International News reaction to the Masserene Killings

by macavity Sun Mar 08, 2009 18:28

Those were amongst the opening words of the statement issued in the name of P O'Neill on the 28th of July 2005 which announced a formal and unequivocal end to the armed campaign by the Irish Republican Movement.

as a little reminder of that day & its words :-


The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon.

All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms.

All Volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means.

Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever.



http://www.indymedia.ie/article/71187?comment_order=des...ments

during the conflict in Ireland from 1969 and 2001known globally as "The Troubles" in Ireland from 1969 and 2001, which also saw related deaths in Britain and Europe, 3523 persons were killed.

They have as of yet no common memorial or day of remembrance - no equality of suffering - no parity of esteem - no impartial niche in what ought be the common awareness of all peoples of the island of Ireland. c/f http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubles http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74873

by macavity Sun Mar 08, 2009 20:19

the RIRA or so-called "real IRA" have now admitted it appears the attack, which not only left 2 British soldiers dead after being laid upon the ground and shot through the back of the head, but also left 11 other people wounded including pizza delivery workers at minimum wage and one Polish migrant.

http://www.tvp.info/news.html?directory=2788&news=889194

Thus Polish and eastern European media have in the last hour taken up a story which really was supposed to be over. After all it's been a long time since elements close to RIRA accused all Polish who would join the PSNI as being traitors to something or other. Even if indeed they were Polish protestants with a protestant surname like Laski a proud descendent of the tradition of the Polish protestant reformation of Jan Laski? c/f http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Laski

Oh but's got nothing to do with religion. It's all about Wolfe Tone isn't it?

Shame on the traitors to peace & the search for unity of the Irish - those of the RIRA!

If we know we should not sell nor trade in black sheep, & if truly we ought never find ourselves without black sheep in our flock that ought not be taken to mean we had better not consider penning our black sheep on occasion..,

by Séamus Sun Mar 08, 2009 22:27

Just to be pedantic, the Polish worker was one of the two Domino's delivery boys caught in the attack according to most media reports. He wasn't one of the British soldiers injured/killed in the attack.

by macavity Mon Mar 09, 2009 00:37

It sort of works like a franchise thing. The Italian communist daily newspaper "Unita" cited in the article has decided to forego the explanations and subtleties and simply tell its readers that the IRA have accepted responsibility for the murderous attack on pizza delivery.

The New York Times has referred to a group which calls itself "the real IRA" whilst speculating the demise of a "Shakey Ulster government". http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/world/europe/09ulster...=1&hp

The Basque and Catalan independence news platforms linked to in the article above now move to expand on their earlier allusions to splits in the armed struggle tradition of Irish republicanism to offer potted histories of the conflict and paltry explanation of who these real IRA people may be.

Closer to home most readers of indymedia Ireland will notice the caution with which the Irish Times reports the "real IRA may have been responsible for the attack". Understandable they didn't get the phone call claiming responsibility - the Tribune did. Oh yes. the phone call. Many readers will be too young to remember the recognised code word lark. Of course they probably know that in this day and age of incredible surveillance and intelligence gathering the cutting edge of globalised terrorism doesn't use "recognised code words" anymore. 21st century terrorism put that shite behind it as non-operational along with extended large logistic networks, recognisable political wings, prisoner solidarity groups, oaths to flags actually to be honest phone calls to local newspapers afterwards. You just sort of recognise the franchise.

So who wants to operate the franchise which prompts the BBC and "Guardian" to dust off histories of the conflict and ask will the derailing (original verb if any) of the peace process be added to Gordon Brown's list of inabilities to live up to the legacy of Blair?

You could wonder the same about Messrs Cowen and Robinson..,

But for the most part it seems that the globalised newspapers are happy to parrot the official line that a group calling itself the "real IRA" phoned up a Dublin newspaper and in the midst of a stream of old-fashioned 40 second chat rattled off a recognised code word .

Recognised by who exactly?

Like a jilted lover or the unpleasant shag who gave you crabs years ago, recognised code words really are something you want to forget but come back to you in a sweaty moment of traumatised memory. But isn't there a new generation of people perhaps even a bunch of people born in foreign lands working the switchboards and answermachines of Ireland's newspapers these days? Would they recognise either the significance of a "codeword" or a misplaced king william's mare if dropped into a few moments probably muffled message? Have these people who want to operate the franchise had the thoughtfulness to provide us with new codewords? Are they supersafe like a decently secure password on a facebook or gmail account? Would they resist hacking by a middle ranking Ukranian, Estonian or Slovakian gun-running-women-trafficking operated virus bot?

who knows?

One thing is certain, in all the paragraphs the people who attacked Masserine barracks have managed to create across the languages of the world, and in all the reminding of the powerful acronym IRA to confirm Ireland either south or north is not worthy of business or investment - one idea has not been trotted out yet like an incongrous mention of his majesty king william on his splendid stallion.

the real UVF

have yet to make their appearance. But give them time and an excuse. Why not................................................

by Jim Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:17

This attack amounted to a bunch of guys in a car armed with two automatic weapons attacking a bunch of squadies and two guys deliverying pizza.

And that's it?

Hardly Pearl Harbour was it?

If this was a gangland hit in Dublin would it make world news?

Why are the media giving this more attention that it deserves?

It's just a squalid act of common murder committed by a a few bozos would had nothing to do at the weekend.

These apes will be tracked down like any other common murderers, given a fair trial and locked away.

The people of Northern Ireland are not afraid of them - they are bored and uninterested.

This is just a sad "here-look-at-me" tantrum.

by redjade Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:28

read the Feb 2007 Indymedia.ie feature:

PSNI Puts Ulster Poles as Piggies in the Middle
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/81111

by Des Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:35

Jim
Your comment would suggest you are a tad naive in the ways of Norn Iron. Just some food for thought.
This action now gives the British Government the excuse to put troops back on the streets.
This action will now be seen to vindicate the deployment of the SAS and the other so-called special forces and will probably increase their numbers in the province.
This action weakens the political position of the mainstream Republican parties and gives the Unionists fuel to add to their fire.
This action opens the door for loyalist paramilatries to return to "the armed struggle" and potentially target Catholics (probably soft targets) in the usual tit-fot-tat exchange which was the norm for so long.
This action could now escalate - this could be the first in a number of such attacks. It could inspire others of the same mindset to go out and commit a similar act. It could even be the prelude to another Omagh.
The negative publicity this action has generated will be enough to put companies thinking of investing in the "all new safe Northern Ireland" off and make them think about going elsewhere.
This action will make people thinking of coming here on holiday and boosting the flailing tourism and leisure trade think twice.
The actions of a few mafia style thugs, no argument there, but unfortunately its the way this is perceived and the backlash that could follow that sets this apart from just another gang-land killing.

by Jim Mon Mar 09, 2009 12:12

It seems to me you are living in fear.
You are doing these bozos job for them.

Playing to their hands by immediately returning to a Troubles mindset makes it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What we need is cool calm heads.

by Devils advocate Mon Mar 09, 2009 16:16

The strange thing is that even though Jim and Des have conflicting opinions you are both in your own way correct.
Thats Irish politics for yees lads.....

by Séamus Mon Mar 09, 2009 17:45

RIRA wet dreams of toppling the empire, and liberating Northern Ireland has done the following..

* Killed two men, injured others - none of which are believed to have their hands on the levers of power.
* Made it less likely that a barracks will get pizza deliveries - hardly a great blow to imperialism.
* Reduced the number of troops deploying to Afghanistan by TWO.
* Created fear in the society they live in.
* Allowed the British government, currently embroiled in two illegal and bloody occupations to (justifiably) condemn SOMEONE ELSE for cold blooded murder, and targeting civilians.
* Increased the determination of the British government to hold power in the North.
*Set back the chances of a united Ireland, the only viable method of achieving this, being that the unionist population would TRUST the nationalist population enough that they don't feel they need the British Army and loyalist paramilitaries to protect them.

RIRA can't build a better society by an attack like this.
Nor will they shake the corridors of power.
Brown will make political capital from showing solidarity with a couple of dead soldiers, who he wouldn't give a minutes thoughts to if they died in Afghanistan serving US/UK imperial interests. And then he'll go back to worrying about the economy, and let MI5 get on with running things in NI.

by Dermie Mon Mar 09, 2009 18:46

Séamus. Agree entirely.
Rather than moving us towards reunification, these actions make it an even harder goal to achieve.
I can not decide if it is a matter of them not realising this (i.e. a few loose cannons going off on their own) or if this is all part of some sinister, self-achieving aim which extends beyond fighting for one's country.

by Gruffalo Mon Mar 09, 2009 18:56

Maybe its time that the people of Ireland, North and South had some public celebrations of peace to send a message to these muppets, as well as to the world at large that the people of Ireland are united in their desire for peace. Why wait for the opportunity to be anti-war / terrorism when you can send a message by celebrating peace and harmony. We are world renowned for our love of a party. Why not have one for all the right reasons.

Just an idea.

by macavity Mon Mar 09, 2009 19:11

Top news in the Baltic state includes the announcement of a U2 tour which will take in the Chorzow stadium in Silesia on the 6th of August as well as the usual focus on student drug abuse and papal news. Yet again Bono's face arrives to save the Irish reputation.

Domino Pizza for their part have not so far commented on the attack, the last reference to northern Ireland from their press room was the news of the creation of 20 full and part time jobs in Omagh last December 9th. http://www.dominos.uk.com/media_centre/pdf/Omagh%20jobs...e.pdf

Readers might like to cast an eye on the "Slugger O Toole" site which has long been recognised as the best blog collation of news relating to the north. http://sluggerotoole.com/ & http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/refl...land/ & of interest this one The big political question now is whether Sinn Fein will use the Massareene murders to try to force an end to the British army’s back up role. The attack seems to have reinforced rather than weakened their opposition to it. http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/adam...s-in/ & "The only persons who gain in this situation…… (tinfoil hat?" http://sluggerotoole.com/index.php/weblog/comments/the-...-hat/ There you can see different connections & dots and even read Ruari O bradaigh's press release on the whole thing.

Or you could simply have a look at Slugger O Toole's star writer Mick Fealty's piece in the English Guardian today which quite rightly dwellt on the ease with which these people carried out the attack.

It meant a lot more than monitoring multi-national-corporation-pizza-delivery-logistics & following Honda 50's about or even continuing with their well noted apparent belief that Polish migration was a scurrulous plot by the anglo-saxon to undermine the resolve of the Irish people to kick out the Brits. The ease of the attack belied the sense of tranquilty and peace, the lack of road blocks, the lack of paranoia. Peace kind of stuff. It was the sort of attack you could only do on a quiet nothing-much-happening Saturday in a pleasant enough corner of alltogether quite splendid land. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/09/bri...eland

The international news reports kind of end now, it's a case of move along there, nothing to see, ineffectual sporadic attempts to stir things up.... Which leaves politics to be made.

After all Ireland in both her parts faces the same serious issues and problems and longterm agenda this week as last week.

by Jim Tue Mar 10, 2009 13:23

It needs to be televised, the First and Deputy First Ministers with all the political party leaderships in the north in attendance and with hundreds of thousands of ordinary people participating.

It should be called Peace Day or something like that and it should used as a demonstration every year that the people of Northern Ireland have moved on and away from violence.

If they could do before the end of this year it would go along way to remove any possibility of a return to war.

by Dermie Tue Mar 10, 2009 18:45

A day of Peace sounds like a very good idea to me.
It could help with peace and reconciliation, but it could also be used to send a very clear message to the terror gangs who still insist on using death and destruction to maintain their grip on power and pretend they are doing it for some kind of cause - we don't want you, we don't need you and we don't believe you.

by conn Tue Mar 10, 2009 21:19

Erm...

Peace Day

What a great idea!
It already exists though!

It's on 21st September, every year.

There's even a website for it, last year there was a concert in Belfast.

www.peacedaycampaign.com

Please support Peace Day!

by victor charlie Wed Mar 11, 2009 06:45

what are british military bases doing in northern ireland, more than 10 years after the GFA? and why were army SAS units being redeployed even before these attacks? The RIRA never agreed to the GFA and have continued to carry out attacks over the years, as is the right of a colonized people to do. there will always be conflict in northern ireland until the british leave it. Long live the (R)IRA- death to the british empire.

by Elliot Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:01

Until a few days ago the news, the talk in work, cafes and on the streets in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland was all about the recession. The shocking increase in unemployment the cuts in the NHS and the €1 billion cuts in the Southern health service. The memory of the biggest trade union demonstration on this island in 30 years was still fresh. In the South workers and trade unions were voting for and discussing the national strike on 30 March. In Northern Ireland all of the sectarian parties were under pressure in the Assembly because of the crisis in the economy.

What do the RIRA and the CIRA do? Murder two unarmed young British soldiers, economic conscripts, having a pizza before they were sent off to war! Murder a policeman who thought he was going to help a woman in trouble. Shoot and nearly murder two low paid workers included a migrant, who they accused of being collaborators with British imperialism. A low paid Polish migrant worker being paid peanuts to deliver pizza by Dominos Pizza a collaborator!

These attacks were not brave, they were not a blow against imperialism, they are cowardly and loathsome.

Now the news is no longer dominated by the recession and the economic and social attacks on working class people. Now all of the right-wing politicians in Northern Ireland and in the South have been given a new lease of life. Now Brian Cowen can turn everyone's attention away from the crisis towards the North.

What the RIRA and CIRA have done is not a blow against imperialism. They have strengthened British imperialism and they have strengthened Sinn Fein, the DUP, Fianna Fail and all of the rest who are too blame for the economic crisis.

They have created the conditions for greater disunity amongst the people in Ireland and for a return to the days of the tit for tat sectarian killings. They want to bring back repression onto the streets of Northern Ireland.

The RIRA and CIRA are reactionaries and the enemies of the working class in Ireland and we should unite and turn against them.

Scum = One, such as a person or an element of society, that is regarded as despicable or worthless.

by Shane Wed Mar 11, 2009 15:39

Victor Charlie

These attacks were as much a blow to the peace and reunification of Ireland as they were against the British Army.
Reunification will be brought in time by peaceful means. It will not happen overnight and it certainly won't happen if what amounts to a bunch of thugs who use extortion, drugs and smuggling to line their own pockets decide to go on a killing spree to get their jollies.

These morons did not do this because they want a United Ireland. I doubt they even care about a United Ireland. They have done nothing more than vent their blood lust and try and establish their reputation for brutality so they can hold on to their crime syndicates in the North.

If these are the people you support then you are as much a traitor to the Irish Nation and to the human race as they are.

God save us from self-styled patriots.

by Jim K. Wed Mar 11, 2009 19:35

Long live the peace process!
Death to complete morons who spout rubbish like " Long live the (R)IRA- death to the british empire"!
Get a grip. Get a life. Get an education. Get out of the pub where you sit telling IRA stories and singing rebel songs all night and actually see whats really going on.
How anyone can condone the actions of the last week is beyond me.

by macavity Wed Mar 11, 2009 19:48

Just as the RSF party invited everyone to watch their annual Easter Rising sunglasses and provincial flag display, auld Ruairi took to the fax and sent out this statement on the afternoon of Sunday March 8th just about the time the Tribune were getting their phone call that the RIRA were claiming Masserene :-

"Statement from Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin

For more than 20 years Republican Sinn Féin has been warning that the lessons of Irish history have been that as long as the British government and British occupation troops remain in Ireland there will be Irish people to oppose their presence here. It is only a matter of days since Hugh Order, the head of the RUC, announced that undercover British troops were being brought back into this country. While everyone regretted loss of life, the hard realities of the situation in Ireland must be faced".


As we all know, Ruarí's RSF don't control, shop or recruit for RIRA - that's 32CSM biz. Nope Ruarís crew do CIRA. & within a few hours of him asking us all to face his hard realities, CIRA had shot the first PSNI member in history.

You can't repudiate the dish by simply blaming the recipe - the chefs come into it too.