Latest:

00:22 Two rebel groups merge in Mali
00:22 Saltire Games ban 'ridiculous'
00:22 Food industry experience offered
00:22 Scott: Sci fi is getting worn out
00:22 Another Eurovision disaster for UK
00:22 Kinsey: Mindy Kaling is brilliant
00:21 Another Eurovision disaster for UK
00:21 Buzz of fatherhood for comic Frank

DUP anger at Gerry Adams’ ‘Afrikaner’ jibe

Friday, 14 November 2008

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams told supporters in the US that he wants to reach an accommodation with unionism, but hit out at what he called its “Afrikaner wing”.

The republican leader told a fundraising dinner for his party in New York that partnership was the way forward, but that some unionists opposed change.

The DUP branded his comments offensive.

This came as the dispute between republicans and the DUP yesterday forced the cancellation of a further meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive, which has not sat since June.

Mr Adams said: “Once, unionism dominated life in the north... today, if political unionism wants to exercise power, it can only do so if it is prepared to work in partnership with republicans and within the all-Ireland political architecture of the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements.

“Some elements of unionism continue to resist change. But for the leadership of unionism today the question is very simple.

“Is it ready to move forward with the rest of us?”

Sinn Fein and the DUP are in talks aimed at ending deadlock over issues including the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster.

“Few human beings of my acquaintance are as petty and mean-spirited and negative as those in the Afrikaner wing of unionism,” he said.

“But if we are truly about nation-building — and that is what Sinn Fein is about — then we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted or diverted by negative and reactionary elements.”

He said the political institutions needed to be bedded down, and outstanding issues needed to be dealt with to fulfil the promise of the Good Friday Agreement.

Sinn Fein has blocked Executive meetings since June in protest at the refusal of the DUP to accept devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster until it believes the unionist community is ready for the move.

Republicans claim that the DUP is failing to adhere to the partnership principles of power-sharing and has accused the DUP leadership of looking over its shoulder at right-wing elements.

Deputy leader of the SDLP Alasdair McDonnell said the failure to hold Cabinet meetings was hurting ordinary people.

“There can be little doubt that 2008 will forever be remembered as the year the credit crunch bit, the economy slid and Sinn Fein and the DUP did absolutely nothing,” he said.

But DUP Assembly member Robin Newton attacked Mr Adams for comparing sections of unionism to white supremacists in South Africa.

“This hopelessly sectarian outburst, which bears no semblance [sic] to reality, says more about Mr Adams than it does about any unionist,” he said.

“It is clear that there is an underlying bitterness in these disgraceful comments.

“It would have been more appropriate for Mr Adams to tell his American audience that it is his party which is in breach of its legal, political and moral responsibilities by stopping devolution from functioning in the fullest and most effective way.

“Furthermore, I wonder, did Mr Adams tell his American friends that it was his party which fought against and protested at the sight of people honouring our troops returning home from serving alongside our American allies in Afghanistan?”

Print
Text Size
- Normal
- Large
- Extra Large

Comments

First |
Previous
1
2
3
Next
| Last

49 Comments

Such bitter vitriol against Unionists on here. I would like this not to be the case, naturally, and am curious why, rather than endeavouring to unite with us (you know, "Ireland of Equals...."Parity of Esteem"), you feel the need to act this way?

It is actually making a mockery of your attempts to unite Ireland and if you haven't worked out why this is, then lord help you.

Keep up the good work.

Posted by mickey | 18.11.08, 13:10 GMT

Nothing changes. The old protagonists cannot accept the fact that change is inevitable and that they need to think of the ;people; and not the party.

Posted by Patrick J. Corr | 18.11.08, 12:44 GMT

neil t there is no british people in northern ireland, just irishmen who have turned against their own country and are upholding the invaders rules. ireland is slowly heading towards Re-unification its just a matter of tim

Posted by sean co down | 18.11.08, 10:55 GMT

From-USA--alot of us are tired of Adams, McGuinness and cohorts...Fewer and fewer people show up for his dog and pony show than in the past. Is ther any young blood to take over SF?? Many of us believe in an eventual united Ireland but it appears that SF is more about SF than Ireland...they spend more time posturing and spouting useless rhetoric than actually working toward the well being of an inclusive NI people. A peaceful NI is contrary to SFs existence.

SF/Adams should apologize to those troops whom marched in Belfast and to Afrikaners for his assumption that they are racists.

Posted by billy new york | 18.11.08, 04:03 GMT

aussie they say that the truth hurts and here is the proof.

Posted by aussie | 17.11.08, 15:48 GMT

BT refused to publish my thoughts beore on this topic, so I'll try again against the censor. What Adams said is an insult to Afrikaners. There are a lot of good people among the Afrikaners, Gerry.

Posted by Billy for the Truth | 17.11.08, 11:41 GMT

Adams is spouting his usual vitriolic hatred towards the British people of Northern Ireland. He cannot stomach a unionist about the place, truth be known. He isnt going to get his "nation" that he wants. We dont want it, Gerry - the sooner you realise that, the better. The Belfast and St Andrews Agreements are dead and buried, forever.

Posted by NealT | 17.11.08, 08:31 GMT

well that's the pot calling the kettle black. i am sure if was the republic getting all of it's shops fire bombed for thirty years and criminals driving across the border never to be extradited...we'd all hear a different tune. If Adams wants to increase the love buzz then why doesn't he do so with real menaingful action. how can you trust someone who shoots you and bombs you? the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Posted by Greg | 16.11.08, 22:21 GMT

What do any of "those" know about a free Ireland theyre no different to the brits they are just as bigger poms in the south!!! Watching english soccer wearing their tops and english tv just go to the continent to see how much the mics are like the english...Your Dail sold you all out long time ago!!!! And another thing adams wouldnt know an Afrikaner if he kicked him up the backside. Afrikaners were the first murdered in concentration camps by britain and the proper IRA used to practice blowing up bridges in the boer war to help the afrikaners. Not gerrys ANC communist IRA.

Posted by Wakey Wakey | 15.11.08, 20:33 GMT

Cliff, as I alread said Gerry Adams doesn't need to tell his American audiences about the past or what Sinn Fein stood for in the past. He's talking about the present and the future and about moving on from the past! Besides, his American audiences - along with the rest of the world - already know very well the sad history of this island. And they've chosen to support the Republican/Nationalist cause for very good reasons.

Instead of constantly bashing Americans for what you Unionists mistakenly perceive as their ignorant and biased view of Irish history and politics, why don't you try to convey your side of the story to them and the rest of the world? Maybe you could do a better job than the Unionists who have already tried and failed many times to do just that!

And please tell me what's hypocritical about protesting a British army parade then flying off to New York?

PS. I'm glad to know that I make you smile. But try not to ignore the core issue again! Go raibh maith agat!

Posted by Barry | 15.11.08, 16:58 GMT

This is of course the same Sinn Fein /IRA who helped the Nazis during WW2.....the same one that ethnically cleansed protestants from the border counties.....and unlike the blacks in South Africa have been free to vote both at the ballot box and with their feet. Truth be told, the vast majority of people who have left N.Ireland over the last 80 years haven't headed south, they've gone east - speaks volumes. As for those Irish/Americans - study your real history/ancestory.

Posted by PAulo | 15.11.08, 07:25 GMT

Hey neal, "we stand with sinn fein always."
Were you saying that when the twin towers were plowed into? It's the same kind of people who did that, as you are honouring and standing by. Nothing but evil demonic terrorists.

Posted by CannuckCol | 15.11.08, 00:07 GMT

Like many others, I read the Tele from my home in the United States (frequently maligned in these postings). As someone who was born and lived in Belfast for 25 years, I am often asked by Americans to explain the mindset of people on both sides of my native city’s political divide. Many of these letters are a great help with that. They show the same thinking that prevailed among a section of the population during the civil rights era of the late 60’s and throughout the troubles that followed. Unsurprisingly, the same devotion to the intolerance and narrow–mindedness of the past is equally common on this side of the Atlantic. Thankfully, when I return to visit Belfast every couple of years, I can see the real progress that has come from the relative peace and hope it coninues.

Posted by fmk | 14.11.08, 20:24 GMT

Well i truely hope Mr Adams is commited to "Nation-building". Unfortunatley for him and indeed the Republican movement the nation he wishes to build, does not and will not never exist. Even if Nationalists become the majority in the North East of Ulster, they will still have a million Unionist's that want nothing to do with Dublin. Sinn Fein would be better served trying to persuade Unionists not to be British as opposed to trying to convince Unionists that they are Irish. You see if Sinn Fein was to give up it's idelogical pipe dream of a free 32 county Irish Republican utopia (which is never going to happen) and instead champion a seperate Northern Irish/Ulster agenda that was not at all British but was at ease with both Irish Gaelic and Ulster-Scots traditions then they might indeed have at least a chance of convincing Ulster Protestants that they are not trying to systematically remove everything that Protestants in Northern Ireland hold dear.

Posted by James | 14.11.08, 20:05 GMT

Barry and others. Thanks for your words of advice.You make me smile. As someone said earlier "the truth hurts".All I did was state the truth about what Gerry and the IRA stood for.When people point this truth out to Republicans all they can do is roll out the same, old, tired accusations.My reason for stating the facts is to show the hypocrisy of Gerry and some in Sinn Fein. One week they are vehemently protesting against the Soldiers returning from fighting a war alongside Americans in Afghanistan and then within days Gerry flys to the USA without one word of condemnation to the Americans.They claim to defend the rights of the innocent and then at the same time ignore the murder of the innocents by the IRA.It makes you wonder what really motivates Gerry and some in Sinn Fein.By their actions in recent weeks Gerry and others seem firmly rooted in the past. Gerry, your day has gone.I would appeal to others in Sinn Fein who have moved on, to leave Gerry and sectarian politics behind.

Posted by Cliff | 14.11.08, 19:15 GMT

So in the DUP's mind, being poltiically bigoted is a good thing, but they take offence at being accused of racism. Narrow-minded dogmatism is objectionable and no amount of feigned outrage can change that. As Ghandi said: Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.

Posted by Robert Kenny | 14.11.08, 18:48 GMT

Mr. Adams didn't have to tell his American audience anything about what he or his party is doing.

We already know.

Or did you think we all ended up on here by chance?

Someone ought to tell Robin Newton that America has Mr. Adams and Sinn Fein's backs.

Posted by Scott Richards | 14.11.08, 18:42 GMT

Mr Adams despite all his hard talk is currently administering British rule in NI and I think all those Irish Americans should be aware of that.

If I'm not mistaken it is SF who are refusing to meet at Stormont until they get their hands on justice and policing, and aren't we just waiting for the outcome of dna tests to return the product of some of their justice and policing?

Posted by Kathleen | 14.11.08, 17:26 GMT

Surely it's more than a little racist to use any ethnic group as a derogatory term for your political opponents? I think perhaps the Equality Commission should have a word with Mr Adams on his return...

Posted by Steve | 14.11.08, 17:06 GMT