Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Due to 'staff' (!) shortages here at '1169...' - because of some football matches or other , and exams (you show 'em , Junior!) - this Blog will only be updated every second day , for the next few weeks . In short , I have been abandoned by all but this machine ! Sharon .

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT : INSIDE THE NORTHERN IRELAND (sic) PEACE TALKS (sic).......
From 'MAGILL' magazine , November 1997 .
By Fionnuala O' Connor .

In Stormont , there is agreement that the most positive and effective unionist voices come from the tiny parties who speak for the loyalist paramilitaries , in particular David Ervine of the 'Progressive Unionist Party' (PUP) and David Adams of the 'Ulster Democratic Party' (UDP). " It's kind of hackneyed now , " delegates from two other Unionist parties agreed , "people say it so often - if only the rest of us had that kind of leadership ."

Some are surprised at the comparative lack of impact to date of the 'biggest' names ; SDLP leader John Hume withdrawn , apart from a few 'effective interventions,' Gerry Adams slow , almost stumbling in what limited debate there has been - "Nervous , maybe..." , said several of those present . Martin McGuinness does better "...in an earthy kind of way , which I did'nt expect.." , said a delegate , not inclined to regard McGuinness as 'humourous' .

The 'stars' to date , by fairly wide consenus , have been the SDLP's deputy leader , Seamus Mallon , and senior SDLP negotiator , Mark Durkan .......
(MORE LATER).


THE ROMAN REICH....... ?
Following the disbandment of the Dublin-based grouping , the NSIWP , a new right-wing organisation , believed to be linked with right-wing Catholic groups , has been formed . COLM KEENA reports .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , 1 October 1987.

The Irish 'Christian Social Party' maintain that communists and freemasons have already infiltrated the ranks of Ireland's public representatives , and some are actually in government : the two sit happily beside each other , and are part of the same conspiracy , according to the 'Christian Social Party' . Garret Fitzgerald , because of his membership of the secretive Bilderberg Group , is in their view an especially suspect Irish politician .

Jim Keating said to 'In Dublin' magazine that he had never heard of the 'Social Action Initiative' , the name which those publishing the 'Ar Aghaidh' bulletin give themselves : he says his magazine "...wears several hats , including protesting about the eastern bloc , and civil rights issues there.."

'Ar Aghaidh' reproduces a poem , titled 'Non-racial' , in its October issue , "...with the author's kind permission.." - the poem is reproduced from 'Clarion' magazine and the author is Eoin O Maille , one of the leading members of the 'Christian Social Party' . The most interesting part of the 'Ar Aghaidh' bulletin is its letters page , where it prints correspondence relating how to organise and how to avoid interception of mail by the 'intelligence community' , and even communications from well-established European militant national socialist groups.......
(MORE LATER).


THE RIGHT TO SILENCE.......
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act has just been renewed for another year by State Communications Minister Jim Mitchell , despite increasing protests and lobbying by the NUJ .
HELEN O'CONNOR examines the results of a recent NIHE survey of the attitudes of Dublin people on the issue and GERRY LAVERY looks back to the roots of Section 31 .
From 'IN DUBLIN' magazine , February 1987 .

A 'crunch point' between the Jack Lynch State administration and RTE was clearly coming and it came when Kevin O 'Kelly of RTE Radio News interviewed Sean MacStiofain , regarded as Chief of Staff of the Provisional IRA : MacStiofain was arrested as he left O' Kellys house in the early hours of the morning , and there began a long process which was to include MacStiofain's hunger strike and charging in the 'Special Criminal Court' in Dublin with membership of the IRA , based on his interview with O ' Kelly .

Kevin O' Kelly was later to find himself subpoenaed to give evidence in the court : despite MacStiofain's arrest , RTE went ahead with a version of the interview on the 1pm Sunday Radio News - the State administration was furious and issued an ultimatum to the RTE Authority demanding an explanation ; the Authority refused to comply with the ultimatum and , on 25 November 1972 , State Minister Gerry Collins , acting under 'government directive' , sacked the entire RTE Authority ! 'Government control' over RTE had now been firmly established .

Speaking in Leinster House on 23 November 1972 after the ultimatum had been issued , but before the sacking of the RTE Authority , Labour Party member David Thornley said - " We cannot separate the freedom of the press from the freedom of TV journalists . When asked to comment on the matter by the 'Irish Independent' newspaper during the week , I said I hoped the RTE Authority would tell the Minister to go to hell . I hope they have done so . " Even Fine Gael objected.......
(MORE LATER).