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
UN experts concerned by treatment of Palestine Action-linked hunger strikers
- Eight prisoners awaiting trial for alleged offences connected to the group have taken part in the protest
LONDON: UN human rights experts have raised concerns about the treatment of prisoners linked to Palestine Action who have been on hunger strike while on remand, warning it may breach the UK’s international human rights obligations.
Eight prisoners awaiting trial for alleged offences connected to the group have taken part in the protest, reported The Guardian on Friday.
Among them are Qesser Zuhrah and Amu Gib, who were on hunger strike at HMP Bronzefield from Nov. 2 to Dec. 23, and Heba Muraisi, held at HMP New Hall. Others include Teuta Hoxha, Kamran Ahmed and Lewie Chiaramello, who has refused food on alternate days due to diabetes.
Zuhrah and Gib temporarily resumed eating this week because of deteriorating health but said they plan to resume the hunger strike next year, according to Prisoners for Palestine.
In a statement issued on Friday, UN special rapporteurs, including Gina Romero and Francesca Albanese, said the handling of the prisoners was alarming.
“Hunger strike is often a measure of last resort by people who believe that their rights to protest and effective remedy have been exhausted. The state’s duty of care toward hunger strikers is heightened, not diminished,” they said.
Three of the prisoners were in hospital at the same time on Sunday, with Ahmed admitted on three occasions since the hunger strike began.
The experts said: “Authorities must ensure timely access to emergency and hospital care when clinically indicated, refrain from actions that may amount to pressure or retaliation, and respect medical ethics.”
Prisoners for Palestine has alleged that prison staff initially denied ambulance access for Zuhrah during a medical emergency last week, with hospital treatment only provided after protesters gathered outside the prison.
“These reports raise serious questions about compliance with international human rights law and standards, including obligations to protect life and prevent cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” the experts said, adding: “Preventable deaths in custody are never acceptable. The state bears full responsibility for the lives and wellbeing of those it detains. Urgent action is required now.”
Families and supporters have called for a meeting with Justice Secretary David Lammy, while lawyers claim the Ministry of Justice has failed to follow its own policy on handling hunger strikes.
Government officials are understood to be concerned about the prisoners’ condition but cautious about setting a wider precedent.
