20 May 2004 Edition
Rafah bears the brunt
20 May 2004
On Monday 17 May, Israeli forces, spearheaded by tanks and helicopter gunships, launched an invasion of the Rafah refugee camp in the Gaza Strip in a military offensive unprecedented in scale since 2002. This was the second major incursion into Rafah in a week and the aim is to destroy hundreds of Palestinian homes. Free article
Loyalist attacks intensify
20 May 2004
Sectarian violence continues to increase across the North as the loyalist marching season approaches. A Sinn Féin activist was targeted by pipe bombers in Ballymena, County Antrim and in Belfast a young man escaped with his life after an attempted sectarian abduction on the Stewartstown Road in Belfast. Also in Belfast, Catholic homes in Bawnmore Park, North Belfast, had windows broken when they were hit with paint bombs and in Portadown loyalists threw missiles at a number of nationalist homes in the Tunnel area of the town. Free article
Dublin must intervene for Colombia Three
20 May 2004
Last week, Jim Monaghan, Martin McCauley and Niall Connolly received the devastating news that they will have to remain in Colombia pending an appeal lodged by the Attorney General's Office. Judge Jairo Acosta ruled that the men could not leave the country until the appeal against their acquittal on charges of training FARC guerrillas is heard, which could take many months or even over a year. Free article
Leading Sinn Féin members warned of death threats
20 May 2004
The Red Hand Defenders, a cover name for the UDA, has issued death threats against four leading Sinn Féin members, including European election candidate Bairbre de Brún and North Antrim MLA Philip McGuigan. Free article
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Colombia's corrupt attorney general
20 May 2004
From the outset, Luis Camilo Osorio has made decisions to protect establishment figures from prosecution. In numerous cases involving corruption of establishment figures, he has decided not to proceed to trial. Free article
Loyalist killed as feud escalates
20 May 2004
The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) are being accused of killing 34-year-old Brian Stewart in the latest round of feuding among unionist paramilitaries. Free article
Unionist death squads targeting in Derry
20 May 2004
Sinn Féin's Raymond McCartney believes that unionist death squad members have been engaged in intensive surveillance in the Bogside Brandywell areas of Derry in the past few months in a prelude to a serious attack. Free article
Leading ANC activist to open Coiste Summer School
20 May 2004
Former ANC political prisoner Robert McBride will give the keynote address at the opening of Coiste na nIarchimí's Summer School, which will be held at Slievegullion Courtyard, Meigh, South Armagh, between 17 and 20 June. Free article
Ahern agreed to Castlerea release - Adams
20 May 2004
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams clashed with Bertie Ahern on Tuesday, when he reiterated that in a one-to-one conversation during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations the Taoiseach agreed that the Castlerea prisoners would be released. Free article