Human Rights – Page 40 – Slugger O'Toole

“Well, Mr. President, our first words on that — (inaudible)..”

Pete Baker on December 8, 2007, 4:14 am

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As I suggested previously, the meeting between the Northern Ireland Executive’s First and deputy First Ministers and President Bush seems to have been as much to do with certain parties thanking him for the US’s active role here as pleading for financial assistance. The BBC report mentions in passing the meeting with head of the National Security Council, Stephen Hadley.. but we don’t have the transcript of what might have been discussed. UTV, however, just screened the media appearance of …

“It’s far better people tell the truth on the thing”

Pete Baker on December 7, 2007, 8:21 pm

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In a Belfast Telegraph article, on the future for the IMC, Brian Rowan quotes an un-named “security source” on the killing of Paul Quinn. So, the question for the police and the IMC is how they assess the current status of those involved – what are their links to the IRA? And will the republican leadership say something by way of explanation before the IMC next reports? “It’s far better people tell the truth on the thing,” the source continued. …

“Good heavens! You’re the culture minister..”

Pete Baker on December 2, 2007, 9:11 pm

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On Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence this morning, Will Crawley hosted a discussion [Realplayer file] between Al Hays, an American professor of politics currently working at Queen’s University, Ruth Yeo, the recently appointed Humanist Chaplain at Queen’s University, Times columnist Matthew Parris and the Northern Ireland Culture Minister, the DUP’s Edwin Poots, on the religious views of politicians. Will has blogged a section of the transcript of that discussion where Edwin Poots is, admirably, honest about his religious views – he …

“And you believe it?”

Pete Baker on November 30, 2007, 5:17 pm

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Jeremy Paxman’s interview with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Shaun Woodward, wasn’t part of the clips put online from the Newsnight report but, as with the Prime Time report, it’s worth noting. Pete Baker

“He’s covering up for them.. he knows them..”

Pete Baker on November 30, 2007, 4:39 am

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As well as the report on the aftermath of the killing of Paul Quinn on BBC’s Newsnight last night, journalists at RTÉ are also paying attention – despite the apparent blindness elsewhere. As the Prime Time webpage notes – “major technical difficulties” prevented the full programme going to air, but the clips which should have gone to air are now available online – although the second clip still seems to be truncated. Intro report by Claire Murphy here.. and an …

“I have spoken to the IRA in his area..”

Pete Baker on November 28, 2007, 11:39 pm

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On Newsnight tonight, BBC2 10.30pm, Liz McKean will have a report on political tensions following the killing of Paul Quinn. From the Newsnight blog Liz MacKean has a report on increasing paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland. The story centres on the murder last month of Paul Quinn in South Armagh. Both his family and the Independent Monitoring Commission point the finger at members of the IRA but politicians on all sides reject the claims. We’ll also be speaking to Northern …

You couldn’t make it up..

Pete Baker on November 26, 2007, 4:58 pm

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An occasional series. If it’s not the Northern Ireland Executive’s Deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, telling everyone of the importance of “Respect for authority..” [*ahem* – Ed] it’s Junior Minister, the DUP’s Ian Paisley jnr, emphasising the “importance of tolerance, acceptance and understanding in society..” Indeed. Pete Baker

“put it on a formal basis analogous to the Schengen agreement..”

Pete Baker on November 23, 2007, 6:48 pm

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The Belfast Telegraph report on the House of Lords debate noted by Gonzo yesterday ends with the Conservative claim that “the [UK] Government’s plans were unclear” – those plans are here btw. But that ‘unclearness’ probably has much to do with the absence of a public conversation about what the Republic of Ireland’s government plans to do. Although.. the Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, has just unveiled a new fingerprint system which “will allow gardaí to electronically capture and store …

McAliskey extradition refused.. again..

Pete Baker on November 23, 2007, 6:23 pm

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Belfast Recorder Judge Tom Burgess has delivered his promised written judgement on the application by the German government for the extradition of Roisin McAliskey and as the BBC reports, on the balance of probability, he has decided that it would be “oppressive” to proceed. Full judgement here. No word yet from the German government.. despite those political talks..From the judgement CONCLUSIONS 54. I have already determined that Ms McAliskey believed from 1998 that the threat of extradition was behind her, …

“I can’t see anything”

Pete Baker on November 23, 2007, 3:59 pm

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At the Guardian’s Comment is Free Glenn Patterson picks out a telling scene from this week’s Spotlight’s archive footage of Martin Meehan to illustrate his point – “we are still being asked to believe not what we see but what we are told we should see.” – in relation to the killing of Paul Quinn and, I’d suggest, some other events. Spotlight included footage from earlier programmes in which Meehan had appeared. In one, filmed on the assembly election campaign …

“it was a mistake to organise a meeting without talking to people in the local community..”

Pete Baker on November 20, 2007, 3:59 am

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A meeting of the South Belfast sub-committee of the Belfast District Policing Partnership was abandoned this evening after a protest by around 20 people [Adds up to 30 in this report]. And with Sinn Féin Cllr Bernice Swift still, as far as I’m aware, “suspended without prejudice” – and with other recent events in mind – some interesting comments, in the BBC report, from Sinn Féin’s Alex Maskey, MLA, who sits on the Policing Board. “Some of them (the protesters), …

“The inquiry has more or less come to a dead end”

Pete Baker on November 19, 2007, 8:50 pm

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Two years on from the murder of former UDA leader Jim Gray the coroner’s court today heard Detective Inspector Deborah McMaster state that she believed those responsible for the murder to be members of the UDA, but that despite a number of arrests no one had been charged – “The inquiry has more or less come to a dead end”. A separate report notes that Gray was shot dead as associate, Gary Matthews, helped him unload dumbbells from a car …

Is that everyone?..

Pete Baker on November 17, 2007, 4:24 am

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I have no wish to tempt fate.. but, despite the devices in Dublin and in Belfast today, the currently reported threats to various groups need some scepticism. While there have been repeated reports of threats to SF representatives, and now to Orange Order members, from non-mainstream republicans [and not members of Ógra Shinn Féin – No hatred, then? – Ed], the only people attacked to date have been serving police officers – and there is recent analysis to suggest there …

As Zhou Enlai said..

Pete Baker on November 15, 2007, 3:06 am

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RTÉ reports confirmation of something we already knew.. although the confirmation does come from the White House spokeswoman. But here’s the interesting line “Over the past several years, the United States has actively supported peace efforts in Northern Ireland, which culminated in the formation of a unified Northern Ireland government.” Just how “actively” was the subject of some recent analysis. Mind you, the futuring involved in this line “The President looks forward to congratulating the two leaders on overcoming years …

“working in partnership with the Irish Government..”

Pete Baker on November 14, 2007, 7:32 pm

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Better hurry up with that public conversation on border controls within the archipelago.. because the lengthy Cabinet Office report on the border review – as revealed today by Prime Minister Gordon Brown – indicates that a private conversation between the UK and Irish governments is taking place. From the report [page 13 – pdf file] Ensuring breadth of coverage across a range of locations and risks will be crucial. The unique nature of the Common Travel Area (CTA) requires particular …

“A detailed debate should take place on this important issue.”

Pete Baker on November 13, 2007, 8:33 pm

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Interesting editorial in the Irish Times today [subs req], picking up on a report within the paper itself on an extension of the Schengen agreement to the nine most recent EU states [subs req] – and those countries who have fully impemented that particular convention. The editorial proposes an alternative solution to the multiple dilemmas created by the Common Travel Area between the Irish and UK jurisdictions, in light of the planned e-border controls by the UK, rather than the …

Police officer shot in Dungannon

Pete Baker on November 12, 2007, 11:14 pm

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The Real IRA have claimed responsibility for the attempted murder of the police officer in Londonderry last week. And UTV are now reporting that another police officer has been shot in Dungannon, County Tyrone. I’ll add more when it’s available. Some more detail here And according the BBC report, he was off-duty at the time of the attack. More here. Although I’m not convinced cancelling the DPP Dungannon Council meeting which was due to be held tonight in Dungannon Town …

“We cannot allow this to be brushed under the carpet..”

Pete Baker on November 12, 2007, 6:01 pm

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With Lord Laird reportedly about to name those he believes to be responsible for the killing of Paul Quinn, under parliamentary privilege in the House of Lords, the BBC have reported that the IMC have said that they believe current and former members of the Provisional IRA may have been responsible but it was “too early to say if it was authorised by the IRA leadership” – and here’s a reminder of some of the earlier political reaction. From the …

“They kept faith with the republican past..”

Pete Baker on November 12, 2007, 3:07 am

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Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams speaking at his party’s commemoration of five men who died when a bomb they had been preparing exploded prematurely at a farm house at Edentubber in 1957 during the IRA’s Border campaign. “They kept faith with the republican past and they ensured the future of our struggle.” Ah, but did they have popular support and a “strategy to achieve a united Ireland”? And, btw, weren’t you always “of the view that no military solution was …

“it will only come when rigorous law enforcement takes place..”

Pete Baker on November 8, 2007, 11:12 pm

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A report on the special remembrance service to mark the 20th anniversary of the Provisional IRA attack in Enniskillen, which killed 12 people and injured 63, notes the comments of the Methodist minister, Rev Kenneth Robinson Methodist minister Rev Kenneth Robinson said he wanted the bombers to “remember the pain they inflicted”. He said he hoped they would come to a moment where they would admit what they had done and face the consequences. If the previously noted speculation is …