Nationalist unity against Britain's military agenda
By Peadar Whelan
Over 2,000 people who attended last Sunday's Anti-Watchtower
rally in South Armagh heard a cross-section of nationalist
opinion criticise the securocrats in the British establishment
for pursuing a military agenda.
Organised by the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee
(SAFRC) the rally was held near the village of Creggan, not far
from Crossmaglen, after the crowd marched to the British army
installation at Glassdrummond.
People from Dublin attended, as did a busload of farmers and
residents from South Fermanagh who announced the formation of
their own anti-watchtower group and who intend holding a
demonstration at the Wattle Bridge British army checkpoint on 1
January.
A star studded cast of speakers included the MP for the area
Seamus Mallon of the SDLP, Martin McGuinness, Sinn Fein's chief
negotiator and Rory O'Hanlon of Fianna Fail. Caitriona Ruane
(representing the newly formed Cearta Group) and Robert Ballagh
(on behalf of the Irish National Congress) also spoke.
This cross section of nationalist opinion is testament to the
organisation and determination of the people of South Armagh to
oppose the militarisation of their area, a process that has
increased dramatically in spite of an IRA cessation.
While all the speakers criticised the fact that the ``Securocrats
in the British establishment'', as Martin McGuinness called them,
were intent on pursuing a military agenda, it was in a message
read from the platform from Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín O'Caoláin TD,
who could not attend the rally, that struck the most relevant
chord.
O'Caolain said that the problem arose not out of the conflict
that has raged in our country for the past 30 years but went back
75 years to 6 December 1922 when partition was imposed on our
country.
In his address Seamus Mallon described the towers as ``blights on
the landscape''.
Martin McGuinness told the crowd that he would talk to British
Prime Minister Tony Blair about the situation in South Armagh
when he goes to Downing Street on Thursday 11 December. He
accused the `securocrats' of running this `statelet' since
partition and called on Tony Blair and Direct Ruler Mowlam to
challenge them.
Meanwhile the SAFRC have expressed their dissatisfaction at the
attitude of the British government to their demands for the
demilitarisation of the South Armagh countryside.
However, British military intentions were underlined when those
leaving the area after the march witnessed over 15 helicopter
flights as British soldiers who were flown in to reinforce the
base during the rally were airlifted out.
Speaking to An Phoblacht on Tuesday 9 December Toni Carragher,
committee secretary, said the committee is not happy with the
British response.
Ms Carragher was speaking as members of the committee staged a
protest at the Cloughogue checkpoint on the main Belfast to
Dublin Road during which they accused the British government of
dragging their heels.
The NIO announced at the weekend that the checkpoint would be
dismantled. However, this dismantling only entails the removal of
road barriers and a search depot that are situated on the road,
it does not include the two massive watchtowers and billet that
are in place above the road.
``As far as we know the main reason for the removal of the
barriers and search bay is to facilitate the DOE road building in
the area,'' Ms Carragher said. ``What is happening here is a
publicity stunt.''
d workmen who were on site, dismantling the barriers, admitted
they were DoE employees and that the MoD had not moved in to
remove any section of the checkpoint.
As for a meeting the committee held with Direct Ruler Mowlam in
Newry on Monday 8 December, SAFRC chair Declan Fearon stated that
Dr Mowlam did not seem to understand the depth of feeling that
exists in the area over the degree of military activity. This was
especially true when she cited the fact that the British soldiers
in the area are now wearing berets and not helmets as a
concession.
Meanwhile the committee is still awaiting a reply to a letter
they sent to Tony Blair on 17 November.
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