Sunday, February 07, 2010
History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as Police farce
I have previously noted how the PSNI seem determined to hand propaganda coups to éirígí and essentially make their points for them at every turn. We have also noted the misuse of Section 44 legislation against republicans - legislation of dubious legality. From the heavy handed response to eirigi members making their way to Belfast City Hall for a protest to PSNI harassment of members on Black Mountain.
When I commented on the launch of éirígí‘s anti-PSNI campaign I didn’t expect the police to repeat the same mistakes immediately. Yet when éirígí activists hung banners around Belfast yesterday the PSNI response was to detain them under Section 44 legislation.
Four éirígí activists were detained in the Beechmount area by the political police using the now notorious Section 44 and Justice & Security Act legislation. The car that three of the men were travelling in was boxed in by two armoured jeeps before the vehicle and its occupants were searched by the paramilitary police. Initially, the PSNI claimed they were detaining the men under road traffic legislation, yet, when the driver produced all the necessary documentation, Section 44 came into play….
The éirígí activists in question, including national vice-chairperson Rab Jackson, had just hung large anti-PSNI banners on the Falls and Springfield Roads prior to being stopped and searched. The text of the banners read RUC- PSNI: Different Name, Same Aim and British Police Out Of Ireland.
As the PSNI were leaving the scene, the officer in charge admitted that, far from investigating any ‘terrorist’ incident, the activists were actually detained for hanging banners critical of the force.
Mark McGregor @ 02:45 PM
PSNI never learn, People have the right to protest, do they prefer they take up the gun.look where that got us.In the UK It is becomming like a police state, you can’t take a piss that someone is watching you.People hae the right to protest.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 05:42 PMMark, London and Dublin will probably have decided that éirígí are the wrong sort of Republicans. Cf the treatment of éirígí Shell to Sea protestors. You might well argue that the right type of Republicans are not really authentic Republicans any more.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 05:44 PMRab Jackson.I must write that name down. Someday he might be as famous as Dennis Dalton .
So thats it then….they hung a banner up.I cant blame PSNI for using a sledgehammer to crack a few nuts…which they clearly are.Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 05:44 PMThere is a proud Republican tradition, which Eirigi should be well aware of, that when a once violent group of Republicans assume power not only will they denouce those who continue with a campaign of violence but they will not be in the least bit queasy about ensuring that those continuing are treated at least as harshly at they were themselves.
When and if SF get the justice ministry they will probalby have a bit more than stopping and searching to worry about.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 05:51 PMFor all their protesting about police tactics etc, the dissident morons are probably glad that they are not dealing with IRA…..who as we all know…...ahem…...er dont er actually exist. Er honestly.
If Eirigi was actually important…..by this stage they wouldnt exist.
Thei continued existence is evidence that they dont matter.Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:04 PMdissident morans or people who are challenging quite legally the conditions they find themselves in.
the thought police comes to mind
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:09 PMCant these Eirigi tubes just go out and get girlfriends or something ffs? Running around sticking banners up. Wise up. Ballbags.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:09 PMAny entrepreneurs in or about the incident.
We could do with some entrepreneurs right about now and for the forseeable future.
We dont need these clowns or stalling politicians.
Make love to entrepreneurs as we really need them.
Refuse love to stalling politicians and these clowns and clowns like them.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:10 PMThey could always take up a hobby…..astronomy for example…..they could be obsessive about something harmless.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:15 PM“Cant these Eirigi tubes just go out and get girlfriends or something ffs? Running around sticking banners up. Wise up. Ballbags.”
Posted by iluvni on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:09 PM
meaning
dont dare question our authority
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:16 PM“There is a proud Republican tradition, which Eirigi should be well aware of, that when a once violent group of Republicans assume power not only will they denouce those who continue with a campaign of violence but they will not be in the least bit queasy about ensuring that those continuing are treated at least as harshly at they were themselves.” - Moderate Unionist
The difference, old chap, that the Irish government was enforcing Irish rule whereas the Provos will be enforcing British rule. So what you really mean is that the Shinners will be administrating the new UDR in order to defend Her Majesty’s sovereign territory. ;)
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:19 PMso fitzy
eirigi are the dissidents ?
whats a terrorist again ??
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:25 PMdont dare question our authority
Posted by changeisneeded on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:16 PM
oh for gods sakes would you listen to yourself. Seriously, isnt it time to wise up?
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:25 PMpeople are angry about something iluvni
putting your head in the sand is not going to make it go away
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:30 PMAlias,
I’m not sure those who fought in the civil war against Irealnd’s dominion status (and partition) would agree with you there and anyway suppressing the IRA which was trying to liberate the ‘occupied 6 counties’ is also doing the British ‘dirty’ work on their behalf.
But I think perhaps you get the substantive point.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:30 PMYes I think Eirigi are political dissidents and “close to dissident terrorists” .
I think the IRA are terrorists.
I think Sinn Féin are “close to terrorists”.Close students of these kinda things will note that some members of SF have indeed been “terrorists”.
Of course these are not the only groups who are terrorists or with terrorist sympathies.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:30 PMFitzjamesHorse - “I cant blame PSNI for using a sledgehammer to crack a few nuts…which they clearly are.”
Funny and accurate!
When eirigi says things like ‘British Police Out Of Ireland’ they are providing encouragement for others to take a more violent path. The police were right to speak to these people and take down their details. We’ve all had enough of violence and we don’t need groups like eirigi going around trying to stir it all up again.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 06:44 PMso does that mean no other political parties are allowed unless they have psni approval ?
“The police were right to speak to these people and take down their details”
translation
harass and threaten
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 07:00 PMWhen I read the types of comment in message 18, I think of Wolfie Smith and the Tooting Popular Front.
I know younger Slugger readers will have to look this reference up in an online encyclopaedia which are all the rage with the young folks these days.
Figuratively and literally I grew out of the Che Guevara Tshirt but I still have a sneaking regard for the old days. And perhaps dissident republicans could apply for some kind of Arts Council grant so that their street performances are improved.
Deep down .....their hearts arent really in it.Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 07:18 PMfitzy
your che tshirt ref is funny
the ongoing people profiling and harresment carried out by the states forces is not..
the problem will always exist as long as the border exists in ireland
dont kid yourself that its anything else
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 07:32 PMcan anyone hang banners up anywhere they like? ps. i have not yet read any of the posts on this
pps. i agree with Mark in that the PSNI response to their actions is playing there game, but i do not see what else they,(the psni),can do. “rise” are fortunate they don’t operate in the “land of the free” or 90% of all the other countries in the world where a scuffle with “the pigs” would be the least of there problems.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 08:06 PMVery good title by the way Mark.
As for eirigi, well they may be “tubes”, lack girlfriends etc - but they do have the right to protest dont they?
They dont have an active military wing so I think they should be spared the heavy handed treatment.Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 08:54 PMI’m no fan of Eirigi but the PSNI are being dumb into playing into their hands. the PSNI should just stand by and even offer them cups of tea as they file past.
Remember, such sad idiots are in every country. Because of our past however, we in NI are overly sensitive to such groups’ existence but if we pat them on the head and leave them alone (as long as they are within the law and do not incite hatred), then they will wither on the vine
In the 1960s, Wales started its Free Wales Army, its own version of the IRA. They had marches, and uniforms and the rest and even bombed a dam once and set a few hedges on fire.
They are no more. Not because of the Engish Army storming into the countryside or Special Powers Acts (or would that be Special Powys Acts ! hoho), but because they were seen as comical.
If RSF and Eirigi were reported in the ‘and finally slots’ of RTE and UTV/BBC N news bulletins, that would spell the end of them.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 09:04 PMYes Mr McGregor.excellent title. I didnt want to sound patronising but I see what youve done there…..a pun on “force” and “farce”.
Good work.
A question however for us all….. as to copyrite…can a political grouping use media footage. Just asking.Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 09:21 PM“the activists were actually detained for hanging”
Hmm. A century ago they might well have been. Aren’t they fortunate to be living in gentler times? Lucky sods.
Posted by on Feb 07, 2010 @ 09:31 PM
