Sean Garland, The Workers Party, The Columbia 3 and Extadition.

national | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Wednesday November 16, 2005 14:10 by pat c

Sean Garland is now a fugitive from "justice" in Northern Ireland. Having broken his bail conditions, he has remained in the South following his hospital treatment.

Does the WP oppose extradition for all political prisoners? Do they oppose the extradition of the Columbia 3?

The Workers Party in general and Sean Garland in particular have a long history of supporting the extradition of Republicans. Anyone who disagreed with them was slandered as being a Provo Trot or Provo Hushpuppy. The WPs hatred of Republicans even extended to opposing the right of H Block prisoners to wear their own clothes. This was at a time when OIRA prisoners were stilling enjoying Political Status.

Do the WP now oppose extradition for all Political Prisoners or are they tactically opposing it in the case of Sean Garland. If in future Republican prisoners are threatened with extradition can they rely on the support of the WP?

Take the case of the Columbia 3, they might face extradition to a country where their lives are at risk and they have no chance of getting justice. So far the WP have been silent on the Columbia3. Sean Garland writes: " I am not willing to face what is in effect a court which has its hands tied by an act which is primarily dictated by the political agenda of the US."

Well the same is true of the courts which the Columbia 3 will face in a country whose agenda is dictated by the US.

Sean Garland is facing extradition on political charges: he should not be extradited to either the North or the US.

The Columbia 3 are also facing the posibility of extradition on political charges: they should not be extradited to Columbia.

I hope that the Workers Party and all of those who oppose the extradition of Sean Garland will show that their opposition to extradition is based on principle. They can do this by opposing any attempts to extradite the Columbia 3.