Letters

Mála Poist

Open letter to Rossport 5

A Chara,

The Woodland League would like to salute and acknowledge the integrity, bravery and commitment of the Rossport 5. At a time when so many Irish people are compromised or have sold out on their communities. At a time where corruption is considered normal and where wealth is given precedence over health and human beings are reduced to simple economic values as consumers. Where economists are elevated to high status in the spiritual vacuum that is Ireland and the Irish economy.

The sacrifice and subsequent release of the Rossport 5 draws a line in the sand which challenges the rot in Irish life and inspires the multitude of other communities under siege by big business, aided and abetted by the elected representatives, the supposed servants of the people.

Thank you on behalf of the many communities and groups we represent and assist. Always remember the old Druidic triad of Éicse, Fior agus Dúlra (Wisdom, Truth and Nature) -- the three candles that illuminate any darkness.

The Woodland League

Contact:

Andrew St Ledger, PRO, +353-(0)87-9933157.

Remembering the Hunger Strikers

A Chara,

Monday 3 October will mark the 24th anniversary of the end of the Hunger Strike in Long Kesh in 1981.

After 217 days of hunger strike and five years of prison struggle the Hunger Strike was called off. Ten Irish republicans died during the protest — Bobby Sands, Francis Hughes, Raymond McCreesh, Patsy O'Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty, Thomas McElwee and Mickey Devine. Many more prisoners joined the Hunger Strike throughout its duration.

On the outside tens of thousands of people rallied behind the Hunger Strikers and their five just demands. As one by one the coffins of our ten comrades were taken from Long Kesh, people took the streets to spread the news of another death.

The men died to defeat British attempts at criminalisation of the Irish republican struggle. The vindication of the legitimacy of our struggle came within a year of the Hunger Strike being ended as most of the prisoners' demands were met. They won that battle, and it is for them and many others that we must honour them by bringing the struggle to a successful conclusion.

On the 24th anniversary of the end of the Hunger Strike we remember with pride our ten comrades who died and once more dedicate ourselves to the cause for which they and countless others died to achieve.

Barry McNally,

West Tyrone,

Ógra Shinn Féin.

Reject PSNI

A Chara,

The reasoning behind the recent Army initiative was that our enemies would have nothing more to throw at Sinn Féin and thus it would clear the way for further advances. Yet now that they can no longer use decommissioning they shall find other issues to fault us in an effort to thwart change.

The Army has acted in good faith, taken the initiative and made great sacrifices. Now it is the turn of others to act.

The emphasis is now on Sinn Féin to lead the way forward. From here on we must not back down on any of our policies or principles. This is particularly relevant to the issue of policing, which will be brought up again soon. To give in any further would be to be perceived as weak by our enemies. We must not accept the PSNI, otherwise we shall in time become what we mean to destroy. Sinn Féin must stand fast to its principles.

Is mise,

Seosamh Mac Aodhagain,

Dublin.

Real leadership needed

A Chara,

Whenever a suppressed people seek justice and equality, there is the inevitable backlash. There are those who enflame the fears of the supremacists. Martin Luther King's Civil Rights Movement was met with Ku Klux Klan responses resulting in riots throughout the 1960s, led by those who fanned the flames of racism and intolerance. The immigrant influx in Britain saw Enoch Powell stoke the embers of fear resulting in the "Rivers of Blood" speech. The ANC was confronted with White supremacists igniting a backlash resulting in the Sharpeville Massacre

Of course none of these reactionaries in the past succeeded because real leadership is not about sparking fear and preaching hellfire and brimstone. Real leadership is about placating irrational fears and accommodating difference and compromise.

So when Ian Paisley talks of "...kindling a fire that will never go out..." he is following a failed strategy. It is a leadership which hopes to perpetuate violence by accommodating bigotry and prejudice. By exacerbating his people's fears he will inspire further loyalist violence and prolong his imaginary war. But he too, like the KKK, Enoch Powell and the Apartheid regime will be consigned to history as an embarrassment.

Is mise,

James Farrell,

Dublin.

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