from the main jail , as the inmates were afraid that they would be poisoned otherwise.

For almost two years , Henry ‘Harry’ Kirkpatrick had ‘lived’ there . The only times he had been out was when he had gone to Castlereagh Interrogation Centre to make statements , or to court . Between the time the ‘trial’ of the twenty-seven men he named had started and Kirkpatrick took the ‘witness’ stand , British Crown counsel had spent over forty hours with him in Castlereagh over a perion of seven days . An adjournment was sought and granted to him on the basis of ‘ill health’ . When he got on the stand , it was the first time the defence knew that he had all those ‘visits’…….
(MORE LATER).

THE HOWARD MARKS AFFAIR.
Customs Officers in England have arrested a man who could blow the lid off an embarrassing British Intelligence operation against the Provisional IRA , when he answers drug smuggling charges in London later this year.
From ‘MAGILL’ magazine, July 1980.
By James Curtis.

Customs Officers in England have arrested a man who could blow the lid off an embarrassing British Intelligence operation against the Provisional IRA , when he answers drug smuggling charges in London later this year .

The man is Howard Marks, 34, an Oxford University graduate and a former agent of MI6 , Britain’s external intelligence gathering department . He is also a former associate of the ‘Irish Pimpernel’ , James McCann.

Howard Marks was picked up in the bar of a quiet country hotel in Lavenham , Suffolk , in England , on Friday May 16th 1980 , during a series of customs raids in Britain which netted cannabis allegedly worth £10 million on the street market . During the swoop , a 50 ft yacht , ‘The Bagherra’, was detained and searched at Oban in Scotland ; four tons of cannabis were found at a farm building near Fort William , in Scotland , two tons of cannabis were impounded at a house in Kettering in Northampshire and a further four tons were seized at a farmhouse near Basildon in Essex . Customs investigators describe the drugs as a record haul and pulled in twelve people for questioning , seven of whom , including Howard Marks , were charged with dealing and conspiracy to smuggle drugs…….
(MORE LATER).

A BATTLE FOR HEARTS AND MINDS…….
A look at issues raised by Liz Curtis’ recent book.
From ‘IRIS’ magazine, August 1984.
Review by Trisha Fox.

Liz Curtis , a member of the ‘Information On Ireland’ group , sees it as essential that people like herself are not only engaged in writing academic books , but work on all fronts of the cultural struggle to challenge the British propaganda machine . The ‘Information On Ireland’ group has been involved in producing booklets on the British media , plastic bullets and arguing for a British withdrawal .

Recently the group took part in an event organised by the GLC’s media working group as part of the London ‘ Anti-Racist Year’ campaign - they spoke at a conference entitled ‘British Media and British Imperialism’ , which was addressed by two members of Belfast Sinn Féin as well as by speakers from black , third world and anti-imperialist organisations , and the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom . At present , ‘Information On Ireland’ is producing a short book on anti-Irish racism in Britain…….
(MORE LATER).

STREET ATTACK BY POLITICAL POLICE .

Injury sustained by RSF member after attack by members of the political police.

On Saturday , June 13th 2009 , members and supporters of Republican Sinn Féin in Lucan , County Dublin , were replacing posters for the 2009 Bodenstown/Wolfe Tone Commemoration in Sallins , County Kildare , which was due to be held the following day , Sunday 14th June 2009 . Whilst those Republicans were going about their business , a car containing three members of the State political police - the ‘Special Branch’ - pulled up and two men got out of the car and approached a relatively new member of RSF . They asked this young man what he was doing , told him who they were and demanded his name and address , which he gave them. They then attempted to question him further on his personal details , to which he replied , again, with his name and address . The ‘Special Branch’ agents turned aggressive and threatened the young man with arrest if he did not comply . He repeated his name and address and was then made to ’spread his arms on the car and stand with legs apart’ whilst the State representatives searched him in a rough manner.
One of the members of the political police grabbed the young mans mobile ‘phone from his pocket and when he attempted to retrieve it he was attacked by them on the side of the street - the photograph , above , shows the worst injury he received in this attack.
This unprovoked and vicious assault , which would have left an older , less healthy victim in hospital , was roundly condemned by local Republicans who have noted a marked increase in the level of harassment by those State thugs . We have been asked to record that attack and are glad to do so , and we are happy to acknowledge that the young man , the victim, intends to continue his work for Republican Sinn Féin and will not be cowed by this State sponsored intimidation.
Sharon.

VOTE ‘NO’ to Lisbon Two!

“Ní hea, No, Nein, Non, Nyet, Nope, Not, No Means No …”
What part of that don’t they understand ?

On Thursday , 12th June 2008 , a vote was held in this State on the Lisbon Constitution/Treaty : for months beforehand we were repeatedly told by the political ‘establishment’ in Leinster House that that what we were being asked to vote on was “non-negotiable” , that we had to vote on it as it then stood , that it was legally impossible to have anything removed from it or inserted into it. Now that same political ‘establishment’ are asking us to believe that not only was it possible to change that Treaty , but that they had managed to do so to the “benefit” of this State’s position within the EU !

However - Czech prime minister Jan Fischer, who chaired a meeting on the supposed ‘new Irish Lisbon Treaty’ (as his country presently holds the EU presidency) was questioned (on Friday 19th June 2009) on these ‘Irish changes’ and dismissed them as nothing of the sort : “The protocol (”changes”) will clarify but not change either the content or the application of the treaty of Lisbon. It is an explanatory clarifying text which changes not a dot nor comma of the Lisbon Treaty.”
What has actually been ‘achieved’ by those idiots in Leinster House is a promise (”guarantee”) from the bigger political fatcats in Brussels that , at some time in the future, they might look at making a few amendments to the way the Lisbon Two Treaty affects this State! And Brian Cowan and his equally useless cabal of semi-political misfits were never going to get “changes to the Lisbon Treaty” due to the fact that Poland , Holland , Austria , Sweden and Britain used their combined ‘weight’ to ‘lean’ on Brussels , stating that if the Irish were to be offered a new Treaty then they , too , would expect the same offer to be made to them - so a compromise was agreed : Brussels would allow Cowan to claim that a “new Treaty” for the Irish was on offer but , at the same time , made it clear to Cowan that what they were offering was a promise that , if passed this time, they would perhaps - at some future date - take a look at the manner in which the Treaty affected this State. And please have no doubt that that is all that is on offer here - a promise from corrupt millionaire politicians in Brussels that they will , someday , give a curious glance over their well-padded shoulder at the way their tax laws are effecting finances in this State.

Don’t be fooled by them - VOTE NO TO LISBON 2 in October 2009 .

“The meeting and dinner heard how Ireland’s “intellectual mediocrity and lack of political courage” led to the rejection of the Lisbon treaty and included discussions of how to “cuddle and pamper” the Irish voter ahead of a new vote while at the same time “making pressures on them”.
(From here.)

This video gives an apt description of the type of morally and politically corrupt politician and system that are now demanding we vote ‘the right way’ on the already failed Lisbon Treaty. And this video shows what those bent career politicians stand to loose if we don’t vote the way they want us to . As Republican Sinn Féin have stated - “The decision to re-run the referendum on the rejected Lisbon Treaty in the 26-Counties next October represents an attempt to subvert the sovereign will of the people.All kinds of pressure is being applied to those allowed to vote to ensure that they arrive at the result Brian Cowen and the EU ‘élite’ demand…..”
(From here.)
Once again, this blog will be campaigning for a ‘NO’ vote on the Lisbon Treaty , for the same reasons : the “guarantees” which Brian Cowen has received have been given to him by similar unprincipled characters and , even if they were to be written in blood , would still be worthless . VOTE ‘NO!’ and help keep the lifts and corridors of the EU building free of more political rats , who scurry around trying to find the ‘Sign In’ book before they head back home to the political brothels they come from .
Sharon.

DUBLIN 1980 : THE GLUE SNIFFERS…….
Pictures by Andrew McGlynn. From ‘MAGILL’ magazine September 1980.

Two cultures overlapping in the one space , getting in each other’s way sometimes . We have the hospitals , the machines , the learning and the money . And the petitions , the men in uniforms and robes and the buildings with bars and barbed wire.
Muscles flex , people get hurt . Some of the kids suck a ’solution’ from the bottom of a plastic bag.
[END of ‘DUBLIN 1980 : THE GLUE SNIFFERS’]
(Next - ‘THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY’ , from 1986.)

HOPE IN THE SHADOWS…….
For some Northern nationalists the Anglo-Irish Agreement (’Hillsborough Treaty’,1985) only makes their lives more dangerous , for others it offers hope on a road to nowhere. Fionnuala O’Connor visited a (Provisional) Sinn Fein advice centre in the Ardoyne and Seamus Mallon’s office in Newry.
From ‘MAGILL’ magazine, December 1986.

The British Labour Party’s ‘roll of shame’ was recited dolefully - Harold Wilson, Merlyn Rees, Michael Foot and the awful Roy Mason. Tom Kelly , Seamus Mallon’s young personal assistant , saved a gloomy moment - ” A hung parliament in Westminster with the Unionists holding the balance and (P) Sinn Féin holding the ring in Dublin . The worst possible picture , right ? But politics is the art of the possible. “
That won a smile from the old hands.
[END of ‘HOPE IN THE SHADOWS’]
(Next - ‘THE HOWARD MARKS AFFAIR’ , from 1980.)

A BATTLE FOR HEARTS AND MINDS…….
A look at issues raised by Liz Curtis’ recent book.
From ‘IRIS’ magazine, August 1984.
Review by Trisha Fox.

Just occasionally , a programme slips through that portrays oddly favourable points of view in some respects , though they might not be the primary intent of the programme maker .

A Programme in the ‘Real Lives’ series entitled ‘A’ Company , directed by Paul Hamann, showed a group of ex-British soldiers revisiting Belfast ten years after their first tour of duty . While the programme was primarily a propaganda exercise for the Brits , insofar as it portrayed relatively ‘liberal’ and informed ex-soldiers who stoutly maintained that their role had been that of ‘peace-keepers’ between sectarian factions , there did emerge several images favourable to Irish republicans .

The most memorable of these occurs after British Army Colonel David Hancock (see ‘The Military Wing Of Unionism’, here) is seen visiting a community leader , Frank Cahill, in Ballymurphy , whom he had first met while stationed in the area years earlier . Later , summing up his overall impressions , Hancock refers to his meeting with Frank Cahill : ” The thing I shall remember is the dedication of the republican we saw this afternoon . No wavering after fifteen years of conflict on the streets . The same aims , same intentions , same dedication . It is foolish to plan a solution without taking a factor like that into consideration. ”
(MORE LATER).

WOLFE TONE COMMEMORATION 2009 : brief report and a few photographs.

Between eight hundred and one thousand Irish Republicans gathered , as we do each year , in Sallins Village on Sunday June 14th last and marched in a well-organised fashion to the grave of Wolfe Tone , in Bodenstown Graveyard . The procession was led by uniformed members of Cumann na mBan , Na Fianna Eireann and an RSF Colour Party , and was very well received along the route by locals. The Thomas Davis Pipe Band from Cork , an extremely well-turned out and professional group , marched to and from the graveyard, never once missing a beat or a note as they done so. The proceedings were professionaly Chaired by Dan Hoban, Mayo, Peig Galligan (a walking encyclopedia of Irish Republicanism!) delivered a very fitting and respectful talk on the history of Wolfe Tone and those who supported the man and his objectives and Fermanagh Republican John Joe McCusker delivered a rousing oration , which was received with loud cheers by the large crowd gathered around the graveyard.
There was , as usual , a great ‘buzz’ and atmosphere about the whole day - even the harassment doled out by the nine members of the State political police couldn’t ruin the day , try as they might. Their repeated interruptions were brushed aside and ignored by the large crowd , members of whom openly sneered at them and pushed back when attempts were made by these cretins to detain them. Overall , the whole event went as planned and was an honourable tribute to one of our Founding Fathers - Republican Sinn Féin are to be congratulated for organising this Commemoration , as are those who made the effort to attend. Well done to us all!
We publish with this brief report a couple of photo’s from the day , and a link to where more of the same can be viewed -

Members of Cumann na mBan and Na Fianna Éireann in Bodenstown , 14th June 2009.

John Joe McCuskar , Fermanagh , delivering the main oration , Bodenstown 2009.

A full report and more pics will be published in the July 2009 issue of ‘SAOIRSE’ , which will be published on Wednesday the 8th of that month : meanwhile , more pics can be viewed here.
Thanks!
Sharon.

In Bodenstown Graveyard…

Annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration, Sallins, Co.Kildare, 2.00pm,Sunday June 14, 2009.

The annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration will be held this year on Sunday 14 June (2009). The Dublin bus will leave from Aston Quay (ex-McBirneys/Virgin Megastore) at 12.45pm , and will be returning from Sallins to Dublin at 6.00pm . Price per seat €10, or nearest donation.

“In Bodenstown churchyard there lies a green grave
And wildly around it the winter winds rave
Small shelter is weaned from the cruel walls there
When the storm clouds blow down on the plains of Kildare

In Bodenstown churchyard there lies a green grave
And wildly around it let the winter winds rave
Far better it suits him the wind and the gloom
Until Ireland a nation might build him a tomb.”
(From here.)
Thanks - we hope to see some of our readers there tomorrow, Sunday 14th June !

” To break the connection with England….”

Sharon.

DUBLIN 1980 : THE GLUE SNIFFERS…….
Pictures by Andrew McGlynn. From ‘MAGILL’ magazine September 1980.

The Dublin Committee For Travelling People got the lease for the house from a Catholic bishop , a fact that ironically comes in handy when neighbours petition to close the place down . The Health Board helps but there are bureaucratic foul-ups with Dublin Corporation and there’s never enough money .

Committee members are teaching the children some basic skills like painting , carpentry and domestic science and the kids help to improve the house and get paid for their efforts , sometimes with food instead of money . The idea is not to adjust them to a settled lifestyle but to give them skills which they can use in the travelling life . These children are proud , and loyal to their own codes . It is best to approach them as equals or not at all .
(MORE LATER).

HOPE IN THE SHADOWS…….
For some Northern nationalists the Anglo-Irish Agreement (’Hillsborough Treaty’,1985) only makes their lives more dangerous , for others it offers hope on a road to nowhere. Fionnuala O’Connor visited a (Provisional) Sinn Fein advice centre in the Ardoyne and Seamus Mallon’s office in Newry.
From ‘MAGILL’ magazine, December 1986.

In the meantime , however , both men thought that people would ‘vote for hope’ . Somehow that brought us to elections , and British Labour’s talks that very day with the Unionist leaders . Confidence wavered .

The record hung in the air : power-sharing betrayed , Westminster seats bartered , battle to the death begun with the Provos over the end of political prisoner status.
(MORE LATER).

A BATTLE FOR HEARTS AND MINDS…….
A look at issues raised by Liz Curtis’ recent book.
From ‘IRIS’ magazine, August 1984.
Review by Trisha Fox.

The film uses clips from earlier films of bombs , shootings and funerals , and overlays them with soundtracks from other footage , producing a totally distorted perception of Republicanism and a malicious profile of Gerry Adams.

Leading Workers Party spokespersons (whose political affiliations are not revealed on the programme) are allowed free rein to malign Adams , while being portrayed themselves as ‘balanced commentators’ . Seamus Lynch recounts - unchallenged - a fictitious conversation he alleges he had with Adams in which the latter claimed he was “prepared to wade knee-deep in Protestant blood ” .

Elsewhere in the programme , a photograph is shown of a solitary standing hut in the Long Kesh Cages after the camp burning in 1974 . The programme alleges that Adams had refused to burn* the cage of which he was Officer Commanding , lacking the courage to do so . However , Adams was not Officer Commanding of his Cage at that time and claims he did take part in the burning of the camp . And it should be noted that the hut shown in the TV programme , for illustration purpose , was occupied by loyalist prisoners , not republicans.

(’1169…’ Comment : * According to verbal accounts given by some of those who shared prison time with Adams , he was tasked by the Screws with keeping the cage he was in , Cage 11 , clean , and carried out clean-up duties on a regular basis . This despite the fact that republican POW’s were under orders not to take instructions from the Screws - Adams was said to be the only republican prisoner that was on friendly terms with the prison authorities. Also , it has been stated that Adams repeatedly stated “this is wrong” , when told that the Cages were on fire.)
(MORE LATER).

Annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration,Sallins,Co.Kildare, 2.00pm,Sunday June 14, 2009.

The annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration will be held this year on Sunday 14 June (2009). The Dublin bus will leave from Aston Quay (ex-McBirneys/Virgin Megastore) at 12.45pm , and will be returning from Sallins to Dublin at 6.00pm . Price per seat €10, or nearest donation.

“In Bodenstown churchyard there lies a green grave
And wildly around it the winter winds rave
Small shelter is weaned from the cruel walls there
When the storm clouds blow down on the plains of Kildare

In Bodenstown churchyard there lies a green grave
And wildly around it let the winter winds rave
Far better it suits him the wind and the gloom
Until Ireland a nation might build him a tomb.”
(From here.)
Thanks - we hope to see some of our readers there on Sunday 14th June next!
Sharon.