Washington
D.C. May 19, 2002 ---
Despite the sinister efforts of the Chairman of
the House International Relations Committee (HIRC) to
embarrass Sinn Fein and thereby harm the Irish
peace-process, that Party has achieved an impressive
electoral victory
in the Irish Republic and the Irish peace-process has
been confirmed and strengthened.
That
is how Irish-Americans are reacting to the results of
the Irish
elections, according to the President of the Capitol
Hill-based Irish
National Caucus, Father Sean Mc Manus.
"Irish-Americans
are convinced
that HIRC Chairman, Henry Hyde(R-Il) held his recent
Hearing --
' International Global Terrorism: Its Links with Illicit
Drugs As Illustrated by the IRA and Other Groups in
Colombia'--to embarrass Sinn Fein in order to achieve an
Ollie North-type
agenda in Colombia. He was prepared to sacrifice
the Irish peace-process for that end.But not only did
his Hearing backfire on the actual day( April 24, 2002),
but now a few weeks later Sinn Fein has been
vindicated, and more importantly the Irish
peace-process has been confirmed and strengthened",
Fr. Mc Manus declared.
"
The Congressional elections are coming up in November,
and it will be the job of Irish-Americans to ensure that
Congress will regain proper focus on equality, justice
and peace in Ireland -- a focus that Congressman Hyde
has so shamefully tried to distort and destroy",
Fr. Mc Manus concluded.
