BY PETE CLIFFORD
LONDON - Leaders and elected councillors of Sinn Fein
will soon be traveling across Britain explaining their view
of the peace process in Ireland. The projected two-week tour
is being organized by the Irish Peace Initiative, a
coalition of organizations that support the fight for Irish
self-determination.
The tour will be launched with a press conference June 28, followed by a public meeting that evening. Mitchel McLaughlin, national chair of Sinn Fein, will address both events. In announcing the tour, McLaughlin said, "Nine months after the IRA [Irish Republican Army] cease-fire, the Irish peace process is at a critical stage. Support for the cease-fire is widespread, but the real issues are hardly being addressed by the British government."
Joining McLaughlin at the evening meeting, titled "Help build the peace," will be Labour Party members of Parliament Tony Benn and Bernie Grant, as well as Saoirse spokesperson Patricia Campbell. Saoirse is the campaign to free Irish political prisoners.
Later that week Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness is scheduled to speak at a public meeting in Sheffield and McLaughlin in Cardiff. Other representatives of Sinn Fein will be available to speak in towns and cities throughout Britain. Those who want to set up meetings or help with the tour can contact the Irish Peace Initiative at 0171-609- 1743.