The Five Demands

Il TUV critica lo Sinn Fein per il sostegno dimostrato ai dissidenti con la vendita di una T-Shirt inneggiante gli eroi dell’IRA e un calendario celebrativo della resistenza repubblicana

“IRA – Undefeated Army” è lo slogan stampato sulla T-shirt in vendita sul sito ufficiale dello Sinn Fein, che la descrive come “Una T-shirt nera da indossare in memoria delle lotte dei membri dell’IRA”, “un motto che cattura per questa t-shirt ad alta vestibilità”.
Keith Harbinson, vice presidente del Traditional Unionist Party, accusa lo Sinn Fein di utilizzare merchandising per esprimere il proprio sostegno al terrorismo repubblicano.
Oltre alla maglietta, verrà messo anche in vendita il calendario destinato a celebrare la resistenza repubblicana. Il 2011 rappresenta infatti il trentennale dello sciopero della fame (hunger strike 1981) durante il quale Bobby Sands e altri suoi 9 compagni ‘donarono’ la propria vita alla causa repubblicana.
Il sito dello Sinn Fein recita in merito: “Questo calendario contiene immagini di quel periodo, da dentro le carceri e dalle strade di tutta l’Irlanda e dal mondo a dimostrazione di come i tentativi della Thatcher di criminalizzare e spezzare la lotta repubblicana, siano stati sconfitti”.
“Salutiamo la loro memoria. Continuiamo la loro lotta”.
Il presidente del TUV giudicata questi articoli di merchandising “incompatibili con la politica democratica”.
Ma lo Sinn Fein non ha scelto la strada del silenzio ed attraverso un suo portavoce ha dichiarato: “I repubblicani sono da ricordare per il ruolo svolto di giorno in giorno nell’IRA e nel quotidiano, e questi oggetti sono un modo con cui farlo”.
“Per quanto ci riguarda c’è stato sempre e solo un IRA, e non abbiamo nessun tipo di collegamento con questi altri gruppi o individui.
“E’ sciocco dire questi oggetti commemorativi in vendita sul sito siano in qualche modo una giustificazione per questi gruppi, ma è tipico del TUV “.

 

IRA T-shirts ‘justifying dissidents’ (Newsletter)
Sinn Fein has been accused of “supporting terrorism and justifying dissidents” with the sale of an IRA T-shirt emblazoned with the statement “Undefeated Army” on their website.
TUV vice chairman Keith Harbinson said Sinn Fein were continuing to laud the “murderous IRA as heroes”.
The online republican store states: “A black T-shirt to wear in memory of the IRA members struggle.” It adds: “A catching motto for this very-wellftting T-shirt.”
Mr Harbinson said: “With so-called dissident republicans fexing their muscle once again over the weekend it is noteworthy that Sinn Fein/IRA continue to openly align themselves with terror.
“On Sinn Fein’s offcial website it is still possible to purchase a T-shirt which features armed terrorists and the slogan ‘IRA Undefeated Army’.
“Additionally the 2011 issue of their notorious republican resistance calendar is on sale.”
The 2011 calendar is billed on the website as a commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strike.
“This calendar contains images from that period, from inside the prisons and on the streets across Ireland and the world as Thatcher’s attempts to criminalise and break the republican struggle were defeated,” the website states.
“We salute their memory. We continue their struggle.”
The TUV chairman said both items were manifestly “incompatible with democratic politics”.
“They help to legitimise the actions of those who continue to plant bombs such as that at the international airport at the weekend,” Mr Harbinson added.
A Sinn Fein spokesman refuted the claims made by Mr Harbinson and described his comments as “another feeble attempt to grab a headline”.
“I don’t think anyone will be in the least bit surprised by this latest outburst from Keith Harbinson, it is just the same old predictable statements designed to maintain his party’s profle.”
When asked whether the T-shirt and calendar were a justifcation for the ongoing dissident violence, the Sinn Fein spokesman said: “Republicans have been remembering the role played by the IRA day and daily, and
these items are one way in which they want to do that.
“As far as we are concerned there was only ever one IRA, and we have no other connection whatsoever with these other groups or individuals.
“It is silly to say these commemorative items for sale on the website are in some way a justifcation for these groups, but it is typical of the TUV.”