Irisch Republikanische Solidarität








TC

PSNI harass republicans




Sinn Fein Assembly member for West Belfast Fra McCann has
accused the PSNI police of 'engaging in a campaign of
harassment against republicans'. Mr McCann's remarks come
after homes in New Barnsley and Ballymurphy were raided this
morning and one man was arrested.

Four homes in the New Barnsley and Ballymurphy area were
raided by heavily armed PSNI members and one man was arrested.

Sinn Fein has accused the PSNI of continuing "a well planned
and deliberate campaign of harassment" against republicans.

"We are told time and again by the SDLP and others that we
have achieved a new beginning to policing. I would challenge
anyone to explain the differences between this mornings
operation and those carried out in this area by the RUC over
many years.

"Sinn Fein will be raising these raids with the British
government and I am demanding that the PSNI release the man
they have arrested without delay."

Meanwhile, Sinn Fein spokesperson on Policing, Gerry Kelly,
has claimed that remarks made by the SDLP member Alex Attwood
after he met with the Police Federation "vindicate completely"
the stance taken by Sinn Fein on the issue.

Mr Attwood had claimed that members of the Federation who are
members of the PSNI were not committed to the Patten reforms.

"Sinn Fein have consistently said that the old RUC group which
moved en masse into the PSNI, especially those within Special
Branch, were a block to achieving an acceptable policing
service," said Mr Kelly.

"The SDLP have consistently claimed that such an acceptable
policing service had already been achieved.

"Alex Attwood comments yesterday vindicate the Sinn Fein
position. He is now accepting that we do not yet have an
acceptable policing service and that there are those within
the PSNI resisting the creation of one.

"That is why Sinn Fein stayed out of the current arrangements
and instead focused on negotiating with the British government
on getting policing structures right."

Letzte Änderung:
29-Jan-04