Arms gesture sour grapes

A Chairde,


I was outraged at the anti-Agreement unionists' latest claim that the IRA's recent decommissioning of arms and explosives was a 'political stunt'. What I don't understand is that these people asked the IRA to decommission their weapons and when they do, they still aren't happy.

What will make these sceptics happy? Isn't the word of the respectable General John de Chastelain enough for them? Do they want to see these arms dumps cleared for themselves? We all know that this will never happen. David Burnside called it 'hypocritical', commenting on the IRA's 'involvement' in the Castlereagh Special Branch break-in.

These anti-Agreement sceptics will never be happy. They've spent so many years saying that this would never happen and they can't come to terms with what is unfolding. The IRA, in my opinion, has held its part of the bargain and I think it's time that the British government now removes more border watchtowers, demilitarise further and settle the issue of the remaining IRA fugitives. Also, I think it's about time that the loyalist paramilitaries start thinking about following the IRA's example and start decommissioning, or will that ever happen?

Only time will tell.


Tomás Milligan,
Downpatrick,
Co Down

Racist treatment of Travellers

A Chairde,


Recent comments in newspapers and radio talk shows regarding the Travelling community are tantamount to racism. It is racist to describe ethnic groups as filthy, undeserving and ungrateful. Yet it appears that some remarks are acceptable when talking about Travellers. If the Black community were described in such a manner there would be outrage. Change Traveller to Black and we are now in the realm of Apartheid. Change 'knacker' to 'nigger' and we begin to appreciate the enormity of the insult.

The reality of our current dilemma is the failure to accommodate diversity. This has caused unregulated halting sites with no running water or rubbish collection, resulting in desecration of our environment and further calls by the racists that the "knackers are filthy". I would encourage the so-called settled community to reflect on the bin strikes of the past, when bags of rubbish were discarded at will. Or how when waste disposal costs increased for businesses, they turned the "garden of Ireland" into a dump.

The real culprits are the politicians who have failed to reach a compromise with this small diverse group of people. Why in 2002 have we not got sufficient regulated, secured and safe halting sites to protect and accommodate these families and their children?

How is it that Ray Burke, Liam Lawlor, Charles Haughey, etc, who we now know to be expert developers, whose advice was sought, and indeed paid for, by leading planners and builders all over the country and beyond. Mammoth building projects achieved fruition through the deeds and endeavours of these leaders of men. Yet the building of a few halting sites was, and is beyond their capability.

As we now become a modern multi-cultural society, God help us if we depend on the current batch of puppets and profiteers to accommodate diversity.


James Farrell,
Malahide,
Co. Dublin

Incineration U-turn

A Chairde,


What a delightful surprise we all got last week when Michael Noonan came out publicly on Fine Gael's behalf against incineration as a means of waste management! He might need to rethink his approach to this one, as such an enormous U-turn might be perceived as lacking credibility.

In Dublin South East constituency Sinn Fein has long been involved with others in the community in fighting proposals for an incinerator at Poolbeg Peninsula. The reason we have had to campaign so hard is because Fine Gael, together with Fine Fail and Labour, voted for incineration as an option in the 1998 Dublin Waste Management Plan.

Might it be too cynical to suggest this latest Noonan pronouncement is just an electioneering ploy? He will be hard pressed to get the voting public in this area to accept his statement as anything more solid than that.


Daithí Doolan,
Sinn Féin Candidate,
Dublin South East

Piobairí abú

A Chairde,


This Easter time was a first for Piobairí Na Meirleach, and I would like to pay tribute and a big heartfelt thanks to all our members who unselfishly gave of their time in order to fulfill the many invitations extended to the band.

We played in the Short Strand, Whitewell-Bawnmore, New Lodge, Ardoyne, at the Easter Sunday Commemoration and the National Graves Reunion night.

It was an honour to have participated in all these events, but I feel assured that I will receive full support if I single out our people in the Whitewell and Bawnmore communities. We were given a tumultuous welcome, and on behalf of the band, we thank the people of Whitewell and Bawnmore.

Lastly, our band is in existence just a matter of months. We were formed as a community-based band to foster and encourage an already rich heritage, culture and tradition, that is beloved throughout the world. We are especially mindful of our young people and would encourage them to come along and learn the music.

We would also like to encourage those older people out there who we know still love the music, to come along and help teach the young people and perhaps put on a uniform again.

Anyone interested should come along every Monday and Thursday night at 7.30pm to our clubrooms in the Felons club.


Brian Maguidhir
Runaí.