Crown forces urged to call ceasefire
Sinn Fein Cookstown District Councillor Finbar Conway has
demanded the British Army and RUC ``call a ceasefire in their
campaign of harassment against the nationalist community of
Pomeroy.''
Conway is one of a number of Sinn Fein councillors, from across
the Six Counties, who have highlighted incidents of harassment of
nationalists by crown forces since the IRA's renewed cessation
last week.
Conway was critical of an operation around Pomeroy which lasted a
week and only ended on 25 July. ``Families in the Tandragee,
Thornhill, Corrycoar and Tirnaskea Road area had to put up with a
real nightmare, a full-scale military invasion which involved
hundreds of troops and much helicopter activity'', reported
Conway.
The councillor added that, ``the area was effectively under
martial law for a week. People going to and from work were body
searched and detained on the roadside for hours on end. It was
community punishment''.
A large group of Omagh residents held a demilitarisation picket
outside the town's RIR camp on the Derry Road on Friday 25 July.
Displaying banners highlighting the new opportunities for peace
they called for a complete demilitarisation in the North.
Sinn Fein Councillor Francie Mackey pointed up the contrast
between the IRA cessation and the British military presence.
Omagh town is one of the most heavily militarised garrison towns
in the North, with heavily fortified British Army, RIR and RUC
bases. Mackey thanked the picket organisers, and urged
nationalists to take possession of the peace process.
Derry Sinn Fein Councillor Cathal Crumley has also criticised the
increased harassment of nationalists in the Creggan and other
areas of Derry.
Crumley attacked the crown forces who set up vehicle checkpoints
in Creggan within hours of the resumption of the IRA cessation
and which were mounted frequently since the cessation.
``They sought to search almost every car, monitor residents and
target republicans'', stated Crumley.
Lisburn Sinn Fein Councillor Michael Ferguson has highlighted the
dangers nationalists are currently facing from provocative crown
forces activities.
Ferguson has raised the issue of a young man seriously beaten by
the RUC on 7 July, in the wake of the Drumcree disturbances. The
man was denied hospital treatment for his injuries, and subjected
to extreme sectarian abuse from a hospital porter.
Colin McCaffrey who ended up being charged with assault and
riotous behaviour was assaulted three times that night by the
RUC, and taken to Lagan Valley Hospital. He entered the hospital
barely able to walk, yet was not offered any wheelchair. A porter
then told the RUC they should ``shoot two of them dead and that
will stop them.''
McCaffrey's injuries included a broken nose, open head cuts,
bruising and swelling on his nose and face, and concussion.
Ferguson has written to the Chief Medical Officer at Lagan Valley
Hospital to investigate the allegations.
The Poleglass councillor has also raised the case of a young
nationalist Sean Bradley, who was arrested outside Woodbourne
Barracks for ``allegedly obstructing a search,'' when the RUC
failed to open a false pocket stitched into his coat. Ferguson
described these incidents as worrying, saying ``It appears the RUC
are intent on provoking a response from people in order to
instigate riot type situations and put pressure on the IRA
cessation.'' He further called for the RUC to withdraw from
nationalist areas, end their harassment campaign, and commit
themselves to securing the peace process.
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