REPRESSION WORSENS BEHIND SINN FEIN BACKING

REPRESSION WORSENS BEHIND SINN FEIN BACKING

As Sinn Fein joins with Gordon Brown in seeking terms on devolution satisfactory to Peter Robinson and the DUP, Danny McBrearty speaking on behalf of the REPUBLICAN NETWORK FOR UNITY (RNU) asks Sinn Fein why its backing for the crown constabulary has been meant more repression for Republicans.

“When Sinn Fein formalized its endorsement of the British constabulary, party members pledged that they would not join constabulary boards and partnerships to become ‘cheerleaders’ for the RUC-PSNI. Since those pledges, nationalists and Republicans have observed a series of unprecedented repressive measures enacted by the British and imposed by those who enforce British rule and law.

“The British have introduced 28 day mini-internment without charge. Stop and search powers are routinely used to intimidate the children and spouses of Republicans. Retaliatory arrests on decades old charges have been made against some Republicans opponents like Gerry McGeough, while arbitrary revocation of licenses is used to jail others like Terry McCafferty. Plastic bullets are still fired. Political activists are threatened or offered bribes to become the next Denis Donaldson. A number of failed DNA frame-ups have collapsed without charges or demotions for those responsible.

“Meanwhile the party’s presence on constabulary boards and DPP's is touted by the British as a public stamp of approval for such injustices. Sinn Fein queries about British repression are turned aside with scripted answers about having protocols, which seem to mean that the British will use such measures at will. The party seems more concerned with shielding the crown constabulary from DPP protests than with shielding nationalists and Republicans from British repression.

“Republicans are seeing that Sinn Fein’s backing for the crown constabulary has not brought community partnership or control but merely created a façade of community support to mask British repression and injustice.

“Devolution would not bring genuine control over policing and justice but merely a cosmetic change in the configuration over a constabulary imposing British rule and law in British interests. It will straitjacket Sinn Fein into the mantle of constabulary cheerleaders which they vowed would never wear.”