Monday-Thursday, 27-30 June, 2005
Monday-Thursday, 27-30 June, 2005
Action Alert, Irish Northern Aid, USA
Sean Kelly, prominent North Belfast Republican, has had his "license" revoked by N. I Secretary of State Peter Hain. The result, unless Hain's decision is reversed, is that Mr Kelly will be sent back to prison. He was released several years ago under the Good Friday Agreement.
Unionists/Loyalists have long been targeting Sean because of his role in promoting the peace process and helping to calm the situation at various North Belfast flash points. His involvement has been effective and nothing but positive.
While the PSNI and other British government agencies have done virtually nothing to stop illegal marches and other violations by Loyalists, they are now targeting Irish republicans known to be acting for the best interests of public safety and the peace process.
Bertie Ahern has become positively involved today in asking questions of the British government regarding Sean Kelly's arrest and license revocation.
We need to put pressure on the British government through our members of congress, the US administration and State Department, as well as by encouraging action by the Dublin government.
Demand that the British government reverse Hain's decision:
Prime Minister Tony Blair can be reached through the British Embassy in Washington, DC.
The British Embassy, 3100 Mass. Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 Phone: 202-588-7800; Fax: 202-745-0359 Email: ppa@washington.mail.fco.gov.uk
The Northern Irealnd Office in DC: press.nio@nics.gov.uk
Tony Blair can be faxed from the US at: 011-44-2079250918
Ask your Members of Congress to express their concerns over this serious provocation or to at least ask the British government to explain its actions. Contact the US Administartion with the same message, particularly the Special Envoy Mitchell Reiss at the Department of State:
President George W. Bush, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20502 Phone: comments, 202-456-1111; swithchboard, 202-456-1414. Email: president@whitehouse.gov Fax: 202-456-2461
Dr Mitchell Reiss [Special Envoy] Director Policy Planning Main Switchboard Policy Planning: 202-647-5225 Email direct to Dr Reiss: policyplanning@state.gov
All US Senators and Representatives can all be reached through the Capital Switchboard: 202-225-3121
Contact Bertie Ahern through the Irish Embassy and local US Consulates to insist on good answers from the British government for this outrage.
The Irish Ambassador to the US is Noel Fahey. Contact him at The Embassy of Ireland, 2234 Mass Ave NW, Wahington DC 20008 Phone: 202-462-3939; Fax: 202-232-5993 Email: www.irelandemb.org/feedback.html
Monday-Thursday, 27-30 June, 2005
Free Sean Kelly
The heavily pregnant partner of jailed Belfast republican Sean Kelly has called on the Dublin government to do more to get the father of her children released.
Sean Kelly was returned to jail ten days ago amid claims that he had violated the terms of his release under the 1998 Good Friday peace Agreement.
British Direct Ruler Peter Hain, relying on intelligence provided to him by Special Branch police, claimed that Mr Kelly had remained involved in unspecified illegal activity.
Nationalists have held protests calling on the British government to release the prominent north Belfast republican from jail.
Other former republican POWs released under the Good Friday Agreement fear they may be next to be sent back to jail as British authorities pile on pressure for an IRA move to stand down and disarm.
Sinn Fein described the decision to return the 33-year-old to prison as "stupid". Local representative Gerry Kelly spoke of how the decision had angered republicans.
He said: "There is widespread anger at Peter Hain's capitulation to the demands of unionists and those opposed to the peace process within the Northern Ireland Office by interning a pro-agreement republican who has done much to reduce interface tensions.
"This was a stupid decision that means that many republicans, particularly ex-political prisoners who play such a positive role in managing difficulties at interfaces, are in a vulnerable position.
"They fear that they could be victimised in the same way as Sean Kelly if they continue to contribute to effectively managing those tensions."
Mother of three Geraldine Friel, who is expecting her fourth child in October, called on 26-County Prime Minister, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to put real pressure on the British government to secure the 33-year-old's release.
Ahern had said his government would look into the matter. Irish senators Martin Mansergh and Maurice Hayes have also questioned the motives behind Mr Kelly's return to jail.
Mr Kelly had only been in Maghaberry prison for four days when he was threatened by a unionist paramilitary prisoner. The mother of his children says she fears for his life inside.
"Sean is in a lot of danger in jail and I worry about him all the time," said Ms Friel.
"The children are very scared. I let my nine-year-old know almost immediately that he had been jailed but I didn't tell my five and three-year-olds for a couple of days. I pretended to them that he had gone on holiday.
"It was tough breaking the news to them, one of the hardest things that I have done."
Ms Friel said she believed there had been a focused attempt to keep Mr Kelly from speaking to or seeing his family.
"Sean has been in jail for 12 days now and, in that time, I have seen him once and had just two telephone calls.
"The kids haven't seen him at all. It's as if the authorities don't want him to get in touch with his family," she said.