British Irish Rights Watch Rubbishes Alleged IRA Members

8 February 2005.

A3 writes:

I found your publication of the above-mentioned lists despicable - apparently part of a covert operation to put anyone listed on them in jeopardy, especially people like Jane Winter, director of the British-Irish Rights Watch. Anglo-American covert government is putting on the pressure for everyone to go along with the convenient myth that only the IRA, a criminal conspiracy which pulled off the Northern Bank heist and was promising more, was the impediment to peace in Northern Ireland - what you wildly promoted by publishing the lists, like the abbreviated mug shots of its leadership back in October 2003.
Instead of shutting down this vile operation, you merely advertised it by publishing Ms. Winter's complaint, etc., rather than removing the lists, as she requested.
You really are secret government's most covert operator.

A2 writes:

I am shocked that Cryptome would post such an absolutely idiotic list. It is CLEARLY a Loyalist list which includes names for people that have, in even the most remote way, shown some tiny form of sympathy - not necessarily to Irish nationalism - but to people who happened to be Irish nationalists. Yet this list alleges them as "IRA members". Many people who follow the Irish Republican Movement are having a good laugh at the utter lunacy of this list. (John Kennedy Jr.!? That has to be the funniest of them all!) Many others are quite disgusted and upset that such a ridiculous and irresponsible list would be put up on your site. Obviously, Cryptome cares more about causing a sensation that you do about the TRUTH. Funny, I always thought Cryptome's objective was the latter. I'll never make THAT mistake again. Live and learn!
My submission for the list of alleged Loyalists: John Young, administrator of Cryptome website. Publishes ridiculous Loyalist hit lists.
Disgusted, yet mildly amused, A.

A1 writes:

I just noticed jane winters e-mail comments to Cryptome - I known Jane as do many others who have suffered on both sides of the fence.
Always she has been impartial and welling to help others in need -- including myself some 11 years ago.
She is "pro-human rights" with no political leanings whatsoever -- I would say she is an angel.

8 February 2005.

D. writes:

I have watched as an independant observer with keen interest to the information coming from Cryptome relating to Irish interests. I must agree with Jane Winters assertion that now is not the right time to be publishing material that may disrupt a historic peace process that is at a very precarious stage. I have no voice other than the dreams of my son to grow up in a peaceful society and that must be or precedence at this moment in time.
There will be plenty of time to "name and shame" all involved in violent activities. As with all things in Ireland we, the people, will not be informed untill the situation has moved on quite considerably. Generally agreements are made and broken in this country in pub back rooms. History will tell it's own story on the recent events which we can only speculate about for now.
I do not mean to implore you to stop as I believe in totally open journalism, but you do know that at certain times in this peace process the press has agreed emphatically to silence when necessary so as discussions may take place and the process of healing of our nation may move forward to the next stage.
Keep up the good work.

7 February 2005

http://cryptome.org/ira-names2.htm
http://cryptome.org/ira-names.htm

From: Jane Winter <jane.winter@birw.org>
To: "'jya@pipeline.com'" <jya@pipeline.com>
Subject:
Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2005 16:59:29 -0000

Cryptome

by e-mail

7th February 2005

Dear Cryptome,

It has come to my attention that my name appears on a list purporting to describe "alleged IRA members" added to your website on 28th January 2005. I am the Director of British Irish rights watch, described in this list as "generally pro-nationalist".

British Irish rights watch is an independent non-governmental organisation that monitors the human rights dimension of the conflict and the peace process in Northern Ireland. Our services are available to anyone whose human rights have been affected by the conflict, regardless of religious, political or community affiliations, and we take no position on the eventual constitutional outcome of the peace process.

Our services are used by nationalists and unionists, Protestants and Catholics, republicans and loyalists, members of the security forces and paramilitaries, journalists, lawyers, and people from all walks of life, religions, and political opinions. We are neither pro-nationalist nor pro-unionist. We have no political agenda and will try to help anyone whose human rights have been affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland. We also work to try to ensure that respect for everyone's human rights plays a central role in the peace process.

Since other links mentioned on your website are defunct or disfunctinal, Cryptome is the only source for this misinformation about BIRW. The list, together with the other half of the list, posted by you on 19th January 2005, is in fact full of untruths about a large number of people. Not being entirely sure what Cryptome's rationale is, but given that you often publish information that you seem to believe people have a right to know, and that the authorities might prefer that you did not publish, we are surprised that you should put up such a document at all, especially since its consequences are potentially life-threatening for those named in your list. Any disinterested reader would recognise these lists as the product of bigots with very poor research skills. Any credibility that Cryptome may have as a purveyor of accurate, hard-to-obtain information can only be marred by the inclusion of what is, frankly, rubbish on your site.

It is because Northern Ireland is at a very precarious moment in its violent history that these lists pose a very real threat to the lives of those named on. I would hope that Cryptome did not set out intentionally to threaten my safety of that of anyone else on these lists, and in that spirit I ask that you remove these lists from your website immediately, before they do any more harm.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Winter,

Director.