>From MCELROY@zodiac.rutgers.edu Thu May 6 14:54:10 1993 **URGENT** GERRY ADAMS' US VISA DENIED TODAY BY CLINTON STATE DEPT. May 5, 1993 Following is the official INA response to the Clinton State Dept's decision today to deny Gerry Adams a U.S. visitor's visa to publicize the publication in AMerica by the New York based Sheridan Square Press of his latest collection of short stories, "Cage Eleven" and "The Street". An important corollary to this development is the murder last Sunday (May 2) of the *12th* Sinn Fein member since the last local government election. The isolation of the Republican political perspective, which represents between 35 and 40 percent of the nationalist vote can be seen as nothing less than British inspired international conspiracy. However, the United States now has the dubious honor of being the only country in the world that, as a matter of consistent State Dept. policy across administrations, denies its citizens the right to met a man who can travel anywhere else in the world, including England and Ireland. Americans are being forced to play a part in this conspiracy, which includes not only political censorship through discriminatory laws in Ireland and Britain and the denial of our own constitutional right to information, but the dehumanization of nationalists, republicans and Catholics in the media, from the pulpit and halls of government, and British sponsored murder. Now it's time to show our disgust and anger. The best way to do this in a positive way is by writing, faxing, calling and or visiting your US Senators and members of Congress. Tell them to sign on to the letter regarding visa denial that is being circulated by Congress members Manton, Fish, Gilman et. al. That is the most important vehicle at this time to give the message to the President Clinton and his State Department. And of course contact the White House; you know what to say. PHONE House of Representatives switchboard 1-202-255-3121 Senate switchboard 1-202-224-3121 White House 1-202-456-1414 Fax# for the White House 1-202-456-2461 MAIL Senate--The Senate, Washington, DC 20510 House--The House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515 White House--1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC 20500 *********** Irish Northern Aid Committee 363 Seventh Ave Suite 405 New York, NY 10001 tel: (212) 279-1916 fax- (212) 736-1916 CLINTON BREAKS IRISH VISA PLEDGE In a reversal of a key pledge to Irish Americans, the Clinton administration announced its denial of a visa to Sinn Fein president and former MP Gerry Adams, specifically, and to end the policy of denying visas to those whose views would be embarrassing to the British. This pledge given during an Irish American Presidential forum in April, 1992, was to be the cornerstone of a new American policy on Ireland. Martin Galvin, a member of the National Executive of Irish Northern Aid, said: "Irish Americans helped elect President Clinton because we trusted his pledges of a new American policy on Ireland, President Clinton personally pledged to end the policy of censorship by visa denial and specifically to allow Mr. Adams, the president of Sinn Fein, to come to the United States. This commitment is not only the easiest for the President to fulfill, it is also fundamental to every other pledge. "Americans supported a special envoy who would consult with all parties, including Sinn Fein, in authentic talks about a just peace. If the voice of Sinn Fein can still not be heard, then the special envoy pledge become meaningless. "How could Irish AMericans take seriously government pledges to monitor British human rights violations or religious discrimination while Sinn Fein, the party whose members are victimized, cannot be heard in the United States?" MAYHEW "It is ironic that the decision was announced as British Secretary Patrick Mayhew tours the United States. Mayhew is attempting to foist another cosmetic British scenario onto Americans. He could not secure American support if Gerry Adams were here to point out that Sinn Fein is a necessary party to any authentic peace talks and that British violence and religious discrimination make peace impossible in a six county context. "This action will postpone but will not prevent Gerry Adams from coming to the United States and presenting the case for Irish national self-determination to the American public with as authority that no American could ever possess. "In the days before the decision, a number of Congress members, state and city officials, and the editors of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Hartford Courant urged a visa for Gerry Adams on Free Speech, First Amendment principles."