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Time for Nationalists and Republicans to Withdraw Support for British Policing in Ireland

22/03/09

Reacting to the extended detentions of those currently being held in Antrim PSNI barracks éirígí chairperson Brian Leeson has called on Sinn Féin and the Social Democratic and Labour Party to withdraw their support for British policing in Ireland. Brian said,

“Over the last number of days de facto internment without trial has been re-introduced to the Six Counties. A number of the men currently under arrest have already had their periods of detention extended to an unacceptable fourteen days and it is quite possible that they will face a full month in Antrim Barracks without charge.

“The fact that one prisoner is a seventeen-year-old minor and another is reportedly on hunger strike only serves to highlight how little has actually changed with regard to Britain’s so-called policing in Ireland.

“It is not enough for members of Sinn Féin and the SDLP to shed crocodile tears about 28-day detention while simultaneously giving their full backing to the PSNI.

“The extended detention of these men is only the latest in a long line of failures for those who claim that British policing and justice in Ireland can be reformed. Over the last number of years the PSNI arsenal of weapons has been expanded, not reduced. In terms of legislation Britain’s paramilitary police have incrementally gained powers to the point that they can now detain people for up to a month without trial.

“At the same time MI5 have steadily increased their operations in Ireland with hundreds of personnel now working out of the British Army base in Holywood. Hugh Orde’s revelation that the Special Reconnaissance Regiment are active in Ireland only confirmed what many republicans suspected. These so-called special forces are, of course, in addition to the 5,000 British combat troops who stand ready for deployment out of bases across occupied Ireland.

“And over the last fortnight we have seen that Britain’s dirty tricks and black propaganda departments are as busy as ever, preparing the ground with trial by media of not only those detained, but also anyone who dares to challenge British rule in Ireland.

“Those within the nationalist and republican community who promised acceptable and accountable British policing in Ireland must now concede that their plans lie in tatters. The only honourable path left for those parties and individuals is for them to withdraw their support for Britain’s paramilitary police and remove their members from the Policing Boards and Policing Partnership.

“For our part we in éirígí will continue to oppose British rule in Ireland and offer the Irish people a real alternative to the failed policies of the Stormont parties.”

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