Protest against anti-Irish racism

antrim | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Saturday October 06, 2007 00:12 by ACHT

Cuir i gcoinne ciníochais fhrith-Ghaelaigh

CUIR I gCOINNE CINÍOCHAIS FHRITH-GHAELAIGH - TACAIGH LEIS AN GHAEILGE!
Dé Máirt 9 Deireadh Fómhair 12in Stair Mhonadh

PROTEST AGAINST ANTI-IRISH RACISM - SUPPORT THE IRISH LANGUAGE!
Tuesday 9th October 12pm Stormont

CUIR I gCOINNE CINÍOCHAIS FHRITH-GHAELAIGH - TACAIGH LEIS AN GHAEILGE!

Dé Máirt 9 Deireadh Fómhair 12in Stair Mhonadh

Dé Máirt 9 Deireadh Fómhair, tá rún á chur os comhair Thionól an Tuaiscirt ag David McNarry, Feisire ón UUP, ina molann sé bac iomlán a chur ar úsáid na Gaeilge sa Tionól. Tá agóid eagraithe ag an eagras Gaeilge, ACHT, ar 12in Dé Máirt chun cur i gcoinne an rúin.

Dúirt Úrlabhraí ACHT, Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin; “Ní hamháin go bhfuil an rún seo ag teacht salach ar Alt 73 de Rialacha an Tionóil ach fosta ar Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta agus ar an Chairt Eorpach, a thacaíonn le ceart an duine an Ghaeilge a fhoghlaim agus a labhairt. Tá an ceart chun teangacha dúchasacha a úsáid aitheanta go hidirnáisiúnta agus ní féidir ligint do chiníochas frith-Ghaeilge agus páirtithe polaitiúla an ceart seo a dhiúltú ar phobal na Gaeilge. Creideann cainteoirí Gaeilge go léiríonn eachtraí mar seo go bhfuil géarghá ann do Acht ceart-bhunaithe Gaeilge sna sé chontae.”

Luaigh an tUasal Mac Giolla Bhéin chomh maith go gcaithfear rún na Máirte a chur san áireamh leis na hionsaithe fíochmhara eile a rinne polaiteoirí ón UUP agus ón DUP ar an Ghaeilge le mí anuas. “Is iomaí masla ciníoch a caitheadh leis an Ghaeilge ar na mallaibh. Mar shampla rinne Gregory Campbell, Feisire ón DUP, scigaithris chiníoch ar fhrása Gaeilge sa Tionól an mhí seo caite. Ní féidir glacadh leis an chineál seo iompair ó fheirsirí tofa agus ní chuirfeadh aon phobal eitneach suas lena leithéid. Is amhlaidh an scéal le pobal na Gaeilge agus tá leithscéal tuillte ag cainteoirí Gaeilge láithreach.

“Tá ACHT ag iarraidh ar phobal na Gaeilge, agus ar dhuine ar bith eile a thacaíocht le ceart daonna, tacú leis an agóid agus cur i gcoinne an chiníochais. Tá súil againn go mbeidh sibh linn ag Stair Mhonadh.”

PROTEST AGAINST ANTI-IRISH RACISM - SUPPORT THE IRISH LANGUAGE!

Tuesday 9th October 12pm Stormont

On Tuesday 9th October, UUP MLA David McNarry is proposing a draconian motion to ban the use of Irish in the NI Assembly. Irish language organisation ACHT have organised a protest to coincide with the hearing of the motion at Stormont next Tuesday at 12 pm.

ACHT Spokersperson Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin said, “this motion not only contravenes Article 73 of the Assembly Regulations but also the Good Friday Agreement and the European Charter for Regional and Minority languages, both of which which uphold the right to speak and learn Irish. The use of indigenous languages is an internationally recognised human right that can't be held to ransom by anti-Irish racism or party political posturing. The Irish language community firmly believes that instances such as this highlight the necessity for a rights-based Irish language Act in the six counties.”

Mr Mac Giolla Bhéin also stated that Tuesday's motion can't be taken in isolation and follows what he descirbed as, “a month of vitrolic and hugely insulting racist anti-Irish attacks by senior elected representatives of both the UUP and DUP. This was epitomised by the deeply offensive racist mockery of DUP MLA Gregory Campbell last month where he disgracefully imitated an Irish phrase by saying 'Cori my yogi Bear, a can coca colya'.

"Such irresponsible and racist behaviour is totally unacceptable and wouldn’t be tolerated by any other linguistic or ethnic minority. The Irish langauge community is no different and deserve a complete retraction and apology from Mr Campbell.

“ACHT is calling on support of the Irish language community and all others who oppose racism and believe in human rights. We look forward to seeing you at Stormont.”

CRÍOCH/END