LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Sinn Fein signalled a shift to a new, post-conflict generation in Northern Ireland on Monday when the Irish republican party named a 40-year-old woman to replace a former IRA commander as its leader in Belfast.
Michelle O’Neill will be a candidate to replace Martin McGuinness as deputy first minister after elections on March 2, following his decision to quit politics for health reasons.
At a press conference in Belfast, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams described O’Neill as the “new generation” who would “continue the good work Martin pioneered.”
O’Neill, a member of the Northern Ireland assembly for the past 10 years, developed her political career in the aftermath of the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement.
The deal effectively ended the armed campaign by the paramilitary Irish Republican Army — in which McGuinness served — to unite Ireland by force.
Yet O’Neill, a mother of two grown-up children originally from Clonoe in rural County Tyrone, also has a strong Irish nationalist background.
Her father Basil served a prison sentence for IRA activities and her cousin Tony Doris, an IRA combatant, was killed by the British army in an ambush in 1991.
In a video statement, O’Neil expressed her “immense pride” at her nomination and paid tribute to her father and cousin, citing the influence they had on her and on her wider community.
She also offered an olive branch of sorts to the unionist community, which wants Northern Ireland to remain a British province.
“The united Ireland we want and which we envisage has a place for everybody,” she said.
“I see it as my job as leader to make sure we are reaching out to all sections of the community.... Nobody has anything to fear.”
During the three-decade-long conflict known as “the Troubles,” in which 3,500 people died, Sinn Fein was regarded as the political wing of the IRA.
It has had an fractious relationship with unionists in the power-sharing assembly set up as part of the peace agreement.
McGuinness played a key role in the peace process and served for a decade alongside first ministers from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
But he fell out with its latest leader, Arlene Foster, and resigned earlier this month, triggering new elections.
The DUP responded to Sinn Fein’s announcement by posting a tweet picturing McGuinness with O’Neill in his pocket, with the words: “New Deputy. Same Problem.”
N.Ireland’s Sinn Fein hands reins to new generation
N.Ireland’s Sinn Fein hands reins to new generation
Fourth Palestine Action activist ends hunger strike in UK prison
- Amy Gardiner-Gibson began eating again after 49 days of protest
- Govt rejects claims it ignored prison safety protocols
LONDON: A fourth Palestine Action activist imprisoned in the UK has ended her hunger strike.
Amy Gardiner-Gibson, who also uses the name Amu Gib, began eating again after 49 days of fasting, the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine said.
Qesser Zuhrah, another activist, ended her hunger strike last week after 48 days but said she might resume it next year, Sky News reported.
Four Palestine Action activists have now ended their hunger strikes while in prison, while four others are continuing to fast.
All of them are in prison on remand, awaiting trial for a series of high-profile alleged break-ins and criminal damage.
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organization and banned earlier this year.
On Tuesday, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in central London at a rally in support of the hunger strikers.
The protesters are demanding that weapons factories in Britain with ties to Israel be shut down, as well as the removal of Palestine Action’s proscription.
They are also calling for immediate bail to be given to imprisoned pro-Palestine activists and an end to the alleged mistreatment of prisoners in custody.
Seven imprisoned members of Palestine Action have been transferred to hospital over the course of the hunger strike campaign. Doctors have highlighted concerns about the long-term impact of fasting on the activists.
Lawyers representing the group on Monday initiated legal action against the government over its alleged failure to follow prison safety regulations.
The government, however, has rejected this accusation, Sky News reported.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “Ministers do not intervene in individual cases. Where individuals are on remand, doing so would risk prejudicing ongoing legal proceedings and undermine the independence of the justice system.
“Concerns about welfare and process can be raised through established legal and administrative channels, including prison governors and ultimately the prison and probation ombudsman.
“Healthcare decisions are taken independently by qualified NHS professionals and appropriate care and oversight frameworks remain in place.”
The activists still on hunger strike include Heba Muraisi and Teuta Hoxha. Hoxha has been on remand for 13 months and her family told Sky News they feared she would die in prison.
Another of the activists, Kamran Ahmad, is believed to have been on hunger strike for 45 days and hospitalized three times.
Lewie Chiaramello, who has Type 1 diabetes, is on day 31 of his strike and taking part by fasting every other day.
