They attacked children?

I am astonished at Marian Finucane's reference to ``both sides'' being at fault on RTE Radio One (September 4) in relation to the attempt by bigots to prevent four-year-old girls from attending their school in Belfast.

The issue is too important to be swept aside by misleading references to both sides subjecting children to the type of scenes witnessed yesterday. Were the African American parents who tried to get their children into Little Rock school in Arkansa in 1956 culpable in relation to the scenes of racist abuse that ensued? If we adopted the approach adopted this morning on RTE the answer would have to be yes, unfortunately.

The parents in Belfast were completely blameless in the circumstances. Bigots and bullies should not be allowed to force children in the back door by a roundabout route through another school's playground, football pitch and field. This would be the road to back to 1967, of second-class citizen status, resentment and despair. Four-year-old girls must be allowed to enter school by the front door. This is elementary as a preparation for equal citizenship and happiness.

RTE broadcasters should keep their superficial opinions out of it and should cover the matter objectively and comprehensively - we all might gain some insight if that happened.

Mick Finnegan
Cabra
Dublin 7

Scurillous journalism

A Chairde,

Having read the papers and listened to other media outlets over the past two weeks, it is clear to see that there is an election on the way.

For the usual anti-republican spin is doing its rounds in the daily papers.

As a republican myself, I am not surprised, as this type of nonsense makes an appearance before every general or local government election, throughout the 26 Counties.

Do these journalists really think the good people who read their articles actually believe them? These people, on the ground, and in the communities, can see how much work the Sinn Féin public reps and councillors are putting into their constituencies. If the journalists took their heads out of their keyboards and had a good look around they would see for themselves. Cllr Nicky Kehoe campaigning for an end to the housing crisis in Cabra/Glasnevin, Cllr Dessie Ellis combating the joyriding problem in Fingla,s and Cllr Seán Crowe fighting for better public transport in Tallaght. Not to mention the countless other Sinn Féin public reps and councillors across the country who are doing trojan work for their communities and beyond.

Of course, it is the usual writers of this anti-republican propaganda who have raised their heads yet again. Paul Williams (or is it Sergeant Paul Williams) for that highly acclaimed Sunday rag, the `Sunday World', thrashed out as much, it seems, as the Gardaí could feed him last week. He puts Investigative Journalism right up there with the National Enquirer. I think Williams and the Irish Times security correspondent Jim Cusack copy each other's home work from time to time.

Then there is Ms Mara (PJ's Daughter), fresh out of college. She is writing for Magill. Ms Mara tried to have a go at Sinn Féin recently and made a complete arse of it. Just one hint - When you quote a resident's views on Sinn Féin in a local area, in future you should make sure that the resident actually comes from that area - (it's simple research really!)

Then there's poor Conor Lenihan. He must be feeling the pressures of Séan Crowe overtaking him at the next general election. He had an article in the Herald last week, claiming Sinn Féin had links to drug dealing.

I mean come on! Who are you trying to fool, Conor? Why don't you get off your backside and do something for the people of the Tallaght constituency instead of wasting your time writing articles that are completely unfounded and outrageous. That's the only way you will win elections.

Pat O'Riordan
Tallaght

Times targets the GAA

A Chairde,

Sean Moran's article (Irish Times, 24 August) on the GAA and Rule 21 was biased, ignorant and more importantly, very dangerous to the lives and limbs of all those engaging in Gaelic games in the Six Counties.

His headline demonises Sinn Féin and then the GAA by association: ``GAA faces spectre of SF dictating attitude''. The first point he makes is a `revelation' that Sinn Féin is going to lobby clubs. Is he for real? Of course they are going to lobby clubs, as will every other nationalist party, north and south. He then asks us to remember SF's `avid' opposition in 1998 to the lifting of Rule 21; this exists in his imagination and is pure fiction.

To try to suggest that SF adopt its policing policy just to gain populist support is patently ludicrous to all. The six cross-border counties are then clearly identified as those responsible for installing and maintaining the ban. Nice of him to justify (in UDA minds) the continued targeting of anything to do with the GAA.

The GAA are then accused of setting themselves up as arbitrators on the whole political situation in the north; when did this occur? Can Sean Moron not even conceive the possibility that the British Police Act might be flawed? Can he not accept the possibility that the GAA could not support the `new police service' because they believe this to be the correct decision?

The fact is that this is not `Patten'. The GAA agreed to `Patten'; they did not agree to what is now being presented and they have to decide for themselves whether or not they can accept it. To imply that they are incapable of deciding for themselves is both insulting and dangerous.

At least Mr Moron did bring some humour into his article, with his appeal to the GAA not to debar a veritable army of young footballers and hurlers from joining this `new force'.

He quotes Rule 8 (The association shall be non-party political and no committee, club, council or representative thereof etc.) and slams SF for abusing it before going on to admit that the party, in fact, hasn't breached it.

Why, I wonder, is the spectre of the SDLP dictating policy to the GAA not mentioned, or indeed the spectre of the Catholic bishops doing so?

He seems to conclude that GAA will be intimidated and overwhelmed by Sinn Fein unless the `strong-minded' Sean McCague (GAA President) can stand up to these bullies. And he concludes with: ``The danger now is that unless it (the GAA) acts soon it will become indistinguishable from Sinn Féin''.

For his next exercise, might I suggest that Mr Moran go north and paint `target' on every GAA property and on every member's back, thereby making life easier for the mindless UDA bigots (even though they are engaged in nightly violence the RUC's detection rate is around 0%).

Niall Taylor
Clonshaugh,
Dublin 17

The callous empire

A Chairde,

I read with great interest your story regarding the execution of Irish enlisted men by the British army in World War One. In fact, my father lost two Uncles in the great war, the ``war for small nations''. They were killed by German troops. I am Canadian and you should know that twenty three Canadians were also shot at dawn.

This was their reward for enlisting to fight for ``crown and country''.

Indeed it is worth noting that many young English men of working class background were also ordered executed by the officers who led from behind. Often young men were shot in the back by officers for refusing to advance into machine gunfire.

These facts are well known to any interested reader of the history of world war one. What may not be so well known (and I encourage your research department to confirm) is the little known fact that Canadians were executed following the armistice of November,11, 1918.

The war was over and young Canadian lads were clambouring to go home. They believed, rightly so, that first over, would be first to return to the land of the Maple Leaf. This was not to be so. The priveleged and those with connections were sent sailing first. The enlisted men of Canada were outraged! They rioted, raided the liqour supplies of ``her Majesty's Army'', and destroyed their camp.

The war was over, the riot subdued. These men had survived. Again, one could read the readily available historical accounts of what these men had persevered through. Short of the ``ultimate sacrifice'', these men had given everything.

Nevertheless, with no enemy in sight and the surrender complete, those found guilty of riotus behaviour were callously executed. These and other stories of the ``British Empire'' largely remain untold. Though, I must admit, I learned of the above apalling events in my city's daily newspaper, The Toronto Star.

Not only were men executed for alleged ``cowardice and desertion'' (easy to say from behind the front) but also for disobeying orders to remain in camp when the war was over. Brave men were shot while awaiting their return home to ``loyal Canada''. This in gratitude for their exemplary service. Lest we forget. These brutal measures maintained loyalty to the crown.

As I write this letter, Canadians are not interested in the ``British Empire'' but like our brothers and sisters in Ireland, are concerned with issues of social justice.

Again these and other stories like them need to be told. I dedicate this letter to the people like my Great Uncles who died serving Britain in an upper class war for profit, not people, nor for small nations like Ireland and Belgium.

Frank Adams,
Toronto,
Canada.

An Ethical Foreign Policy

A Chairde,

It seems that the Irish government has now finally abandoned the concept of an ethical foreign policy with the hosting of the Chinese Premier.

Is this not a man who now presides over a regime that denies its people even the most basic human rights, rights it must be added the Chinese State in fact refuses to recognise?

Is China not a country that denies the very concept of democracy, a country that denies its people any freedom of belief, assembly or free speech? Is this not a State that continues to commit cultural genocide against Tibet and even denies its people the right to have a family without a permit (with the willing support of the Irish-supported UNFPA).

E. Níg Raollaigh
Oranmore
Galway

Support the death fasters

A Chairde,

May I firstly take this opportunity to commend your paper on being one of the few on this island to report on a great human disaster right on Europe's very doorstep. The suffering to which I refer is that of the Turkish death fasters and their families.

At this very moment there is a human castastrophe taking place within Turkish prisons and in `death fast houses' scattered amongst Turkey's most impoverished areas. Turkey, a state long pilloried for human rights abuses, is attempting to worsen the poor conditions currently employed within its prisons.

Many of these political prisoners are from well known `subversive' groups, such as journalists, students, trade unionists, doctors and working classes. Yes, they are you and they are me!

We must be the voices of those whose cries are muffled. I plead with your readers to write to political representatives at home, in the E and in Turkey demanding an end to the immense suffering being inflicted upon prisoners of conscience in Turkish prisons.

Seán Mac Oscair
Belfast