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THE CELTIC CONNECTION • MARCH 1994
Canadian Supporters Hoping for Adams Visit
By BRENDAN LANDERS
During the recent hullabaloo over Gerry Adams' visit to the U.S., some Toronto residents were wondering if Adams will ever get the chance to visit the Toronto branch of his family.
Adams has been barred from Canada since July 1986, on the grounds that he has a criminal record. He was convicted of trying to escape from Long Kesh, where he was interned in 1972.
There is a large extended family of the Adams clan living in Toronto and they want the ban lifted.
"Gerry is not a security threat to Canada," said his cousin, Sean Adams, "We believe that the government has been keeping him out at the behest of the British government. The nature of his crime is that he was interned without trial and attempted to escape. That was his only conviction."
If a foreign criminal record was applied rigorously as grounds for exclusion from Canada, recent visitors such as Nelson Mandela and Ian Paisley would be ineligible to enter the country.
Sean Adams says he feels that the political climate is changing and Gerry will be let in.
"We feel that the chances of him etting in are better than they've een for years. We believe this for three reasons — because he got into the States, because of the recent peace initiative by him and John Hume and because of the change of government here. We
feel that there's a better chance of the Liberals letting him in than the Tories. Also, he's been de-monized for years and a lot of that has been eroded by the New York trip."
The Adams family and their supports plan to reactivate a campaign to have the ban lifted. 'We're going to move quickly on this because we want to pick up on the momentum of the U.S. trip and the dropping of Section 31 in Ireland.
"A number of groups and organizations have invited Gerry over
in the past and we'll be going back to them and others to ask for more invitations. We'll also be seeking a meeting with Immigration Minister Sergio Marchi, whose riding is in Toronto. Hopefully, he 11 be receptive".
Among the individuals and organizations who have invited Adams to Canada are the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, the Labour Council of Metropolitan Toronto, the New Democratic Party of Quebec, the Sociology Department of the University of Quebec, Ian Waddell, MP and Svend Robinson, MP.
Strasbourg Audience
By CELESTE SINCLAIR
BRUSSELS — European Parliament officials have rejected claims that Sinn Fein is about to receive a top-level invitation to visit Strasbourg.
British Euro-MP's said they would oppose any move to give Sinn Fein another propaganda victory. Sir Christopher Prout, leader of Britain's Euro-Tories said he would be appalled if such an invitation was made.
Labour MEP's leader Pauline Green said that she did not have any knowledge of plans for an official visit. She said there is no mention of an official meeting Sinn Fein or president Gerry Adams but there is nothing to prevent Euro-MP's from inviting any private citizen to visit the European Parliament.
Green said, "We invite all sorts of people to Strasbourg all the time. We don't have to agree with their political views, and if someone wants to invite Mr. Adams they can do so, he is a private citizen of the European Union."
Sinn Fein European representative Martin Spain said that he would not comment on the visit except to say that one is planned.
He said, "The European Union has a role to play in exposing British injustice in Ireland and in increasing pressure on Britain to play a more positive role in securing peace for Ireland."
Sinn Fein have recently opened an office in Brussels and cannot be prevented from visiting the Strasbourg Parliament.