Sinister picture of republican ‘gunman’ near Derry’s Bogside bonfires

Photographs have emerged purporting to show an armed republican on the streets of Derry last week.

Follow this link to find out more: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fYEXgs1PBgtJrhN6 a masked man with what appears to be a rifle on the streets of Co Derry

Captured by French politics PhD student Hadrien Holstein, the grainy pictures show a masked man posing with what appears to be a rifle close to the controversial Bogside bonfire.
Scrawled on a gable wall behind the shadowy figure was the one-word slogan ‘INLA’. The pictures were taken late on Thursday night, as the bonfire was under construction. Mr Holstein (26), a doctoral student at the University of Paris-Nanterre, has been researching Irish Republicinism for the past five years, and has published several academic papers on the subject. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last night, the student said the gunman had emerged from the shadows close to the bonfire and had issued a chilling threat to the security forces.

Follow this link to find out more: https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3311928125553605&id=100002093504519&set=a.439170419496071&source=48

“I was covering for my own work the bonfire on the Bogside. “I decided to spend some moments during the night at the bonfire,” the student said. “And at one moment, someone made me a sign, called me to come over – and there was the gunman.” The PhD student asked the gunman if he could take a photograph. “He said OK, and made a short statement,” he said. “He said he was from the Republican Movement, Derry Brigade. “I asked for a precious group, but he didn’t reply. “He said he was looking for RUC child abusers, and said all Crown Forces are legitimate targets. “Then he turned away and went back to where he had come from.” 

Members of the INLA (Irish National Liberation Army) with credit to An Sionnach Fionn for the original photograph

The incident took place around midnight on Thursday, according to Mr Holstein’s account of the incident. The student said he had not spoken to police about the incident, and nor did he plan to. “My PhD is mainly about the republicans,” he said. “If I contact the police, you know, it is the end of my work, my PhD. “Nobody would speak to me again, so I decided not to do it.” Asked if he was frightened by what he saw, the student said: “At the beginning, yes, because it was the first time I saw a gun. “But in the end I was more stressed than frightened. “When I understand it was OK in a way, that I could be safe and just taking a picture, I was more stressed.” He accepted that the terrorists may have been using him as a channel to send a message to the outside world. I think they knew I was a Frenchman,” the PhD student said. “I’m not 100% sure but I suppose they were expecting that I contact the media to make coverage, it was accepted I’d make publicity. “I’m French, I’m not part of the community, so they saw me as an external person.”

Last night, Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton said the emergence of the terrorist image was “disturbing”. “It’s clearly very sinister,” the MLA told the Belfast Telegraph. “We know over the weekend, and with the burning of images of the Queen and poppy wreaths, it has caused a lot of upset and hurt right across the community. “And the appearance of what appears to be a gunman will no doubt strike fear into that particular community.” He said the incident had echoes of the scenes leading up to the murder in the city of journalist Lyra McKee a year ago. “It’s worrying, given the fact a young journalist lost their life on the city’s streets due to a gunman. 

That image represents a huge step backwards in terms of community relations and the development of the peaceful society that we all want.” Mr Middleton called on those involved to “get off the backs” of the community because “it’s clear that they are not wanted”, and said that anyone with any information on the gunman should contact the PSNI/RUC as soon as possible. This year Derry bonfires have come in for heavy criticism from senior Sinn Féin figures, with deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill describing them as “displays of hate”. The PSNI/RUC said last night they had no reports of the Bogside gunman incident.

With many thanks to the: Belfast Telegraph and David Young for the original story 

Rare Bobby Sands picture found

A NEVER before seen picture of hunger striker Bobby Sands at a rally along with republican Máire Drumm is to be included in a new book about the Sinn Féin  vice-president.

ON PARADE: Bobby Sands, front holding the flag, with Máire Drumm in front of the banner

Born in the village of Killeen, Co Armagh, the mother of five was gunned down in cold blood on October 1976 by cowardly gunmen dressed as doctors as she lay in her hospital bed in the Mater Hospital in North Belfast where she was recovering from a major operation. The attack was claimed by the Red Hand Commando, a cover name that was used by the UDA. An commemorative event took please in South Armagh, on what would have been her 100th birthday. A book about her life by former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams will also be launched.

Republican News Front Page at the time of her murder

It contains a previously unseen photograph taken at a Sinn Féin rally on August 8th 1976, two months before she was murdered at the age of 57. Well-known for her defiant speeches at rallies and in courtrooms, she was jailed twice and spent time in Armagh Prison.

The funeral of Máire Drumm along with her former comrades from Cuman na mBann

Gerry Adams said in the years since her death Máire Drumm “has become an iconic figure in Irish Republicanism”. “Her leadership qualities and her enormous courage led to her being elected as vice-president.” The commemoration started at McKevitt’s petrol station at 7.3opm and was followed by a wreath laying ceremony.

With many thanks to: The Irish News and Allison Morris for the original story 

Follow this link to find out more: https://stairnaheireann.net/2015/10/28/1976-maire-drumm-was-the-vice-president-of-sinn-fein-and-a-commander-in-cumann-na-mban-she-was-assassinated-by-loyalists-while-recovering-in-belfasts-mater-hospital/amp/

(2)-: http://Cumann na mBan https://g.co/kgs/Fg8UtG

In the last month the Republican Movement has lost two of its faithful custodians.

Two Irish soldiers snatched from the ranks of Óglaigh na hÉireann (ONH) by their own personal battles.
The only fitting monument to both is to ensure their dream is erected as a reality.
Rest in Peace Óglaigh Henry McErlean agus Dermot McCoy
With many thanks to: RNU – Revolutionay Republicanism.

Óglaigh Henry McErelean

https://m.facebook.com/caitlin.beaton.35#!/story.php?story_fbid=1048952031811609&id=152589471447874

Óglaigh Dermot McCoy

IRA POWs (Cabhair) set the record stright

IRA POWs (Cabhair) set the record straight

FOLLOWING an internal discussion by CABHAIR-aligned prisoners a decision was taken to share facilities with Roe 4 prisoners, ie meals, gym facilities, exercise yard etc.

Disagreements arose with some prisoners in Roe House over the issues of parole and bail conditions. Some prisoners have recently accepted bail and conditions imposed by the prison authorities, i.e. drug tests have been taken, electronic tags accepted as parole conditions.

As Republicans we believe this is not acceptable as it is an attempt to criminalise our struggle. As some prisoners have accepted this, the prison is now using it as an excuse not to grant parole to other prisoners who are not accepting these conditions. We believe this is an attempt by the prison to foster disagreement and disunity among prisoners, to divide and conquer.

Within the prison the CIRA prisoners’ position has not changed. We are operating under our own command structure and we are fully aligned to the leadership of the Republican Movement, Republican Sinn Féin and CABHAIR. Republican Sinn Féin and CABHAIR remain the only people authorised to speak and fundraise on our behalf.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who has been supportive of us in the past and ask that this support continues for us and CABHAIR.

Recently a CIRA prisoner, Damien McKenna of Lurgan, was refused parole to attend his son’s Communion, the reasons given was that he is a Category A prisoner, if released he would be a danger to the police and the public, also there was danger he would abscond. They also claimed he would not be eligible for parole until November.

These are used as excuses to deny parole, but they will use the issue of drug testing etc to block parole. This is the second time Damien has been refused parole. He was refused parole for his father’s funeral which shows the vindictiveness of the system.

At present the system of cooperation with Roe 4 prisoners is working efficiently, now we await the August 2010 agreement is to be fully implemented. We call on all Republican prisoners to work for the full implementation of the agreement.

Related articles

• Republican Sinn Féin founder Ruairí O Bradaigh dies (irishtimes.com)
• The Cover-up (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)

Labhras de Faoite Commemoration

• • Saturday, 9 June 2012
  • 18:00

• Assemble Gurranabraher Church, Cathedral Rd, Cork.

• A commemoration will be held on Saturday 0th of June at 6 pm in honour of Irish Republican Labhras de Faoite. Labhras was a dedicated Irish Republican who devoted his life to the struggle for Irish Independence. He was involved in the Republican Movement from a very young age, first in Fianna Éireann and later Óglaigh na hÉireann. In 1969 Labhras joined Saor Éire to fight English occupation in the six counties. A fluent Irish speaker, Labhras had a keen interest in the revival of all things Irish. He was murdered by MI5 agents not far from his home in June 1975. Fuair sé bás ar son Saoirse na hÉireann.

• POSTED ON BEHALF OF : Event for Craobh Gal Gréine · By Ard Rígh Mac Cormaic

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• Londonderry Police Seize Bombs, Arrest IRA Suspect (abcnews.go.com)
• Benefit for Irish Republican Political Prisoners (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)
• Landmark Ruling Declares Warrants ” Unconstitutional ” ! (seachranaidhe1.wordpress.com)

Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta Easter Commemoration

SUPPORT OUR POW's DON'T STAND BY AND DO NOTHING !!

Cumann na Saoirse Naisiunta (The National Irish Freedom Committee) will hold it’s Easter Commemoration on Easter Sunday April 8th at 9.00am at the grave of its’ co-founder Joe Stynes in Woodlawn Cemetery, East 233 St., Bronx, NY.

The graveside ceremony will include a reading of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, the significance of Easter to Ireland’s freedom struggle, the Republican Movement‘s Easter Statement, Cumann na Saoirse Easter Message and the laying of the wreath at Joe Styne’s grave.

After the graveside ceremony breakfast will be served at Byrne & Hanrahan’s located at 640 McLean Ave. at 10.00am.

After breakfast ‘the Countdown to Easter 2016’ program will commence. This program, initiated in 2010 by the late Brian Mór Ó Baoighill, will include tributes to the executed signatories of the Easter Proclamation and to the other executed Leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising. More details soon viawww.irishfreedom.net

POSTED ON BEHALF OF : Irish Freedom, www.irishfreedom.net

Training For Hate

Image via Wikipedia

Anthony McIntyre

Former IRA volunteer and ex-prisoner, spent 18 years in Long Kesh, 4 years on the blanket and no-wash/no work protests which led to the hunger strikes of the 80s. Completed PhD at Queens upon release from prison. Left the Republican Movement at the endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement, and went on to become a journalist. Co-founder of The Blanket, an online magazine that critically analyzed the Irish peace process.

 

Despite their different backgrounds, the counterterrorism trainers we interviewed have a remarkably similar worldview. It is one of total, civilizational war—a conflict against Islam that involves everyone, without distinction between combatant and noncombatant, law enforcement and military – Meg Stalcup and Joshua Craze

The Macpherson Inquiry into the police handling of the 1993 murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence in England concluded that there was an institutionalised racism within the Metropolitan Police. All being equal before the law was immediately devalued when the first point of contact with the law was the police. Whatever happened after that was compromised. With police fingerprints all over the initial investigation anything subsequent was a question of where the loaded dice might fall. It seems that something similar can be said of US police and that institutional bias is being deliberately fostered at management level.

An article by Meg Stalcup and Joshua Craze titled ‘How We Train Our Cops to Fear Islam’ might seem a bit OTT although the objection from Congressman Peter King is likely to be that the article should be called ‘How We Must Train Our Cops To Fear Islam. Cops have their fears. And what people fear they tend to hate. Anyone who has faced the RUC at protests or republican funerals knows that much as they were forced to peer into hate contorted faces, their bearers itching to baton, beat or fire a plastic bullet at a child from a nationalist family. But to state that stoking fear of a law abiding community is part of their police training sounds a bit much. It seems counterproductive and sort of gives the game away before the first foul tackle goes in. Normally, we expect the human rights discourse to be in play. It acts as the alibi when accusations of abuse emerge: ‘not us, Joe Public, look at our human rights ethos.’

The Stalcup and Craze article detailed training being given out to US beat-cops by people who pass themselves off as “terrorism experts”. Despite the global recession there is no shortage of work in the terrorism industry. It has been constant since 9/11: ‘rivers of federal training dollars are already flowing, many of them straight into the pockets of instructors like Sam Kharoba.’

At a college in Florida in January 2010 Sam Kharoba, an independent consultant in the industry, took his place in front of a class of 60 cops. He promised to teach his students over the course of three days the fundamentals of Islam. One ‘myth’ he set out to explode was that Islam was a peaceful religion. He told his class that since 9/11 there had been ‘over thirteen thousand attacks.’ Extremist Muslims could, he assured his listeners, be spotted as easily as members of the numerous street gangs with their colours that flourish in many US cities.

“When you see a bunch of guys in red, what do you know?” Kharoba asked.
“They are Bloods,” responded the audience, many of whom deal with gangs regularly.
“When you have a Muslim that wears a headband, regardless of color or insignia, basically what that is telling you is ‘I am willing to be a martyr. … The first thing is facial hair … Do you see how the moustache is trimmed, and the beard is in a cone shape? It is very common to have this beard, and the moustache will always be the same, just like Muhammad.”

This type of thing obviously had an effect. According to the authors of the article, Meg Stalcup and Joshua Craze:

When we spoke to students from Kharoba’s class in Florida, many were enthusiastic. Olga Gonzalez, who is a TSA officer in Miami, told us she had taken several of Kharoba’s courses. “This guy is brilliant,” she said. “I can’t believe it: just like gang affiliations, you can distinguish between secular and jihadist Muslims.”

Kharoba, who argues that ‘the best way to handle these people is what I call legal harassment’ seeks to ensure that cops don’t discriminate between good and bad Muslims. ‘Islam is a highly violent radical religion that mandates that all of the earth must be Muslim.’

While there is plenty of room for discussion about the type of religion Islam is and how it might compare against other global religions, hate mongering has no place in rational discussion.

During his classes Kharoba would refer to the infamous Alligator Ally incident where three Muslims in a car were pulled over by the police and detained after a woman diner eavesdropping on their conversation picked up the words ‘bring it down.’

Using this to set the scene Kharoba would project a picture of Ayman Gheith, one of the arrested men, onto the screen and tell his audience:

the first thing is facial hair … do you see how the moustache is trimmed, and the beard is in a cone shape? It is very common to have this beard, and the moustache will always be the same, just like Muhammad

But as the article points out:

There is only one problem with the Alligator Alley case—a problem Kharoba never mentioned to the class. The incident was a false alarm. The “terrorists” turned out to be medical students on their way to a conference in Miami. They were innocent. After thirteen hours of interrogation, the police released them. Kharoba, however, taught the class that Ayman Gheith was a “textbook case” of Islamic fanaticism.

Stalcup and Craze proceed to warn that:

Time is of the essence. Within the next year, the Department of Justice plans to implement the Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative nationwide, and this will amplify the effects of the bad training being provided—unless the system is reformed quickly … But instead of a broader discussion, what we have now is a system that fails to police the ranks of those who train our frontline officers, while no one is paying attention. Apart, that is, from the police.

With Peter King was reported in the New Yorker singing the praises of torture in the wake of the Bin Laden assassination it was evident that the scene is being increasingly set for an ever more violent policing of a demonised community. Because of a law enforcement agency disinclination to differentiate largely because of training by tutors like Kharaba little benefit in terms of security and wellbeing for US citizens is likely to accrue.
 

Posted by AM