huridocs-tech Internet debaters say no to RUC

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## author     : jdana@utxvms.cc.utexas.edu
## date       : 11.11.98
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Irish Echo
11-17 November 1998

http://www.irishecho.com/news/article.cfm?id=1950

Internet debaters say no to RUC By Patrick Markey

To e-mail or not to e-mail, that was the question!

An Irish-American internet discussion group whose members
debate topics relating to Ireland, but especially politics,
has refused to allow the Royal Ulster Constabulary to join
its ranks.

Jackie Dana, who manages the IRL-Discussion internet
debating group, said she received an e-mail application in
early October from a sender whose address was listed as
policy@ruc.police.uk. Since applicants to the debating group
need to be approved, Dana sent an e-mail back asking why
they wanted to join.

"Initially, we were curious whether they were doing it for
bona fide reasons or just to collect information," she said.
The group's membership includes republicans and activists
from countries as diverse as Norway and Australia.

The reply stated that under the RUC's "strategic plan to
enhance" relations between the community and police, the
organization was reaching out at all levels of discussion,
and had contacted the IRL site because of its concentration
on Irish politics, Dana said.

After posting a notice to members, who discussed the
application, the request was denied. Dana said although some
members thought the application should be approved on the
basis of freedom of speech, most believed that having a
police organization, and specifically the RUC, as a body in
the group would intimidate members and curtail expression of
opinions.

An RUC spokesman in Belfast could not confirm that a
specific e-mail application was sent to the group, but he
said it was very likely given the current climate of trying
to find out as much as possible about community views.

The RUC was actively seeking out discussion of views from
the community and opinion leaders to help in its drive to
decentralize and tailor policing services to the community
needs, he said.

It was strange that in light of the trend toward inclusion
that such a request would be refused, the spokesman said.

"It would seem a shame to attempt to exclude the RUC from
discussion," he said.




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