RNU Letter

national | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Thursday September 30, 2010 11:29 by RNU PRO - Republican Network for Unity (RNU)

On behalf of the Republican Network for Unity (RNU), I’d like to claim victory as the draft Public Assemblies Parades and Protest Bill surpassed its dead line and fell flat on its face.

On behalf of the Republican Network for Unity (RNU), I’d like to claim victory as the draft Public Assemblies Parades and Protest Bill surpassed its dead line and fell flat on its face.

The Bill spouted by Provisional Sinn Fein as having far reaching benefits for the republican & nationalist community. Protecting them from orange feet served only to facilitate Loyal Orders in their discussions during and after the draft of the Bill.

The outcome was a fascist Bill scribed and promoted by Sinn Fein & the DUP. That was designed to curtail resident’s rights, criminalise Republicans and ostracise anyone else opposed to orange feet trampling through vulnerable communities.

Furthermore, the Bill was to criminalise Nationalists and Republicans who exercise their legitimate right to oppose abuses against the public by the RUC/PSNI who regularly carry out unjustified abuses against women and children. (Highlighted during discussions with Derry Priest, Fr. Paddy O Kane)

Only the following were consulted when putting the Bill together; the RUC/PSNI, Spike Murray (senior Sinn Fein Activist), Mervyn Gibson, (Deputy Grand Chaplin of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland & a former Special Branch Officer) and finally a number of community and resident groups. Although, they failed to properly represent the voices of communities that have been forced to endure unwelcome parades.

Considering the working group had been advised by the Human rights Commission when drafting the Bill. It is shocking that Stormont Politicians did not feel the need to take identified violations of our human rights into consideration. Which again demonstrate, just how arrogant these Political Parties truely are. In their attempts to demonise and criminalise those who oppose the current institutions.

Due to the back lash by communities across the North and responses like that presented by R.N.U. opposing the Draft Bill, Public meetings will now be excluded from the draft Bill. "The primary change will be the removal of all public meetings from the remit of the legislation. The public consultation process indicated concern that open-air and other similar public meetings would be captured by the legislation...........”.

R.N.U. sought just how much this Bill would cost to implement through a Freedom of Information Request (FOI). We were astonished to find that No Cost Analysis had even taken place. In light of the greatest economic down turn in our history, how can Sinn Fein and the DUP explain this? How much has this Bill cost in its entirety to date?

In addition, No Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA), No Regulatory Impact Assessment was carried out. No evidence was held as to how the working group came up with the figure of limiting the numbers to 50 to parade or protest thus criminalising other demonstrators.

No information was provided, as to how the working group extended their role to implementing draconian legislation. There was also no information as to why Sinn Fein and the DUP reintroduced the Emergency Provisions Act. Which was supposed to be ended under the devolution of Policing and Justice powers from Westminster. No answer was given, why other elected Parties were excluded from the process but not the Loyal Orders.

The bias displayed by both Parties towards the working- class, had the draconian Bill actually been introduced, demonstrates just how far removed Sinn Fein and the DUP are from the communities they claim to represent. It is unmistakable that they now wish to please their British masters at any cost.

In conclusion, R.N.U. believes that the Nationalist and Republican community have been misled by Provisional Sinn Fein. Throughout the process, senior Party figures had repeatedly claimed that the RUC/PSNI and the British Security Services had not been involved in the drafting of the Bill. However, according to the information obtained by our Network, in the Freedom of Information Request (FOI). The British Crown Forces clearly played a central role.

Is Mise ,
Tony Taylor
Republican Network for Unity