Post by RedFlag32 on Mar 25, 2007 23:03:31 GMT
Original statement
Unfair Media?
For release
1ú Márta/March 2007
Press Release/Preas Ráiteas From Republican Sinn Fein
Republican Sinn Féin candidates not given fair media coverage
Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh
Publicity regarding Republican Sinn Féin‚s six candidates in a similar number of constituencies in the current Six-County elections have not been given fair coverage by the print media not indeed by radio or television.
The excuse is that this occurs because the establishment refuses to recognise us as a party‚, regarding our six candidates as six Independents‚ and treating them as such. Minority viewpoints are getting scant or no coverage with the notable exception of Robert McCartney and his UKUP who is himself standing as a candidate in six different constituencies.
Republican Sinn Féin is organised throughout Ireland with a national office in Dublin and another office in Belfast, a monthly newspaper published without a break for 20 years and a coherent political philosophy as our election manifesto indicates.
A prime issue in this election is the question of English policing here. Our election workers continue to be harassed by the RUC/PSNI as they go about their work.
On last Sunday February 25 our Director of Elections Michael Lavelle was stopped in Lisnaskea, his car was searched and he was generally harassed. On Wednesday February 28 as he and the election campaign‚s Director of Finance JJ McCusker were returning from Belfast, following a tour of constituencies, they were again stopped on the M1 near Dungannon, had their car searched and were generally harassed.
On both occasions the election workers made their positions and responsibilities clear. Will Martin McGuinness and other Provo candidates who accept the British police in Ireland, in order to, “Teach them manners” (Their words) speak out now and condemn such tactics or do they condone them as an integral part of British rule which they have agreed to and seek to administer through Stormont?
Letter of complaint to the plough from a RSF supporter
Hi,
I don't believe your negative comments towards RSF candidates is very helpful in regards to seeing a united Ireland free of British imperialist rule. How can you make statements like?
" Republican Sinn Fein’s complaints that they were denied proper coverage in the media is really a pathetic attempt to hide the reality that they have little support from republicans within the nationalist community. Their obsession with “English” as in their statement of Friday 9th of March, 07 “To consolidate English rule” and “by unscrupulous English governments.” is a blatant attempt to appeal to a reactionary form of nationalism playing up people’s dislike of the English, a view shared by many people world wide. " (The Plough Vol 4-7)
You should know above any other about media control and it's effects. Is it not the imperialists that are in control of the media? I must ask do you have a problem with the fact that some people have a real aversion to the "English" being in and controlling Ireland. Is it not a fact it is none other than the English that conquered, enslaved and continue to do so to this very day. It is not a fact that the English are the prime target in Eire simply because it is England that continues to be Eire's master. I think it is pathetic, after doing your best to demean RSF and their candidates; you would then throw out a false olive branch stating that we need to consolidate.
At least RSF hasn't completely given up their stance for an armed struggle in Ireland as everybody else including yourselves have. I would think this might be a proper time to quote Mao,
"the power of politics is always won over the barrel of a gun"
sincerely,
Joe Mc Daid
PS. This is coming from a person that is a life long supporter of Fidel Castro and sees Che Guevara as one of the greatest men in the history of man. I have fought against imperialism my entire life. Che didn't believe in giving up the armed struggle.
Editoral response
Joe’s comments are welcome as they provide an opportunity to openly discuss some issues that are sometimes left alone.
1/ First as regards the media it is true that they are controlled by pro-imperialist elements. But so what? They were also controlled by the same elements when provisional Sinn Fein first entered the electoral field. Despite negative media coverage PSF vote rose and rose because they tapped into a nerve within the nationalist population. They engaged with the people. Republicans have always had to deal with a hostile media. So that’s nothing new. RSF’s vote was small because they have little support. In West Belfast even the Workers Party did better than them.
The IRSP experience of RSF itself has not been positive. Their members have in the past mistakenly accused us of supporting the Good Friday Agreement. They refuse to work jointly with other groups. Recently on a white line picket they refused to acknowledge the presence of IRSP members on the picket. They refused to engage as an organisation with concerned republicans on policing debates. This elitist and superior attitude towards other republicans needs to be attacked politically and does Joe think we should simply suppress differences and not mention them. Lets have a bit of honesty here.
2/ We make no apology for attacking the use of the tern “English” Words are also weapons and these words downplay the actual role of Imperialism in its world role. To use the term English is to reduce the struggle in Ireland to an anti-English one. Many of our best elements of the English working class have supported the right of the Irish to self –determination. It also downplays the role British regiments played in the suppression of republicans including those made up of Scots and Welsh soldiers.
3/ As regards the question of armed struggle perhaps Joe can clarify RSF’position. I understood that they have no links with anyone else. They claim to be a stand-alone party with no links to anyone else. They themselves are not engaged in armed struggle to my knowledge but do support republican prisoners who have engaged in armed activity. That being the case one would think they would support all republican prisoners. But they don’t. Perhaps Joe could explain why they are selective in which prisoners they support. Might that also stem from an elitist attitude?
The IRSP position is that there is no basis for armed struggle at this time. And we have spelt this out clearly on many occasions. Those who elevate armed struggle to a strategic level regardless of objective conditions just do not understand revolutionary politics no matter how many posters of Che they have on the wall. One cannot separate either Che or Mao from their politics. Both were committed communists and both also engaged in building socialism as well as having engaged in armed struggle. Armed struggle with out politics is the road to defeat demoralisation and destruction.
4/As regards olive branches Joe the position of RSF as regards joint work is forbidden by Ard-Feis resolution so our suggestions were not directed at them but to other republicans and socialists. If on the other hand RSF began to reach out to others then we have no doubt that the IRSP would be prepared to sit down and openly and honestly discuss areas of agreement and differences with them.
Unfair Media?
For release
1ú Márta/March 2007
Press Release/Preas Ráiteas From Republican Sinn Fein
Republican Sinn Féin candidates not given fair media coverage
Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh
Publicity regarding Republican Sinn Féin‚s six candidates in a similar number of constituencies in the current Six-County elections have not been given fair coverage by the print media not indeed by radio or television.
The excuse is that this occurs because the establishment refuses to recognise us as a party‚, regarding our six candidates as six Independents‚ and treating them as such. Minority viewpoints are getting scant or no coverage with the notable exception of Robert McCartney and his UKUP who is himself standing as a candidate in six different constituencies.
Republican Sinn Féin is organised throughout Ireland with a national office in Dublin and another office in Belfast, a monthly newspaper published without a break for 20 years and a coherent political philosophy as our election manifesto indicates.
A prime issue in this election is the question of English policing here. Our election workers continue to be harassed by the RUC/PSNI as they go about their work.
On last Sunday February 25 our Director of Elections Michael Lavelle was stopped in Lisnaskea, his car was searched and he was generally harassed. On Wednesday February 28 as he and the election campaign‚s Director of Finance JJ McCusker were returning from Belfast, following a tour of constituencies, they were again stopped on the M1 near Dungannon, had their car searched and were generally harassed.
On both occasions the election workers made their positions and responsibilities clear. Will Martin McGuinness and other Provo candidates who accept the British police in Ireland, in order to, “Teach them manners” (Their words) speak out now and condemn such tactics or do they condone them as an integral part of British rule which they have agreed to and seek to administer through Stormont?
Letter of complaint to the plough from a RSF supporter
Hi,
I don't believe your negative comments towards RSF candidates is very helpful in regards to seeing a united Ireland free of British imperialist rule. How can you make statements like?
" Republican Sinn Fein’s complaints that they were denied proper coverage in the media is really a pathetic attempt to hide the reality that they have little support from republicans within the nationalist community. Their obsession with “English” as in their statement of Friday 9th of March, 07 “To consolidate English rule” and “by unscrupulous English governments.” is a blatant attempt to appeal to a reactionary form of nationalism playing up people’s dislike of the English, a view shared by many people world wide. " (The Plough Vol 4-7)
You should know above any other about media control and it's effects. Is it not the imperialists that are in control of the media? I must ask do you have a problem with the fact that some people have a real aversion to the "English" being in and controlling Ireland. Is it not a fact it is none other than the English that conquered, enslaved and continue to do so to this very day. It is not a fact that the English are the prime target in Eire simply because it is England that continues to be Eire's master. I think it is pathetic, after doing your best to demean RSF and their candidates; you would then throw out a false olive branch stating that we need to consolidate.
At least RSF hasn't completely given up their stance for an armed struggle in Ireland as everybody else including yourselves have. I would think this might be a proper time to quote Mao,
"the power of politics is always won over the barrel of a gun"
sincerely,
Joe Mc Daid
PS. This is coming from a person that is a life long supporter of Fidel Castro and sees Che Guevara as one of the greatest men in the history of man. I have fought against imperialism my entire life. Che didn't believe in giving up the armed struggle.
Editoral response
Joe’s comments are welcome as they provide an opportunity to openly discuss some issues that are sometimes left alone.
1/ First as regards the media it is true that they are controlled by pro-imperialist elements. But so what? They were also controlled by the same elements when provisional Sinn Fein first entered the electoral field. Despite negative media coverage PSF vote rose and rose because they tapped into a nerve within the nationalist population. They engaged with the people. Republicans have always had to deal with a hostile media. So that’s nothing new. RSF’s vote was small because they have little support. In West Belfast even the Workers Party did better than them.
The IRSP experience of RSF itself has not been positive. Their members have in the past mistakenly accused us of supporting the Good Friday Agreement. They refuse to work jointly with other groups. Recently on a white line picket they refused to acknowledge the presence of IRSP members on the picket. They refused to engage as an organisation with concerned republicans on policing debates. This elitist and superior attitude towards other republicans needs to be attacked politically and does Joe think we should simply suppress differences and not mention them. Lets have a bit of honesty here.
2/ We make no apology for attacking the use of the tern “English” Words are also weapons and these words downplay the actual role of Imperialism in its world role. To use the term English is to reduce the struggle in Ireland to an anti-English one. Many of our best elements of the English working class have supported the right of the Irish to self –determination. It also downplays the role British regiments played in the suppression of republicans including those made up of Scots and Welsh soldiers.
3/ As regards the question of armed struggle perhaps Joe can clarify RSF’position. I understood that they have no links with anyone else. They claim to be a stand-alone party with no links to anyone else. They themselves are not engaged in armed struggle to my knowledge but do support republican prisoners who have engaged in armed activity. That being the case one would think they would support all republican prisoners. But they don’t. Perhaps Joe could explain why they are selective in which prisoners they support. Might that also stem from an elitist attitude?
The IRSP position is that there is no basis for armed struggle at this time. And we have spelt this out clearly on many occasions. Those who elevate armed struggle to a strategic level regardless of objective conditions just do not understand revolutionary politics no matter how many posters of Che they have on the wall. One cannot separate either Che or Mao from their politics. Both were committed communists and both also engaged in building socialism as well as having engaged in armed struggle. Armed struggle with out politics is the road to defeat demoralisation and destruction.
4/As regards olive branches Joe the position of RSF as regards joint work is forbidden by Ard-Feis resolution so our suggestions were not directed at them but to other republicans and socialists. If on the other hand RSF began to reach out to others then we have no doubt that the IRSP would be prepared to sit down and openly and honestly discuss areas of agreement and differences with them.