ENIGMA 2000 Newsletter - Issue 24

September 2004
Articles, newsreports and Items of interest :enigma2000-owner@yahoogroups.com

ENIGMA 2000 article - The Smokey Dragon – Part 1

Held over for three issues we bring you an interesting article that examines nationalism and political. Due to the complexity and length of the article this will be spread over three issues.

The Smokey Dragon

This article is the result of a recent conversation between ENIGMA 2000 and myself, AnonMW. It concerns the rise of nationalism and the use of political violence in Wales.

By political violence I mean attacks of any type upon persons or property for which the responsibility is claimed by, or attributed to, any group for any declared political cause.

That I write about them in no way means that I support them; indeed, most of my adult life has been spent combating such people.

Any views or opinions expressed, or conclusions drawn, are my own and in no way connected to any body, military or civil, with which I have in the past been associated with, or may, in the future, be associated with.

My sources are database enquiries, personal knowledge and memories, or knowledge gained from former Police or Military service colleagues. I have afforded all the courtesy of anonymity which I myself would require.

I make no claim that all terrorist attacks, for that is what they were, are recorded. Indeed, I would welcome any corrections or additions via ENIGMA 2000.

At the end of the article I will state my sources. Some CB enthusiasts may recognise the title as a feeble attempt at both pun and humour, for as well as referring to the fires of arson and IED's, Smokey Dragon is CB slang for Cardiff, which leads on to the abbreviations used in this article:

Abbreviation		Welsh	English
CC	*	Cadwr Cymru	Keepers of Wales
CIG		Cymdeithas Yr Iath Gymraeg	Welsh Language Society
FWA			Free Wales Army
MAC		Muddiad Amddfyw Cymru	Movement to defend Wales
MG		Meibion Glyndwr	Sons of Glyndwr
NAFW			National Assembly for Wales
PC		Plaid Cymru	Party of Wales [Welsh Party]
RCS			Regional Crime Squad
WAWR	'		Welsh Army for Workers Republic

Note:

*Cadwr Cymru, not to be confused with CADW, a civil service body charged with the management and preservation of ancient sites and monuments in Wales.
' WAWR, these initials , WAWR, is also the Welsh word for dawn.

Timeline:

Although primarily concerned with the 20th and 21st Centuries I have included a timeline which dates back to the early 700's. This is to give the reader some historical background and to show that this is by no means a recent phenomenon. The REBECIA and similar CHARTIST riots, inspired by grievances over taxes and tolls have been omitted. These are outside the scope and frame of this article although it could be argued by the purist historian that they contribute. This of course depends on how one perceives cause and effect.

This timeline is followed by a chronological record of attacks and list of the terrorist groups who carried them out, together with some known members.

I use the term 'terrorist' advisedly, referring the reader to the definition to be found in Section20 Prevention of Terrorism Act, viz: "TERRORISM; Use of violence for political ends, including any use of violence for the purpose of putting the public, or any section of the public, in fear."

In conclusion, I have commented on the reactions of the authorities and a purely personal view of matters as they stand today. The timeline was compiled from Johann SCHIMANSKI's website at the University of Tromso [johann.schimanski@hun.uit.no] and from BBC and ITV websites. Only such years and events as deemed relevant to this article have been included.

Year	Event
757 - 96	Construction of OFFA's DYKE by OFFA, King of Mercia, an Anglo Saxon Kingdom. This was to separate England and Wales intended to slow down or stop bands of marauding Welsh Tribesmen raiding Mercia.
1201	First and oldest record of a Welsh - English Treaty.
1282 - 83	Wales conquered by England.
1400 - 13	Rebellion of OWAIN GLYNDWR [a land dispute].
1536 - 42	Passing of Act of Union incorporating Wales into England. English to be the official language.
1600's	This century saw the demise of the Welsh aristocracy.
1780's onward	Welsh romantic revival and first stirrings of nationalism.
1847	Publication of 'Blue Books' severely criticising Welsh education; initiates religious and ethical nationalist revival.
1886	Start of first known home rule party named CYMRU FYDD [Wales to be].
1925	Formation of another nationalist party, PLAID CYMRU [National Party of Wales].
1930	PLAID CYMRU manifesto - Wales as a dominion.
1932	PLAID CYMRU manifesto - Is now Independence for Wales.
1936	PEN-Y-BERTH bomb range attack [See chronological record].
1939	Saunders LEWIS, chairman of PLAID CYMRU resigns.
1942	Welsh language allowed in Courts.
1950 - 6	Campaign for Parliament for Wales starts.
1957	Appointment in Westminster of Minister of State for Wales.
	Start of action to stop the damming of TRYWERYN Valley to provide water for Liverpool.
1962	Formation of the Welsh Language Society.
1964	Welsh Office established.
1966	Gwynfor EVANS [PLAID CYMRU] becomes first PLAID CYMRU Member of Parliament [MP].
1969	Caernarvon Investiture of HM Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.
	Two members of nationalist group killed by own explosives.
1969 -70	Conviction of various members of the 'FREE WALES ARMY' on Public Order, Firearms and Explosives charges.
1970	Group formed to preserve Welsh speaking communities. Named 'ADFER'.
1979	RADIO CYMRU [Welsh language radio] established. Beginning of MEIBON GLYNDWR [Sons of Glyndwr]. Arson attacks start; as outlined later.
1984	S4C Welsh Language television Channel formed.
1985	Formation of CEFN, a Welsh language civil rights group.
1993	Formation of WELSH LANGUAGE BOARD [a Quango].
1999	Establishment of the National Assembly for Wales.
2001	Bomb Hoaxes at National Assembly for Wales, amongst other places.

Chronological Record of Attacks and Groups involved.

The year 1925 saw the establishment of PLAID CYMRU [PC]. Its declared aims included the preservation of the Welsh language and culture and promotion of the ultimate aim of Welsh self-government.

1932 saw the establishment and publication of a Welsh Language newspaper "Y CYMRO" - The Welshman. The aim was given as "Uniting Wales and expressing views and opinions of all things Welsh." 1935 saw the first Welsh language broadcast put out by the BBC from their Bangor North Wales Studios.

Arson attack on Bomb Range.

In 1936, the first recorded terrorist attack to be carried out by a Welsh nationalist group this century took place at the RAF Bombing Range and School.

This was located at the PEN-Y-BERTH in the LLYN Peninsular and as it was the first of many such attacks is worthy of some examination.

Three Welshmen, famous local literary personalities, were the perpetrators. They were: Saunders LEWIS [The first PC chairman], DJ WILLIAMS and Lewis VALENTINE.

They started a fire in a building and then went to the local Police to confess. Clearly, they wanted their day in Court. It would appear that they were early believers in the credo that there is no such thing as bad publicity.

At the Caernarfon Assizes a sympathetic Welsh jury failed to reach a verdict. [This, I feel, speaks volumes for the North Welsh mentality, of which more later]. Sent to trial at the Old Bailey, the second jury had no such problems, concerning themselves to the far more mundane matter of guilt or innocence. This matter was largely settled by the three confessing their guilt. One wonders how the British public would have reacted to this attack had it been carried out three years later. As it was, each man was sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

Part 2 next issue.