Shame, shame
By Eoghan MacCormaic
Republicans were rightly angry at the stunt by Paisley in Westminster
last week when he read from a list of names, illegally obtained, of
people he alleged were suspects in various incidents over the past
twenty five years and it certainly requires comment.
Quite clearly there are implications for those on the list, and
Paisley himself knows well that reciting names in such a fashion is
an invitation - if one were needed - to Orange/loyalist/unionist
organisations to murder.
Paisley has never been more than an asses roar from organisations
which prowl the streets at night looking to wreak terror on innocent
nationalists, and with the `sanction' of a list from Paisley who
knows when they will begin the task he has set them.
While many will feel that Paisley's actions are at fault, there is
another view which sees the system which allows such actions as the
problem. The whole issue of privilege, and of parliamentary privilege
in particular, is one which is constantly open to abuse and when
placed in the hands of the Andrew Hunters and Ian Paisleys of this
world, abusive people, people who in the past have shown scant regard
for the lives of nationalists, it is no wonder that the `privilege'
is taken up, and a list - tantamount to a death list - concocted.
But what if the shoe were on the other foot? What panic would ensue
if Paisley, Trimble, Robinson and a string of others were to learn
that a certain two MPs were on their way to Westminster for a spot of
name dropping? Or if elements of the business world in the north, who
with the connivance of various Unionist politicians financed the
UDA/UFF, and the UVF in their sectarian campaigns, were to hear their
names blurted out under the guise of `parliamentary privilege', what
outcry would be raised then against the irresponsibility of the
Westminster perk?
While it is a tempting scenario, it is one which is unlikely to ever
happen not least because no republican would advocate going to
Westminster, even to `out' the string-pullers among the Unionist MPs.
Another reason of course is that Republicans are all too well aware
of the reckless nature of the privilege of Westminster and how it can
lead to loyalist death squads targeting those named.
Paisley's stunt last week is not the first time such abuse of
`parliamentary privilege' has occurred.
The murder of Human Rights lawyer, Pat Finucane by Loyalists
controlled by British Intelligence can be attributed directly to the
statement by Junior Minister Douglas Hogg a short time beforehand.
Libelous and serious allegations have also been made against a number
of Republicans over the years, some named directly, other identified
in ways which could lead loyalists to their doors. Paisley's antics
last week were, no doubt, designed to have the same effect and the
fact that the leaked document came from the RUC should come as no
surprise. Collusion between the RUC/British security forces, Unionist
politicians and loyalist death squads has been and remains
widespread. Where unionists think that due process is too slow, or
too soft, they use a tool which leads to the death penalty for the
`suspects'.
Parliamentary privilege is a refined and more lethal version of the
Diplock Courts. Where Diplock operates without the hindrance of a
Jury, parliamentary privilege dispenses with the need for either
judge or jury. Instead it provides a channel between the prosecution
and the executioner... often one and the same. The namer of names is
all powerful, and all protected. The person named powerless to defend
their name. It is a classic form of British `justice'. Paisley, and
Hunter and other advocates of the policy call it `name and shame'. In
this game of name and shame the shame in fact lies on those who take
refuge under the cowardly apron of privilege.
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