Bloody Sunday Week-End Programme Fri 30 Jan - Sun Feb 1
derry |
rights, freedoms and repression |
press release 
Tuesday January 27, 2009 14:47
by Shane OCURRY - wsm pers cap
Bloody Sunday Weekend Committee Programme of Events JUSTICE DELAYED JUSTICE DENIED January 24th to Sunday Feb 1st 2009
Before Christmas we were told of yet another delay to the publication of the findings of the Saville Inquiry. It is now unlikely to report until late autumn 09, more than 37 years after the events it inquires into. Certainly for family members of the murdered, many who have since died, and those of the wounded who are no longer with us justice delayed has been justice denied. However this delay in justice resonates beyond the case itself which is why Martin Luther King could say 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere'. 37 year's ago Lord Widgery's Inquiry took the side of injustice. His report retrospectively legitimised the military repression of the civil rights movement. To him justice wasn't a human ideal he had a duty to strive towards but merely a political consideration of the vested interests he represented. So the ideal was hollowed out to become another tool of oppression.
What explains the enthusiasm that surrounds President Obama's election and his first days in office is not just the colour of his skin but also the hope that he represents a turning away from the hollowing out of the principles of democracy and justice we have witnessed for too long and a turning back in the direction of justice. When we look to recent war crimes in Gaza clearly the Palestinian people need justice but we can neither put all our hope on Obama nor all our blame on Israel. The people of Palestine need our sustained support and Israel needs to discover that the international community will not let it away with genocide no matter what its history. In support of that cause, this year we are organising a Sea of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, A thousand Palestinian flags will be carried on the march.
Meanwhile this year's Memorial Lecture will be delivered by Clive Stafford Smith of Reprieve, the lawyer and human rights defender who represents British Muslim internees in Guantanamo. He is in a unique position to comment on the likelihood of the US President being able to fulfil his pledge to close the camp and what is likely to happen to its remaining internees. Meanwhile in the local context Internment an Injustice 40 years on will explore the use of internment here. Towards a Raytheon-Free Derry? invites all the sides of the discussion on the presence of Raytheon in our city to a forum discussion on the issue. Who Owns Ireland's Resources? explores the issues at the heart of the Shell to Sea conflict in Rossport. In relation to all the other injustices that comprise the conflict we are hopefull emerging out of, Friday night’s event at the City Hotel, Dealing with the Past: Did Bradley/Eames get it right? will be the first time the public have a chance to critically evaluate and respond to their recommendations.
In addition there are exhibitions, films and panel discussions. ‘Their epitaph is the ongoing stuggle for democracy’, so read the programme, come to events, join in the debate!
Saturday 24 January
2-5pm: BSWC support Irish Medical Aid For Palestine: A Sea of flags at the Bloody Sunday march
In response to the slaughter in Gaza the Bloody Sunday Weekend committee is putting its energy behind an urgent appeal to raise humanitarian aid in the form of medical supplies for Palestine. The committee have identified the Irish registered charity, Irish Medical Aid for Palestine (Irish MAP) as the best placed organisation to receive aid. Donations to Irish MAP go directly to the Red Cross working with the hospitals there and so channel the aid directly to the people that need it the most.
The BSWC is inviting the public to bring their donation to the The Gasyard Centre, Lecky Road, any time between 2-5pm. Please make cheques payable to: Irish Medical Aid for Palestine.
Dr Nazih Eldin, secretary of Irish Aid For Palestine will come to Derry on Saturday to receive a cheque from the committee and to talk about the work of the charity.
Sea of Solidarity - Sea of Flags:
In addition the BSWC has appealed to the public to come along on Saturday and help prepare for the Sea of Solidarity - Sea of Flags initiative which aims to prepare 1000 Palestinian flags to be carried on the Bloody Sunday march as a mark of respect for those who have lost their lives in Gaza.
Palestinian Flags will be available to buy at a solidarity price from the Gasyard, Museum of Free Derry or Pat Finucane Centre.
Venue: Gasyard Centre
Monday 26 January
10.30am: Launch of the Bloody Sunday Black Ribbon.
Venue: Museum of Free Derry
Tuesday 27 January
7pm Death In Gaza (Documentary 90mins)
FILM SCREENING 7.00pm FILM
Death in Gaza (UK, 2004, 80 mins, Documentary)
Written/Reported by Saira Shah, Filmed/Directed by James Millar, this is his poignant and unflinching look at the lives of three Palestinian children caught up in the cycle of violence, dramatically culminating in the director’s own death at the hands of the Israeli Defence Forces.
VENUE: The Nerve Centre Cinema: ADMISSION £2 or donation
Wednesday 28 January
7pm Film Peace is Every Step (Documentary 52)
FILM SCREENING & DISCUSSION
What do we do with the feelings of regret we are left with after having taken life for a cause we no longer believe justified our actions? That is the question powerfully answered in this documentary. It chronicles a retreat held for US Army Veterans of the Vietnam war held by Thich Nhat Hanh, himself a Vietnamese Buddhist Monk who survived the war. The screening will be followed by a short discussion of the implications of this approach to peace building here, introduced by Jim Keys of Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign.
VENUE: The Nerve Centre Cinema: ADMISSION £2 or donation
8pm: Internment an Injustice 40 years on
PANEL DISCUSSION A public event that will outline the historical context of internment as a state weapon and explore the use of ‘special powers’ to effectively intern selected individuals, such as in the recent Terry McCafferty case. Speakers: Tony Catney, Belfast (Republican Network for Unity, others to be confirmed Chair: Ronan Moyne, Organised by the Republican Network for Unity
VENUE: THE GASYARD CENTRE: ADMISSION FREE
Thursday 29 January
7pm: The Hidden Hand: The Forgotten Massacre: (Documentary 50mins)
FILM SCREENING
This powerful documentary about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 points the finger at the extent of British involvement in the atrocities. First Tuesday Series:Yorkshire Television 1993
VENUE: The Nerve Centre Cinema: ADMISSION £2 or donation
8pm: Who owns Ireland’s Resources?
FORUM DISCUSSION & FILM SCREENING
This event will host a speaker from Rossport who will give an update on the situation facing a community who is using non-violence to stand up for local and national justice and is currently under occupation by a multinational corporation and their own Garda Siona. The event will include a short film screening. Organised by MOAR.
VENUE: Upstairs in Sandino’s Bar: ADMISSION FREE
10.00pm: Bloody Sunday Memorial Quiz. £5 per team of 5, all welcome.
Venue: Crescent Bar
Friday 30 January
4.00pm: Minutes silence to mark the time of the shooting on Bloody Sunday. All welcome.
Venue: Bloody Sunday Monument, Rossville Street.
4.30pm: Unveiling of the Bloody Sunday Banner, now on display in the newly refurbished Museum of Free Derry. All welcome.
Venue: Museum of Free Derry, Glenfada Park.
7.30pm: Bloody Sunday Memorial Mass. All welcome.
Venue: St Mary’s, Creggan.
8.00pm: Dealing with the Past: Did Bradley / Eames get it right?
Towards the end of January the Consultative Group on the Past (the 'Bradley/Eames group') will publish their proposals on how to deal with the legacy of decades of violent conflict. As months of speculation come to an end the Bloody Sunday Weekend offers an ideal and immediate opportunity to discuss the findings of the Consultative Group. Before the discussion Dr Patricia Lundy, (UU) will give a 10 minute synopsis of the main proposals of the Consultative Group.
Panel:
Stephanie English (family case worker, Pat Finucane Centre); Brendan Mc Alister (formally Mediation Network, now one of the four Victims Commissioners); Sandra Peake (WAVE Trauma Centre, Belfast); Mike Ritchie (Director, Committee on the Administration of Justice); Tom Roberts (Director, Ex Prisoners Interpretative Centre, Shankill Rd, Belfast)
Chair Jenny Wit, BBC Radio Foyle. Organised by the Pat Finucane Centre.
Venue: Alexander Suite, City Hotel
8.30pm: Film, “Sunday”. Showing of Jimmy McGovern’s acclaimed drama documentary on Bloody Sunday.
Venue: Telstar Bar, Creggan.
Saturday 31 January
11.00am-1.00pm: Tour of the Bloody Sunday 'Murder Zone' visiting the spots were victims fell to hear the story and to pay respects. Museum of Free Derry talk with John Kelly for update on the Bloody Sunday inquiry. Unveiling of mural (Boards) in Bogside - theme - Bogside to Basra etc.
Assemble:
12.00pm: Walking tour of Bogside and city cemetery. Follow by a discussion in French & English. This tour has been set up to give the many French visitors a chance to take a walk around the Bogside and hear the story of the area given by the people who have shaped it.
Assemble: Museum of Free Derry
1.00pm: Towards a Raytheon-Free Derry? A citizens forum discussion event.
In January 2004 Derry City Council passed an historic motion declaring itself pro-actively against building Derry's economy on the arms trade. Five years on Raytheon, now beyond doubt involved in military production in Derry, are still here. Justice delayed is justice denied. Representatives from Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the DUP and DAWC have been invited. The discussion will be conducted in respectful dialogue and chaired by Dr Peter Doran, Organised by FEIC.
Venue: Pilots Row
2.00pm - 5.00pm
Cuba 50 Years on - Triumphing – Sustaining- Defending- Spreading the Revolution!
Launch of Che Guevara Exhibition by renowned Cuban artist Juan Vazquez Martin
(Juan will be present)
Fifty years on from the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution this panel discussion will hear a brief history of Cuba, a presentation on the Cuban health and education system. The defence of the Cuban Revolution against terrorist attacks and the spreading of the example of Cuba, particularly in the Americas.
Panel discussion with: Dr. Úna Lynch Research - Manager Changing Ageing Partnership (Cap), Institute of Governance, School of Law, Queen's University Belfast, Peter Leary - formerly management committee Venezuela Information Centre and Eleanor Lanigan - Free The Miami Five Committee
The panel discussion will be followed by a political update on the current situation in the Basque Country in relation to the sustained continuing oppression in the region – Delivered by the Irish Basque Solidarity Committee. Q&A afterwards.
Venue: Pilots Row
5.00pm: Candlelight vigil for Gaza. All welcome.
Venue: Shipquay Street
6.00pm: Bloody Sunday Fundraising Concert: Songs of Struggle & Change
Joe Mulhearn; Elleen Webster; Gary Og; Cruncher O'Neill; Rory O'Dochartaigh; Tina McLaughlin; Declan McLaughlin; Barry Kerr and more.
Over the last number of years one of the highlights of the weekend as been the gathering of singer and musician to add there voice to the Bloody Sunday Justice campaign. This year is no different with an outstanding line up of artists from all over the world. This Show gives the music lovers a chance to see and hear these outstanding performers in a very unique setting. With a line up which includes some of the best in contemporary and traditional singing. Please come early, get a good seat.
Venue: The Gasyard, Admission £3.
8.00pm: Bloody Sunday Lecture
Clive Stafford Smith, Director of Reprieve/ Guantanamo lawyer
The original Bloody Sunday march was held to protest the policy of internment without trial. It is fitting that this years lecture should host the leading human rights defender acting on behalf of those held without trial in the modern day equivalent of Long Kesh-Guantanamo Bay. With the election of Barack Obama the world is watching to see if the new President will honour his pledge to close the camp. Clive Stafford Smith is in a unique position to comment on the future of the Camp and those detainees still held there.
Clive Stafford Smith is the founder of Reprieve and has spent 25 years working on behalf of defendants facing the death penalty in the USA.
After graduating from Columbia Law School in New York, Clive spent nine years as a lawyer with the Southern Center for Human Rights working on death penalty cases and other civil rights issues. In 1993, Clive moved to New Orleans and launched the Louisiana Crisis Assistance Center, a non-profit law office specialising representation of poor people in death penalty cases. In 1999 Clive founded Reprieve. Since 2004, he has focused on achieving due process for the prisoners being held by the US in Guantánamo Bay, as well as continuing his work on death penalty cases. Clive was made a Rowntree Visionary and Echoing Green Fellow in 2005 and was previously a Soros Senior Fellow. As director, Clive is responsible for overseeing Reprieve’s Casework Programme, as well as the direct representation of prisoners in Guantánamo Bay and on death row as a Louisiana licensed attorney at law. see http://www.reprieve.org.uk/
Venue: Calgach Centre, Butcher Street.
8.00pm: Screening of Bloody Sunday Documentary and Saville Update.
Venue: AOH Hall, Foyle Street
Sunday 01 February
11.00am: Wreath laying ceremony and prayer service. All welcome.
Venue: Bloody Sunday Monument, Rossville Street.
2.30pm: Bloody Sunday Commemorative March and Rally. Speakers to include Bloody Sunday families’ representative, Sinn Fein and SDLP. This year the march will stop in William Street, at the point where the original march was stopped on its way to the Guildhall, to signify how the families’ search for justice is being denied by delays in the publication of the report of the Bloody Sunday inquiry.
Assemble 2.30pm, Creggan Shops.
Comments (11 of 11)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11Can the Palistianian flags be bought up in Creggan before the march starts on Sunday ? Can they only be bought at gas work ? I think this is a great idea. I remember during the Hunger Strike of 1981 the mothers of Palistine came out in support of the Hunger Strikers. I remember at our time of crisis the uplifting feeling that it brought to know that we where not on our own, other people from around the world supported us and came out in solidarity with our struggle. I would love to do the same for the people of Palistine. I would be proud to carry thier flag this Sunday in Derry.
Pat
The 30 Jan 1972 march was arranged by the (completely non-violent and non sectarian) Civil Rights Movement led by people like John Hume, Ivan Cooper and Austin Currie. The IRA campaign of which the 1981 hunger strikes were a part were entirely different and was led by men like Seamus Twomey and Sean McStiophan who were singularly violent and tribal men.
The two should not be conflated irrespective of the "Mothers of Palestine".
the civil rights leadership was much broader than the SDLP figures you name. Hume, Cooper and co OPPOSED the 31 Jan 1972 because it was "illegal" but had to follow the membership of the CRA who were ahead of them on the internment issue. They then abandoned the memory of the Bloody Sunday dead, thus killing the Civil Rights movement, and it was the republican movement , in the main, that picked up the pieces of the campaign and kept the issue alive. For those people, the continuity with the hungerstrikes is seamless, as it is for observers in palestine and anyone else. It is only in middle class conservative revisionist circles that this fabricated distinction between the "good" civil rights movement struggle and the "bad" hunger strike struggle is made.
Septic, I had a debate with you last year on this same subject. I was advised by another commenter then to just ignore you because your where an Indy troll. One wonders what your agenda actually is. You seem to take delight in talking down to people from the high moral ground. Usually people cant help but react to your patronising inaccurate comments. I’m not responding to your comments today in a vain hope of trying to convince you of a particular argument. I’m responding for the benefit of anyone else who might be interested in the historical legacy of Bloody Sunday.
Who said that it was a SF or IRA march ? I certainly did not. Read my comments again. It seems that you concocted that notion in your own head. Septic you should try and spend some more time actually reading Irish history and absorbing the facts rather than coming onto Indy media with your dictionary of names and dates.
The Bloody Sunday march in 1972 was not a Civil Rights march, it was an anti internment march that was organised by the Civil Rights Association. The Bloody Sunday commemoration is open to anyone who wishes to attend regardless of their politics. I am not a SF supporter. I did however supporter the Hunger Strikers in 1981 as did many thousands of other people who attended the Bloody Sunday commemorations annually.
The annual Bloody Sunday commemoration in Derry attracts people from all walks of political life. The one thing that unites us all on this day is our will to remember and seek justice for the innocent unarmed people who where shot down like animals by the Para’s.
Could you give me some more scope on your analysis of the mother’s of Palestine. Do you think that they might be the mother’s of violent tribal men ?
What do you think of the smiling Tzipi Livni and her fellow war criminals in the Israeli war cabinet, are they singularly violent and tribal men. Septic, before you rush to point out that Tzipi Livni is a woman, STOP, I know that she is a woman. Tzipi Livni served as a lieutenant in the Israeli Defence Forces and worked for the Mossad. With a background like this you can see where she gets her taste for blood and carnage. I have to say that I found it difficult to watch the news from the slaughter Gaza during the ‘festive season‘. I watched footage of Livni at a meeting half way through the slaughter in Gaza. She sat there over tea grinning from ear to ear like she had not got a care in the world. You think she was at the meeting to launch a new grant scheme for school kids or something positive. No, quite the contrary, the smiling Livni was defending the actions of war Israeli planes who where bombing defenceless women and children. Talk about David and Goliath, It seems that David has turned into Goliath. Slan.
I am a Derry person who has just read the awful insulting attack on Derry people from someone who calls him or herself Sceptic. I can't belive that there are still people trying to peddle these lies.
The facts are clear to us in Derry - the march was an anti-internment march - it was opposed by John Hume who actually opposed even the Civil Rights marches in Derry. You will not find him on any marches in Derry because he opposed them all.
The SDLP which Hume led has been rejected by the vast majority of people in the north and they are now a small party with only one minister in the power sharing executive.
The reason they have been rejected is that they insist on bringing up their hostility to Sinn Fein on every occasion no matter what is being discussed and claiming to have been the leaders of everything. People see through it and many people who would otherwise prefer the SDLP political line have turned to Sinn Fein in recent years.
Yesterday again families turned in disgust from Albin McGuinnes of th SDLP who used this march to once again attack Republicans and in doing so was acting like the British governmnet who tried to blame Republicans for the murders years ago.
One family member was in tears after hearing what the SDLP said at the rally and felt it had added insult to injury after all these years. She said to a man in front of me that she had voted SDLP for many years after Bloody Sunday because she did not want young people to join the IRA and be killed in revenge for Bloody Sunday. But for more than 10 years the SDLP leaders had refused to support the Bloody Sunday March and only began to come on the march when it had widespread international support. She had found that particularly hurtful and despite her opposition to Sinn Fein she said that it was Sinn Fein who kept the march going through those hard years and they had never sought to use the march for themselves but let the families set the agenda.
I wanted to shake her hand but felt it would be intruding.
Next election I am voting Sinn Fein for the first time.
"The SDLP which Hume led has been rejected by the vast majority of people in the north and they are now a small party with only one minister in the power sharing executive."
Think you need to check your figures there. Out of the 696,538 people who voted in the March, 2007 elections, 105,164 (some 15.2 %) voted for the SDLP. That is a significant portion of the Northern Ireland population.
Coming fourth with 15% of the vote may seem big to you but it makes the SDLP smaller than the Liberal Democrats in Britain
You have weird maths
but even you must know that 15% for SDLP means 85% for other parties that is a rejection by the vast majority in any book I have read
105,000 for SDLP 590,000 for everyone else - maybe you have trouble with numbers when they get above ten and you run out of fingers!
You have well and truly screwed any chance of me going back to the SDLP You are just so bigotted and hostile to other parties
we do not want your divisiveness - we want people to work together - and leave that old style politics behind
Derry Person.
I assume that your last remark was aimed at myself. With that in mind:
“Coming fourth with 15% of the vote may seem big to you but it makes the SDLP smaller than the Liberal Democrats in Britain“.
This is not Britain, we have a much smaller electorate, we have more parties. I fail to see the point you are trying to make here. Are you saying that the Liberal Democrats should be excluded from the Government in England?
“You have weird maths but even you must know that 15% for SDLP means 85% for other parties that is a rejection by the vast majority in any book I have read”
I see. So you want to ostracise 15% of the people who voted in the last election, telling them that their beliefs are irrelevant? To me, 105,000 people are not irrelevant and deserve to be heard as much as the rest of us. If they feel that the SDLP represent them in government, they are entitled to heard. Tell me how many people must vote for a party before they are entitled to have to be recognised?
“105,000 for SDLP 590,000 for everyone else - maybe you have trouble with numbers when they get above ten and you run out of fingers!”
It is a pity you cant put forward your point of view without being insulting and derogatory. But since you feel the need to try and insult me, I will take it that your feel so insecure in your argument that you must use such tactics instead of putting across you argument based on substance and logic.
Not having trouble with maths, I recognise that 15% is a significant number, and since I believe in the principals of democracy and freedom, I am happy to acknowledge that any percentage of the electorate who want to have their voice heard be allowed to do so.
“You have well and truly screwed any chance of me going back to the SDLP”
Since that was not my intention, then it is of little interest to me if you do or do not. But using my calculator as I can't work with big numbers, I guess that leaves 104,999 then.
“ You are just so bigotted and hostile to other parties “
Please point out which part of my post makes comment that could be construed as “bigoted” or “hostile”? That seems to be an assumption on your part, perhaps based on your own outlook on life?
“we do not want your divisiveness - we want people to work together”
You're argument is totally contradictory - You claim to want people to work together but at the same time you want to deny 105,000 people in this country the right to have a say because they don't agree with you. It is you who are spreading "divisiveness" by not wanting to recognise them.
” - and leave that old style politics behind”
Like disregarding a large portion of the electorate because they don’t share your views? I think you’ll find that was part of the basis for the Civil Rights Movement – to work towards allowing everyone to have their say and preventing a portion of the electorate to be silenced.
More to the point derry person if you feel this way about the SDLP then how do you feel about other legitimate parties such as the Socialist Workers Party or the Green Party. Just because were not part of the majority doesnt mean were any less entitles to our say and you cant say we havent contributed over the years. Eammon McCann has been a champion of Bloody Sunday since it happened and still is. So were not as big or didnt get as many vote as you. So what. Were still entitled to our say and we will have it as long as one person still votes for us. At least our party hasnt sold out its ideals and we stick to our principals, unlike Adams and his bunch of british sellouts..
I have read your piece twice and find it very bizarre. You have many insecurities obviously.
You corrected my post that the SDLP had been rejected by the vast majority of people - 85 % to 15% is clearly a rejection by the vast majority!
However at no time did I suggest that they should be excluded from office because of the tiny level of support they have I merely pointed out that they were now so small that they were only entitled to one minister which is what they have. No problem there for me.
You think it is insulting to comment on your mnathematical ability - well if you are so insecure I will happily refrain from commenting but I have to point one thing out. Percentages are true whatever the size of the country. The Liberal Democrats get many more votes than the SDLP and are much biger because they are in a bigger population BUT they also get a bigger percentage of the vote - so they are bigger in the true term of that word.
AND whilst I did not suggest that they should be excluded from government (and I do not belive that they should be) it is worth pointing out that thay actually are excluded from government in Britain as that country does not have proportional representation.
But anyway - I wish the SDLP well with their 15% - if they ever learn to work with other parties they might be able to expand these votes and maybe get back to the size they used to be when I voted for them Then they had 5 ministers. They lost that position because of the attitude of people like.you.
Did you read any of my posts or just the stuff the SDLP supporter?
I have never suggested that the SDLP or anyone should be excluded from power - I merely pointed out how much support they had lost. You seem to think I am a Sinn Feiner but I am a former SDLP voter who has been disgusted at their viciousattacks on others. In the last couple of elections I voted SEA.
You seem to be upset about the SDLP liosing support which I find srange as they are totally opposed to everything that the SWP stand for - and you are against Gerry Adams who you describe as British? Very odd that.
But if you want to join an SDLP support group giood for you. The various small parties can support each other and maybe together you can have more say. But I wondedr what you will say? I don't see that you agree on anything other than hatred for Sinn Fein.
I decided to vote Sinn Fein for the first time in my life yesterday when I saw how they traeted other parties and had already left the SDLP because of how they treated Sinn Fein. For that crime I am now tretated as an enemy by the SWP as well.
I think I made the right choice but I guess my second preference will not be going to McCann now. I have to say both the SDLP and the SWP seem to have the same knack for garnering support - that two parties who have lost my vote now.
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