 |
 |
Recent Editions
    
|
|
18 November, 2004 |
|
Other News
The people's leader - Yasser Arafat dies 
Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestinian people, guerrilla icon and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, died last Thursday 11 November. As the news broke in the early hours of Thursday morning, the people of his homeland expressed shock at the sudden demise of their 75-year-old leader. In towns and refugee camps across the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of Palestinians poured into the streets with wails of grief and volleys of gunfire. Photo: Yasser Arafat Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin joined with other party leaders in offering condolences to the husband and family of murdered Irish Iraqi aid worker, Margaret Hassan. 
On Sunday 14 November, the Basque pro-independence party Batasuna presented a fresh proposal for a political solution to the conflict between the Basque Country and Spanish and French states. Batasuna believes that this is the right time to "open new ways" to negotiate and, in a public meeting attended by around 15,000 people, representatives from the past and the present of the pro-independence movement reiterated their commitment "to work for peace". 'Socialist' Bertie challenged on Health During Leader's Question in the Dáil on Tuesday, Ireland's newest 'socialist', Bertie Ahern, was challenged on the state of the health services by Sinn Féin, including the fact that 25,000 workers in the services have been so alienated by lack of clarity on so-called reforms that they are refusing to co-operate with the new Health Services Executive. Monaghan man wins case against Gardaí The owner of a dwelling near Monaghan Town was recently awarded €10,000 in damages after the Circuit Court acknowledged that a Garda search team forced their way into his house and used drilling equipment and jack-hammers to damage walls, floors, carpeting and furniture in what many locals believe was a spurious attempt to intimidate the family. O'Donnell will not seek re-election 
Joe O'Donnell, the Sinn Féin deputy mayor of Belfast, has disclosed he will not be standing in next May's council elections, citing personal reasons. Photo: Joe O'Donnell Announcement of collusion inquiries met with caution 
A judge who acted for the British crown during internment proceedings will chair the inquiry into the 1999 killing of Lurgan defence lawyer Rosemary Nelson. Sir Michael Morland, who also served on the Gardiner Commission into internment in 1974, will be joined by Sir Anthony Burden a former chief constable of South Wales police and Dame Valerie Strachan, vice-chair of the Big Lottery Fund. British must give Human Rights Commission proper powers 
Sinn Féin Equality, Human Rights and Women's Spokesperson, South Down MLA Catríona Ruane, has called on the British Government to introduce the proper range of powers required by the Human Rights Commission to fulfil its remit to protect and promote human rights in an effective way. Photo: Caitriona Ruane Gráinne Mhic Géidigh selected for Údaras 
On Saturday night last, Sinn Féin members from all over Donegal gathered in Teach Jack, Gweedore to choose a candidate to contest the impending Údaras election in April. There were over 150 in attendance to choose a candidate to contest the impending Údaras election in April, which could ultimately lead to the party taking its first seat ever on the board Photo: Gráinne Mhic Géidigh Call for full Citizenship Rights for ex-prisoners 
Sinn Féin MLA for Foyle and former political prisoner Raymond McCartney on Tuesday attended a conference in Dublin Castle involving republican and loyalist former prisoners. The conference was organised to discuss the difficulties faced by former political prisoners and promote the need for dialogue. Photo: Raymond McCartney An Cumann Cabhrach re-launched 
An Cumann Cabhrach, which, together with Green Cross and Irish Northern Aid, provided support for families of republican prisoners and of IRA Volunteers who lost their lives as a result of the conflict, was re-launched in Dublin on 6 November. Photo: Annie Cahill UDA attacks SDLP councillor's home Within an hour of the latest UDA ceasefire being declared, Larne SDLP councillor Danny O'Connor blamed the organisation for attacking his Churchill Road home. During the incident, O'Connor fired four shots into the air from a legally held personal protection weapon to scare off the attackers. Police raids on the home of Sinn Féin's Michael Agnew and other nationalist homes in Ballymena have provoked an angry response from republicans. Racists challenged at North Belfast rally 
A rally organised by the North Belfast Anti-Racism Network in support of Chinese and Filipino families attacked by racist thugs was held at the Fortwilliam shops on Wednesday night, 10 November. Secret deal protects PSNI members of Orange Order PSNI boss Hugh Orde has terminated the process compelling PSNI members to declare their membership of secret organisations such as the Orange Order after striking a deal with two PSNI men and the Freemasons, who had instigated legal proceedings against the move. "Ulster is being sold, help us buy it" The Orange Order has been caught out over its links with a land company set up to buy property and prevent it falling into nationalist hands. The company's motto is "Ulster is being sold, help us buy it". Year of progress celebrated in Dublin 
The first annual Dublin Sinn Féin Gala Dinner was held last Friday in the Royal Dublin Hotel on O'Connell Street. Photo: Martin McGuinness made presentations to Robbie Donnelly (above) and Tony O'Flaherty (below) Promoting disabled rights in Buncrana 
Sinn Féin Buncrana Town Councillor, Daren Lalor, believes the rights of the disabled must be a priority in the town. The town council passed a motion he proposed last week calling for an audible warning system to be fitted to the traffic lights and pedestrian crossing at West End, Buncrana to assist the visually impaired in crossing the road at the busy junction. McGuinness updates Irish American Unity Conference 
Sinn Féin Chief Negotiator Martin McGuinness MP took time out of his busy schedule last week to update a group of Americans from the Irish American Unity Conference on the state of the Irish Peace Process. The group was in Derry as part of a process to familiarise itself with conditions on the ground throughout the Six Counties. The IAUC held its National Convention in Belfast last weekend, at which former Belfast Mayor Alex Maskey was a keynote speaker. 
Members of Bandon Sinn Féin in County Cork, including Sinn Féin Town Councillor John Desmond, recently presented a cheque for €1,000 to the Bandon playground. The money was raised at a number of events organised by Sinn Féin in the past few months. Six-County MEP Bairbre de Brún was in Kerry earlier this month to attend a Sinn Féin social where she made a special presentation to two senior republicans from the county. She presented plaques to Brendy Bonn of Ballymac, Tralee, and to Paddy Campbell of Bishop's Court, Ballyduff, in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the Republican Movement down through the years. Battling the elements for the Colombia Three - BY SORCHA Ní DHUBHDA 
Bring Them Home campaigners and supporters, including many well-known Sinn Féin activists, braved the elements last Sunday 14 November, to conquer Cnoc Mórdáin in Rosmuck, Connemara, in a show of solidarity for the three Irishmen who are in hiding in Colombia awaiting an outcome of an appeal against their acquittal on charges of training FARC guerrillas. Edentubber Martyrs' hard but noble road 
"These brave Irishmen from North and South, like so many before them, opposed the injustice of British occupation of our country and chose the hard but noble road of freedom struggle." |
|
©Copyright 2010 An Phoblacht Privacy Policy |