Issue 091, Saoirse: Irish Freedom (November, 1994)

              438,639 unemployed irish freedom the organ of irish republicanism uimh 91 samhain - november 1994 50p usa 75c the jobless totals in the 32 counties are up slightly in the past month to438,639 according to the irish national organisation of the unemployed annual labour force figures published during october revealed that some 31,000 people in the 26 counties are now on state employment schemes this figure almost doubled in the 12 months to april 1994 according to the same survey from the dublin central statistics office emigration from the 26 counties is increasing once again particularly to the usa and britain major welco raids the early morning raids by armed special branch and uniformed police took place at more than 60 locations among them the homes often ardchomhairlemembers local councillors local election candidates and leading members of the organisation six arrests were made under section 60 rsf homes hit across 26 counties • john major thanked albert reynolds and dick spring at the chequers meeting on october 24 for their action in raiding republican sinn fein homes over the weekend of october 22-24 police raids in all 26 counties targeted the homes of republican sinn fein members in all cases the political message was that no political opposition to the current process would be tolerated and that republican sinn fein must accept the downing street declaration or else . . . 30 of the offences against the state act — des long vice-president,republicansinnfein sean 6 conchiiir national treasurer ruairi 6g 6 bradaigh national publicity officer and editor saoirse and prominent local republicans tommy mckearney former hunger-striker from tyrone living in monaghan emmett walsh tullamore co offaly and bobby bresnihan tralee co kerry they were held for varying periods up to 24 hours before being released it was no coincidence that on friday october 21 british prime minister john major was in belfast the raids took place during the next 48 hours followed by the scheduled meeting in chequers on monday october 24 between maj or and albert reynolds the british prime minister was quoted in the irish news belfast the following day as welcoming the action of the 26-county police over the weekend albert reynolds and dick spring were congratulated by him for providing a political spectacle to show that republicans who continue to reject the british presence in ireland will be harassed for their political views republican sinn fein stood centre-stage over that weekend due to the organisation's uncompromising adherence to republican principles and the basic republican position nationalists throughout the six counties were angered at this contribution to the current process including as it did heavy attempts at political indoctrination in state custody promising a seat at the forum in dublin castle and threatening dire consequences as an alternative one member ofrepublican sinn fein under arrest was toldbythe special branch in connection with a letter from him in a local paper a month ago that his views would not be tolerated and that neither the government nor the provos would tolerate interference in the very delicate process at hand this harassment is nothing new since the unpublished hume-adams document of october 1 993 the 26-county police have been giving out the political message that both that document and the downing street declaration must be accepted without exception these actions show the strength of the republican case that the current process will not work because it failsto confront the basic problem in our country — the british presence here the fact that the 26-county state along with the provisionals in belfast see page 1 3 inside are trying to intimidate and silence that analysis is proof of its continued validity and relevance republican sinn fein will not be censored or intimidated we will continue to put forward the republican policy which calls for a complete british withdrawal from ireland so that the irish people acting as a unit can decide their own destiny with an amnesty for all political prisoners charlie kerins 50th anniversary commemoration sunday december 4 tralee co kerry assemble denny street 2pm speaker ruairi 6 brsdaigh eire nua - the only alternative november 1 2-1 3 spa hotel lucan co dublin 90u ard 1994 for visitors cards please contact ard-oifig 41 ce arann bac 7 teil 01-872 9747