A chara, - To say, as reported in The Irish Times of August 9th that Republican Sinn Fein is opposed to the Provisional ceasefire is to define a political organisation in military terms. We are opposed to the present limited peace process from as far back as 1986 because it does not provide for British disengagement from Ireland.
Further, no visa is necessary to enter Canada (The Irish Times, August 12th) for a non-working visit. The US government revoked by visa as long ago as 1974 and has never restored it.
Indeed, President Clinton's letter of May 2nd, 1995 to Congressman Torricelli and ten other Representatives who support me defined the Washington position: "As long as Republican Sinn Fein maintains its present political position towards the peace process, there is no basis for waiving Mr O Bradaigh's ineligibility . . . "
The position now is that I require a Minister's Permit to visit Canada and must be interviewed. I have requested that the interview take place in Dublin and not in London.
It is not the ceasefire as such that Republican Sinn Fein rejects but the entire process because it underwrites the Unionist veto. - Is mise,
Ruairi O Bradaigh,
President, Repubblican Sinn Fein, Dublin 1.