Podcast Ireland

Unknown · July 3, 2013

RAR Calls on Public to Support ‘Standing Man’ Protest at Leinster House

Posted on July 5, 2013

PRESS RELEASE

RAGE AGAINST THE REGIME (RAR)

5 July 2013

RAR Calls on Public to Support ‘Standing Man’ Protest at Leinster House

A member of Rage Against the Regime (RAR) will stand outside Leinster House today, reading a book in silence, in support of the ‘standing man’ protest in Ireland, which began last Wednesday. The demonstration will begin at 3.00pm today, and continue every day, indefinitely.

Rage Against the Regime is calling on the public to join the ‘standing man’ protest outside Leinster House today, as a means of expressing dissatisfaction with Government, for whatever reason they like. The ‘standing man’ protest is also a form of solidarity with the people of Turkey, who started this new form of protest, in response to Government restrictions on demonstrations and freedom of speech. It was begun by a solitary man, performance artist Erdem Gunduz, who stood in Taksim Square and was soon joined by hundreds of others, leading to national, then international

replication. ’Standing man’ was begun on Wednesday by a number of people in Dublin, who stood outside Leinster House. However, it failed to get any media attention and draw wider public support, and was discontinued.

A spokesperson for RAR said: ”We are going to stand outside Leinster House every day, and encourage the public to join in.

“The vote in the Seanad for its own dissolution marked an ominous day for democracy in Ireland – and the most fundamental change to the Constitution since it was put into law in 1937. So we are going to read the Constitution, in silence.

“The ‘Anglo Tapes’ have elevated the level of outrage in everyday Irish citizens to new heights, and we are offering them a powerful and yet personal and dignified way of expressing their outrage over what is happening to this country.

ENDS

087-132-3365

Youtube Video of Minister Howlin Clashing With Cameraman Goes Viral – Sparks Rage and ‘Remixes’

Posted on July 3, 2013

Youtube Video ‘‘Minister Howlin Tries to Grab Camera…’ Goes Viral

A Youtube Video of Brendan Howlin, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, being questioned on Merrion Row by organisers of Rage Against the Regime (RAR) about the lack of prosecutions of bankers, on Monday July 1, has gone viral. It is receiving 1,000 hit per hour, with over 47,000 hits in the first 48 hours. The news story was the Number 2 most popular story in Ireland, on News Whip, which is based on Facebook shares. Now, a second video of the same events, made by a separate cameraman, has also gone viral.

The original video, entitled ‘Minister Howlin Tries to Grab Camera…’ shows the Minister being questioned by Paul Madden and Vincent Salafia of RAR, and then reacting angrily, clashing with a cameraman from a group called Dubin Says NO, who were filming the FoI submission. The Minister then appears to click his fingers at nearby Gardai, as he walks back to the Department entranceway, and grow even angrier when the Garda does not come running and intervene. Instead he walks past, and stands back.

The Minister has been severely criticised for his reaction in the thousands of comments posted on a range of web sites carrying the story, like thejournal.ie, broadsheet.ie, and politics.ie - where the stories are receiving a large number of hits, with the vast majority of people expressing comments of shock and dismay at the “aggressive” and “arrogant” behaviour of the Minister.

New Video of the Minister Emerges – Showing Lead Up and Context

The original video received some queries and criticisms, with some saying it was an incomplete video; that something was ‘hidden’, or ‘edited out’, because it doesn’t start until right before the Minister’s outburst. However, a new video of the same events on Monday has emerged, taken by a second cameraman, from another group called Reality Ireland, and it shows Minister Howlin before, during and after his interaction with the first cameraman.

The 8 min clip shows all of the events preceding the first 1 min clip. It begins with the event that had been organized for Monday at 1.oopm by RAR, which involved Paul Madden and Vincent Salafia submitting requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) for copies of the ‘Anglo File’ (relating to Anglo Irish Bank) and bank tapes to the Department of Finance. A press release had been sent out that morning, inviting the media to record the event. Large A1 posters of the FoI requests were printed and displayed, along with a large copy of Section 71 of the Statutes of Limitations Act. Two other groups came to film and record the event; Dublin Says NO, and Reality Ireland, but the regular media chose not to cover the event.

After the two interviews, the new video then shows Paul Madden entering the Department of Finance Reception area, and talking to the person at the reception desk – and submitting the FoI request, as planned, and without incident.

The new video then shows Minister Howlin emerging from the Department of Finance, with an aide, just after Mr Madden emerges, after making the submission. He is immediately questioned by Vincent Salafia, in a polite manner, about whether he was aware of the statute of limitations for fraud and that it was running out, which could mean some potential defendants would never be held liable for banking fraud. Minister Howlin simply ignores the question and walks away, towards Merrion Row with his aide. The video then shows Paul Madden him another question, further up the street, regarding whether or not there was an ongoing Garda investigation into Anglo Irish Bank or not. That is when the other camera is turned on, and when the Minister then lashes out. The clearly shows there was no assault or intimidation of any kind on the Minister, preceding the questions.

[Vincent Salafia (right) and Paul Madden of Rage Against the Regime (RAR) - submitting FoI requests before the Minister appeared]

Grounds for assault claim by camerman?

There has been a large amount of speculation, both in online comments and questions from the media, about whether or not the cameraman was assaulted by the Minister, and whether or not the cameraman would press charges. Many members of the public have suggested that the cameraman should make a criminal complaint. That is for the cameraman to decide, and RAR makes no comment on the validity of that proposal.

However, RAR does concede that the actions of the Minister could be interpreted by a reasonable person to rise to the level of ‘Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in a public place’, which is an offence under Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. However, RAR has chosen not to make any formal complaint to the Gardai, under this section, and chooses instead to let the videos speak for themselves.

Statute of Limitations on Banking Fraud

The purpose of the event, before Minister Howlin arrived, was to highlight the lack of prosecutions for banking related crimes. Some commentators have noted that Mr Salafia is holding up a copy of Section 71 of the Statute of Limitations Act, 1957, concerning fraud, and stated that in their opinion this is not relevant to criminal prosecution of bankers. They say that banking fraud is ‘an indictable offence’, which means that there is no statute of limitations on the crime. That it exactly why RAR held up the Act concerning civil liability; because banking and financial institutions are subject to both criminal and civil regulations, and the civil sanctions often depend on evidence from criminal investigations, which they often follow. However, that has not been happening in Ireland, like in other jurisdictions.

Civil liability does have a time limit within which proceedings must be initiated in court– which starts to run when “the plaintiff has discovered the fraud or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it.” That period is five or six years, depending on the nature of the act. Given that the blanket bank guarantee of September 2008, and the actions leading up to it, many of which are described in ‘the Anglo Tapes’, occurred almost at least five years ago, there is concern that many people who should be held accountable will not be, because there has been no action taken by the Government and the authorities. Civil actions often follow criminal actions, but there have been only three criminal prosecutions so far, and no convictions. Civil liability could mean that many Institutions,and individuals, would be held personally liable for damages, and fines resulting from their actions or inactions – which could be used to offset the cost of the blanket guarantee. There are many other crimes beside fraud that need investigating, and the chain of liability could and should rise high in the ladder, in both State and private institutions.

In addition to the common law crimes, and the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, there are a number of other of statutes and regulations governing fraud in the banking industry, many of which contain civil law sanctions. These include the Companies Acts 1963-2012. Financial service providers and persons involved in the management of regulated financial service providers can also be investigated and sanctioned by the Central Bank under the Central Bank of Ireland Act 1942 (as amended). There appears to have been very few actions taken, or sanctions under these laws so far, and the concern is that time is running out, or has run out, on many potential actions – against many potential.

Means of Contacting the Minister

Some commentators have criticised RAR for asking questions of the Minister on the street, in the way we did – and suggested that we should instead write to him, and ask him questions. That is exactly what we did, and he never responded to our email. RAR wrote to the Minister in late May, to invite him to speak at the inaugural RAR debate at the Grand Social, Dublin, on 13 June.

The topic was ‘Resource Nationalism: Why is Ireland Giving Away Its Natural Resources? It featured groups campaigning against the sale of Coillte, and the proposed oil well and wind farm in Dublin Bay; the Woodland League and Dublin Bay Concern. The sale of Coillte was in fact mooted by Minister Howlin and his Department, who later reversed the decision subsequent to the RAR debate.

All political parties were invited to participate in a balanced debate, but the Labour Party did not even respond to our request. Many other parties did respond, and sent representatives to participate, including: the Communist Party of Ireland; Fis Nua; former minister Ciaran Cuffe of the Green Party; the Socialist Party; the Socialist Workers Party; People Before Profit; and the United Left Alliance. Fine Gael responded, but did not send a representative.

Media commentators such as RTE Presenter Eddie Hobbs (on behalf of Own Our Oil) and Trinity College Dublin economics lecturer Dr Constantin Gurdgiev responded to invitations and participated in the debate on resource nationalism on 13 June. It was also well attended by the public, anmd featured a number of artists. The next event will take place on 11 July, on the topic of fluoridation of Irish Water. Following that, on 8 August, Irish Times columnist John Waters will host a debate on ‘The Future of Money’. All parties are again invited to participate.

Howlin Video ‘Remixes’ broadsheet.ie and Youtube

On a lighter note, a number of ‘remixes’ of the original video have begun to appear on youtube. One video, entitled ‘Minister Howlin’s Jive Walk: The Remix’ was posted by broadsheet.ie last night. It was dubbed with the Gibbs Brothers, was later removed,a nd then returned. The description reads, “The flustered ministers, finger-clicking, walk of no shame from yesterday get its Gibbs Brothers on. Pleasantly Travolting.”

Another remix video response entitled ‘Minister Howlin Staying Alive’ was posted last night on youtube. Its description reads “Minister Brendan Howlin strutting down Merrion Street to the Bee Gees’ ‘Staying Alive’.” Other remixes are reportedly being produced.

Doorstep to Democracy Campaign

RAR members stand over their decision to persist in asking reasonable questions, in a reasonable manner, of Minister Howlin; particularly in light of his refusal to engage with us through other channels. We are acting in the public interest, and asking questions of national importance, that the public wants to know the answers to, in light of the partial release of the Anglo Tapes by the Irish Independent newspaper.

RAR is launching a ‘Doorstep to Democracy’ campaign and is calling for members of the public to ‘doorstep’ other politicians in both Government and Opposition parties, with similarly reasonable questions, in a similarly reasonable manner – and to record their responses for uploading to Youtube. The videos will then be viewed and debated at upcoming RAR events on 11 July and 8 August at the Grand Social, Dublin, and on our web site and Facebook group. RAR is also seeking other remixes of the video, as it represents the kind of interaction between politics and the arts that RAR is aiming to showcase.

For more information contact Vincent Salafia 087-132-3365 / rar.ireland@gmail.com or contact us on our Facebook Group or Twitter Page.

Rage Against the Regime at The Grand Social, Dublin. Thursday, 11 July

Posted on April 20, 2013

Rage Against the Regime (RAR) is a not-for-profit monthly event at Dublin’s Grand Social venue, taking place next on Thursday 11 July, 2013, from 7.00pm -11.30pm. The topic for debate will be ‘Don’t Drink the Water’ - Why does Ireland put fluoride in its drinking water? The debate will feature The Girl Against Fluoride, and experts on the issue, as well as members of various political parties. RAR is an independent media platform aimed at merging art and politics and encouraging open debate and expression in Ireland.

RAR is a monthly event, which will feature political debate, live and dance music, as well as a range of performers. It is essentially a supermarket of ideas; an open forum for political speech and artistic expression. Controversial topics of national economic, social and environmental importance will be featured and interested parties from all angles of the debate will be offered a neutral platform to express their views. NGOs, community and lobby groups, experts and academics, as well as political party representatives and independent politicians, will be invited to present their positions. Debate will be followed by live political music, comedy and performers, film, as well as dance music and video, taking place in three different rooms. The event will be fully interactive, and broadcast live on the internet.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE | The Grand Social, Dublin

Each event at the Grand Social will feature three rooms, with activities taking place simultaneously in each room, from 8.00pm – 2.30am:

THE LOFT – The Loft is a gorgeously appointed room, with superb sound and a boho circus feel. It has a fully functioning stage for live acts and debate, with seating for 100, during the debate. It will feature high-end lighting and video presentations throughout the evening. The Timetable is as follows:

08.30pm – Political Debate
10.00pm – Live music
10.30pm – Dance music & Video
12.00am – Live Music
12.45am – Dance music & Video
02.30am – Close

THE GARDEN - The Garden is a huge outdoor area on the roof of The Grand Social, which features a retractible roof, and generous seating and standing room. It will feature live and pre-recorded music and video presentations throughout the night, which compliments the debate. The Timetable is as follows:

08.00 – Music and video presentations
09.30 – Singer-songwriter
10.00 – Speakers Corner
10.30 – Music and video presentations
11.30 – Singer-songwriter
12.00 – Music and video presentations
01.00 – Speakers Corner
01.30 – Music and video presentations

THE SITUATION ROOM: The Situation Room. located on the ground floor, is an intimate room, suitable for media interviews, group meetings, film screenings, and a range of other uses. Groups are encouraged to make suggestions for uses. The Timetable of events for the Situation room is as follows:

07.00pm – Media interviews / Organisational discussions
08.00pm – Introductory video to issue of the night by RAR
08.30pm – Video presentations – Provision of information by groups/NGOs/parties
10.00pm – Video interviews – Feedback from members of the public
12.00am – Midnight Movie – Film related to issue
01.30am – Video interviews – Feedback from members of the public
02.00am – RAR video – Upcoming events.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | The Grand Social, Dublin

RAR aims to achieve a balance in covering current issues of economic, environmental and social importance. We welcome submissions and suggestions for upcoming events. The provisional schedule of events is as follows:

13 June - ‘Resource Nationalism‘ – Why is Ireland ‘giving away’ its national resources, such as oil, gas, forestry, air, fisheries?
11 July - Don’t Drink the Water’- Why does Ireland put fluoride in its drinking water?

Unknown

The Concentration Camp is a British Invention

Martin Corey is currently a political prisoner of conscience currently interned without trial for the last three years. He was interned for almost 20 years previously, in Long Kesh Concentraion Camp, in British Occupied Ireland.

"I have been in prison for over 3 years and I still haven’t been given a reason. They have put forward a number of allegations against me, and I’m not able to defend myself against any of them. They say I have been seen speaking to known republicans, and that I visited a number of houses. What does that matter? It doesn’t mean I’ve done anything wrong. They have absolutely nothing on me, and that’s why they haven’t charged me." Martin Corey

The Irish Holocaust , history's largest cover up?

The London Times editorial on September 30, 1845, stated; "In England the two main meals of a working man's day now consists of potatoes." England's potato-dependence was excessive; reckless. It warned of over-population relative to its domestic food supply and that England faced famine without importing huge amounts of alternative supplies.

Subsequently, England grabbed Ireland's surplus food, by force of arms to save England's population but also took what was need to sustain Ireland's people for profit and specifically to exterminate the Irish people. Queen Victoria's economist, Nassau Senior, expressed this clearly when stating, that existing policies "will not kill more than one million Irish in 1848 and that will scarcely be enough to do much good."

When reporters and eye-witnesses pleaded with the British, to stop the genocide-in-progress in Ireland, Trevelyan whose authority in Ireland was equivalent to Viceroyal Villiers today, in British Occupied Ireland, replied: "We must not complain of what we really want to obtain." Trevelyan insisted, all reports of famine and starvation were exaggerated. In 1847, he declared it ended and refused the American food relief ship Sorciére permission to enter Irish waters.

Thomas Carlyle; influential British journalist, wrote; "Ireland is like a half-starved rat that crosses the path of an elephant. What must the elephant do? Squelch it, by heavens, squelch it." "Total Annihilation;" was the suggestion of the London Times leader of September 2, 1846 and in 1848 its editorialists bragged;

"A Celt will soon be as rare on the banks of the Shannon as the red man on the banks of Manhattan."The Society of Friends of the "Quakers," did everything they could to to save Irish lives, but in 1847 in sheer desperation, they quit, upon hearing that the British Crown planned to systematically perpetuate with its genocide's project to enable the British complete the "ownership" of all Irish land. The Quakers stopped and refused to enable the genocide in British Occupied Ireland by pretending that the Irish Holocaust was an act of nature.

There were several "Voices in the Wilderness" risking everything to try to stop the British genocide. Jane Wilde, mother of Oscar Wilde a poet, wrote under the, nom de plume,"Speranza," in the rebel newspaper the United Irishman the following verses 1 to 6 here, about the British war crimes in Ireland of 1847, with regard to the British genocidists and the innocents of Ireland they were exterminating;

THE FAMINE YEAR
Weary men, what reap ye? "Golden corn for the Stranger."
What sow ye? "Human corpses that await for the Avenger."
Fainting forms, all hunger-stricken, what see you in the offing?
"Stately ships to bear our food away amid the stranger's scoffing."
There's a proud array of soldiers what do they round your door?
"They guard our masters' granaries from the thin hands of the poor."
Pale mothers, wherefore weeping? "Would to God that we were dead"
Our children swoon before us, and we cannot give them bread!"

"We are wretches, famished, scorned, human tools to build your pride,
But God will yet take vengeance for the souls for whom Christ died.
Now is your hour of pleasure, bask ye in the world's caress;
But our whitening bones against ye will arise as witnesses,
From the cabins and the ditches, in their charred, uncoffined masses,
For the Angel of the Trumpet will know them as he passes.
A ghastly, spectral army before God we'll stand
And arraign ye as our murderers, O spoilers of our land!"

Its 2013 and people still believe that the potato crop not native to Ireland was the reason why millions of Irish people died, in rich agricultural land, ideal for crop growth and food. Its ridiculous, the world still mocks the Irish today for their "spud famine" The Irish government, as in so many other aspects of protecting its own people, shows complete disregard for this event and when holocaust denial is illegal in Europe, our own Government enable this potato nonsense to go on indefinitely is pissing on the graves of millions of our ancestors who perished.

It is all part of the revision and denial of our real national Irish history, proving once again, that the victors really write their version of history, covering up this British and other war crimes, with their mentored, privileged, sock puppets in Ireland.

Irish Holocaust : 6,257,456 Disappeared

See link below for details:

http://www.irishholocaust.org/tollofholocaust

Organized Rage

"Secret police (sometimes political police) are intelligence agencies and or police agency, law enforcement office which operates in secrecy and also quite often beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime.

”Instead of transparently enforcing the rule of law and being subject to public scrutiny as ordinary police agencies do, secret police organisations are specifically intended to operate beyond and above the law in order to suppress political dissent through clandestine acts of terror and intimidation targeted against political enemies of the ruling authority. ”Secret police are notorious for raiding homes between midnight and dawn, to apprehend people suspected of dissent. ”People apprehended by the secret police are often arbitrarily arrested and detained without due process."

This description sounds very familiar in the context of the Occupied Six Counties currently under British Occupation in Ireland. Familiar today and not 30 or 40 years ago.

The internment of Martin Corey strikes at the very heart of democracy and the right to a fair trial. Martin cannot expect a charge never mind a trial. The British government have removed a man from his home and family, without giving him the right to know why. Because they have given no evidence against him, Martin has no chance to challenge his internment. Martin has simply disappeared and it would seem the general public and media are content to allow this to happen.

Although We know where Martin is, he has for all intents and purposes simply disappeared , Disappeared from his home with no charge, locked in a prison cell and told he is there due to Secret Evidence. Of course in the western world he is entitled to object to this through the courts, when he did just that a Judge ruled that he should be released as his continued internment was a breach of his human rights.

The Secret Police and those who control them stepped in and ordered that he remain in jail, overstepping the rule of the Courts and removing any illusion of due process. What more evidence therefore do we need that the British Government is running a Secret Police force in Ireland to quell political dissent?

The use of secret evidence, a secret police and shady dealings going on between the British Government and the judiciary should be enough for any citizen to publicly question what is going on.

It is now time that the media investigated what IS going on, that those concerned with human rights issues and all citizens demand an explanation as to why a 62-year old man was taken from his home and incarcerated due to secret evidence that we cannot see. I question the secret evidence, is there evidence at all? Or is this a well rehearsed ploy to stifle political dissent?

Demand the release of Martin Corey, do not allow this inhumanity to continue.

By Cáit Trainor, of the Release Martin Corey Committee.

"First they came for the socialists,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.Then they came for the trade unionists,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.Then they came for the Jews,and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.Then they came for me,and there was no one left to speak for me."

by Organized Rage

Unknown

I lived in Newry for many years and engaged in the same activity as Stephen Murney. For many years previous to that, I was active in many place which included London. The most committed hard working people I have ever personally witnessed, working for the liberation of the Irish working class, were ordinary decent Londoners many of them comrades of Ken Livingstone and the United Troops Out Movement.

Those were times at the height of the troubles and despite a lot of IRA activity in London at that time, I still found solidarity with the Irish working class there. From the experience I believe underneath all of the propaganda and brain washing, the working class of the international, is the ultimate guarantor of a successful revolution in Ireland. As James Connolly said, "the Cause of Ireland is the Cause of Labour and the Cause of Labour is the Cause of Ireland."

Newry is an Irish town close to the border that suffers immensely as result of the partition of Ireland with third and fourth generation unemployment of up to 80% as a result of sectarian economic policies.. The motorway built by the Stormont administration was built purposely short of Newry by several miles, so that no major international employer,would set up factory there and would instead go to a loyalist town. Despite all the promises of the Peace Process about building motorways it has all turned out to be the hot air of politcal gombeens..

Reading through the article below, reminded me of my own experience with British harassment and internment which was considerable. However I can see from this excellent article from GreenLeft, that the Peace Process has made no difference to the treatment of activists, who try their best. Indeed paying close attention to Stevens experiences, I can see it is actually getting worse not better since the so called Peace Process. Thisi type of PSNI/RUC thuggery is not going to drive people who care about community, down the road to peace. I can tell you from my own experience as an Irishman in Newry, that it will either drive you down the road of armed struggle or drink or both which I can tell you from bitter experience does not mix.

That is close to 30 year ago now and it simply was heartbreaking, I was lucky to come away with my life out of it. There are several people I have never had an opportunity to apologize to, or thank, one of them being Fr Murray a man of absolute integrity whom you can trust. If someone can please let him know of my deepgratitude, before either of us kick the bucket, I would appreciate it very much..There has been a persistent challenge around, since the start of the troubles, since I was a young man, that all options must be explored, before we contemplate armed struggle. I believe with the internet despite considerable censorship by West Brits including britsih Sinn Fein, that there is currently a possible opportunity to check if the pen is really mightier than the sword. I believe we have a moral responsibility to try our best.

I do know from personal experience, that the old adage, the truth will set me free, to be very true, this has been my experience, rather than simply being an opinion. It was possible with help from other people, of no property like myself. I am not sure about this Tharir Square moment but revolution is an ongoing process and it certainly is worth an honest try, within the Irish context and as peaceful way for REAL change but we must organize.

I do hope Leinster House can be Occupied peacefully by sheer numbers alone and that it is organized in a professional manner, that its is not undermined by the traitorius Union leadership, that has essentially sold out, so that it has logistical support, like food, liquid, mobile toilets, volunteered entertainment, defence capabilities, sleeping arrangements, something like hurling gear, with helmets etc., perhaps some hurling clubs can volunteer their support, to help protect older people and people with disabilities. Anyway let's get to GreenLeft's Stephen Murney's internment article...beir bua, brionOcleirigh

Ireland: Free Stephen Murney, Victim of British Repression

Monday, July 1, 2013
By Steven Katsineris

Stephen Murney.

Stephen Murney is a political and community activist who lives in Newry in the north of Ireland. He is also a member of Eirigi (“Arise”), a legal, registered Irish socialist republican political party.

Murney has frequently documented, photographed and recorded incidents of harsh Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stop and searches of people, house raids and other rough treatment in the Newry area. Murney regularly highlighted these issues in local newspapers and on the internet.

In November, Murney wrote a letter to a local newspaper expressing his strong condemnation of several early morning raids by the PSNI on homes in the Derrybeg Estate, Newry. He said these incursions were causing deep distress to the targeted families and maintained the raids were excessive, unnecessary and avoidable.

On November 28, about 24 hours after Murney’s letter was published, in scenes similar to those he had described, police smashed in his front door and stormed into his home in a dawn raid.

Police officers searched his house, seized a computer, political literature and a flute band uniform and arrested Murney.

Three days later, the PSNI charged Murney with three “offenses”: collecting information that may be of use to terrorists; distributing information that maybe of use to terrorists; and possessing items that could be used for terrorist purposes.

The first charge concerns Murney openly taking photographs of people, including PSNI officers, at a protest rally in Newry in June last year. The PSNI did not question or arrest Murney, or confiscate or examine his camera/phone or ask for certain images to be deleted at that time. The police asked him to stop taking photographs and he promptly did so.

The second charge relates to Murney later posting the photographs on Facebook, as well as having other political images on this computer. The third charge is in regards to the items of clothing (flute band uniform), two ball-bearing air guns (belonging to his son and entirely legal) and political literature seized from his home.

At a hearing on December 21, Murney’s lawyer said the photographs had been taken openly, that Murney had stopped when instructed and that the posting of photographs was for a perfectly legitimate purpose.

Some of the posted photos were taken by Murney at political protests, commemorations and other events. But most of the photos were downloaded from the internet, many were old, dating back to the civil rights Movement in north of Ireland in the late 1960s.

Many supportive references from community groups in Newry in support of Murney were also presented to the court.

It is common practice for political activists around the world to take photographs of protests, including of police at protests. In fact, legal and human rights groups regularly advise political activists to record such protests and any instances of police harassment or mistreatment that occur.

After querying the vague nature of the charges, the judge granted Murney bail. But at the request of the PSNI, the judge imposed several draconian bail conditions, including: banning Murney from living at home with his wife and family; banning him from entering his home town of Newry, where almost all his family and friends live; and banning him from attending any political events or meetings.

The judge also ordered Murney to reside at least five miles from Newry, report daily to the PSNI barracks (a further 12 miles away), accept a daily curfew from 7pm to 10am and wear an electric tagging device at all times.

Murney rejected these humiliating bail conditions, declaring his total innocence of the charges. Several efforts by Murney’s lawyers to change the harsh bail conditions were refused and he remains jailed in Maghaberry Gaol.

Orwellian

“There has been an accelerated erosion of legal rights since 1998,” said Pat McNamee, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and friend of Murney.

At a protest for Murney, McNamee said: “Stephen Murney is charged with having a band uniform that he wore whilst a member of a local republican flute band. In ‘newspeak’, that is having a paramilitary uniform and being equipped for terrorism.”

“Stephen Murney is charged with having photographs of protests he had taken part in, which inevitably included images of members of the PSNI, who were also present at these demonstrations. In ‘newspeak’, that is having information useful to terrorists.

“Stephen Murney is charged with having his son’s toy guns in his home. In ‘newspeak’, that is having an imitation firearm.

“In 'real speak', however, Murney has been held in jail for more than six months solely because he is an effective republican and community activist.”

Injustice continues

Highlighting that Murney was only one victim of an increasingly oppressive British state apparatus, McNamee said that after two decades of the “peace process”, civil liberties were under attack ― rather than protected through a Bill of Rights was was promised by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement (GFA).

“McNamee said: “Through extended periods of detention, increased stop and search powers, the reduction of the right to a trial by jury and ‘closed evidence hearings’, where judges are presented with secret ‘evidence’ which can neither be disclosed to nor challenged by the accused or their legal representatives … instead of moving forward with human rights, it is they who are dragging us back.”

Murney is a victim of British injustice in the north of Ireland, but he is one of many of those suffering from an increasingly oppressive British state system. The terms of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) offered better times, a period of peace and healing, yet human rights and civil liberties are still violated.

Campaign grows

Since the arrest and imprisonment of Murney, several Irish republican and other groups have campaigned for his freedom, including Eirigi, Republican Network for Unity, Irish Republican Socialist Party, Republican Sinn Fein, 32 County Sovereignty Movement, as well as local Councillors and other individuals.

Sinn Fein's slammed Murney's arrest as “short term internment”. Sinn Fein councillor Brendan Curran said the bail restrictions imposed were, “excessive and unacceptable” given the “dubious” charges.

Independent councillor Davy Hyland from the Newry and Mourne Council said: “Murney has been held ... on the most spurious charges...he tried to get bail, but was given the most atrocious conditions that he couldn’t possibly meet.”

Human rights groups are starting to take up his case. On June 14, Justice Watch Ireland wrote to the British secretary of state for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers and justice minister David Ford, calling for the immediate release of Murney Murney.

A JWI statement said: “Justice Watch Ireland are more than concerned that Mr Murney may be a victim of the most blatant abuse of the Justice system seen in the last decade.

“We are equally concerned that should this practice of Judicial Abuse be allowed to continue unabated, it could well threaten the democratic rights of all citizens in the future. We call on all politicians and those opposed to losing their democratic and human rights, to voice their disapproval of such abuses continuing.

“Justice Watch Ireland calls for Stephen Murney to be released on unconditional bail as a matter of urgency. We believe his detention is nothing short of ‘Interment’ by definition.

“‘Internment by remand’ is being claimed by many, in which we are currently investigating, but in this case our conclusion is that Mr Murney truly is interned by definition with the use of the remand process currently being implemented.”

Murney is in jail, not because he has done or planned to do anything unlawful, but due to his political views and role as an active, outspoken and effective Republican and community activist.

In a normal, civil society, there would have to be substantial evidence against Murney to warrant the serious charges he now faces. But Ireland's north is not a normal, ordinary place. So, rather than these charges being recognised as ridiculous, in the six Irish counties still claimed by Britain, they are depicted by the PSNI as a very grave matter. If Murney is convicted, he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

The British authorities have used a policy of selective internment against Murney in an bid to silence him and other opposition. A political activist is now in effect interned without trial on the basis of the most ridiculous “evidence”.

Murney is innocent and his jailing utterly unjust. The flimsy charges against him should be dropped and Murney should be immediately and unconditionally released.

Murney said: “Internment was wrong and unjust in previous years and it remains as equally wrong and unjust today. I would encourage all those that disagree with its continued use to organise and publicly oppose internment in its current form.”

[For more information, check out Free Stephen Murney Now on Facebook. You can write to Murney at: Stephen Murney, Roe 4, Maghaberry Gaol, Old Road, Ballinderry Upper, Lisburn, BT28, 2PT, Northern Ireland.]

- See more at: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/54422#sthash.aP5I9dl2.dpuf

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