Conference tallis::celt

1049.0. "FORUM 2 & 3" by WREATH::DROTTER () Wed May 06 1992 09:36

      In what can only be described as another manifestation of the
continued "cultural suicide" (as described by Robert Ballagh) of
the Irish by the anglicized politicians that run the Dublin government,
we now have the movement to remove Articles 2 & 3 from the Irish Constitution.

   It is being touted by these West Brit politicians as the "cure-all" to
remove the problem (and clear the consciences of shoneens everywhere)
of those croppies who just won't lie down and go away - the feisty Irish
nationalists of Northern Ireland.

    What the British haven't been able to do over the past 70 years by
brutality, Internment,  murder and assassination, their Irish lackey
politicians will now do with ballot and blarney.  These politicians,
mesmerized by British propaganda, are trying to sell day for night:
that Articles 2 & 3 are the *only* thing preventing peace in NI. 

    The following letter describes a new movement to raise the alarm
about this final sellout and stab in the back of the nationalists by
southern hack politicians. Of course these Anglophiles never mention Article 20
of Britain's infamous Governmnet of Irelnad Act - in which Britain grants to
itself (isn't that "rich") perpetual right to all the land it has stolen in
Ireland - inhabitants of the island be damned.


                               FORUM 2 & 3

                 (A Discussion Group To Promote Awareness
                  of Articles 2 & 3 of the Constitution)


    To the Editor:

I write in response to the increasing body of politicians in the Republic
of Ireland who are currently clamouring for changes in Articles 2 and 3 of the
Irish Constitution.

We wish to let your readers know about a new group which has recently come
together in Derry to promote debate around this issue. Forum 2 & 3 was formed
in August of 1991 to give expression to the apprehensions within the Nationalist
community concerning the loss of their right to Irish citizenship. The group
comprises people from many different backgrounds and is not connected with any
politican party.

We believe that Articles 2 & 3, those parts of the Irish Constitution which
recognize people living north of the border as part of the Irish Nation and
which give voice to the national aspiration towards unity and independence,
are not negotiable. Furthermore, we believe that those public representatives
who would concede these changes seriously underestimate the importance which
northern nationalists place on their national identity. Any interference that we
would trade our national rights in the expectation of human rights within the
north we feel should be strenuously refuted.

We further challange the premise that it is nationalists' assertion that we are
Irish citizens rather than British subjects that is the root cause of the
conflict here. We who have suffered so much as a result of the undemocratic
partition of our country are being told that we should stop threatening the
Unionists and that we should relinquish any spurious notion of nationhood for
this island. We also note with concern the absence of any parallel examination
of England's territorial claim over our six north-eastern counties, or requests
that the Government of Ireland Act be amended to become more acceptable to the
majority of Irish people.

Unionists freely admit that Articles 2 & 3 have no practical effect and that
constitutional change will in no way alter their attitudes towards the
"minority" community within the north. Forum 2 & 3 fears that the only result
will be increasing alienation, frustration and suffering of the nationalist
community, and the protraction of the conflict, rather than a step towards the
resolution we all so earnestly desire.

    Yours sincerely,

     Dr. Anne McCloskey

     Secretary

Inquiries?

          Forum 2 & 3
          P.O. Box 33
          Derry
          BT472DE  Ireland 

    
    I sympathise with the Forum, and understand the fears underlying its
    motives.
    
    However, I am one of those who believe that Articles 2 and 3 should
    be amended in such a way that they cease to be used as a justification
    for violence by groups such as the IRA, and cease to give offence
    to people who value their British identity and do not want to be
    coerced into an United Irish entity.
    
    While it is true that northern nationalists were coerced into the
    United Kingdom, to repair that wrong by coercing Unionists into
    a United Ireland will not bring peace.
    
    Ireland has already by international treaty (registered at the
    UN) stated that it recognises the status of Northern Ireland
    as part of the U.K. until its status may change by consent of
    the majority there. This agreement is supported by all the
    Nationalist parties except Sinn Fein. It seems to me that the
    solution is to include this clause in the Irish constitution
    so that it modifies articles 2 and 3. It is true that those
    articles may have to be amended somewhat. But it should 
    still allow Irish people in Northern Ireland to feel part
    of an Irish nation, if not part of the Irish state.
    
    I am not original in this suggestion - it was originally made
    by an eminent Irish constitutional lawyer by the name of Mary
    Robinson. She has a new job now - President of the Republic
    of Ireland.
    
    I would disagree with any attempt to make articles 2 and 3
    some sort of sacred cow. The problem posed by the Forum is
    not beyond the wit of men and women to resolve sensibly.
    
    Toby