DATE=9/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238049
TITLE=BRITAIN / IRELAND/TERROR (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
///EDS: WATCH C-N WIRE FOR PARLIAMENTARY VOTES, AND UPDATE INTRO
AS NEEDED///
INTRO: THE BRITISH AND IRISH PARLIAMENTS ON WEDNESDAY DEBATED
NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS TO CRUSH EXTREMISTS TRYING TO DISRUPT THE
PEACE PROCESS IN BRITISH-RULED NORTHERN IRELAND. APPROVAL OF THE
LAW WAS CERTAIN. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FORM
LONDON.
TEXT: IN HIS OPENING SPEECH TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, PRIME
MINISTER TONY BLAIR WARNED "THE REAL I-R-A" THAT ITS ATTEMPT TO
DISRUPT NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE PROCESS HAD BACKFIRED.
/// BLAIR ACT ///
YOU SOUGHT TO WRECK THE AGREEMENT AND YOU FAILED. YOU
SOUGHT TO DIVIDE THE COMMUNITY AND YOU FAILED. YOU
SOUGHT TO WIN NEW SUPPORT AND YOU FAILED. YOU FAILED
BECAUSE VIOLENCE AND TERROR REPRESENT THE PAST IN
NORTHERN IRELAND, AND DEMOCRACY AND PEACE REPRESENT THE
FUTURE IN NORTHERN IRELAND.
/// END ACT ///
THE OUTLAWED GROUP CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR LAST MONTH' S CAR
BOMB IN OMAGH THAT KILLED 28 PEOPLE AND INJURED MORE THAN 200.
INSTEAD OF SCARING PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE PEACE PROCESS, THE
BOMBING APPEARS TO HAVE RESTORED MOMENTUM TO THE PEACE PROCESS.
THE IRISH AND BRITISH PARLIAMENTS BOTH HELD SPECIAL SESSIONS TO
APPROVE NEW ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS. IN DUBLIN, MEMBERS OF
PARLIAMENT OBSERVED A MINUTE OF SILENCE IN TRIBUTE TO THE BOMBING
VICTIMS. IN LONDON, THERE WERE FEW OBJECTIONS TO THE MEASURES.
// OPT // THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT -- IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS ABOUT
CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS -- DID SOFTEN ONE POINT: ON THE
CONVICTION OF A SUSPECTED TERRORIST BASED ON THE TESTIMONY OF A
SENIOR POLICE OFFICER. // END OPT //
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR REJECTED COMPLAINTS THE NEW LAW WAS
SLAPPED TOGETHER (RUSHED IN A SLOPPY MANNER). HE SAID THE
MEASURES WERE CAREFULLY PUT TOGETHER TO TARGET TERRORISTS WITHOUT
PROVOKING A BACKLASH IN THE COMMUNITY.
// BLAIR ACT //
I BELIEVE, THAT AGAIN, AS A RESULT OF HAVING TARGETED
THIS VERY CAREFULLY, WE HAVE ACTUALLY STEERED THE RIGHT
COURSE, WHICH IS BETWEEN A KNEE-JERK REACTION THAT
INTRODUCES MEASURES THAT ARE NOT VERY WELL THOUGHT
THROUGH AND MEASURES THAT WILL GIVE US PRACTICAL HELP
AND ASSISTANCE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF
THE RELEVANT PROSCRIBED ORGANIZATIONS.
/// END ACT ///
// OPT // SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT ALSO WELCOMED
THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SINN FEIN -- THE POLITICAL ARM OF THE IRISH
REPUBLICAN ARMY -- THAT IT WOULD HELP DISARM PARAMILITARY GROUPS
AS REQUIRED BY NORTHERN IRELAND'S PEACE AGREEMENT. BUT THEY ALSO
DEMANDED QUICK ACTION TO BACK UP THE I-R-A PROMISE. THAT CALL WAS
ECHOED IN THE IRISH PARLIAMENT TOO. // END OPT //
LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER PADDY ASHDOWN EXPRESSED SOME
CONCERN ABOUT THE BROADER SCOPE OF THE NEW ANTI-TERRORISM BILL,
WHICH CRACKS DOWN ON THOSE USING BRITAIN AS A BASE FOR TERRORIST
ACTIVITIES ELSEWHERE. PRIME MINISTER BLAIR RESPONDED THAT RECENT
TERRORIST ATTACKS IN KENYA, TANZANIA, AND SOUTH AFRICA UNDERLINED
THE NEED TO DESTROY THE INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST NETWORK.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH/JO
02-Sep-98 12:46 PM EDT (1646 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
