32 COUNTY GROUPING ADDRESS THE UN
32 County grouping address the UN
Sovereignty Movement duo present 'intervention'
TWO members of the 32 County Sovereignty Group, a group linked ideologically to the 'Real IRA', returned to ' Ireland from Geneva after presenting an 'intervention 7' to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Local Councillor and Chairman of 32 County Group, Francis Mackey, and that organisation's public relations officer, Joe Dillon, spent almost three weeks in Switzerland during which time Dillon addressed the Commission.
During his address, which he claimed was on behalf of the people of Ireland, he said, "I take this opportunity to highlight the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, committed by the British Government in the occupied territory of Ireland and to reiterate the submissions made to the United Nations on 30th April 1998 by the Irish 32 County Sovereignty Movement, which challenge the legitimacy of the then proposed referenda, and in which the United nations was petitioned to uphold the Irish people's most fundamental right to self-determination."
He claimed harassment and intimidation by the Irish and British governments as they attempt to 'de-legitimise the Irish national struggle for freedom' and said that the said practises were in contravention of Articles 2,3,5,7,12 and 19, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in breach of various other sections of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
DENIED ENTRY TO US
Since 1998, he said, the members of the 32 County movement have been denied entry to the United Nations in New York because the US government refuses to issue them visas.
The 32 county spokesman concluded by calling upon all present, and in particular, the representatives of former colonies, to demand that the British government immediately and unconditionally complies with its international obligations "... and respect the democratic wish and non-negotiable basic human right of the Irish people to self determination."
Councillor Mackey denied this week that the 32 County movement and the Real IRA were inextricably linked, and was unwilling to use his political influence to call for an immediate unilateral ceasefire from all-republican groupings.
However, he said that the 32 county group would be hoping to achieve a situation whereby a full unilateral ceasefire could be implemented. "We are hoping to achieve the conditions to end the conflict in Ireland."
He continued, "It is up to all republicans to look at all alternatives in terms of bringing a resolution to the conflict and, in so doing, upholding the rights of the Irish people and the sovereign Irish nation.
Mr Mackey said that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement's position on the Omagh bomb was well known.
He refused to comment on the human rights of the people killed and maimed in the atrocity of August 15th 1998.
Commenting on the dissident republican grouping's visit to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Michael Gallagher, Chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, said; "I would be interested to know if Mr Mackey raised the fact that the victims of Omagh in 1998 had their human rights violated.
"Did he mention any call for justice on behalf of these people. His (Mackey's) first concern should have been the people of Omagh."
Sovereignty Movement duo present 'intervention'
TWO members of the 32 County Sovereignty Group, a group linked ideologically to the 'Real IRA', returned to ' Ireland from Geneva after presenting an 'intervention 7' to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Local Councillor and Chairman of 32 County Group, Francis Mackey, and that organisation's public relations officer, Joe Dillon, spent almost three weeks in Switzerland during which time Dillon addressed the Commission.
During his address, which he claimed was on behalf of the people of Ireland, he said, "I take this opportunity to highlight the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms, committed by the British Government in the occupied territory of Ireland and to reiterate the submissions made to the United Nations on 30th April 1998 by the Irish 32 County Sovereignty Movement, which challenge the legitimacy of the then proposed referenda, and in which the United nations was petitioned to uphold the Irish people's most fundamental right to self-determination."
He claimed harassment and intimidation by the Irish and British governments as they attempt to 'de-legitimise the Irish national struggle for freedom' and said that the said practises were in contravention of Articles 2,3,5,7,12 and 19, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in breach of various other sections of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
DENIED ENTRY TO US
Since 1998, he said, the members of the 32 County movement have been denied entry to the United Nations in New York because the US government refuses to issue them visas.
The 32 county spokesman concluded by calling upon all present, and in particular, the representatives of former colonies, to demand that the British government immediately and unconditionally complies with its international obligations "... and respect the democratic wish and non-negotiable basic human right of the Irish people to self determination."
Councillor Mackey denied this week that the 32 County movement and the Real IRA were inextricably linked, and was unwilling to use his political influence to call for an immediate unilateral ceasefire from all-republican groupings.
However, he said that the 32 county group would be hoping to achieve a situation whereby a full unilateral ceasefire could be implemented. "We are hoping to achieve the conditions to end the conflict in Ireland."
He continued, "It is up to all republicans to look at all alternatives in terms of bringing a resolution to the conflict and, in so doing, upholding the rights of the Irish people and the sovereign Irish nation.
Mr Mackey said that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement's position on the Omagh bomb was well known.
He refused to comment on the human rights of the people killed and maimed in the atrocity of August 15th 1998.
Commenting on the dissident republican grouping's visit to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, Michael Gallagher, Chairman of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, said; "I would be interested to know if Mr Mackey raised the fact that the victims of Omagh in 1998 had their human rights violated.
"Did he mention any call for justice on behalf of these people. His (Mackey's) first concern should have been the people of Omagh."
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/0757
Published Date: 12-Apr-01
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