Charlie's fiscal farce

A Chara,


Charlie McCreevy described his term as Minister for Finance as that of a great writer completing his first work. May I suggest that anyone on a low income who wishes to find the story of this government in the local library, following the launch of Budget 2002, might be advised to look in the section entitled 'non-fiction horror'.


Is mise,

Cllr. Matt Carthy,
Carrickmacross UDC.

Points scoring on abortion

A Chara,


I feel that it is disappointing that certain political parties and politicians seem very willing to seek to score political points regarding the forthcoming referendum on abortion. The referendum must be seen for what it is: an honest attempt by the Government to grapple with this delicate issue.

One the one hand it seeks to vindicate the rights of the pre-born child so far as the 'X Case' adversely affected them, while at the same time guaranteeing that pregnant mothers will receive all necessary medical treatment, even where such treatment indirectly results in the death of her unborn child.

The alternative to these proposals is abortion effectively on demand up to birth in line with the ' X Case', something I believe no right thinking person could support.


Máirtín Ó Maolruaidh, Tuam Road, Galway.

Anger at slow pace of demilitarisation

A Chara,


On Sunday 9 December Ógra Shinn Féin, in conjuction with the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee, held a number of demilitarisation protests at military instillations at Creevekeeran, Drummakavill and Crossmaglen in South Armagh.

The protests turned into a violent confrontation, due to the aggressive, provacative behaviour of members of the RUC and British Army. At Crossmaglen barracks several plastic bullets were fired with two protesters being struck, onle minutes after we arrived.

What the protest highlighted was the great anger felt by young Irish people, generally, and young republicans in particular at the lack of progress on demilitarisation by the British government.

This anger has been further heightened in the context of the recent historic move on weapons by the Irish Republican Army, and the failure to grasp the opportunity it provides.

Instead of reacting to this move in a generous manner, as promised by John Reid, and in keeping with the undertakings it has given, the British government is again being guided by the secureocrats within its military, in a cosmetic and peicemeal fashion. The partial removal of four bases, from a total of 223, is both insulting and unnacceptable.

Ógra Shinn Féin will continue its campaignon on the demilitarisation issue, until all British military instillations are removed from Irish soil.


Is mise,


Paul Walsh,
PRO,
Ógra Shinn Féin Átha Cliath.

Irish Political Prisoners of War Addresses

If you would like to send a republican POW a message of support, or just a simple Christmas card, you can contact them at the following addresses.


POWs

Conor Claxton - FCI Allenwood - Prison No. 55002-004
Martin Mullan - FCI Fort Dix - Prison No. 53182-066
Anthony Smyth - FCI Miami - Prison No. 55003-004
Martin Corden - Magilligan
Dónal Fennelly - Castlerea
Gerard McFadden - Castlerea
Ken Fitzgerald - Castlerea
Pearse McCauley - Castlerea
Michael O'Neill - Castlerea
John Quinn - Castlerea
Jeremiah Sheehy - Castlerea
Kevin Walsh - Castlerea


Prison Addresses


H.M Prison Magilligan,
Magilligan Point,
Co. Derry,
Ireland.


Castlerea Prison,
County Roscommon,
Ireland.


F.C.I. Allenwood,
P.O. Box 1000,
White Deer,
PA 17887.
U.S.A.


H.M. Prison Miami,
P.O. Box 779800,
Miami,
FL 33177.
U.S.A.


H.M. Prison Fort Dix,
P.O. Box 2000 East,
Unit Z02B,
Fort Dix,
NJ 08640,
U.S.A.