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Saturday 25 January 2014
A STALINIST FASCIST REPUBLICAN CENSORED DEBATE
Self-confessed Censorship by the enemies of Irish Republicanism is nothing new, we must continue to voice our opposition to it wherever it rears its ugly head.
A CENSORED DEBATE
DOMINIC MCGLINCHEY INTERVIEW: SAYING WHAT NEEDS SAID
"Q: What do you say to those people who are unhappy but are pulled the other way by feelings of loyalty?A: Examine their consciences. Take a good look at what is going on. If they agree - ok. If not then speak out." - Fourthwrite interview with Brendan Hughes
Dominic McGlinchey Interview: Saying What Needs Said
TPQ features an unedited interview that the republican Dominic McGlinchey gave toConnla Young of the Irish News. The interview initially featured in the paper today, Friday 24 January 2014. The unedited version was provided to TPQ by Dominic McGlinchey.
Well known in anti-agreement circles Dominic McGlinchey has been a staunch opponent of Sinn Fein's political strategy. But with "little appetite" for armed conflict, the republican activist asks whether the time is right for an end to armed struggle as he urges "conversations" to take place on the future for militant republicanism.
A prominent opponent of Sinn Fein’s political strategy has said there is “little appetite” for armed conflict in nationalist communities in the north.
In a rare interview Dominic McGlinchey urged those opposed Sinn Fein’s strategy to hold a 'conversation about the future of the republican movement' and 'question the integrity of those standing beside them'.
His comments come after a period of intense debate within anti-agreement circles about the merits of various republican paramilitary campaigns.
In recent weeks a number of other high profile anti-agreement republicans, including former Provisional IRA hunger strikers Gerard Hodgins and Tommy McKearney, have said it is time for armed republican groups to “reconsider” their campaigns.
Mr McGlinchey believes republicans have little to fear from making tough decisions.
'Republicans have shown they are well capable of taking decisive action against the British,' he said.
'That’s not something that they need to prove and nobody is saying you shouldn’t do this or do that.'
Born into a staunch republican family from Bellaghy in south Derry, Mr McGlinchey’s decision to enter a public debate at this time will be viewed as significant.
There are currently several active republican groups including the IRA, Oglaigh na hEireann and the Continuity IRA.
The IRA, which was formed as after a merger between the Real IRA, Republican Action Against Drugs and independent republicans in 2012, and Oglaigh na hEireann have been particularly active in recent months.
Although he keeps a low public profile, Mr McGlinchey is a well-known figure in anti-agreement circles.
Speaking last night the father-of-three said that in some cases “armed action” was being used to 'stifle republicanism at the present time. It’s not that you are asking republicans to give something up, it’s not a matter of giving something up,' he said.
The 36-year-old left Sinn Fein in 2006 partly because of its support for policing in the north.
He later joined republican socialist party Eirigi before resigning from that group in 2009.
He remains opposed to Sinn Fein and believes support for the party 'is support for British rule in Ireland and the administering of British rule in Ireland'.
In 2012 Mr McGlinchey was questioned by police about a Real IRA gun attack which claimed the lives of two British soldiers in Massereene in County Antrim in 2009.
He strongly denies any involvement in the attack and believes his name was connected to the ambush by 'the British media, MI5 and (PSNI) special branch'.
The Co Derry man believes there is little support for a paramilitary campaign in nationalist communities.
“I don’t believe the appetite exists among the people,” he said.
Mr McGlinchey says that republican groups must answer to the people they claim to represent.
'As republicans we say our loyalty is to the Republic and the people make up the Republic and our loyalty has to be to those people,' he said.
Mr McGlinchey is of the view that republican 'activists on the ground need to have an understanding of what they want'.
He said the activities of republican paramilitary groups do not constitute a sustained “campaign”.
He urged anti-agreement republicans to consider alternative methods to further their aims and reject any romantic notions about the Provisional IRA’s campaign.
'Resistance is good,' he said.
As a child Mr McGlinchey saw both his parents being shot dead in separate gun attacks in Co Louth.
His father Dominic, a former INLA Chief of Staff, was gunned down in Drogheda in February 1994 by gunmen who have never been apprehended.
His mother Mary, also a former senior member of the INLA, was shot dead in her Dundalk home in January 1987 as she bathed the then nine-year-old along with his brother Declan.
Again, her killers have never been caught.
Mr McGlinchey says alternative ways of expressing republican politics should not be dismissed by hardliners.
'There are hundreds of ways to expose the status quo for what it is,' he said.
'Through civil disobedience or not recognising institutions. Republicanism cannot be viewed as a one-trick pony, there needs to be a proper analysis of where it is at.'
The former Sinn Fein man believes that conversations about the future of militant republicanism can be held privately.
'I don’t think republicans need to say they are calling a halt,' he said.
'It’s clear that as republicans you have a duty to reflect, gather your thoughts and analyse our strategy. There needs to be a conversation about the future of the republican movement.'
He revealed that hardline republicans have already entered into a “period of reflection” but that efforts to move away from violence are opposed by elements within the British security establishment.
'MI5 and the security services have moved certain people from our streets that are of a more moderate persuasion to stifle that,' he said.
'The security forces, MI5 and British intelligence have a vested interest in keeping things going.'
He also believes that at times in the past British “agent provocateurs” within the Republican Movement have steered its direction.
'Whether we like it or dislike it at the minute the Brits are controlling both sides of the argument, or certainly have major influences in terms of both sides of the argument,' he said.
Mr McGlinchey believes the in recent years 'republicans are trying to swim in a dirty pond and there’s not even enough oxygen for anything to breathe in it never mind grow'.
He says this has been demonstrated more so in Dublin where hardline factions have descended into a “gang structure” whose members “masquerade as republicans”.
'There’s been too much sacrificed just to be lost on a gangland in Dublin or a corrupt person in Belfast,' he said.
The South Derry man says militant republicans have encountered tougher challenges in the past.
'We have been shot by our own, hanged by our own, hanged by the Brits, we have been raped and beaten by the church and starved by colonialism – there’s nothing in this world we cannot face,' he said.
'By taking a step back you actually do move forward. You need a bit of luck, but you can’t have luck if you don’t have a plan.'
Mr McGlinchey is convinced the time is right for him to speak out now.
'We were told to go and sit in the corner and that’s not acceptable any more,' he said.
READY TO RIOT
War gear: Weaponry & armor of rioters in Kiev (PHOTOS)
While thousands of people take part in anti-government protests in Kiev, a small group of radical fighters were at the core of the last days violent clashes. And judging by their looks and actions, they are armed, trained and prepared for war.
The hallmark of the Ukrainian riots on Wednesday and Thursday morning was the smell of burning tires. Opposition fighters started the fires as the riot police moved in to disperse the crowds in the most brutal action seen in weeks.
By nightfall a huge barricade of rubber and flames separated the rioters from police, who returned to their original positions, blocking approaches to governmental buildings. Activists were tossing new tires into the fire in their dozens, as large plumes of black smoke filled the air.
There may be no machine-gun fire or tanks in Kiev, but the city looks like a warzone. And soldiers of the opposition appear to be a close match to officers of the law, if not in terms of discipline, than certainly in terms of equipment.
Riot police have helmets, shields and body armor. So do the rioters.
The radicals are easily distinguished by the orange construction workers’ helmets many of them wear.
But there are also motorcycle helmets, military helmets and even replica knight helmets.
The rioters are armed with homemade shields. Though they may look amateurish compared to police officers’ metal ones, they are actually quite effective at blocking rubber bullets. Some have also obtained riot police shields.
And they know how to use them to form a tight, well-defended line.
Other protection gear includes gas masks that render police tear gas useless.
Apart from individual gear, the rioters know urban guerrilla tactics, like stretching nets over barricades to catch police stun grenades.
The protesters are also well-prepared for offensive. They have a wide assortment of melee weapons.
Unlike police batons, their home-made maces and spears have spikes and are designed to draw blood.
The most popular projectiles are stones taken from the pavement and Molotov cocktails. Petrol bombs were extensively used in the initial clashes with the police on Sunday.
Some officers hit by the Molotovs were badly burned.
And some police vehicles burned out completely.
Fireworks were also extensively used against the police, which made the confrontation look hauntingly jubilant at times.
The protesters erected a catapult (or more precisely a miniature trebuchet) to launch their projectiles a great distance.
The machine proved to be ineffective and was eventually destroyed in a police raid. The rioters replaced it after with a giant sling.
The rioters also have pneumatic and low-lethality firearms.
Only mildly-effective against protected police, they may look like real firearms from distance.
Where the police beat the opposition is with stun and tear gas grenades. But in one episode the rioters said they intercepted a box of 340 stun grenades meant for police. It’s not clear whether the claim was true.
The radical activists stockpiled irritant chemicals like ammonia to use against the police as a sort of tear gas.
There were also unconfirmed reports that they planned to use Molotov cocktails with concentrated alkaline drain cleaner added, so that the bombs not only set their victims on fire, but also left severe chemical burns.
It’s true that Ukrainian riot police are not beyond criticism. They were involved in deplorable actions, including vicious brutality against unresisting protesters, as footage from the Wednesday crackdown clearly shows.
However, many of the people they stand against are far from peaceful and non-violent. They are geared for a guerrilla action, and they are conducting one.
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13 comments:
If there are those who disagree with what Dominic and others, myself included, are saying then they need to explain how they hope to achieve anything going it alone.
A well thought out and well written article by Dominic paving the way for armed groups that never fought a war calling ceasefires in the year of elections-looks like some want to get their own peace process going-which is their own buisness-they can dust down old Army and Sinn Fein statements and just add their name on to them for release-you cant make this stuff up-
you are right. There aren't many but there are some. Getting prisoners released will be a hard one whatever happens but it should be pressed for.
Firstly he has previously had the debate within Irish republicanism (the comradely way) before talking to a Newspaper which (with all its faults) is not the Organ of the Ulster Unionist Party.
Unlike the Newsletter interviews he gives possible visions of what could be alternative strategies to current armed actions and has not allowed himself to be seen as simply renouncing and distancing himself from what the others called 'utter madness' !
Unlike the Newsletter posse, there is nothing in this article which the enemies of Republicanism could take comfort from.
Fair play to Dominic, he is a credit to his parents.
We in the States were shocked when the "Irish" gov't worked with the Brits against us on every issue, from the B-6, to MacBride Principles, to Joe Doherty, to the GFA's surrender of the thereto-contested 6-Counties.
The US gov't began siding with Britain against republicans soon after 1989 when the Adams sell-out became clear here.
The IRB's demand for abolition of the 1922 King George V "Oireachtas" and its successors is a start. GAA players and supporters ought to take the GAA back from its new corporate owners. Ditto Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, which, under true Irish leadership, will undo its part in making Derry the 2013 "UK City of Culture." The resumed internment and criminal abuse of prisoners indicates the extent of Britain's triumph. So does the criminal immunization of the perpetrators of Bloody Sunday, Dublin/Monaghan, Ballymurphy, Loughinisland, Omagh, etc. It is surely time for a public reassessment of the current status of law and justice in what was Occupied Ireland until its surrender to Britain. A main problem, that of U.S. support for tyrannies everywhere, is no longer perfumable. The U.S., a dismantler of Britain's empire in 1776 and under FDR,has become what Britain was at its most criminal. U.S. crimes are finally acknowledged by its citizens. IMHO a new, law-abiding U.S. is only a finger-snap away in terms of history. To achieve it we all must reclaim our sovereignty from those we mistakenly entrusted it.
I think its a result of a crisis in confidence within republicanism in general it reminds me of the short story of the elephant rope. People need to be inspired.
I also just hope all of the contributions are genuine and hopefully somewhere in there we