The Five Demands

Sacerdote di Derry si offre come intermediario nei colloqui, dopo la dichiarazione di Pasqua della Real IRA, pur con la consapevolezza che niente sembra poter convincere i dissidenti repubblicani a tornare sui propri passi

Padre Michael Canny, sacerdote di Derry, scende in campo dopo le pesanti minacce pronunciate ieri da un portavoce del Real IRA, in occasione della commemorazione dell’Easter Rising organizzata dal 32 County Sovereignty Movement presso il cimitero di Creggan.
Sotto tiro gli agenti del Police Service of Northern Ireland “a prescindere dalla loro religione, della cultura, motivazione” e Regina Elisabetta II “ricercata per crimini di guerra in Irlanda e non voluta in terra irlandese”.
Padre Michael Canny, nonostante la sua offerta di colloqui, è convinto che i dissidenti siano stati interessati solo a perseguire i loro obiettivi attraverso la violenza.
“Questo è ciò che hanno in agenda, e non c’è spazio di manovra” ed ha poi aggiunto: “Sarei disposto a incontrare chiunque e a parlare con chiunque, ma ho la sensazione che queste persone abbiano lo sguardo verso una direzione e stiano cercando di unire l’Irlanda con la forza”.
“Io sto dicendo che non può essere ottenuto con la forza, e che può essere fatto solo convincendo le persone e attraverso un processo democratico”.

Fr Michael Canny offers to meet Real IRA members (BBC News Northern Ireland)
A Londonderry priest has offered to meet members of the Real IRA, after the dissident group threatened to kill more police officers.
The threat was made in a statement by a masked man at a 32 County Sovereignty Movement rally in the city on Monday.
Fr Michael Canny said that despite his offer to talk he believed dissidents were interested only in pursuing their goals through violence.
“That is what the agenda is and there is no room for manoeuvre,” he said.
He added: “I would be prepared to meet anybody and talk to anybody, but I have a feeling that these people have set their sights on one course and that is trying to unite Ireland by force.
“I am saying that it cannot be done by force, that it can only be done by convincing people and through the democratic process.”
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement organised the rally to mark the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.
It is regarded as the political wing of the Real IRA, the organisation which claimed responsibility for the Omagh bomb which killed 29 people and unborn twins in 1998.
It also killed two soldiers in Antrim two years ago and exploded a car bomb in Derry last year.
In a statement read out at the City Cemetery in Derry, the Real IRA said police officers would be targeted “regardless of their religion, cultural background or motivation”.
The organisation also expressed its opposition to the Queen’s impending visit to Ireland.
“The Queen of England is wanted for war crimes in Ireland and is not wanted on Irish soil,” the statement added.