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TALKS IN WALES EVIDENCE OF ‘POLITICAL POLICING’ : LOYALISTS
‘Their political policing strategy has had disastrous consequences over the past four months - John Wilson.
A GROUP set up by loyalist flag protesters has branded plans byconsequences the PSNI/RUC to hold talks in Wales with politicians and community represdestroyed s ahead of the marching sseason as evidence of “political policing”. The Ulster People’s Forum (UPF) last night said it had not received a request to take part in talks and would have turned down an invite if asked.
“The UPF view is that the PSNI have been clear their job is policing and we feel they shouldl stick to this remit as their political policing strategy has had disastrous consequences over the past four months with relationships in some loyalist areas almost detroyed to the point of no return,” forum chairman John Wilson said. It emerged this week that the PSNI/RUC in conjunction with Univeristy of Ulster academic Duncan Morrow, has invited representatives of pilitical parties to Cardiff next weekend to discuss policing issues ahead of the summer marching season. Tensions continue in parts of Belfast around loyal parades including Ardoyne and outside St Patrick’s church in Donegall Street.
Policing reached crisis point during the winter as loyalists blocked roads and attacked police and Alliance politicians in the wake of the decision by Belfast City Council to stop flying the Union Flag every day. The UPF was formed weeks after the flag protests started in December with leading protesters Jamie Bryson and Willie Frazer emerging as spokesmen. This week PSNI/RUC chief constable Matt Baggott said the meeting was an attempt to build relationships “with a veiw to this summer’s parading”. It emerged last night that neither the Orange Order or represtatives of nationalist residents’ groups in flashpoint districts had been invited to attend the Cardiff event. Mr Wilson of the UPF conceded that the number of flag-related protests was well down compared to previously but blamed police tactics which he described as “political policing”. “There are a lot of people out there with wives, familes and jobs and they can’t afford to be arrested or questioned.” Orange Order grand chaplain the Rev Mervyn Gibson confirmed last night he had been invited to attend the talks through a church group with which he is involved but he declined because of a prior engagement. He confirmed that the Orange Order itself had not been invited to attend the talks.
With thanks to : Connia Young, Irish News.
COUNCILLORS’ GOLDEN HANDSHAKE RAISED TO £35k DESPITE PLEDGE
Cost of local government reform payments expected to be more than £4 million overall
THE golden hhandshake being offered to councillors who resign their seats ahead of planned local government reform has risen by £5,000 – despite assurances from Alex Atwood that it would not increase. The environment minister last year proposed capping the lump sum payment for long-serving councillors at £30,000.
He said he would even consider the payment being lower. However, in fresh proposals published yesterday it emerged that the figure had in fact increased to £35,000. While the Storming legislation streamlining the North’s local government structures has yet to be passed, it is hoped to reduce the region’s 26 local authorities to 11. The first eelections for the enlarged council areas are expected to take place next year alongside the European elections. It will mean 120 fewer council seats. Ahead of the poll, councillors wishing to retire and avail of the severance payment must tender their resignations. Only councillors who have served a minimum of 12 years will be eligible for a payment, which will be tax-free up to £30,000. The overall cost of the golden handshakes is expected to be more than £4 million.
“This scheme is designed to recognise the contribution of long-serving councillors who will not be standing for reelection, many of whom have served their communities during periods of political unrest,” the SDLP politation,said. “These councillors have made a significant contribution to the needs of the people in their areas.” In a statement in August, the minister said the severance payment would be “no higher than £30,000″. He wwent further to add that he ” may decide it should be lower”. Responding to queries about the figure had increased by more than 16 per cent, the minister said the reason was “simple”. “I strongly believe – and I think people understand – that those councillors who have served longest, whom worked fearlessly in demanding times for those in need and did so with only small financial recognition deserve recognition as they leave public life,” he said. “I consider a cap of £35k is the right and fair threshold for those who have served so long.” Mr Attword said it had been agreed there will be a bar on the council/MLA double jobbing and that last year he had cut the allowance of assembly members who were also councillors by two-thirds. “Across the range of issues, my approach has been to recognise long service but tackle decisively double jobbing and double incomes,” he said. The public is being invited to comment on the latest proposals in a consultation exercise at the end of May.
With many thanks to : John Manley (political reporter) Irish News.
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- ‘Councillors to blame for illegal plots’ (times.co.zm)
- Veteran councillors may get £35,000 (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)
- Ban councils from making money from planning system in their area, Labour’s Hilary Benn tells Eric Pickles (telegraph.co.uk)
- Moonlighting planning officers help builders exploit ‘vulnerable’ councils (telegraph.co.uk)
Search Operation in Maghaberry: Bed and Blankets Covered in Excrement and Wet with Urine.
Gerry McGeough has just phoned from Maghaberry Prison following a massive search operation. While Gerry himself is not a protesting prisoner, he finds himself imprisoned in the middle of an escalating dirty protest. As in the past, a dirty protest involved spreading human excrement on the cell walls. Today, in 2012, the walls of the protesting cells in Maghaberry Prison are covered in human excrement. Having found it necessary to escalate the protest, the prisoners now throw excrement and urine out underneath the cell doors into the hallways.
When they entered today and carried out a search of Gerry’s cell, the dog had just completed a search of neighbouring protest cells. Already covered in excrement and urine, this dog was used to sniff through Gerry’s cell. His bed and blankets are now wet with urine, plastered with excrement and covered with dog hair. He will sleep in this tonight. These are the conditions a 54 year old man, who has already suffered two heart attacks and has five stents inserted, is expected to survive in. If your husband, father or any family member was found to be living in these conditions within a hospital, there would be outrage.
The protesting cells are cleaned once every six weeks. In the meantime, cat litter is spread over the floors. The guards wear protective suits and gas masks when they deliver food through the cell doors. Flies will be ever present and in hot weather, heating is turned up full. The smell is unbearable. In any cleaning operation, a mixture of excrement, urine, cat litter and chemicals will be washed back into the cells. When prisoners leave their cells, they will sometimes be forced to walk through this mess. The riot squad are on constant standby. If prison staff are seen becoming too friendly with a prisoner, they are moved.
This is allowed to happen today in Ireland because too many people are silent. You close their eyes, you close their ears and your mouths remain shut. What will you say if your own sons and daughters find themselves on a dirty protest? Who will you turn to when so many refuse to listen?
Libertad para Gerry
POSTED ON BEHALF OF : by Damian Herron
Related articles
- Life as a protesting republican prisoner in Maghaberry (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Statement from Cógus POWs, Maghaberry Prison 25/05/2012 (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Free Marian Price ” Don’t Let Her Root in Prison ! (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Republican Marian Price reveals horror of seven months’ solitary confinement in prison (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Statement from the Family & Friends of Republican prisoners, Maghaberry. 19th May 2012 (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
END BRITISH INTERNMENT SUPPORT THE POW’s !
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Saturday, 21 July 2012
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12:00
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GLASGOW CITY CHAMBERS
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SUPPORT THE POW‘S, BREAK THE SILENCE,
POSTED ON BEHALF OF : Invite-Only Event · By Mihall O’Cuinn
Related articles
- [R . S . F news] Provo MLAs act as jailers (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Statement from the POW Department Republican Sinn Féin 223 Parnell Street Dublin 1 00353-1-8729747 00353-87-9374277 (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- R.N.U. (Irish Socialist-Republican Political Lobby Group) (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- PoW Martin Corey refused compassionate leave on the death of his brother (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Roe 4 POWs on 24 hour lockup since Easter Saturday (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
POW FUNDRAISING WEEKEND !
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Friday, 6 July 2012
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10:00
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Fermanaghcavan Csm in conjunction with IRPWA will be holding a fundraiser weekend in support of the POWs in the Emerald Bar Bundoran on the 6th and 7th of july . Garryowen are playing on the friday night and Erin Go Bragh will be playing the Saturday night. The cover chargeis 5 euro and will cover both nights, there will also be a raffle of crafts on both nights.Tickets will be available from your local cumann or in the emerald bar. All proceeds will go to POWs, come out and show your support for the POWs.Beir Bua
Related articles
- Roe 4 POWs on 24 hour lockup since Easter Saturday (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- [R . S . F news] Provo MLAs act as jailers (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- British Security Forces harass Scottish and English solidarity with Irish Republican Prisoners (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- R.N.U. (Irish Socialist-Republican Political Lobby Group) (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- PoW Martin Corey refused compassionate leave on the death of his brother (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
PUBLIC MEETING ON THE ONGOING INTERNMENT OF MARIAN PRICE !
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Saturday, 16 June 2012
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14:30
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A Public Meeting on the ongoing Internment of Marian Price will take place in the Pearse Centre, Ireland Institute, Pearse Street, Dublin 2 on Saturday the 16th of June at 2.30pm. Guest speakers will be Human Rights Activist Monsignor Raymond Murray, Solicitor Michael Finucane and Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan.
Related articles
- Derry to rally this Saturday for Marian Price’s release at Free Derry Corner (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Free Marian Price ” Don’t Let Her Root in Prison ! (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- If you are against injustice and stand up for human rights please come along to this March and demand the immediate release of Marian Price. (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- March in Belfast to Highlight the Ongoing Internment and Torture of Marian Price. (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Marian Price should be released now: MLAs (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
FIGHT FOR THE LIFE OF MAHMOUD SARSAK [2] !
![Fight for the life of Mahmoud Sarsak [2]](https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/592077_275853569179426_1078557361_n.jpg)
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Today
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15:00 until 17:00
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Department for Culture Media and Sport, at 2-4 Cockspur Street London SW1Y 5DH [just behind Trafalgar Square]
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As the world watches millionaire footballers compete for the European Championship trophy, Palestinian footballer Mahmoud Sarsak is close to death as he enters his 85th day of hunger strike, the longest in history.Sarsak, a 25-year-old footballer and student from Gaza, was arrested three years ago as he was trying to meet up with the national team in the West Bank, and has been detained indefinitely without charge or trial ever since.Come and protest against this blatant abuse of human rights on Monday 11th June at 3pm outside the Department of Media, Culture and Sport in a coordinated action with the We Are All Hana Shalabi Network from Scotland who will be protesting outside the British Consulatein Jerusalem.Bring footballs, football shirts and banners for a fun media-friendly kickabout outside the DMCS to raise awareness of Sarsak and the thousands of Palestinian prisonersbeing held under administrative detention and illegal combatant lawsPlease note:
This facebook was created because Facebook blocked all new activity on our original facebook event for this protest.
Clearly it was too effective in gaining rapid growing support, so presumably the Zionist trolls made false allegations and facebook just blocked it without any notification or investigation. Please follow details and updates also through emails, twitter and phones.
*** Phone CONTACTS: ***
+44 (0)7729779164
+44 (0)7880 731 865Twitter: @palestineplace
Email: najah383@hotmail.com
POSTED ON BEHALF OF : Public event · By Yael Kahn, Malaka Mohammed and Joel Sharples
Related articles
- #PalHunger | Rally in support of Palestinian hunger strikers (occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com)
- The war on Palestinian soccer: Free Mahmoud Sarsak (altahrir.wordpress.com)
- URGENT: Act now for Mahmoud Sarsak on 84th day of hunger strike (graybeardtrail.wordpress.com)
- 2 hunger strikers issue ‘final distress call’ (mondoweiss.net)
- Israel’s war on footballers (morningstaronline.co.uk)
- Former Palestinian footballer vows to continue hunger strike until his release (edition.cnn.com)
FROM BELFAST TO BELMARSH – END INTERNMENT AND DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL !!!
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Thursday, 14 June 2012-
19:30
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Public Meeting with Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, Paddy Hill, Saghir Hussain, Terri McLaughlin.
Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, Civil rights activist, witness to Bloody Sunday, leading spokesperson for Smash H-Block Campaign 1980-81 and former MP for Mid-Ulster.
Paddy Hill, Member of the Birmingham Six, wrongfully imprisoned for 16 years and Co-founder of MOJO, the Miscarriages of Justice Organisation.
Saghir Hussain, Human rights lawyer, Director & Spokesperson for Cage Prisoners.
Terri McLaughlin, UNISON member & Vice Chair, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign.Free Marian Price. End Internment. End detention without trial.
Fight Islamaphobia. Defend civil liberties.
Related articles
- An Irish American Activists said this morning…Remember Guiseppe Conlon. (RIP) (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Eamon Mc Cann Interview on Marian Price with radio free eireann (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- The Torture of Marian Price (counterpunch.org)
- Marian Price needs our support (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
- Free the Irish Marian Price (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
42nd Annual NJ Irish Festival Public event !
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Sunday, 10 June 2012
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12:00 until 19:00 in EDT
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Join us for a great day of brilliant Irish fun….Entertainment on two stages, Irish Step dancing, food and craft vendors, a sanctioned Pipe and drum competition, the return of the “Human Horse Race” proceeds from Festival to benefit the Wounded Warriors.
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Activists: Dozens dead in new Syria massacre
BEIRUT(AP) — Syria on Thursday denied as “absolutely baseless” claims by opposition groups about a new massacre in the central Hama province in which government forces allegedly killed dozens of people, including women and children.
The exact death toll and circumstances of the overnight killings in Mazraat al-Qubair on the outskirts of Hama were impossible to confirm but the violence is bound to reinforce the growing belief that a peace plan brokered by international envoy Kofi Annan is unraveling as the country spirals toward civil war.
The violence comes on the heels of a horrific massacre in late May in Houla, a cluster of villages in the central Homs province, which left over 100 dead including many children and women gunned down in their homes. U.N. investigators blamed pro-government gunmen for at least some of the killings but the Syrian regime denied responsibility and blamed rebels for the deaths. The Houla massacre triggered international outrage and a coordinated expulsion of Syrian diplomats from world capitals.
Syria on Thursday said “an armed terrorist group committed an appalling crime” in Mazraat al-Qubair, killing nine women and children. A government statement published on the state-run news agency SANA said that after the crime, residents there appealed on Syrian authorities in Hama to intervene to protect them, adding that competent authorities headed to the farm and stormed a hideout of the group and clashed with them.
Clashes resulted in the killing of all members of the group. Two security agents were killed and five others wounded, it said.
The statement said the killings were meant to put pressure on the Syrian regime ahead of the U.N. Security Council meeting.
British Prime Minister David Cameron urged concerted action from the international community against Syrian President Bashar Assad‘s regime following the latest reports. He said Thursday that if the reports of the “brutal and sickening attack” are true, it adds further proof that the Assad regime is “completely illegitimate and cannot stand.”
Speaking during a visit to Norway, Cameron insisted more must be done to isolate Assad’s regime and show that “the whole world” wants to see political transition in Syria and condemns “absolutely” the Syrian regime.
The exact circumstances of the violence in Hama were impossible to independently confirm.
Al-Qubair is a small farm in the overwhelmingly Sunni village of Maarzaf around 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the city of Hama with around 30 homes and around 160 inhabitants. Attempts to reach eyewitnesses and residents of the area were unsuccessful Thursday, making the verification of what went on extremely difficult. The Syrian government keeps tight restrictions on journalists.
Activists said the Sunni village is surrounded by a string of Alawite villages. Alawites are an offshoot of Shiite Islam and Assad is a member of the sect.
The Britain-based Observatory for Human Rights said Thursday that “dozens” of people were killed overnight in Mazraat al-Qubair but Rami Abdul-Rahman, the director of the group which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said he was still documenting names of the dead. He said the circumstances of the killings were still unclear and called on U.N. observers to visit the area immediately.
The Local Coordination Committees group gave a far higher death toll, saying more than 78 people were killed, including many women and children. It says pro-government militiamen known as shabiha first shelled the farming area and then went in and killed the residents there. It says some of the dead were stabbed to death while other bodies were burned.
Syria’s main opposition group in exile, the Syrian National Council, also said 78 people were killed. It said 35 of them were from the same Al-Yatim family and more than half of them women and children. It said the militiamen converged on Qubair from neighboring pro-regime villages. It said some of the dead were killed execution-style, others were slain with knives.
“Women and children were burned inside their homes in al-Qubair,” said Mousab Alhamadee, an activist based in the central province of Hama.
WITH MANY THANKS TO : By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press
Related articles
- Syria accused of massacring 100 (guardian.co.uk)
- New ‘massacre’ in central Syria (bbc.co.uk)
- Hama Massacre: Activists Report New Violence In Qubair, Syria, At Least 78 Dead (inquisitr.com)
- Syria accused of massacring 100 – The Guardian (guardian.co.uk)
- Activists say pro-government militia and security forces have killed at least … – The Guardian (guardian.co.uk)
