In a statement on August 29 a spokesperson for Comhairle Uladh, Sinn Féin Poblachtach, said: “Masked and armed members of the RUC/PSNI carried out a stop and search procedure at a filling station in Lurgan, Co Armagh on members of the Sinn Féin Poblachtach Ard Chomhairle (National Executive).

“The Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFO) acting on the orders of British Crown Forces (MI5) attempted to disrupt their travel.

“Stop and Search is a term used to describe the powers of the British police to search a person, place or object without first making an arrest. In the last year 22,752 persons were stopped and searched/questioned in the Occupied Six Counties, the majority being members of the nationalist/Republican community.

“We pose this question to the so-called Stormont Agreement Republicans (Provisionals). What happened to the promise to ‘put manners’ on the rogue British Crown Forces? Not to mention the claim that support for policing was part of ‘getting the Brits out of Ireland’ (Gerry Kelly, 2007).

“The continued support for British constitutional politics in the Occupied Six Counties is giving the British colonial police a free hand in maintaining the same old, anti-Republican actions.

“Different name, same aim.”

CRÍOCH/ENDS

Ranganna:[RSF News] Statements