Republican News · Thursday 15 August 2002

TOM visit South Armagh

On Friday 9 August a group of ten members of the Troops Out Movement (TOM) in Britain visited South Armagh.

The group, comprised of representatives from trade unions, the Labour Party, students and the Indian Workers' Association, were led by Mary Pearson, secretary of TOM in England. They had travelled from Belfast where they had been staying for almost a week during the "Feile an Phobail" celebrations. During their stay in Belfast they met with Sinn Féin, Relatives for Justice and many other groups throughout the city.

Jimmy McCreesh, group leader of Sinn Féin councillors on Newry & Mourne District Council, met the group in Camlough. During a question and answer session in the Sinn Féin office, Jimmy outlined to them the absence of any real attempt by the British government to demilitarise the area.

Councillor McCreesh told them:

"Despite assurances given by the British government to implement a rolling programme of demilitarisation, there has been no further moves made to remove the spy posts or reduce the helicopter activity in this area. In what can only be described as a piecemeal operation, one British Army post at Glassdrumman has been removed completely."

The group spent the afternoon touring South Armagh with Councillor McCreesh, before returning to Belfast. They will be visiting interface areas in Ardoyne and Short Strand before they return home.