Some things don't change at Sinn Fein conferences - I am just listening to the fraternal greetings from the Basque and Palestinian and ANC observers. There's less of a whiff of cordite about this conference than those fifteen years ago, but still a lot of talk about support for international struggles.
I have just finished a colour piece on the conference for the main website which you can read here
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I'm Mark Devenport, BBC NI's political editor, and I'll be blogging here on all things politics.
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I think the plight of the Palestinian people should be at the forefront of every government in the western world, the Israeli government and its politicians are as bad, if not worse than Saddam's regime. They are racist in every sense of the word, they are terrorists in every sense of the word. Will the axis of evil invade Israel after they have finished pillaging Iraq, Afganistan and where ever else they carry out acts of terrorism in our name - I won't hold my breath!!!
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"Some things don't change at Sinn Fein conference". Cheers, you're making me feel better for opting out of attending this year!
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Mark,
I am sure you agree that most party conferences are a talking shop and a PR stunt. I suppose you could say it is pretty much the same as at Stormont. The fact that there is "still a lot of talk about support for international struggles" shows that Sinn Fein/IRA are unrepentant.
Stormontspy
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Stormontspy
Engage with the topic and stop behaving like a spoilt child. Is it right for young Palestinian children to be burned to death by illegal munitions paid for with donations from our economy???
Mark
Again you show your affiliation to conservative politics, I suppose you think it is OK for the sanctity of UN compounds to be used in acts of war crimes? For a race of people to be oppressed in the most atrocious way, either in Palestine, Spain, France or South Africa? For the language and culture of a race of people, to be suppressed in the most atrocious fashion, either in Palestine, Spain, France or South Africa???
Go on, be a big boy and give this post a reaction!!!
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DisgustedinDERRY,
Why is it you always criticise anyone with an opinion different to yours? Getting back to the subject at hand - it is completely wrong for young Palestinian children to be burned to death by illegal ammunitions paid for with donations from the British economy. Why do you think it is right? Also do you now accept we live in Great Britain???
Stormontspy
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We do not live in Great Britain, we live in N'Ireland!!!
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Please explain how we live in Great Britain and not N'Ireland.
Please also answer the inaccuracies hanging over you!!!
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To be accurate....we live in the UNITED KINGDOM of Great Britain and Northern Ireland!
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#1
DisgustedinDERRY, the majority of people in the world would agree with you, Palestine is the biggest concentration camp the world has ever seen, men, women and children forced to live in rubble afer the Israelis blanket bombed this densely populated land with white phosphorous bombs deliberately targetting hospitals,schools and UN food compounds, refusing to let in International aid to the injured the homeless and the hungry, this was collective punishment of the Palestinian people on a par with what happened to the Jewish population during world war 2. It doesn't surprise me why some people on this blog would dissagree with you - remember loyalists a while back were claiming they were one of the lost tribes of israel.
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portstewartpenny
The key word being and.
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DisgustedinDERRY,
Do you then accept that you live in the United Kingdom?
Stormontspy
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
THE 1800 ACTS OF UNION
The Irish Parliament established 1297 remained unrepresentative until its demise in 1800. The 1800 acts of union [Article third established the parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (later Northern Ireland)] are not repealed by the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
The British State, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, therefore is a sovereign entity.
Might I suggest some bedtime reading which explains the interconnection and disconnection of the two states. 'The Belfast Agreement a practical legal analysis' by Austen Morgan (601 pps). Domestic Law 1800-1920 and 1921-1998.
Pandora
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Stormontspy
I do see it as it is: I live in Ireland, the part of Ireland occupied by British terrorists; the part of Ireland that is in the UK. I suppose you are going to tell me now that I am British and not Irish? I already put you to bed on that issue, another racist bigot exposed!!!
Were you in Derry on the day known as Bloody Sunday???
Where did you get the information that Sinn Fein supporters either work for the British government or claim benefit???
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#13
You forgot to add that the 1800 act of union, like most acts of the 18th and 19th century, was not democratic; the people of Ireland, the Irish people, were forced into a union with a terrorist government against their will!!!
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DisgustedinDERRY,
Don't forget about the part occupied by republican terrorists.
Stormontspy
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
#20
Not even your "Head Office" press releases can help you respond with
a few stumbling/abusive words to respond to unanswered questions ?
Poster or typist ???
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Stormontspy
Don't forget about your inaccuracies!!!
Which part of what is that then???
Mark
I think it is a good thing for Sinn Fein to show solidarity towards other oppressed nations/peoples, it gives these people hope that some day their racist oppressors will desist and climb down from their high horse.
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spinspamspun7,
Post 21 about post 20 - absolutely brilliant.
Poster or typist???
Stormontspy
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#19 sp................ew
How's your CHIPS???
CHIPS with everything!!!
You sting like a worm!!!
Mark
Isn't it time the British government stood up to Israel and showed some international solidarity towards the Palestinian people. After all it is they who pay for the munitions that burn women and children alive!!!
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#24
Should have read US government not British government; although tweed-le de and tweed-le dumb springs to mind!!!
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#16
Which part of what is that then?
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DisgustedinDerry
It is the vitriolic comments of people like you which stop people like me (someone genuinely wanting a new peaceful Northern Ireland, and observing from a unionist perspective) from moving closer to republican-minded folk. I have a growing respect for the way Martin McGuinness conducts himself and would not be troubled if he were designated First Minister, but if his supporters are as bitter and backward-looking as you then I would have grave doubts about any prospect of lasting peace. Why can you not accept that until a majority of people living in Northern Ireland vote for a United Ireland, we will remain part of the United Kingdom – and stop carping about the version of history you have inherited? Your submissions to the Devenport Diaries are destructive and offer nothing of value to what COULD be an intelligent exchange of comment on the current political situation.
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portstewartpenny
All my comments replicate comments fired at me my dear, vis-a-vis; vis-a-vis
History is history you should read it sometime, you might learn something about what it really means to be British!!!
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DisgustedinDerry
I well aware of Irish (and English) history – I can trace one ancestry line back to Phelim Dubh O’Neill and another back to a Englishman who led a rebellion there in 1549 – in other words, like 98% of Northern Ireland’s population I am a mongrel with genetic strains of both traditions in me. But the type of postings you produce make me wonder if I want my grandchildren to spend their lives in such a bitter place.
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portstewartpenny
I meant political history not your personnel history. I too can go back a few generations on a number of lines; from Donegal-Derry, from Llangyfelach-Derry and a long line from Derry itself.
Of course we are all linked and related; we are all mongrels, the fact still exists, that Ireland is divided against the will of the majority of the nation of Ireland, be they English Irish, Scots Irish, Welsh Irish or Polish Irish!!!
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I noted at the conference a woman getting a huge cheer and standing ovasion as she stood on stage and shouted a pro PIRA slogan.
This in itself shows how unsuitable it is for SF/IRA to be in government alone nevermind having control over policing and justice!
What did the DUP think of this woman doing this and what did they think of the cheerful response to her by the SF/IRA delegation?
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SF/IRA
ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE PILE!!!
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