BY CATHLEEN GUTEKANST
SAN FRANCISCO - Pat Treanor, a leading member of Sinn Fein from County Monaghan, Ireland, addressed a meeting of around 60 activists and members of the San Francisco chapter of Irish Northern Aid May 15. The meeting, held at the Irish Cultural Center, was called to explain to activists the current course of Sinn Fein in the fight for a united Ireland, free of British rule. In addition to Treanor, Sinn Fein leaders Martin Ferris and Joe Cahill took part in a week-long U.S. tour immediately following the party's May 10 Ard Fheis (national conference).

"Have we advanced over the last three to four years? Absolutely. The numbers of people attending Sinn Fein meetings and events is up, we've won an end to censorship and can get our ideas out in the press, we're gaining strength and advancing towards our goal of a united Ireland. The loyalists are more divided now and have less of an alternative," Treanor said.

He went on to explain that Sinn Fein's call for a `Yes' vote on the so-called Good Friday document - which was negotiated in talks that included the British and Irish governments, the main Unionist (pro-British) parties in Northern Ireland, Sinn Fein, and other parties - must be viewed in that context. "The document itself is not worthwhile, but we're looking at how to move forward from here."

During the lively discussion period, a member of the audience pointed out that the Loyalist Volunteer Force, a pro-British paramilitary outfit, had called a cease-fire that same day. Treanor stated, "That's a good sign. It indicates pressure from their own community. There will still need to be a big campaign to win the release of the prisoners. Since 1994 Lee Clegg has been the only prisoner released before time." Clegg, a British soldier who was convicted of killing Karen Reilly, a Belfast teenager, in 1992, was released after serving only two years of his sentence.

Treanor explained that the fight will continue in nationalist communities against triumphalist loyalist parades as the "marching season" begins. These actions are aimed at reinforcing the second-class statues of Catholics in British-occupied Northern Ireland, a pillar of London's rule there. A debate broke out during the discussion period, with two members of the audience defending the stance of Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, who had spoken in San Francisco on April 25 attacking Sinn Fein for supporting the agreement. McAliskey is a longtime figure in the Irish freedom struggle. Other participants at the Treanor meeting vigorously disagreed with McAliskey's stance and defended the course of Sinn Fein. Treanor reported on his meeting, also held on May 15, with the remaining three republican prisoners of the H-Block Four, currently being held in a Federal Detention Center in California. The three men - Terry Kirby, Pol Brennan, and Kevin Barry Artt - are awaiting extradition back to the H-Blocks of Long Kesh Prison in Northern Ireland, where they escaped in 1983. A fourth, Jimmy Smyth, was extradited last year. In answer to a question about what supporters of the Irish struggle can do to help in the U.S., Treanor replied, "You can get behind the campaign to free the H-Block Three here. You can pool your resources, have coordinated campaigns to publicize their case."

H. B. O'Keady, the president of the East Bay chapter of the Irish American Unity Conference, reported in the discussion that he had spoken with Terry Kirby from prison after his meeting with Treanor. "Terry told me that the men don't want to be used as pawns by any government. Terry said that he totally supports the leadership of Sinn Fein and appreciated very much the meeting with Pat."

O'Keady also reported on an upcoming public forum on the results of the May 22 Irish elections, to be held in San Francisco June 6, sponsored by the Irish American Unity Conference.

Hundreds of supporters of the Irish freedom struggle in other cities also attended meetings with the Sinn Fein leaders during their tour. In the New York City area, Martin Ferris spoke and answered questions at three meetings that were free and open to the public. He pointed to the growing confidence of ordinary people in Ireland in their ability to resist British domination and the increased mobilization of Irish nationalism. Ferris also joined the platform at a debate in Carlstadt, New Jersey, between supporters and opponents of the agreement.

Joe Cahill answered questions from about 50 people in Chicago May 14. In answer to a question whether the British government would try to chip away at the agreement, he replied "We don't trust them. They are still our enemy." Sinn Fein "will work with the agreement, but will work to change it," Cahill added. In Detroit, Treanor addressed a meeting of 60 people hosted by Irish Northern Aid. He ended that gathering by urging "supporters of Irish freedom to stay alert and keep the pressure up."

Nancy Boyasko in New York, Jane Harris in New Jersey, Sarah Katz in Chicago, and John Sarge in Detroit contributed to this article.  
 
 
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