The Western Mule claims that Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has come under attack from political opponents after it emerged that last year she uttered a "bizarre oath" of allegiance to Welsh republicanism at a meeting in a Cardiff Bay wine bar.
Bizarre Oath? As the Mule says ....
A video of the meeting was uploaded to YouTube only last week. It shows Ms Jenkins and then Ms Wood attesting an oath to Welsh republicanism, Ms Jenkins in Welsh and Ms Wood in English.Ms Wood appears on the video saying, as she stands adjacent to a red, white and green Welsh republican flag:
“We attest this flag is a symbol of Republican Wales. We will fight for the truth against the world. All nations are born of one people. All laws are born of one justice. All freedoms are born of one peace.”She then says: “Is there peace?”, to which those present respond: “Peace”.As I say what's Bizarre about this compared to the oath of Allegiance she was compelled to make in order to take her seat in the Assembly.
"I... swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.Members who object to swearing the oath are permitted to make a solemn affirmation under the terms of the Oaths Act 1978:I... do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law".I leave it up to you which oath you consider to be a "Bizarre " To a Hereditary Monarch or to justice and peace.
The rest of the Mule report was that there was a small group at the meeting Theres no indication that Leanne Wood even give tacit support for a radical Welsh nationalist group known as Balchder Cymru (I've never heard of them)o expressed extreme anti-English views.
The Mule doe add out that its director of elections Ian Titherington had attended the same event, writing on his blog at the time:
“ were poets, pints, politicians and pontificators and it was an interesting general debate on the differing versions of Republicanism that people had.This has not stopped Subordinate Central that fair minded Liberal Democrat Blog from publishing a piece titled "Plaid’s Lunatic Fringe" despite no evidence that Balchder Cymru have any links to Plaid.
“I found some of the poetry particularly entertaining and was pleased to see several friends from Plaid and other parties there, but was a little depressed by a handful of individuals who took it upon themselves to use the event for an anti-English rant that sounded straight out of the 1960s. Surely we have moved on from blaming England for all our woes, especially now that we have a Parliament that we have responsibility for.”
And Neither the Mule or Subordinate Central mention whether there were any members of other main stream parties at the event .
Where there any LibDem or Labour republicans there?
4 comments:
Very interesting. Certain forces are trying to discredit Leanne. Shows they are worried by her & desperate.
We are back in the territory of certain Labour people who created hundreds of disparaging juvenile posts attacking Plaid figures on usenet. Sock puppetry and smear was part of a (denied) coordinated attack on Plaid. We can expect to see similar attacks in the future.
http://democracyandclasstruggle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/balcher-cymru-response-to-article.html
Don't know if you've seen this but I think it's a brilliant reply by Balchder Cymru.
"Balchder Cymru are extremely disappointed by Martin Shiptons blatant attempt to discredit the movement by associating it with the leadership of Plaid Cymru." LOL!
They aren't an extreme organization. Whoever thinks so needs to get out a little more often. But for many Brit Nats, anybody who puts Wales first is some kind of terrorist.
the Walesonline site finally published Adam's reply in the letters section , although in an edited version . here is the full response to the site http://balchdercymru.info/?q=node/9
Balchder Cymru are extremely disappointed by Martin shiptons blatant attempt to discredit the movement by associating it with the leadership of plaid Cymru. Balchder Cymru is not affiliated with the party and was at the republic event by invitation. The leadership of plaid themselves were indeed inviting all and sundry. As chair of Balchder Cymru I question why mr shipton is bringing this up now when the event in question was in 2011? The other point I want to make is BC is not or has ever been anti English but is anti British state.
It is sad that plaid has chosen to fall into mr shiptons trap and rashly responded by jumping the gun and calling BC abhorrent when it's plaids constant faffing on the sidelines and fiddling whilst Rome burns in relation to our mountains being swamped by giant windfarms and dodging the independence question at every turn is precisely why BC is not affiliated to any political party. Mr Shipton obviously has an axe to grind or is responding to digs from other politicians, interesting to note ken Skates join the debate when I have personally seen mr Skates at more BC supported events than any plaid representatives, I suppose that's what happens when you try to get your profile raised and just turn up at everything going.
BC is made up of cross party supporters and vehemently defends its record in standing on the side of the people against the state. Fe godwn ni eto. Adam phillips BC chair 18/09/2012
and here is the edited bit that they put up ..
Republican oath row
SIR – Balchder Cymru are extremely disappointed with the article associating it with the leadership of Plaid Cymru (“Boycotting leader was caught on film as she swore oath”, September 18).
Balchder Cymru is not affiliated with the party and was at the republic event by invitation. The leadership of Plaid themselves were indeed inviting all and sundry. As chair of Balchder Cymru I question why this is being brought up now when the event in question was in 2011?
The other point I want to make is BC is not or has ever been anti English but is anti British state.
It is sad that Plaid has rashly responded by jumping the gun and calling BC abhorrent. Plaid’s constant faffing on the sidelines and fiddling while Rome burns in relation to our mountains being swamped by giant windfarms and dodging the independence question at every turn is precisely why BC is not affiliated to any political party. BC is made up of cross-party supporters and vehemently defends its record in standing on the side of the people against the state.
ADAM PHILLIPS
Balchder Cymru chair
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/letters-to-the-editor/western-mail-letters/2012/09/21/don-t-let-gove-spoil-our-baccalaureates-91466-31877665/
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