Sinn Féin Poblachtach candidates not given fair media coverage.

international | politics / elections | press release

Thursday March 01, 2007 18:56

by Seán Ó Murchú - Sinn Féin Poblachtach - Cork

Statement by the President of Republican Sinn Féin Ruairí Ó Brádaigh

Publicity regarding Republican Sinn Féin's six candidates in a similar number of constituencies in the current Six-County elections have not been given fair coverage by the print media not indeed by radio or television.

The excuse is that this occurs because the establishment refuses to recognise us as a 'party', regarding our six candidates as six 'Independents' and treating them as such. Minority viewpoints are getting scant or no coverage with the notable exception of Robert McCartney and his UKUP who is himself standing as a candidate in six different constituencies.

Republican Sinn Féin is organised throughout Ireland with a national office in Dublin and another office in Belfast, a monthly newspaper published without a break for 20 years and a coherent political philosophy as our election manifesto indicates.

A prime issue in this election is the question of English policing here. Our election workers continue to be harassed by the RUC/PSNI as they go about their work.

On last Sunday February 25 our Director of Elections Michael Lavelle was stopped in Lisnaskea, his car was searched and he was generally harassed. On Wednesday February 28 as he and the election campaign's Director of Finance JJ McCusker were returning from Belfast, following a tour of constituencies, they were again stopped on the M1 near Dungannon, had their car searched and were generally harassed.

On both occasions the election workers made their positions and responsibilities clear. Will Martin McGuinness and other Provo candidates who accept the British police in Ireland, in order to, "Teach them manners" (Their words) speak out now and condemn such tactics or do they condone them as an integral part of British rule which they have agreed to and seek to administer through Stormont?

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Comments (5 of 5)

Joe O Neill and Socialism

by Pat Barry

Thu Mar 01, 2007 19:58

Cmon lads - Give RSF a proper hearing. I want to hear Joe O Neills plans for a Socialist Republic.

Boo hoo hoo

by Kim

Thu Mar 01, 2007 20:11

Maybe if you dropped the victim complex and started behaving like grown up then people might take you a bit more seriously. The "poor miss-begotten, down-trodden, oppressed republican" lament is pretty dated now and just pisses people off because they think you take them for gullible twats. If you want coverage then get off your arse and do the ground work yourselves. Stop expecting it to fall in your lap. Participating in mainstream politics means actually having to do some work, not just causing a big kafuffle and having the press run to you in response. Sinn Fein got so much publicity in the past as the controversy surrounding it made it a juicy media topic. Now the controversy is gone so is the media interest. Do what other mainstream parties do. Release statements, organise press conferences, put the work in. This is nothing to do with oppression or unfairness. This is to do with the fact that you used to getting coverage for doing pretty much nothing as the media flocked to you in response to the actions of the IRA or the ravings of the unionists. Now because you actually have to work at politics all you can do is moan and complain. Welcome to democracy. If you are not prepared to put the work in then stand down and give the job to someone who can. Grow up.

British policing? English policing? or Polish mercenaries? how about "foreigners" full stop.

by polish

Thu Mar 01, 2007 20:50

Now be honest - BBC ulster asked you to take part in a podcast so that voters could ask the smaller parties what they think which is scheduled for march 5th. But you said no. Because BBC ulster are the brits / english / polish / foreigners. Come to think about it - isnt the election brit/ engish / polish / foreign?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/640...9.stm

Limerick Bucks the trend

by Limerick1919

Thu Mar 01, 2007 21:25

Check the front page of Todays Limerick Post biggest circulation newspaper in the city. Both Front Page stories are RSF generated !!, It is quite amazing- considering that we are only two months from an election. I'm sure other parties will be amused. One I can understand but both of them!
The stories are Tiny Lynch complaining about Heroin problem and that lots of Junkie mums are going to jail leaving their children at home.
&
Mick Ryan complaining that a teenage rapist has been released and the terrible fear in the commmunity

http://limerickpost.ie/

Incessant whingers

by RSF Watch

Sun Mar 04, 2007 23:09

I agree - RSF should stop whinging and get out there and do the work themselves.

It's now March 6, elections are a few days away in the North and RSF's organ SAOIRSE is not available on the internet yet.

As regards PSNI harassment - you've declared the PSNI to be your "eternal enemies". Surely being harassed is what republicanism is all about!

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Sinn Féin Poblachtach candidates not given fair media coverage.

Comments (5 of 5)