| Gregory
Joughin may stand for "Keys"
Gregory Joughin, from Peel (Purt
ny h'Inshey),
is considering standing as a candidate for the constituency of Glenfaba
at the forthcoming election. Before he officially declares, however, he
is conducting a feasibility study that takes the form of a
questionnaire.
It is divided into two parts, one
covering
issues of concern to the entire Island, and a second part that applies
more specifically to Glenfaba. The questions are answered by simply
ticking
a box, but there is space for more detailed comment if desired.
Although Gregory is not a member
of Mec
Vannin, as an established nationalist we offer him our support in this
venture. Anyone who lives in the Glenfaba constituency and would like
to
take part in the study should contact Gregory or a Mec Vannin member.
Press
publicise Yn Pabyr Seyr.
The last fortnight of July saw of
existence
of Yn Pabyr Seyr and coverage of our A.G.M. in the rest of the Manx
press.
The three established newspapers
(Independent,
Examiner and Courier) all carried stories and gave some extracts from
the
first two issues. It was interesting to note that what extracts were
given,
were basically "tit-bits" with no reference to the main articles
carried
in the papers. Also enjoying extensive coverage was our A.G.M. which we
ourselves cover in the back of this issue, giving explanations of the
resolutions
passed.
The fact that all of our Issues 1
have
been distributed, with more still in demand is extremely encouraging
and
the general response has been extremely favourable.
This issue sees a subtle change
in type-face,
which seemed to be one of the major criticisms, and we hope that this
makes
the paper more legible. The request for material from members has met
with
a positive response and we hope involvement in the paper will continue
to grow. Another criticism, now rectified, was the lack of any Mec
Vannin
membership details or a name to contact for information. This was due
to
the impending A.G.M. and a foreseen change in officials.
Manx
Language Officer Chosen - Yet another Mec Vannin idea
adopted
by the Government.
Of course, we can't claim sole
responsibility
far this major breakthrough in the re-establishment of our rightful
tongue,
but the need for a Language Officer was identified and stated by Mec
Vannin
some time ago.
Double
Standards
Inevitably, we must make comment
an the
B.C.C.I. collapse. The fact that the Bank of England was caught
unawares
provides a convenient smoke-screen for our own Financial Supervision
Commission.
Four years ago, laws were passed
in the
Island that were supposed to put the Island at the forefront of the
international
fight against drugs. Far reaching powers were given to the newly
created
Drug Squad and the penalties for drugs dealing could mean life
imprisonment
and confiscation of all possessions and assets of the offender that
could
be deemed to result of drugs dealings.
When a T.V. documentary team
questioned
the then Treasury Minister David Cannan over evidence they had
uncovered
of drugs profit laundering in the island, he stated that his department
had seen no evidence to suggest any misuse of our finance industry and,
as far as we know, no action was taken against the named offenders.
Another T.V. documentary a couple
of years
later resulted in the following press release from the Celtic League,
dated
18th January 1989:
Tuesday evening's "Bandung File"
on Channel
Four made it perfectly clear what many people know in their hearts to
be
true - that International Banking and laundering of illegal drugs money
are inextricably linked. Global banking networks and global drugs
organisations
are inter-dependent.
The Bank of Credit and Commerce
International,
which has banking operations world-wide, including the Isle of Man, has
had nine of its officials indicted in the U.S.A. for laundering of
illegal
drugs money and a trial is to be conducted later this year.
The programme exposed the
sophisticated
methods used by international banking organisations for cleaning up
profits
from drug traffickers, using off shore centres far greater anonymity
and
tax havens for greater profit.
International banking relies
utterly on
maintaining confidence, so they protect each other. Governments
connive,
either because they won't or haven't the resources to prevent it.
What it boils down to is this:
Are governments
willing to relieve the sum of human misery by stopping it or do they
believe
the profit motive to be paramount? - a rhetorical question.
The real question is, do we want
to live
off other people's misery?
The above press release given
general release
and was also carried in the Spring '89 issue of Carn.
Since its inception, the local
drug squad
has vociferously pursued its objectives to the point where people have,
on several occasions, been violently assaulted in public places on
suspicion
of possessing small quantities of drugs. The far reaching powers that
were
supposed to, "put us at the forefront of the fight against drugs" have
never been used to date.
Citizens are assaulted:
Launderers are
given Banking Licences.
Is that, double standards or what?
A
Manks
colony in an English island - member's letter.
It is time to close the door and
say "Enough
is enough; for that is what has became of us. We have to call a halt
now.
A former member of the House of
Keys said,
in 1974, "We can no longer be regarded as a Manks Nation, but as an
English
off-shore island."
It is idiotic to say that an
increase in
population will bring benefits for all of us - only developers. We have
become an island of houses and cars. The cheque book invasion continues
in spite of recession, with even tholtans* under threat from the
speculators.
The lack of consideration for
those with
genuine concern for this island and our quality of life is reflected in
the deterioration of our roads with the enormous increase in traffic.
We.
have no population control whatsoever and shortly Mannin will be no
more
Manks than the Isle of Wight.
Jersey's President of Planning
visited
our shores a few short years ago and issued a clear warning: "I think
you
should quickly have laws and planning to keep this jewel in your crown
- look closely at immigration."
Of course the finance sector is
now our
major earner. The chronic neglect of our traditional industries has
diminished
their value and brought complete reliance on the Finance sector. This
is
a cause far real concern. I challenge the Government on population
control.
It is election year and we must speak out. Write to your newspaper and
tell your prospective M.H.K.s of your concern for the loss o£ our
tradition and culture. We have been bought up and bought out. Act now
before
it really is too late.
M.J.
28th
A.G.M. report
The 28th A.G.M. of Mec Vannin
took place
on Wednesday 31st July at Transport House. The meeting was well
attended
and an innovative step taken by sitting committee members was to vacate
their positions prior to the meeting so that there was no pressure to
automatically
re-elect. Consequently, the meeting was chaired by Bernard Moffat with
Illiam Costain as Acting Secretary.
The opening statement by Mr
Moffat has
been reproduced in full in the Isle of Man Courier, dated 2nd August,
and
so we will not reproduce it here.
After the opening statement, the
meeting
voted to adopt the minutes of the previous year, and went on to the
chairman's
report for the previous year's activities:
August 1994 saw a demonstration
against
the Associated Trust Company for South African sanction "busting". This
was attended by both members and non-members.
A ceilidh was organised which
raised over
three hundred pounds towards a memorial to Archibald Cregeen, whose
dictionary
has undoubtedly helped to save the Manx language, Yn Ghaelg, from
extinction.
The annual Illiam Dhone ceremony
in January,
organised in conjunction with the Celtic League, saw over one hundred
participants
in spite of the winter conditions.
As the threat of war in the
Middle East
loomed, the local Finance Sector and government gloated over the influx
of money from the area. On the crest of a wave of schoolboy jingoism,
Tynwald
voted its support of war in the Gulf, whilst conveniently forgetting to
apply sanctions against Iraq. We drew attention to this via a letter
Mec
Vannin had sent to Miles Walker over sanction breaking the previous
August.
His reply at that time was that companies were aware of "their legal
obligations"
- just like the B.C.C.I. and the S.I.B. were.
This time we didn't get a reply,
but the
government took action after the war started.
Tynwald Day could be deemed to be
a success,
with much material being given out and a substantial amount of money
taken
from sales and donations.
In a closing statement Mr. Clague
highlighted
his concern at the development of certain right-wing nationalist
organisations
and posed the question "Is rule from Westminster preferable to
Right-Wing
Totalitarian Evangelical nationalism?" Surely, without a bill of rights
and freedoms intrinsically embedded within our constitution, it is.
The Treasurer's report revealed a
healthier
financial position than last year, in spite o£ production costs
of
Yn Pabyr Seyr. This was due largely to the success of Tynwald day.
Committee members were then
elected as
follows:
Chairman - Bernard Moffat -
unopposed
Secretary - Illiam Costain -
unopposed
Publicity Officer - Mark Kermode -
unopposed
Treasurer - Cristl Jerry - unopposed.
The meeting went on to
resolutions as follows:
1 a} To urge the I.O.M.
Government to respect
all international obligations entered into via our existing
relationship
with the U.K.
b) We share the view of many that
those
obligations will lead to a disastrous interference in our internal
affairs
by the U.K.
2 a) We re-affirm our opposition
to the
operation of the Sellafield nuclear plant.
b) We condemn the decision to
increase
the hazards caused by that installation by developing it as the site
for
the storage of all nuclear waste.
c) We urge the I.O.M. Government
to step
up its opposition to all activities carried out at the Sellafield site.
3 a} We believe that the
integrity of the
judiciary and police service is not best served by the involvement of
many
of its senior figures within sectarian organisations.
b) We condemn the Second
Deemster's astonishing
statement that membership of one such organisation made him a better
judge,
as arrant nonsense.
4 a) We deplore the decision of
the Manx
Government via the new Trade Union Bill to resort to judicial means to
regulate industrial relations.
b) We condemn the provision
contained in
that Bill to deprive some groups of workers of the right to strike.
c) We point to the failure
o£ such
legislation world-wide to enhance the Industrial Relations scene.
5 a) We urge the Manx Government
to introduce
as a matter of urgency legislation to end Sexual Discrimination and
promote
Equal Opportunities for women workers.
b) We deplore the the view of the
Chief
Minister that this legislation is not required in the I.O.M.
All resolutions were passed.
The meeting went onto any other
business,
during which it was voted to give support to any bona fide Nationalist
candidates at the forthcoming election, both moral and, where possible,
material. Most specifically, the name of Gregory Joughin was mentioned
and it was agreed to offer him support if he wanted it.
The possibility of our own
candidates was
discussed, but at the moment there is no-one who feels that they are in
a position to stand.
The paper was discussed with it
being agreed
that for the moment it should retain its existing size and format for
production
reasons and a further request for any ideas, articles or comments for
inclusion
was made. This concluded the business part of the meeting, and
subscriptions
were renewed.
Explanations
of Resolutions
We must now explain the
resolutions passed,
and the reasoning behind them.
Resolution 1 encompasses the
current situation
over homosexuality. Many people see our stance on this matter as being
in direct contradiction to the objectives of a Nationalist
organisation,
i.e. supporting what many see as "outside interference". The ultimate
objective
of Mec Vannin, of course, is Sovereign Independence. The only way to
achieve
this and earn the respect and co-operation of other nations is to
respect
our international obligations. Any country that enters into binding
agreement,
be it indirectly or not, and then blindly refuses to comply with
conditions
that it subsequently finds not to its liking, will never take its seat
in the international arena.
By forcing the hand of the United
Kingdom
in this matter, our Government undermines its own integrity and, by
association,
that of the Manx Nation in the view of Europe and the World. Direct
legislation
by the U.K. will set a dangerous precedent that could prompt further
legislation
to be imposed on us by any subsequent U.K. government that is hostile
towards
our independence. The important psychological notion of Tynwald as a
national,
rather than provincial government, will also be eroded.
Resolution 2 needs little
explanation.
The U.K. itself is guilty of total disregard for its international
obligation
in the protection of the environment. The history of this plant,
whether
you choose to call it Windscale, Sellafield or whatever, is one of
accidents
and cover-ups. Previous Manx Governments have aided and abetted
B.N.F.L.
in misleading the public in these matters.
Resolution 3 is the one that the
press
seized upon to cover most closely and distort for sensationalist value.
It is not an attack on Freemasonry in particular, nor on the practice
of
Freemasonry, nor on Freemasons themselves. We respect the rights of
Freemasons
and others to practice their crafts and rituals whenever they do not
infringe
upon the rights of others.
We do feel, however, that the
mistrust
and uncertainty of many members of the public in the aims and
objectives
of these organisations, given their failure to reveal them, can only
serve
to undermine the confidence in such people to act without bias when in
public office. If the public lack faith in the people who operate a
system
of justice, then that system becomes a victim in itself.
We reiterate that there is no
such conflict
where elected politicians are concerned, since they are directly
answerable
to the electorate. David Collister put it to Bernard Moffat in a Manx
Radio
interview that similar conflicts of interest could arise where members
of organisations such as our own were concerned. We would have thought
that membership of our own or any other political organisation would
automatically
preclude a person from membership of the police or judiciary, thus
underlining
our original argument.
As far the Second Deemster's
statement
concerning his membership of Freemasonry and his abilities to judge,
since
the Freemasons refuse to disclose their rituals and the purpose of
them,
this statement cannot be qualified.
The final resolutions, concerning
Trade
Union and Employment Legislation, is based on our opposition to the
infringement
of the statutory rights of certain groups of workers and discrimination.
Rights
March cancelled
The Ellan Vannin Gay Group have
written
to Mec Vannin to tell us all that the planned Human Rights march in
November
has been cancelled. This is due to the difficulty in meeting the
stipulations
made by Douglas Corporation.
Advertisement
Due to heavy demand, a number of
Chief
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sector functions on a regular basis. An inability to understand
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Please apply to Government
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