“Unforgivable” – Lasair Dhearg respond to Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly
Last night [11/02/2020], Lasair Dhearg activists erected a banner on the external fence of the Andersonstown News offices in West Belfast.
The content of the banner, ‘Andersonstown News – British State Media’, rightly highlights the use of the privately owned business as a platform for recruitment to the British crown forces; specifically, the PSNI.
Lasair Dhearg spokesperson Pádraic MacCoitir said, “The Andersonstown News, owned by millionaire and senior Sinn Féin member Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, recently ran several advertisements for the PSNI, aiming to recruit new members, which included social media content. This was done in the wake of a very high profile recruitment campaign launch which was supported by senior members of Sinn Féin and which is accompanied by street level advertising with posters along arterial routes through West Belfast.
“It is quite clear that a range of forces are being brought to bear to bring about a situation where the PSNI is further normalised in our communities. That is unforgivable.
“Our position is this, the PSNI is a heavily armed colonial police force. It did not replace the RUC but merely absorbed it, its personnel, their weaponry, resources, legislative powers, hierarchy and more importantly, its purpose. It is, and continues to be, the front line force for the continued occupation of our Six Counties.
Pádraic continued, “Alongside the rebranding of the RUC, giving birth to the PSNI, the notorious RUC Special Branch was given the same treatment, creating ‘C3 Intelligence Branch’. It is public knowledge that this new ‘Special Branch’ and the everyday activities of the PSNI are directed by British state intelligence, Mi5.
“In regards to recent commentary from Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly, insinuating supposed ‘threats’ to staff at the Andersonstown News. We are aware that certain staff members are not happy about the placement of the advertisements in the paper and may have already raised this issue with senior staff. For those members of staff to be further used by Sinn Féin for political capital is all the more tragic.
“We support those staff members and we hold senior members of Sinn Féin and their control of this paper accountable for providing the outlet as a platform.
“Republicans will continue to organise against the state, and any platform that it is given.”
ENDS
