22 October 1998 Edition
Back issue: We will not be silenced
The British have announced their latest solution to their ``Irish problem'' - South African-style censorship. From now on, members and supporters of Sinn Fein are banned from appearing on British television or radio. In one afternoon 100,000 people (over 40% of the north's nationalist voters) have been gagged.
The measures are not designed to defeat the IRA - Thatcher's generals have already admitted that the IRA is unbeatable - but to deny the facts to their own people. The British government is seriously alarmed at the growing demand from within its own electorate to get out of Ireland. It cannot cope with our arguments.
The announcement means that those democratically elected to office cannot articulate the views of their constituents. And it again shows up the British government's contempt for democracy.
Section 31 has been in operation in the 26 counties for over 15 years. Far from bringing about understanding, it has merely prolonged the suffering of Irish people in this long war.
But the existence of Section 31 has long been a source of satisfaction to the British government and was a significant factor in its introduction of its own censorship.
This latest repressive measure is intended to stifle any but the British government's version of events. At a press conference in Belfast on Wednesday morning, just hours before the introduction of the ban, Sinn Fein President and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams said:
``This draconian measure is not an attack on the IRA or the ability of the IRA to operate. It is a direct attack on Sinn Fein because Sinn Fein's views are unacceptable to the British government, and because we reject British claims of sovereignty over the six counties and articulate the demand for national self-determination''.
He also said that Sinn Fein would not take the censorship lying down but would immediately set about alternative means of getting our message across.
The measures are not designed to defeat the IRA - Thatcher's generals have already admitted that the IRA is unbeatable - but to deny the facts to their own people. The British government is seriously alarmed at the growing demand from within its own electorate to get out of Ireland. It cannot cope with our arguments.
The announcement means that those democratically elected to office cannot articulate the views of their constituents. And it again shows up the British government's contempt for democracy.
Section 31 has been in operation in the 26 counties for over 15 years. Far from bringing about understanding, it has merely prolonged the suffering of Irish people in this long war.
But the existence of Section 31 has long been a source of satisfaction to the British government and was a significant factor in its introduction of its own censorship.
This latest repressive measure is intended to stifle any but the British government's version of events. At a press conference in Belfast on Wednesday morning, just hours before the introduction of the ban, Sinn Fein President and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams said:
``This draconian measure is not an attack on the IRA or the ability of the IRA to operate. It is a direct attack on Sinn Fein because Sinn Fein's views are unacceptable to the British government, and because we reject British claims of sovereignty over the six counties and articulate the demand for national self-determination''.
He also said that Sinn Fein would not take the censorship lying down but would immediately set about alternative means of getting our message across.