Derry Journal, February 6, 2004

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Sinn Féin Supports Families In Collusion Campaign

Feb 6 2004

Sinn Féin Councillor Paul Fleming has spoken out in solidarity with the families of those killed and injured through the British Government policy of collusion, when they visit the British House of Commons as part of a day long series of pickets in London.

Colr. Fleming said: "Earlier this week the families of 100 people killed as a result of collusion between British intelligence and unionist death squads took their campaign for the truth to those politically responsible for statesponsored murder, the British policy-makers in London.

"I want to endorse and support those families."

He added: "The murder of citizens through collusion with Unionist death squads has been and remains a British state policy in Ireland.

"Collusion - the control, resourcing and direction of unionist death squads by British state agencies - was sanctioned at the highest level of the British government.

"It resulted in the deaths of hundreds of republicans, nationalists and Catholics. Members of Sinn Fein, including elected representatives, were among those killed in a vicious campaign of political terror."

Colr. Fleming continued: "This is a human rights scandal which anywhere else would have brought down governments. Not so with British state terror in Ireland.

"Is it any wonder that Thatcher and General Pinochet of Chile are such close friends? They shared the same policy towards their political opponents.

"The British politicians who sanctioned the policy of collusion have never been held accountable.

"Collusion has not ended. The British apparatus, which operates the policy of collusion, continues in existence."

He continued: "The policy of collusion must be ended, its structures must be disowned and dismantled and there must be full disclosure of the truth about Britain's dirty war in Ireland".