Easter Statement from the Leadership of the Republican Movement
April 20, 2003
On the 87th anniversary of the historic Easter Rising of 1916, the Leadership of the Republican Movement extends greetings to all, at home and in exile, who are gathered in commemoration at the graves of our martyred dead or at memorials to their sacrifice and their memory. This year 2003 also marks the bicentenary of Robert Emmet's Rising in Dublin which will be commemorated fittingly later in this year. The Leadership also sends greetings and good wishes to our Republican prisoners in Maghaberry prison, Co Antrim and Magilligan, Co Derry as well as to those in Portlaoise jail. In spite of the sacrifice and victory of our ten hunger strikers in the H-Blocks of Long Kesh Camp 22 years ago, political status is once more denied by the British government to these political prisoners. In Portlaoise jail, ill-treatment is being inflicted on Republicans there by the 26-County Administration. In all cases the prisoners are standing up to oppression with dignity and courage, secure in the knowledge that great Irish men and women have trodden this well-worn path before them and have ultimately won what is rightfully theirs. It is with dismay, then, we learn that in Belfast itself functions in aid of the welfare of the prisoners and their families are being disrupted by those who were once their comrades but have now joined forces with the enemies of Irish freedom. Owners of premises who have agreed to host such functions have been intimidated and forced to cancel these social occasions, in some cases by those who once suffered at the hands of the English enemy in the same prisons. Nevertheless, we wish to express our appreciation of the work of faithful Republicans in their loyal and continued support of the prisoners and their dependants. The harassment of the nationalist population by the British occupation forces, including the RUC/PSNI, has continued unabated and has manifested itself in charges of conspiracy which has ever been the last resort of British rule in Ireland, when all else failed. The Dublin government, to its shame, has persisted in its collaboration with English rule and now, openly and brazenly, boasts of how closely it works with the enemy. The three-months long trial in the Special Non-jury Court in Green Street, Dublin of the Limerick Seven on unfounded charges is but one example of this. History will judge such actions yet, as it has judged the quislings and collaborators in other countries. Contrary to the wishes of the United Nations and in breach of its Charter, an imperialist war has been launched against a weak Third World country which is rich in its resources. It is indeed the first of the notorious "resource wars of the 21st century" which were forecast a decade ago. In complete disregard of public opinion in Ireland, the 26-County administration has blatantly violated neutrality in providing support for the logistics of the aggressors at Shannon Airport. Legitimate national liberation wars, such as our own centuries-old struggle, and anti-colonial and anti-imperialist wars are a different matter altogether; and we reject the pernicious doctrine of the pre-emptive war. The Stormont Agreement of more than five years ago is continuing to be unworkable and Stormont itself has again been suspended for the past six months. In no way is this agreement a settlement and it has brought no benefit to either nationalists or unionists. It copper-fastens the presence of the British government here and denies the right of all the Irish people acting as a unit to self-determination. Also it leaves the unionists in a state of uncertainty and fear for their future. A new democracy in a New Ireland of the four provinces is the realistic alternative to this in secure agreement which aims to perpetuate English rule in Ireland. Republican Sinn Féin continues in its task of providing the workable alternative to a restructured British rule. It reaches out to both unionists and nationalists with a place for all is the New Ireland. We note that the Continuity IRA still asserts the right of the Irish people "to the ownership of Ireland". Because of its resistance to foreign rule that body has been subjected to a sustained campaign of denigration. Spurious charges of the most outrageous kind have been levelled against it by sections of the media which are pliant in the hands of the Establishment, but it adheres to its principles with the honour it has inherited from the men and women of 1916. In the words of Liam Mellows before he faced the firing squad, by truth and honour, by principle and sacrifice alone will Ireland be free . This then is the task to which we re-dedicate ourselves this Easter day, with the assistance of a completely new generation untrammeled by the sell-outs and betrayals of the past. Inspired by the patriot dead, we move forward again towards the ultimate victory. -- Issued by the Leadership of the Republican Movement
Easter 2003.
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