<HTML><PRE>Subj:	 RMD980213 Irish news for Friday 13 February
Date:	98-02-13 09:02:59 EST
From:	rmlist-reply@irlnet.com (RM_Distribution)
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     IRISH NEWS ROUND-UP
     http://irlnet.com/rmlist/
     
     Friday, 13 February, 1998


1.   IRA cessation 'intact'
2.   RUC coercion in North Antrim
3.   US report condemns Britain over human rights
4.   Attempt to abduct Belfast man
5.   Loyalists targeting in Donegal
6.   Growing heroin problem outside Dublin
7.   Analysis:  The rush to judgement
8.   Saoirse Day of Action


___________________________________________________________


>>>> IRA cessation 'intact'
     
     
     As the RUC police today repeated allegations that the
     IRA had been involved in two recent killings, the IRA
     declared in a statement that a cessation in its armed
     struggle announced in July had not been broken.
     
     The IRA statement said:
     
     "Contrary to speculation surrounding recent killings in
     Belfast, the IRA cessation of military operations
     remains intact.
     
     "We reiterate our preparedness to facilitate a climate
     which enhances the search for a democratic settlement
     through real and inclusive negotiations."
     
     The statement, issued to news offices in Ireland, was
     accompanied by a recognised code word.  As unionist
     pressure to have Sinn Fein ousted from peace talks
     intensified, the party said RUC boss Ronnie Flanagan
     did not have the "moral authority" to have Sinn Fein
     expelled from talks and that it would not be deflected
     from its commitment to "honest dialogue and inclusive
     negotiations" leading to a democratic peace settlement.
     
     Party President Gerry Adams MP speaking at a press
     conference in Belfast yesterday said Sinn Fein was in
     the talks process only on the basis of its electoral
     mandate to represent those who voted for it.
     
     "Sinn Fein does not represent, we are not accountable
     for and we do not speak for any armed group," he
     stressed.  "We have called for and worked for an end to
     all killings. That remains our commitment."
     
     Meanwhile, the British government has indicated that it
     is supporting a quick return to the multi-party talks by
     the representatives of loyalist death-squads which
     admitted to murdering three Catholics in recent weeks.
     The Ulster Democratic Party, which represents the
     Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), now expects to return to
     its offices at the talks venue within days and to be 
     at the talks proper within two weeks.
     
     Gerry Adams contrasted the Ulster Unionist Party's
     efforts to expel Sinn Fein with its silence on the UFF
     killings.
     
     "We firmly reject any suggestion that there are grounds
     for excluding Sinn Fein from the talks. The UUP's
     speedy and superficial attempt to link Sinn Fein to
     this weeks tragic killings is in stark contrast to the
     conspiracy of silence in which they colluded to cover
     up the UFF's killing campaign against Catholics."
     
     Attemots by Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble to 
     have Sinn Fein ejected when talks move to Dublin on Monday 
     will be strongly opposed by Republicans.
     
     Britain's governor in Ireland, Mo Mowlam is already 
     considering Sinn Fein's position in the talks.
     
     Mowlam said in a statement that RUC Chief Constable Ronnie
     Flanagan's assessment that the IRA were involved in two
     killings this week was being considered very carefully
     by the two governments and the other parties.
     
     "The integrity of the talks process and the commitment
     to exclusively peaceful means are paramount and all
     parties must be treated fairly and equally," she said.
     
     Mr Adams denied that Sinn Fein had breached the Mitchell
     Principles of non-violence which underpin the talks, the
     basis on which unionists are seeking the expulsion.
     
     "On the contrary, our involvement in the talks process
     has been in good faith. While we would have preferred
     an inclusive and representative process, without
     pre-conditions, we were barred from playing any role in
     drawing up the rules and procedures for the talks.
     Despite this we have abided by them.
     
     The attitude of the unionists is "not one based on any
     moral stand", he said. "It is directed solely by political
     expediency and their own tactical objective of
     preventing any meaningful change in the status quo here
     in Ireland."
     
     This morning Ulster Unionist Negotiator Ken Maginnis
     made no comment on reports of an imminent return to the
     talks by the loyalist UDP, but insisted that Sinn Fein
     be expelled for a lengthy period. Party leader David Trimble
     urged that Sinn Fein be permanently expelled from the
     talks.  Maginnis said he did not want to see SF banned
     from the talks table for a period of just six weeks, a
     scenario which he said would make "a mockery of the
     process".
     
     
     POLITICAL TRENCHES
     
     The Sinn Fein President said the UUP were attempting to
     subvert the peace process. "There are those within that
     leadership who want the IRA cessation to be over, who
     would prefer a return to the certainty of war, and the
     political trenches within which their status quo is
     safe," he said.
     
     A blind eye had been turned to loyalist violence for
     over a year, he added.  "In contrast the IRA has
     maintained its cessation despite huge provocations from
     loyalist death squads and the British crown forces.  My
     view is that the IRA cessation is intact."
     
     He said his party did not accept that RUC boss Ronnie
     Flanagan had the moral authority to decide whether or
     not Sinn Fein should be expelled from the talks as his
     militarised police force was "totally discredited".
     
     "He covered up the killings of Catholics in recent
     months.  He has yet to reveal the forensic history of
     the weapons used to kill Catholics. Whoever was
     involved in these tragic killings and whatever Mr.
     Flanagan says about them he cannot say that Sinn Fein
     was in anyway involved."
     
     This morning, the nationalist SDLP insisted that Flanagan's
     accusations were insufficient to warrant the explusion
     of Sinn Fein.   Party leader John Hume described the
     controversy as a "serious setback" to the peace
     process.
     
     SDLP negotiator Mark Durkan told a morning television
     news programme that British officials had set a
     standard of there being "incontrovertible evidence"
     against a party before it was thrown out of talks.
     
     "There was incontrovertible evidence against the UFF.
     If that was a prerequisite for one party being
     expelled, it should be for another party being expelled
     - no double standards."
     

___________________________________________________________
     
     
>>>> RUC coercion in North Antrim
     
     
     A Catholic man from Carnlough in  County Antrim has
     been the latest target of an RUC attempt to recruit
     informers. In a tried and tested 'approach', the man
     was asked to supply information after he was arrested
     in the North Antrim town and taken to the Ballymena RUC
     Barracks. While the man was in the RUC's custody they
     tried to coerce him into giving information and
     mentioned the fact that he had been in jail before
     against him.
     
     The RUC told him he, "could be looking at time", as he
     was "obviously a Republican" because he has a
     'Tiocfaidh ar La' tattoo.
     
     The man told the RUC, "you better charge me," after
     they offered to drop the charges in return for any
     information he gave about local republicans.
     
     Sinn Fein's Catherine O'Hagan who the man contacted
     after the approach, said, "the RUC's policy of
     recruiting informers and targeting Republicans is
     extremely detrimental to the peace process in which
     they have yet to engage."
     
     
___________________________________________________________     
     
     
>>>> US report condemns Britain over human rights
     
     
     The lack of progress on human rights issues in the
     north of Ireland has been criticised in an influential
     United States government report just published.
     
     The wide-ranging paper, published annually by the US
     government's State Department, noted that the British
     government has "adopted few security-related
     recommendations" put forward by the Standing Advisory
     Commission on Human Rights, set up in 1973 to monitor
     human rights abuses.
     
     Compiled by staff at the US Embassy in London, the
     document covers human rights issues in Britain and the
     north of Ireland but many of its 31 pages deal with
     abuses by British rule in the Six Counties.
     
     The report criticsed the nature of official inquests in
     which bereaved families "are unnecessarily kept from
     learning the truth of the circumstances surrounding
     their relative's death".
     
     "Coroners do not have the power to compel those
     suspected of involvement in extra-judicial killing to
     testify at inquests and the relatives of the deceased
     receive no advance disclosure of evidence. In Northern
     Ireland coroners are permitted to inquire only into
     'how' - that is 'by what means' - the deceased died,
     rather than into the broad circumstances of death."
     
     Complaints to the Independent Commission for Police
     Complaints, the report said, increased from 2,540 in
     1996 to 3,108 last year.
     
     "Of the 2,699 cases processed (some pending from
     previous years), investigations led to informal
     disciplinary action in 109 cases and to formal charges
     in seven cases involving nine police officers.
     
     "Local human rights groups continue to complain that
     the Commission is not truly autonomous in that it has
     no independent investigatory abilities and must rely on
     supervising police investigations into the complaints."
     
     The Commissioner for Holding Centres made 126 visits to
     the north's three interrogation centres in 1996, the
     latest date for which figures are available. In March
     the Commissioner and his deputy reported that 16
     complaints of physical assault were received during
     1996.
     
     "It (the Commissioner's report) criticised the fact
     that silent video recording of interrogations (which
     legal counsel is generally not permitted to attend) had
     not yet been implemented.
     
     In a section on the use of plastic bullets, the State
     Department report said 2,510 rounds were fired during
     the first two weeks of July, compared with 6,600 during
     the same period the previous year. Parliament was
     informed on June 10 that a "significant proportion" of
     the plastic bullets supplied to the RUC in 1994 and
     still in use in 1997 were defective. Almost 9,000
     rounds of the defective batch had been fired.
     
     "Both human rights groups and the Independent
     Commission for Holding Centres have repeatedly
     recommended the closing of the Castlereagh detention
     centre, which remains open despite persistent
     complaints of police impropriety in the interrogation
     process," the report said.
     
     On emergency laws, the State Department said that
     reviews of the so-called "Prevention of Terrorism Act"
     (PTA) had been described as "superficial", adding that
     extensive PTA detention powers was held in breach of
     the European Convention on Human Rights.
     

___________________________________________________________

     
>>>> Attempt to abduct Belfast man
          
     
     A 25-year-old north Belfast man escaped abduction by
     loyalists yesterday morning.
     
     The man, who declined to be named, said he had just
     left his four-year-old daughter to school when the
     incident occurred on the Limestone Road around 9.10am.
     
     At least four loyalists were seen in the van which
     attempted to run him down on the footpath. Two men
     wielding pick-axe handles then emerged and chased him
     along Limestone Road, but thier intended victim reached
     safety by escaping through the door of a nearby
     business. .
     
     The man didn't think he was specifically targetted but
     thought the gang was after a Catholic.
     
     North Belfast Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly
     called on nationalists to remain "extremely vigilant"
     following the incident.
     
     Mr Kelly said: "Known loyalists have been cruising the
     area looking for easy prey. Any Catholic in any set of
     circumstances will do."
     

___________________________________________________________

     
>>>> Loyalists targeting in Donegal
     
     
     There have been consistent reports over recent weeks of
     loyalist death squad members crossing the border to
     engage in information gathering throughout the
     northwestern county of Donegal
     
     Daily and weekly delivery vans from Derry are
     apparently being used by the loyalists to gather
     information in various areas in north and west of the
     county in preparation for an attack.
     
     The loyalists travel as passengers in the vans, often
     taking side roads away from the normal distribution
     routes.  Members of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF)
     have been seen in Buncrana, Carndonagh, Letterkenny,
     Ballybofey, Donegal Town, Milford, Carrigart,
     Creeslough, Dungloe and Gweedore.
     
     The Sinn Fein Vice President Pat Doherty warned of the
     increased threat in the area. "This incident adds
     weight to concerns that a loyalist attack is pending.
     There is a need for great caution and vigilance at this
     time," Mr Doherty said.
     

___________________________________________________________

     
>>>> Growing heroin problem outside Dublin
     
     
     Young people in some areas of Counties Monaghan, Cavan
     and Meath are now "chasing the dragon" -- smoking heroin
     -- in a serious extension of a crisis that was for long
     confined to the capital.
     
     This spread of heroin abuse outside Dublin was
     highlighted last week in County Monaghan where the
     community in Carrickmacross organised a public meeting
     in response to local concern at the growth of the
     problem. One of those who addressed the meeting on 5
     February was Johnny McCullagh of Kingscourt, County
     Cavan, father of the late Tony McCullagh who died as a
     result of drug abuse. Johnny McCulllagh told the
     meeting that there were drug dealers operating in the
     area and that he had been threatened by them.
     
     The well-attended meeting, which was chaired by Tom
     Hughes of Carrickmacross, was addressed by two
     recovering heroin addicts from Dublin, Paul and Dave,
     who impressed all those present with their graphic
     description of the reality of heroin abuse.
     
     Sinn Fein Councillor Owen Smyth, chair of County
     Monaghan Drugs Awareness Sub-Committee, said vigilance
     was needed to halt the spread of the drugs scrourge and
     urged the community to organise to combat the problem.
     Other elected representatives from both Sinn Fein and
     Fine Gael were present.
     
     Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghin O Caolain told the meeting:
     "The profits being generated for a handful of
     individuals from this deadly drugs trade rival those of
     the biggest commerical enterprises in the land. As they
     are further restricted in their activities by tighter
     legislation and more vigilant policing, they will widen
     their field of activities and target young people
     outside the areas hitherto worst affected.
     
     "But we have the opportunity to prevent it.
     Comprehensive action on education and prevention is
     absolutely essential and I stress this in particular in
     areas outside Dublin where the drugs problem is
     growing. There must first be an urgent and concerted
     effort by the Department of Health, in co-operation
     with other relevant bodies, to measure the extent of
     the problem outside Dublin, the areas of the country
     most at risk and the measures needed for effective
     prevention and control."
     
     He called for a "united, community-led response"
     involving all the agencies. A committee was established
     at the meeting to address the problem.
     
     
___________________________________________________________     
     
>>>> Analysis:  The rush to judgement
     
     
     The hypocrisy of Unionists was laid bare this week in
     the wake of the shooting to death of a prominent
     loyalist and a drug dealer in Belfast. Unionist MP
     Martin Smyth issued an immediate statement accusing the
     IRA and calling for the removal of Sinn Fein from the
     talks. When eight Catholics were killed last month,
     some by the UDA in his own constituency, no such
     statements were issued.
     
     Similarly David Trimble rushed to call for Sinn Fein's
     expulsion from the talks. This was in contrast to his
     prevarication over continuing UDP participation in
     talks last month.
     
     The RUC has also been quick to brief journalists,
     pointing the finger at the IRA. Last month the RUC
     delayed and delayed before blaming the UDA on the
     killings of innocent Catholics, even though they had
     hard evidence available.
     
     There is a concerted attempt to force Sinn Fein from
     the talks. Unionists and their friends in the RUC are
     desperate to see Sinn Fein expelled and their
     statements must be treated with a large dose of
     suspicion.
     
     For their part, Sinn Fein has quite rightly said that
     they are in the talks on the basis of their electoral
     mandate. Without their participation, a solution is not
     possible.
     
     
___________________________________________________________
     
     
>>>> Saoirse Day of Action
     
     
     Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has warbed that the
     release of political prisoners must be addressed if the
     peace process is to move forward.
     
     Calling for support for Saoirse rallies across Ireland
     tomorrow, Mr McGuinness said it was disappointing and
     worrying that the British government had yet to
     recognise the importance of the prisons issue.
     
     "Indeed, the attitude and inaction of successive
     British governments betrays a mindset which continues
     to look on political prisoners as hostages to the peace
     process.
     
     "This is in contrast to the Dublin government which has
     been proactive and has gone some way to consolidating
     the process through a programme of prisoner releases,"
     Mr McGuinness said.
     
     Describing the release of political prisoners as an
     integral part of the peace process, Mr McGuinness said
     the British government should know that the
     imprisonment of thousands of Irish men and women had
     impacted on society.
     
     
     SAOIRSE DAY OF ACTION, Saturday 14 February: ARMAGH:
     White-Line Picket, assemble 1.45pm North Street Car
     Park, Lurgan; CORK: Assemble 2pm Daunt Square, Grand
     Parade, Cork City. Ahern/Crowley RFB in attendance;
     DONEGAL: The Donegal Saoirse Committee are organising a
     picket in Letterkenny, County Donegal at Quinnsworth
     Roundabout and also at Lifford Bridge. Both will
     commence at 3pm; DUBLIN: Protest at Connolly Station
     from 1-2 pm. Volunteers Smith/Harford/Doherty RFB in
     attendance. Protest at GPO from 2.15-3.15 pm. Organised
     by the O'Malley Russell/Mairead Farrell SF Cumainn.
     Exhibition Match: Sinn Fein vs Ex-POWs, as part of
     Saoirse Day of Action. Assemble 12 noon Saturday 14
     February, Oliver Bond Flats, South Inner City.
     Organised by the Joe Clarke and Logue/Marley Sinn Fein
     Cumainn; KERRY: Pickets in Tralee. Saoirse Picket at
     Kerry vs Tyrone match Sunday 15 February. MONAGHAN:
     Pickets : Monaghan, Carrickmacross, Castleblayney.
     GALWAY: Picket Shop Street from 1-2pm; SLIGO: 3pm the
     GPO, O'Connell Street; EVENTS also in, Cavan,
     Dundalk/Louth, Navan, Shannon, Ennis, Limerick, Cork,
     Bray. Local pickets/ protests in Rathfarnham,
     Blanchardstown, Tallaght (Dublin). See local Saoirse
     organisers for details
     
     



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Subject: RMD980213 Irish news for Friday 13 February

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