In the week that David Trimble talked of Sinn Féin ``drinking from the
dark stream of fascism'' (see Micheál MacDonncha's piece on Trimble's
Nobel speech) the satirical magazine Private Eye carried a
revealing little report on some of David's political allies.
A black tie dinner was held by the Holborn and St Pancras
Conservative Association. ``After the meal the president rose to toast
`Her Majesty the Queen'. The company rose, muttered `The Queen' and
drunk loyally. Then another official rose and proposed a toast `To
General Pinochet'. All 84 [diners] sprang to their feet and shouted
out the unexpected toast much more gleefully, drank and gave a
special cheer.''
By their friends shall ye know them.
If you're thinking of going onto the Internet for Christmas think
carefully about which Internet service provider you choose.
Kate Sheridan from the Irish People writes to say that last Friday,
America Online (AOL), the world's largest Internet service provider,
closed most of its Irish Heritage Forum sites, suspending
Irish-related services to tens of thousands of Irish and
Irish-American customers. 23 Irish online forums have been shut down.
Kate says that ``Republican/nationalist members are outraged, saying
that the closure was preceded by AOL's ``arbitrary cancellation'' of at
least 20 Irish accounts in recent months. Irish members consider the
Forum closure and terminations an outgrowth of pro-British members'
pressure on AOL during an intense effort to market America Online
services to potential customers in Britain.''
The Irish Forum has long been a favourite target of anti-republican,
pro-British Internet users intent on disrupting the flow of
peace-process information and on limiting Irish-American access to
the broadest range of Irish views.
``One nationalist customer was devastated when her account was
terminated following a Unionist's claim of `harassment' after the
nationalist posted voluminous evidence of sectarian employment
discrimination in the North. With her account went the website and
screen name of the legal group of which she is president. Her
legal-research and studies site was accessed countrywide by attorneys
and paralegals.
``She also lost her teenage son's screen name, `just two weeks before
his college and scholarship applications were due.' Two years' worth
of research and site information was lost. Several applications of
his had already been filed, carrying a return e-mail address rendered
invalid by AOL.
``As of today, AOL had not responded to repeated invitations to
comment on the allegations,'' writes Kate.
Make sure you let Santa know.
According to the Down Democrat Sinn Féin has an ally in its quest to
see a new policing service.
``Police chief says he agrees with Sinn Féin's vision of policing,''
goes the headline. After you blink a few times, the article of course
does not live up to its billing. The comments come from our old
friend RUC Superintendent Brendan McGuigan, who is based in
Downpatrick. Brendan was featured here before when the same newspaper
allowed him a free PR run with a puff piece on what a great set of
people the RUC are.
This time the treatment is more mischievous. McGuigan agrees with the
bit of a SF leaflet which calls for the establishment of a
``representative and accountable police service''. But, surprise,
surprise, he has no time for the RUC's disbandment nor for the view
that the RUC is sectarian and partisan.
d the Down Democrat has no time for the serious treatment of a
serious subject.
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