TAL Statement

Date: 2nd May '01

Name: TAL

Country: Alba

The statement below was carried today on the TAL Fanzine's 'Forum' (message board) at: http://www.talfanzine.com/ It was in response to a thread that had accused Scottish republicans (not to be confused with supporters of Irish Republicanism based in Scotland) of threatening violence against a Glasgow-based Irish republican ballad group and further alleged threats made by them against TAL.

TAL Statement

We heard months ago that there had been some kind of dispute between Shebeen and Scottish Republicans. The lead singer from Shebeen is a good friend of our editor and he regards the incident that Joe refers to as a bit of a "storm in a teacup". If Shebeen felt any differently about the matter they would have their own channels to go through to settle it. It has nothing to do with TAL or this message board.

On the other point about "threats" against TAL: We receive "threats" from all sorts of weird and wonderful places. Over the years these have included loyalists, fascists, football hooligans, drug dealers and gangsters. Obviously, we don't disregard these but our lives do not revolve around them. We take our own precautions.

Recently, through a source among the Celtic casuals, we were told that a named 'Scottish republican' had been mouthing off about "shooting" our editor. This story was being promoted by Jason Kelly, a Celtic casual who was rejected by TAL, Red Action and AFA. Kelly's one trip to Ireland a few years ago led to him being asked to leave the Ormeau Road protest by the Republican Movement due to his very provocative and insulting behaviour. He was later refused entry by us to a meeting of the Campaign Against Sectarian Attacks due to his destructive and sectarian behaviour at our first meeting. Since then he has waged his own little hate campaign against our editor and appears to have had a "meeting of minds" with some people associated with Scottish republicanism. We have the name and details of the person that Kelly claimed was going to carry out the deed. We also believe that this person himself said that he would 'shoot' our editor.

Aside from this insane proposition, TAL would suggest that your security is lapse, but that is what comes of allowing idiots like Kelly to mix in your circles.

We should say that his brother-in-law is a completely different type from Jason and would be an asset to any political organisation. Unfortunately though they often come as a pair and we could not accept Kelly on any terms. He is a 'rocket' and he can't fight sleep into the bargain. He is a political liability.

TAL has no overall political disagreements with the politics of Scottish republicanism. We support in general terms a "workers republic" position for Ireland, Scotland & Wales. Any animosity towards us from Scottish nationalists and republicans must therefore we assume be based upon personal antagonisms and petty jealousy.

TAL's editor has been described variously by Scottish republicans as "an MI5 Officer", "a state agent" and has been accused of "lining his pockets" from the proceeds of the fanzine.

These are absurd lies and smears. In his dealings with the Irish Republican Movement our editor has encountered no such political sectarianism or personal hostility. And they are, from experience, very well placed to sniff out a state asset.

TAL has and still enjoys a very good relationship with the Irish Republican Movement. Members of our editorial board are based in Ireland, Scotland, England & Wales. The fanzine is printed in ireland and is distributed in Ireland by members and supporters of Sinn Fein, as well as Celtic supporters.

It is in the interests of everyone, that such rumours, lies and smears both against Scottish republicans (as Joe seems to have repeated an unsubstantiated rumour) and threats (empty or otherwise) against TAL should cease and people should get on with their own political projects rather than criticisng each other.

We have no time for this petty feuding. This is the 20th Anniversary of the Hunger Strike, and there's lots of work to be done in working class communities across these islands.

Let's get on with that even if we can't get on with each other.

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