SDLP supports draconian laws
Derry City Sinn Fein councillor, Peter Anderson, has slammed the
SDLP members on the council after they sided with the unionist
minority to block a motion condemning the new laws introduced by
the British and Dublin governments which could see internment
reintroduced by the backdoor.
Numerous human rights groups have condemned the legislation which
allows people to be convicted solely on the word of an RUC man.
derson expressed disappointment at the defeat of his motion
adding, ``the publicly stated position of the SDLP's spokesperson
on policing was that it would be madness to allow the RUC access
to this legislation but it would appear that the SDLP in Derry
feels able to pick and choose what issues Council should or
should not adopt a position upon. This a la carte approach not
only undermines the role of Council but actually subverts the
concept of local democracy.''
When proposing the motion Anderson had said, ``those political
leaders who have advocated and supported the enactment in Dublin
and London of a number of so-called security measures are
contributing to the subversion of the Good Friday document. The
potential for abuse of this legislation - particularly in the
hands of the RUC whose very existence is very much under scrutiny
- and the negative impact it will hold for many people who
endorsed the Good Friday package should have served as a
restraint for those politicians who have unquestioningly accepted
the erroneous need for such repressive measures.''
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