Cornish National Liberation Army
Encyclopedia
The Cornish National Liberation Army, abbreviated to CNLA, was a terrorist Cornish nationalist organisation that has threatened to carry out acts of vandalism and arson against commercial targets that it considers to be English.
The CNLA was founded in 2006, allegedly by Stuart Ramsay born in Plymouth, Devon, and claims to represent a merger of the An Gof
(originally founded in 1980 and reformed in 2007) and the Cornish Liberation Army. It claims to receive funding from organisations based in other Celtic nations
and Irish American groups in the United States, and that some of its members have received training from the Free Wales Army
, the Scottish National Liberation Army
, and the Irish National Liberation Army
, as well as the Provisional Irish Republican Army
.
In June 2007, the CNLA issued threats against celebrity chef
s Rick Stein
and Jamie Oliver
, who own restaurants in the area, as well as to customers of these restaurants. A 36-year-old man was later arrested for making the threats.
It has been described by the Cornish political party, Mebyon Kernow
as a 'pseudo-terrorist group'. Dick Cole, spokesman for Mebyon Kernow
, released a statement to various London papers, as part of an effort by mainstream Cornish political groups to balance some of the sensationalist commentary in the media.
The group also opposes the flying of the English flag
in Cornwall, and has threatened to destroy all English flags in the region.
There is little evidence as to the size of the CNLA other than an August 2007 interview in Cornish World Magazine
in which Stuart Ramsay claims they have thirty members.
and Rick Stein
had been ceased.
In November 2007 Per Svenssonn, a writer for the internet periodical Ciudadanos Europeos, successfully gained an email interview with a member of the CRA through the Cornwall24http://www.cornwall24.co.uk/module-pnForum-viewtopic-topic-2867-start-0.htm website forum.
As well as confirming the name change, the interview outlined (among other topics) the structure of the organisation, confirmed official CRA attacks and suggested future plans.
When questioned on forthcoming events the CRA spokesperson answered:
A hoax took place in March 1974 when students from Plymouth Polytechnic styled themselves the 'FCA' (Free Cornish Army)
as part of a Rag Week stunt and convinced some of the Fleet Street
press that Cornwall had declared independence.
as being completely spurious.
In particular, the Celtic League has said this:
Member B was released on the same day of his arrest to answer police bail on 16 January 2008, over four months after his arrest. On the day of his arrest Member B had a large number of items confiscated from his home by the police, including Cornish flags, a history book and papers relating to Kernow Branch activity and he was hoping that his possessions would be returned to him on the day he answered his bail.
On 16 January 2008 Member B was accompanied by several supporters from the Kernow Branch to Camborne police station for 11 am to answer his police bail. At 430pm the last of the Branch supporters had to return home, after not being informed when or if Member B would be released. Member B was finally released at 9:00 pm after ten hours of interrogation with little money or means of returning home.
Member B later informed other Branch members that the police had asked him about his possible contacts with the Free Wales Army, threatened to charge him with conspiracy and led him to believe that they would arrest further Cornish activists who, they seemed convinced, were part of a Cornish 'army'.
The CNLA was founded in 2006, allegedly by Stuart Ramsay born in Plymouth, Devon, and claims to represent a merger of the An Gof
An Gof
An Gof is a militant Cornish nationalist group. The organisation takes its name from the trade of Michael Joseph , An Gof , being Cornish for 'The Smith', a leader of the Cornish Rebellion of 1497....
(originally founded in 1980 and reformed in 2007) and the Cornish Liberation Army. It claims to receive funding from organisations based in other Celtic nations
Celtic nations
The Celtic nations are territories in North-West Europe in which that area's own Celtic languages and some cultural traits have survived.The term "nation" is used in its original sense to mean a people who share a common traditional identity and culture and are identified with a traditional...
and Irish American groups in the United States, and that some of its members have received training from the Free Wales Army
Free Wales Army
The Free Wales Army was a paramilitary Welsh nationalist organisation, formed in Lampeter, Mid Wales, by William Julian Cayo-Evans in 1963. Its objective was to establish an independent Welsh republic.-History:...
, the Scottish National Liberation Army
Scottish National Liberation Army
The Scottish National Liberation Army , sometimes dubbed the 'Tartan Terrorists', is a militant group, which aims to bring about Scottish independence from the United Kingdom. The SNLA has been proscribed by the British government...
, and the Irish National Liberation Army
Irish National Liberation Army
The Irish National Liberation Army or INLA is an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group that was formed on 8 December 1974. Its goal is to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a socialist united Ireland....
, as well as the Provisional Irish Republican Army
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
.
In June 2007, the CNLA issued threats against celebrity chef
Celebrity chef
A celebrity chef is a kitchen chef who has become famous and well known. Today celebrity chefs often become celebrities by presenting cookery advice and demonstrations via mass media, especially television. Historically, celebrity chefs have included Antoine Carême and Martino da Como.-External...
s Rick Stein
Rick Stein
Christopher Richard "Rick" Stein OBE is an English chef, restaurateur and television presenter. He is currently the head chef and co-owner of "Rick Stein at Bannisters" at Mollymook, New South Wales, Australia, owns four restaurants in Padstow, a fish and chip shop in Falmouth, Cornwall and has...
and Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
, who own restaurants in the area, as well as to customers of these restaurants. A 36-year-old man was later arrested for making the threats.
It has been described by the Cornish political party, Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow is a left-of-centre political party in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It primarily campaigns for devolution to Cornwall in the form of a Cornish Assembly, as well as social democracy and environmental protection.MK was formed as a pressure group in 1951, and contained as members activists...
as a 'pseudo-terrorist group'. Dick Cole, spokesman for Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow
Mebyon Kernow is a left-of-centre political party in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It primarily campaigns for devolution to Cornwall in the form of a Cornish Assembly, as well as social democracy and environmental protection.MK was formed as a pressure group in 1951, and contained as members activists...
, released a statement to various London papers, as part of an effort by mainstream Cornish political groups to balance some of the sensationalist commentary in the media.
The group also opposes the flying of the English flag
Flag of England
The Flag of England is the St George's Cross . The red cross appeared as an emblem of England during the Middle Ages and the Crusades and is one of the earliest known emblems representing England...
in Cornwall, and has threatened to destroy all English flags in the region.
There is little evidence as to the size of the CNLA other than an August 2007 interview in Cornish World Magazine
Cornish World Magazine
Cornish World is an independent, glossy, bimonthly magazine published in Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom.The magazine was launched in 1994 to keep the Cornish diaspora around the globe in touch with Cornwall...
in which Stuart Ramsay claims they have thirty members.
Cornish Republican Army
As of the 9 October 2007 Stuart Ramsay changed the CNLA's name to the Cornish Republican Army or CRA, in response to copycat groups and supporters claiming to be CNLA. The announcement contained dismissals and admissions of various publicised CNLA attacks. It also confirmed that the activities threatened against Jamie OliverJamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
and Rick Stein
Rick Stein
Christopher Richard "Rick" Stein OBE is an English chef, restaurateur and television presenter. He is currently the head chef and co-owner of "Rick Stein at Bannisters" at Mollymook, New South Wales, Australia, owns four restaurants in Padstow, a fish and chip shop in Falmouth, Cornwall and has...
had been ceased.
In November 2007 Per Svenssonn, a writer for the internet periodical Ciudadanos Europeos, successfully gained an email interview with a member of the CRA through the Cornwall24http://www.cornwall24.co.uk/module-pnForum-viewtopic-topic-2867-start-0.htm website forum.
As well as confirming the name change, the interview outlined (among other topics) the structure of the organisation, confirmed official CRA attacks and suggested future plans.
When questioned on forthcoming events the CRA spokesperson answered:
- "2008 promises to be an interesting year for the English occupying forces and their establishment. Beyond that, no comment."
A hoax took place in March 1974 when students from Plymouth Polytechnic styled themselves the 'FCA' (Free Cornish Army)
as part of a Rag Week stunt and convinced some of the Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
press that Cornwall had declared independence.
Arrests
There were arrests made in Cornwall of people, who, it was led to believe, had some connection with the CNLA. None of these were formally charged with anything. The arrests were strongly criticised by many, including the Celtic LeagueCeltic League (rugby union)
The Celtic League is an annual rugby union competition involving professional sides from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales....
as being completely spurious.
In particular, the Celtic League has said this:
Member B was released on the same day of his arrest to answer police bail on 16 January 2008, over four months after his arrest. On the day of his arrest Member B had a large number of items confiscated from his home by the police, including Cornish flags, a history book and papers relating to Kernow Branch activity and he was hoping that his possessions would be returned to him on the day he answered his bail.
On 16 January 2008 Member B was accompanied by several supporters from the Kernow Branch to Camborne police station for 11 am to answer his police bail. At 430pm the last of the Branch supporters had to return home, after not being informed when or if Member B would be released. Member B was finally released at 9:00 pm after ten hours of interrogation with little money or means of returning home.
Member B later informed other Branch members that the police had asked him about his possible contacts with the Free Wales Army, threatened to charge him with conspiracy and led him to believe that they would arrest further Cornish activists who, they seemed convinced, were part of a Cornish 'army'.
External links
- Oliver bites back in Cornish row The Sun 23 June 2007
- Cornish firebomb threat to top chefs, Daily Telegraph, 14 June 2007
- Cornish independence is back on the menu, Daily Telegraph, 15 June 2007
- Fighting them on the beaches, Guardian, 15 June 2007