Old hat from Arthurs

A Chairde,

After hearing political analyst Paul Arthurs on Ulster Television, Monday 24 May, I cannot but wonder why he is considered an expert on matters political. For the benefit of those readers who missed the broadcast, Mr. Arthurs predicted that the DUP, SDLP, and UUP would emerge victorious from the 10 June European Election. He went on to forecast significant performances from the UK Unionist Party and the PUP but to my amazement played down totally the chances of Sinn Féin.

It is perhaps because I refuse to be educated by Mr. Arthurs that I am able to study the form in advance of this election and see things for what they really are. While European elections have in the past been difficult for Sinn Féin, any analyst worth their salt will acknowledge that in the five years since the last European plebiscite there has been considerable change to the political landscape. Not least is the fact that in the Assembly election in June of last year the Sinn Féin vote totalled 10,000 more than Jim Nicholson won to secure a seat in the European Parliament last time around.

While this statistic may not have been worth Paul Arthurs' attention, it is to my mind telling because when factored into the equation it leads one to conclude that Sinn Féin is in the perfect position to unseat the Ulster Unionist Party candidate and win the third seat. What a turnaround that would deliver the ``Orange State'', represented on the international stage by two nationalists and only one unionist. What would this tell the world about `loyal Ulster'? Were such to transpire, the implecations could be so mind-boggling that poor Paul Arthurs would have to take several refresher courses to come to grips with a political world of which he presents himself as an expert.

Paul Arthurs is merely the latest in a long line of political pundits who from the1982 Assembly Elections right through have written off the chances of Sinn Féin at this stage of every election campaign. Their purpose has, of course, been to impress upon nationalist voters that a vote for Sinn Féin is a wasted vote. In 1982 we were told that Sinn Féin would trail far behind all other parties contesting the election. Despite this advice, Gerry Adams and Co. won 10% of the vote in what was the party's first electoral outing in many, many years. The experts were left with egg on their faces on that occasion. Seventeen years on and another dramatic upset could be on the cards. By maximising the nationalist vote, we the electorate, can make it happen and by so doing cover the face of Paul Arthurs with the same unbecoming makeup which spoilt the features of his predecessors all those years ago.

Ann Marie McKee
Lower Falls

Tuskar Crash review inadequate

A Chairde,

The review of evidence being carried out by Irish and British air accident experts into an Irish airliner crash 31 years ago, began this week. It falls short of the full enquiry which was promised to the relatives of victims by the present Irish government, whilst in opposition.

The airliner crashed near the Aberporth missile range off West Wales on March 24th 1968 and the range or British naval units in the area have long been suspected of involvement.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio Wales and to the South Wales newspaper the Western Mail the Secretary General of the Celtic League has said that a full and open enquiry is what is required to lay to rest once and for all speculation about the crash.

Bernard Moffatt said that the key to British involvement probably lay in the log-books of several British warships which have mysteriously been `mislaid' by the British Ministry of Defence. Crucially, log-books for one of the warships long suspected of involvement in the incident, HMS Penelope, which suggest that she could not have been involved, are available. However, records of other warships known to have been in the area, which recovered debris from the crash site, are still missing.

Also, confirmation that the British Department of Transport destroyed a report into the crash five years ago, at a time when campaigning groups were calling for full disclosure, is ominous.

The Celtic League believes it is important to keep an open mind about the possible cause of the tragedy in which all 61 people on board the airliner died. However, given the propensity of the British over thirty years to withhold, destroy or lose important documents the denial, by the British Embassy in Dublin, of responsibility for the crash (which was issued on Friday) sounds hollow.

The Celtic League.