Protest for truth held on British 'Armed Forces Day'
Published: 26 June, 2010
Chrissie Mhic Giolla Mhín and Caoimhín Mac Giolla Mhín
Sinn Féin representatives joined a White-Line Picket on the Falls Road on Saturday June 26 in opposition to British 'Armed Forces Day' events and in support of the families of victims of the British military who are seeking the truth.
Sinn Féin Belfast councillor Caoimhín Mac Giolla Mhín, who joined the picket, labelled the decision by Belfast City Council to celebrate British 'Armed Forces Day' by flying a military flag from City Hall as "divisive", and "an insult to families of victims of those killed by the British military in Ireland who are still campaigning for truth and justice".
Mr Mac Giolla Mhín said: "In the wake of the recent publication of the Saville Report that confirmed that the British army opened fire on unarmed civil rights protesters, the decision to celebrate the actions of British military forces is especially offensive.
"Sinn Féin opposed the request by the British Ministry of Defence to fly the military flag at City Hall, and we believe the decision by unionist parties to push ahead with this move is provocative and divisive.
"The nationalist community in Belfast, like Derry, has suffered the brutality of British military occupation - not least through civilian massacres in Ballymurphy, Springhill, New Lodge and Ardoyne. Across the North almost 300 people were killed directly by the British army yet there has been no admittance of wrongdoing and no-one has been brought to justice for these killings.
"The 'Armed Forces Day' activities being pushed by the British Government and unionist politicians is part of a concerted campaign led by the British MoD to drum up support for its deeply unpopular occupations in the Middle East and revive dwindling recruitment to its armed forces.
"The occasion was introduced by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown last year and was specifically designed to shore up political support for British participation in the US-led occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq.
"Through its participation in the occupation of Afghanistan, British military forces have contributed to the deaths of thousands of civilians. The United Nations estimates that last year alone more than 2,000 civilians were killed in the conflict there. Just last week the British MoD revealed that it has paid compensation to the families of at least 105 Afghan civilians that it had killed last year.
"We don't believe that these actions, and the role of the British armed forces in Ireland, are something to celebrate. At tomorrow's protest we will be supporting the families of all the victims of British state violence."
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