SP Censor Indymedia?

Monday June 16, 2003 11:00

by Durutti

Threats Of Legal Action Forces Deletion Of Comments (See Comments and Summary for a Note from IMCer)

One law for the "Socialist" Party, another for everyone else. If you criticise the SP from now on then you may be sued for libel. (Since this headline by Duritti involves IMC I'm commenting on it here - SP Did Not Censor Indymedia - Indymedia Editors did - and for more complicated reasons than 'Duritti' would care to admit. Those reasons are sketched out in a post in comments from me. Keep in Mind Duritti is obviously hanging around on the lists that organise the site and knows this complexity exists). Eamonn (1 of IMC IRL)

The following was sent to the Indymedia Editorial List:

"From: OisÌn Kelly
mailto:oisinkelly@hotmail.com

Editors,

I wish to draw your attention to a comment on IMC Newswire that is libelous in my opinion. "Durutti" in a comment on the article "electronic voting" made accusations that the Socialist Party were involved in electoral fraud.

"SP Hackers
by Durutti Thu, Jun 12 2003, 2:38pm

The SP hacked the computers in Dublin North and almost got Clare Daly elected."

In this thread "Ray" also made similar accusations of electoral fraud and intimidation of polling clerks.

"I know someone who works in the counting centres
by Ray Thu, Jun 12 2003, 2:44pm

And he said that Joe Higgins only got elected in the first place because of SP ballot-stuffing. My source was threatened into silence, so I can't give any more details."

On the Newswire there have been threats against Socialist Party members. "Durutti" made the following remark in a comment to the article "SWP split over Direct Action":

"when the Black Bloc arrive then there will certainly be trouble. It wont be just restricted to your paper sellers..." (Fri, Jun 13 2003, 2:34pm)

I will say it again to the editors, these accusations are NOT satire, they are libelous comments that are published on a website that YOU are editors of.

I think it would be a good idea if you remove ALL comments and articles that may put the IMC in risk of legal action.

I have a copy of this communication on paper.

Yours Sincerely,

OisÌn Kelly,
14-6-2003"

The SP accuse the Black Bloc of police infiltration, of fascist infiltration, of being terrorists, they lie about Shannon. They claim that I supported Labour. They lied about SP members in QUB supporting loyalist motions.

But if anyone criticises the SP in return then they threaten legal action. Its not just the Parliamentary Road To Socialism any more. Now they take the high road to the High Court.