jay.ren
00martedì 10 aprile 2007 21:50
Il 10 aprile del 1981 Bobby Sands, prigioniero politico a Ling Kesh e hunger striker, veniva eletto a Westminster, nelle elezioni suppletive, con il 52% dei voti.
1981: Hunger striker elected MP
Imprisoned IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands has been elected to Westminster as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Sands stood as a candidate of the "Anti-H Block" campaign - the section of the Maze prison in Belfast reserved for republicans and loyalists convicted of terrorist offences.
He won just over 52% of the vote in the Northern Ireland by-election compared to 49% for the candidate of the Official Unionist party, Harry West.
Sands' winning margin was 1,400 but over 3,000 ballot papers were spoiled.
Recriminations have already begun over his victory.
Unionist parties have come under fire for not mounting an effective challenge.
There has also been sharp criticism of the failure of the moderate Catholic Social Democratic and Labour Party to contest the seat.
Many believe the absence of an alternative Catholic candidate ensured victory for Sands in a seat with a Catholic majority.
Bobby Sands' election agent, Owen Carron, said the British Government had been sent a message.
"The nationalist people have voted against Unionism and against the H blocks.
"It is time Britain got out of Ireland and put an end to the torture of this country," he said.
Sands, 27, has served four years of a 14-year sentence for possessing firearms.
He began his hunger strike 41 days ago to press the republican prisoners' claim to be treated as prisoners of war.
The government must now decide how to respond to Bobby Sands' victory.
It could try to have him expelled on the grounds that he is an "unacceptable member".
However, unless he starts to eat again, Sands is not expected to live for more than another few weeks.
He has already lost two stone and is too weak to leave his bed in the prison's hospital wing.
jay.ren
00martedì 10 aprile 2007 21:51
jay.ren
00martedì 10 aprile 2007 21:52
1998: siglato il Good Friday Agreement
The Northern Ireland peace talks have ended with an historic agreement.
The accord - dubbed the Good Friday Agreement - was reached after nearly two years of talks and 30 years of conflict.
Negotiations on the final day dragged on more than 17 hours after the deadline for an agreement passed.
The agreement is a triumph for British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Republic of Ireland's leader, Bertie Ahern, who have succeeded where all their predecessors failed.
Speaking at a news conference after the deal was announced Tony Blair said he hoped it marked a new beginning.
"Today I hope that the burden of history can at long last start to be lifted from our shoulders," Mr Blair said.
Bertie Ahern said he hoped a line could now be drawn under the "bloody past" .
The proposals in the agreement include plans for a Northern Ireland Assembly, new cross-border institutions involving the Irish Republic and a body linking devolved assemblies across the UK with Westminster and Dublin.
A copy of the proposals will be posted to every household in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic and then put to a referendum in May.
The chairman of the talks, former US Senator George Mitchell, paid tribute to all those who had taken part.
But Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said there was still a huge gap of distrust between nationalists and unionists.
"It must be bridged on the basis of equality. We are here reaching out the hand of friendship," he said.
Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble added: "I see a great opportunity for us to start a healing process."
The peace agreement was also welcomed by the UDP and PUP parties, which represent loyalist paramilitary groups. [Modificato da jay.ren 10/04/2007 21.55]