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Both men, as members of the Irish Republican Writers' Group had blamed the Provos for last week's assassination of Joseph O'Connor in Ballymurphy.
The victim's mother and the speaker at his funeral -- Marian Price -- also indicted the Provos but it was the writers who were singled out for intimidation following aggressive visits to their homes.
Anthony McIntyre and Tommy Gorman are established political commentators. Is no one to be allowed to criticise the Provos? Where stands freedom of political expression?
Belfast killing: RSF protests at intimidation of political commentators
October 19, 2000
In our statement of October 13 last issued immediately following the
shooting dead of Joseph O'Connor of Ballymurphy, Belfast, Republican Sinn
Féin deplored the killing and called on those responsible to "declare
themselves and spell out to the people what their motives were".
Later the Irish Republican Writers' Group which is opposed to armed struggle was asked to investigate the assassination. Their conclusions were published in the Belfast Irish News of October 17.
Anthony McIntyre and Tommy Gorman said: "We state publicly that it is our unshakeable belief that the Provisional IRA carried out this assassination".
They went on: "This murder is a State killing, perpetrated by a movement that is deeply entrenched in the apparatus of government at Stormont. When a branch of the executive has at its disposal a private militia capable of and willing to politically assassinate Republicans in nationalist communities we are left with Brown-shirtism".
On the evening of the publication of that report Anthony McIntyre was visited in his home by two members of the Provisional IRA. Regardless of what was said to him the intention was obvious -- to intimidate him and stop his political commentary.
Republican Sinn Féin condemns this attempted intimidation of a respected ex-prisoner and political commentator which was carried out in a most blatant fashion.
We assure Anthony McIntyre and those associated with him of our fullest support against this latest manifestation of the physical repression of those opposed to the Stormont Agreement.
Similarly, on October 17 also, the administrator of the Alternative Republican Bulletin Board on the Internet was confronted personally by two senior Provisionals and as a result of the ensuing exchanges she felt that her life was being threatened.
Accordingly she feels constrained to close down the Bulletin Board. So much for openness and transparency under the new Stormont régime.
Republican Sinn Féin calls for protest against these denials of freedom of political expression. Are alternative viewpoints now to be suppressed?
'Own up to killing'
-- Republican Sinn Féin
October 13, 2000
Republican Sinn Féin deplores the shooting dead of Joe O’Connor
of Ballymurphy in Belfast today by an unknown element.
We call on those responsible for this deliberate shooting to declare themselves and spell out to the people what their motives are. Local sources indicate that the deceased was associated with the 32-County Sovereignty Movement.
Republican Sinn Féin has no hesitation in condemning this action and points out the obvious dangers that lie ahead.
We demand that those who killed Joe O’Connor take responsibility publicly for their action and we express sympathy to his family and friends.
Belfast RSF offices raided
-- political expression denied
October 13, 2000
In an obvious attempt to shore up the tottering position of David Trimble
in the UUP the British Crown Forces (RUC) have this afternoon raided the
public offices of Republican Sinn Féin at 229 Falls Road, Belfast.
By clamping down hard on legitimate political expression of opposition to the Stormont Agreement and the promotion of the Republican alternative to it -- ÉIRE NUA, the British occupation regime in Ireland hopes to rescue Mr Trimble and placate the hard-line unionist opposition to him.
What price now freedom of political expression under the new Stormont?
Republican prisoners are denied political status in Maghaberry prison and
open political opposition is blatantly harassed.
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