A revolutionary New Year!

The Red Banner wishes all readers and political activists a healthy, successful and revolutionary 2013. Don’t forget that only our own struggle will bring the revolution and another world. Our slogan in 2013 remains; organise and hit back!

Progress seen in Bloody Sunday justice campaign

The Bloody Sunday families have welcomed news that former British soldiers may finally be questioned by the PSNI as part of a murder investigation into the killings. Relatives of the 14 people who died after British paratroopers opened fire on nationalist demonstrators in the city in 1972 were told of the development this week. Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie confirmed that a detective had finally been appointed to head a murder investigation into the Bloody Sunday killings.
A weekend of commemorative and protest events is due to take place next month to mark the 41st anniversary of the massacre and to demand 'an end to impunity'. A number of Bloody Sunday families had launched a campaign for justice following the release of the report of the Saville Inquiry in June 2010. That report forced a public apology from British Prime Minister David Cameron and an admission that those massacred had been innocent.

Efforts to bring to justice those responsible for ordering the killings are now finally underway. A wide range of witnesses are to be questioned, including the soldiers who carried out the shootings. A key focus of the investigation is likely to be the small number of soldiers directly involved in the gun attacks in Derry's Glenfada Park area. One soldier in particular, known as soldier F, is believed to have killed Bernard McGuigan, Patrick Doherty, Michael Kelly and possibly Michael McKinney.

The families were told that the investigation could be expanded if necessary. John Kelly, whose brother Michael was one of those killed, said the families were pleased with the outcome of the meeting. Bloody Sunday relative Joe McKinney, brother of murdered William, says he now has more faith in the process. “To be honest, I was starting to feel dejected after the events of 15 June 2010, to put it mildly. But police seem very positive and say they have to follow where their enquiries and the evidence lead. They say they have been relying heavily on the information contained within the Saville Report and they will now follow those key areas where Lord Saville pointed out there was murder committed. After today, I have more faith in the process.”

Sinn Féin assembly member Raymond McCartney welcomed the PSNI announcement that an investigation into the murders on Bloody Sunday has now begun. He said the families had been given a timeline on how the PSNI expect that investigation to progress, which would help the families monitor how the investigation is progressing. “Sinn Féin has supported the call by the families for a proper investigation to be carried out into the events of Bloody Sunday," he said. ”The announcement today that a full time team of PSNI officers have begun an investigation has to be welcomed as a step forward."

ANF / DERRY

Source: ANF NEWS AGENCY 24-12-2012

Hillsborough: justice is on its way

by Tony Patey

Campaigners hailed a "watershed" in the fight for truth and justice over the Hillsborough disaster today after the High Court threw out all of the original inquest verdicts from 1989. In a short hearing the verdict of accidental death for 96 Liverpool football fans who died in the crush at the Sheffield stadium were overturned and new inquests ordered. Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge and two other judges made the order after an application by the Attorney General Dominic Grieve who appeared in person - and families in the packed courtroom loudly applauded.

Lord Judge said there were "good grounds" for the application and described what happened on April 15 1989 as "catastrophic." He said there had been a "profound, almost palpable belief that justice has not been done and that it cannot be done until the full truth is revealed." He added: "We must record our admiration and respect for their determined search for the truth about the circumstances of the disaster and why and how it had occurred which, despite disappointments and setbacks, has continued for nearly a quarter of a century."

Lord Judge expressed regret that the process the families had gone through had been "so unbearingly dispiriting and prolonged." More than 40 relatives of the dead victims made the journey to London for the hearing, arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice by coach, while others watched by videolink from Liverpool. The application by Mr Grieve came in the wake of a damning Hillsborough Independent Panel report in September as well as new medical evidence revealing that 58 victims "definitely or probably" could have survived.

At the same time Home Secretary Theresa May announced a new police investigation into the disaster which will be led by former Durham chief constable Jon Stoddart. It will work closely with an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation launched in October into apparent police attempts to shift the blame for the tragedy onto those who died.  Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: "This is a watershed moment on the road to justice for the families of the 96 and I share their overwhelming relief.

"We must all keep up the pressure that has driven the momentum over the last few months to make sure that the families get the justice they deserve." Michelle Carlile, 44, clutching a photograph of her brother Paul, 19, who died at Hillsborough, said: "It is bitter-sweet. We have known the truth for 23 years." Saunders Law managing director James Saunders, the solicitor representing the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "After truth there must be justice." And Hillsborough Family Support Group chairman Trevor Hicks said: "Justice is on its way. Everything we've said has been proven to be correct. It's a huge step for the families of the loved ones, so it's a happier Christmas."

Source: The Morning Star  20-12-2012

The great cover-up continues

by Paddy McGuffin Home Affairs Reporter

A government report on collusion in the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane which published its findings today was branded a sham and a whitewash by his widow. Mr Finucane was shot 14 times by loyalist paramilitaries in his home in 1989 just weeks after former Home Office minister Douglas Hogg claimed in the Commons that he had been briefed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) that some Northern Ireland solicitors were "unduly sympathetic to the cause of the IRA."

The murder has long been regarded as one of the most infamous of the Troubles and one of the clearest examples of security force collusion. The Finucane family have demanded a full independent inquiry into the killing. But the coalition reneged on a pledge by the previous administration and commissioned a review of the evidence by Sir Desmond de Silva QC instead - the report of which was published today.

Following the publication Prime Minister David Cameron rejected calls for an inquiry yet again, despite saying that Mr de Silva had presented evidence of "shocking" levels of collusion. Mr Cameron said the report clearly showed that British state agents had "actively furthered and facilitated the murder." But the report stopped short of laying any blame at the government's door and said that there was "no over-arching conspiracy."

Mr Finucane's widow Geraldine, who was injured in the attack, told a London press conference: "This report is not the truth." Ms Finucane renewed her call for a full public inquiry into the murder. She said the British government had suppressed the truth and tried to throw all blame on dead people and disbanded organisations while exonerating ministers, serving officers and existing security agencies. Ms Finucane said: "Yet another British government has engineered a suppression of the truth behind the murder of my husband Pat Finucane.

"At every turn it is clear that this report has done exactly what was required - to give the benefit of the doubt to the state, its Cabinet and ministers, to the army, to the intelligence services and to itself. "At every turn, dead witnesses have been blamed and defunct agencies found wanting. Serving personnel and active state departments appear to have been excused. "The dirt has been swept under the carpet without any serious attempt to lift the lid on what really happened to Pat and so many others.

"This report is a sham.  "This report is a whitewash. This report is a confidence trick dressed up as independent scrutiny and given invisible clothes of reliability.  "But most of all, most hurtful and insulting of all, this report is not the truth."

Source: The Morning Star 12-12-2012

Basque Country: Republican Sinn Féin condemn latest ETA move

Irish Republicans send message to Basque people

December 1, 2012

The latest ETA announcement to consider the disbanding of the organisation and the planned

decommissioning of the arsenals comes as no surprise, Republican Sinn Féin International
spokesperson Dieter Blumenfeld said.

Blumenfeld added: “Over the past years one could witness the ETA leadership trying to

follow in the footsteps of the Provisional leadership. Basque leader Otegi even went so far as
claiming there are no political prisoners in Ireland! The ETA leadership has been blinded
by Gerry Adams and company. Yet all the Provisional leadership gained by their reformist
and counterrevolutionary moves were a calm, luxury lifestyle and seats in a British
administration while true Irish Republicans are interned and harassed on a
daily basis.” “True Irish Republicans don’t give up their ideals for paid jobs and luxury lifestyle. True Irish Republicans continue to fight for a united Ireland, a democratic-socialist Republic and peace with justice.”

 “Neither the national question in the Basque country nor the question of the Basque political prisoners will be solved through disbanding and decommission of ETA. We know there are a big number of true Basque revolutionaries who fight for their people and their country and not for themselves and their careers as Adams, McGuiness and heir kitchen cabinet did. We of Republican Sinn Féin say to all Basque revolutionaries: Don’t let yourself be betrayed by a reformist leadership! The future of your children and the sacrifices of the martyrs are too important to give up the fight for a free and independent Basque Country!”

“Irish Republicans call on all true revolutionary forces in the Basque Country to study the true lessons of the Irish freedom struggle. Let’s join forces with the Irish revolutionaries and fight together for the liberation of our nations.” Republican Sinn Féin asks all true Basque revolutionaries to get in contact with the International Bureau of Republican Sinn Féin and establish links with Irish Republicans.

The International Bureau of Republican Sinn Féin can be contacted through:
international@rsf.ie and 0043 664 556 18 68.

Críoch/Ends.

Source: Republican Sinn Fein 03-12-2012