Easter Statement from the Leadership of the Republican Movement.

international | miscellaneous | press release Monday April 09, 2007 13:18 by Seán Ó Murchú - Sinn Féin (Poblachtach) - Cork

ON this the 91st anniversary of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic, the Leadership of the Republican Movement sends greetings to members, supporters and friends throughout the world. We send a special greeting to our imprisoned comrades in Portlaoise and Maghaberry, Co Antrim and applaud the continual prison protest in Maghaberry which has been ongoing since last June. On this note we would like to extend our appreciation to the Republican Prisoners Action Group who have organised and promoted the outside activity in support of the protesting prisoners. We would like to thank all groups and all people who supported these protests.

Over the course of this Easter weekend comrades and supporters of the Republican Movement will assemble at gravesides, memorials and monuments to fallen comrades from many generations who have given their lives for the cause of Irish National Liberation. This year many of us will assemble with a heavy heart following the further betrayal of the All-Ireland Republic by former comrades who have taken yet a another step in treachery with their recognition of the RUC/PSNI, and their further acceptance and administering of British Rule in the occupied six northern counties. True Republicans will have watched with horror the antics and political posturing of the Provisional Leadership over the last twelve months in their attempts to placate militant Paisleyism and their eagerness to hold a special Ard-Fheis to rush through a motion to support the armed wing of the British Oppressor. The true Republican Leadership will never compromise and will never accept British Rule in any part of our Country.

In recent weeks we have seen yet another election to a British controlled assembly in the occupied part of our country. We note the involvement of Republican Sinn Féin who fielded abstentionist candidates and we applaud all of those candidates, their agents and supporters who fought a superb political campaign against very difficult odds. We also congratulate all candidates who contested these elections on an abstentionist basis. Supporters should remember that the struggle for Irish National Liberation has never been measured by the number of votes which our movement have been afforded but by the commitment of the small numbers who have remained steadfast and loyal to the Irish Republic.

Our history has shown that the men and women of 1916 who proclaimed the Irish Republic were besmirched and indeed spat upon following the historic Proclamation. We should remember that political change can often take place very quickly and dramatically as was seen by the Election results just two years later in 1918.

Over the past twelve months our members and supporters were subjected to continued harassment, arrests and false imprisonment on both sides of the border. This is something that we have come to accept, and is a clear indication to everyone that nothing has changed, regardless of what many might think. True Republicans have always experienced such treatment but let our message be clear: we will not be intimidated or derailed from our continued resistance to British Occupation. We urge our members to be ever vigilant.

There have been further overtures to our Leadership from a number of British agents in various guises, including the Provisionals, to advance what they think will put into place the final piece of their sordid jigsaw for British Rule in Ireland. We say to all such on-comers that the Republican movement will not yield to any such agents. We are not for sale and we cannot be bought. This message should be understood by all our members, supporters and friends. There have also been continual attempts to besmirch the Republican Movement by associating them with drugs, criminality and to recent murders in Belfast. The Leadership of the Continuity Irish Republican Army has already categorically denied involvement in any of this activity and reiterates it once more in this statement.

Due to the treachery of others our struggle faces greater obstacles than before, but this leadership is aware that there has always been a significant body of opinion in Ireland opposed to British Rule. The task of the Republican movement in the immediate future is to organise, harness and lead that support in opposition to foreign rule and British Imperialism. For this purpose we re-dedicate ourselves this Easter day.

An Phoblacht Abú!

- Issued by the Leadership of the Republican Movement, Easter 2007.