CWI "Threaten Legal Action Against Indymedia"
Not CWI | 16.06.2003 14:33
CWI "Threaten Legal Action Against Indymedia"
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=52593&start=0
SP Censor Indymedia
by Durutti Mon, Jun 16 2003, 9:59am
Threats Of Legal Action Forces Deletion Of Comments
One law for the "Socialist" Party, another for everyone else. If you
criticise the SP from now on then you may be sued for libel.
The following was sent to the Indymedia Editorial List:
"From: OisÌn Kelly
mailto:oisinkelly@h...
Editors,
I wish to draw your attention to a comment on IMC Newswire that is libelous
in my opinion. "Durutti" in a comment on the article "electronic voting"
made accusations that the Socialist Party were involved in electoral fraud.
"SP Hackers
by Durutti Thu, Jun 12 2003, 2:38pm
The SP hacked the computers in Dublin North and almost got Clare Daly
elected."
In this thread "Ray" also made similar accusations of electoral fraud and
intimidation of polling clerks.
"I know someone who works in the counting centres
by Ray Thu, Jun 12 2003, 2:44pm
And he said that Joe Higgins only got elected in the first place because of
SP ballot-stuffing. My source was threatened into silence, so I can't give
any more details."
On the Newswire there have been threats against Socialist Party members.
"Durutti" made the following remark in a comment to the article "SWP split
over Direct Action":
"when the Black Bloc arrive then there will certainly be trouble. It wont be
just restricted to your paper sellers..." (Fri, Jun 13 2003, 2:34pm)
I will say it again to the editors, these accusations are NOT satire, they
are libelous comments that are published on a website that YOU are editors
of.
I think it would be a good idea if you remove ALL comments and articles that
may put the IMC in risk of legal action.
I have a copy of this communication on paper.
Yours Sincerely,
OisÌn Kelly,
14-6-2003"
The SP accuse the Black Bloc of police infiltration, of fascist
infiltration, of being terrorists, they lie about Shannon. They claim that I
supported Labour. They lied about SP members in QUB supporting loyalist
motions.
But if anyone criticises the SP in return then they threaten legal action.
Its not just the Parliamentary Road To Socialism any more. Now they take the
high road to the High Court.
add your comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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COMMENTS
And who said trots were humourless
by Joe Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:07am
I hear the SP are picketing Waterstones for selling a hate book that
advocates the poor eat their children next!
Threat of Legal Action No Laughing Matter
by pat c Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:12am
Recently both Stephen Boyd and Michael O'Brien have found time to comment on
Indy. Perhaps they would now give some more of their time to enlighten us as
to whether Oisin was acting with the backing of the SP.
Do they really believe that a different set of rules apply to the SP? Should
the SP be allowed to say whatever it wants about the rest of the left? But
the rest of the left must bow low and speak softly when they are addressing
the SP?
Not just Oisin
by Legal Eagle Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:14am
From: FinghÌn
mailto:finghink@h...
Completely unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud by the Socialist
Party has been alleged on this thread
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=52025&start=0&sid=80568
This is of course utter rubbish. It libel and should be removed.
A Modest Proposition
by pat c Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:24am
From now on whenever the SP make an assertion and fail to produce evidence
to back it up, perhaps the editors would exercise their discretion. We dont
want people to be misled by ubsubstantiated rumours.
Frightening
by Magneto Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:36am
What would these people be like if they held any real power? Its not just a
question of the SP always being right; you are not even allowed to openly
disagree with them.
Are the SP going to be allowed to effectively decide which comments
regarding the SP will be allowed to remain up on Indymedia?
Protest To The SP About This
by Hebe Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:49am
Let them know what you thinkl about their actions:
joe.higgins@o... tel 6183038 (Dail)
Socialist Party tel 6772952
141 Thomas Street Dublin 8
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=52593&start=0 SP Censor Indymedia
by Durutti Mon, Jun 16 2003, 9:59am
Threats Of Legal Action Forces Deletion Of Comments
One law for the "Socialist" Party, another for everyone else. If you
criticise the SP from now on then you may be sued for libel.
The following was sent to the Indymedia Editorial List:
"From: OisÌn Kelly
mailto:oisinkelly@h...
Editors,
I wish to draw your attention to a comment on IMC Newswire that is libelous
in my opinion. "Durutti" in a comment on the article "electronic voting"
made accusations that the Socialist Party were involved in electoral fraud.
"SP Hackers
by Durutti Thu, Jun 12 2003, 2:38pm
The SP hacked the computers in Dublin North and almost got Clare Daly
elected."
In this thread "Ray" also made similar accusations of electoral fraud and
intimidation of polling clerks.
"I know someone who works in the counting centres
by Ray Thu, Jun 12 2003, 2:44pm
And he said that Joe Higgins only got elected in the first place because of
SP ballot-stuffing. My source was threatened into silence, so I can't give
any more details."
On the Newswire there have been threats against Socialist Party members.
"Durutti" made the following remark in a comment to the article "SWP split
over Direct Action":
"when the Black Bloc arrive then there will certainly be trouble. It wont be
just restricted to your paper sellers..." (Fri, Jun 13 2003, 2:34pm)
I will say it again to the editors, these accusations are NOT satire, they
are libelous comments that are published on a website that YOU are editors
of.
I think it would be a good idea if you remove ALL comments and articles that
may put the IMC in risk of legal action.
I have a copy of this communication on paper.
Yours Sincerely,
OisÌn Kelly,
14-6-2003"
The SP accuse the Black Bloc of police infiltration, of fascist
infiltration, of being terrorists, they lie about Shannon. They claim that I
supported Labour. They lied about SP members in QUB supporting loyalist
motions.
But if anyone criticises the SP in return then they threaten legal action.
Its not just the Parliamentary Road To Socialism any more. Now they take the
high road to the High Court.
add your comments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
COMMENTS
And who said trots were humourless
by Joe Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:07am
I hear the SP are picketing Waterstones for selling a hate book that
advocates the poor eat their children next!
Threat of Legal Action No Laughing Matter
by pat c Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:12am
Recently both Stephen Boyd and Michael O'Brien have found time to comment on
Indy. Perhaps they would now give some more of their time to enlighten us as
to whether Oisin was acting with the backing of the SP.
Do they really believe that a different set of rules apply to the SP? Should
the SP be allowed to say whatever it wants about the rest of the left? But
the rest of the left must bow low and speak softly when they are addressing
the SP?
Not just Oisin
by Legal Eagle Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:14am
From: FinghÌn
mailto:finghink@h...
Completely unsubstantiated allegations of electoral fraud by the Socialist
Party has been alleged on this thread
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=52025&start=0&sid=80568 This is of course utter rubbish. It libel and should be removed.
A Modest Proposition
by pat c Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:24am
From now on whenever the SP make an assertion and fail to produce evidence
to back it up, perhaps the editors would exercise their discretion. We dont
want people to be misled by ubsubstantiated rumours.
Frightening
by Magneto Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:36am
What would these people be like if they held any real power? Its not just a
question of the SP always being right; you are not even allowed to openly
disagree with them.
Are the SP going to be allowed to effectively decide which comments
regarding the SP will be allowed to remain up on Indymedia?
Protest To The SP About This
by Hebe Mon, Jun 16 2003, 10:49am
Let them know what you thinkl about their actions:
joe.higgins@o... tel 6183038 (Dail)
Socialist Party tel 6772952
141 Thomas Street Dublin 8
Not CWI
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
No! This is shocking!
16.06.2003 15:11
Can't ask Indymedia to be responsible, can we?
Can't ask Indymedia to have a reasonable editorial policy, can we?
Can't ask Indymedia to request that contributors substantiate their stories, can we?
Exercising some control over what's published in the name of Indymedia doesn't stop you being independent. In fact, it would help you avoid being sued, quite rightly, by people whose lives you have attempted to destroy, and perhaps provide you with a shred of credibility you currently don't have.
imagine that
bollocks
16.06.2003 15:49
chesty mcdoo
no...
16.06.2003 16:47
frou frou mcchew
Open publishing platform
16.06.2003 19:31
Submitting articles for *approval* would imo be contrary to the founding spirit of Indymedia, and would make for censored, sanitised pap. If that's what you want you can find plenty of it elsewhere on the internet - authoritarian socialist sites for a start. Indymedia might not be perfect, I've criticised it in the past, but it's a creative, revolutionary idea which generally works.
sb
Durutti spends time smearing SP
16.06.2003 20:04
He spends his time put up disgraceful articles, mainly about the Socialist Party, and is driving everyone nuts.
Among some of the comments include (1) alligations of "election fraud" against the SP and that SP members threatened polling clerks. (2)SP run prostitution rings.
(3)SP Use Children In Satanic Rituals (4) Threatening to assault memebrs of the SP.
His distortions are displayed here again. The SP have not threatened to sue Irish indymedia. A member of the SP has written to indymedia requesting a proper editorial response to comments like these outlined. The communication suggests that indymedia was leaving itself exposed to legal action, from any source, if the situation didn't change.
Fed up Irish indymedia user
Article context
17.06.2003 15:41
The CWI sent a group over to Evian, and while there one of their Irish members was interviewed by the Irish Times. Instead of criticising the police actions, global capitalism, or stuff like that, he attacks the Black Block, and alleges that the BB in Genoa was full of police infiltrators. (He actually claims to have seen BB members getting out of a police van!)
A few people on indy Ireland, me included, take exception to this, and ask for evidence of infiltration.
SP members reply that 'its widely accepted'.
We reply that it may be widely accepted in the SP, but where is their evidence.
They reply that its 'widely accepted'.
We reply that yeah, we heard that, but where is the evidence.
You can guess their reply.
Its pointed out to them that this is a serious allegation, and shouldn't be made without evidence. ( They reply "Its widely accepted")
Its pointed out that other people can make up stuff too. Cue (obviously and deliberately) untrue comments about prominent SP members being undercover cops, having affairs with right-wing politicians, running satanic cults, stuffing ballot boxes.
They reply "What?! You can't just make stuff up! How dare you accuse etc. etc. That's it, we're complaining to the editors!"
Is it that humourless people are naturally attracted to the SP, or are their irony detectors surgically removed when they join?
Ray