Easter Statement from
the Leadership of the Republican Movement
ON
THE OCCASION of the 94th anniversary of the historic Easter
Rising of 1916, the Leadership of the Republican Movement sends
greetings to all who are gathered in commemoration at the graves
of the Republican Dead of every generation and at monuments
erected to their memory.
In the past year it has been stated that policing will be
transferred from Westminster to Stormont. However, political
policing will continue and will remain guided from London. Under
the St Andrews Agreement, amended by the Hillsborough Agreement,
“security intelligence” in the Six Occupied Counties will be the
responsibility of the MI5 Security Service with the RUC/PSNI in
a support role.
The MI5 will not be accountable to the Stormont Policing Board
for security-related matters but it will be available to brief
the Board in secret on what it considers “appropriate”.
This is not the devolution of policing and justice powers.
London will remain in control. For their part, the Republican
youth has given the RUC/PSNI their response on the streets of
many towns in the occupied area. We appreciate their actions.
In the 26 Counties, the flag of occupation – the Union Jack – is
displayed with increasing frequency at festivals and on other
public occasions. Similarly British military uniforms are
flaunted in public, although the wearing of them was banned
south of the Border for decades after 1922.
All of this is a build-up to a state visit by the Queen of
England to the 26 Counties. The crowned head which claims
sovereignty in Ireland has not visited for a full century. It is
essential that such a visit be opposed. If it is not, then that
is an acceptance of her “royal style and title” as “Queen of
Northern Ireland” so-called. As Republicans we cannot, we must
not, and we will not, tolerate such a situation without a
meaningful protest.
This Easter we renew our support for the Shell to Sea campaign
in their protest against the exploitation of Irish natural
resources by a multinational company and the consequent
endangerment of local inhabitants in the Ros Dumhach Gaeltacht
area. We salute the stand taken against the hired private armies
of security men by local fisherman Pat O’Donnell, now serving
time in prison for his opposition to oppression.
Once more we denounce the description of faithful Republicans as
“traitors” by a person who gave a commitment in 1986 that the
war of national liberation would “never, never, never” end until
the freedom of Ireland was achieved. On the same occasion he
pledged on behalf of his associates never to go to Westminster
or Stormont.
Now they administer British rule in Ireland from Stormont. They
have offices in Westminster and draw expenses annually from the
English government of many hundreds of thousands pounds
sterling. Others have recently followed their example and at the
behest of the British government have destroyed weapons and
munitions given for the independence of Ireland.
On the other hand we note the continued resistance by Volunteers
of the Continuity IRA to the British forces of occupation, the
unremitting work of Republican Sinn Féin members for national
unity and independence and the defiant stand of the Republican
prisoners North and South in the face of their jailors. The
struggle continues.
Republicans are not dismayed by the threats of further
repression from sources in the 26-County Administration. As in
the past they will stand up and meet them unflinchingly. Week
after week the tabloid gutter press seeks by its falsehoods and
fabrication to sow confusion in the ranks regarding the
Republican position. The faithful are loyal to the All-Ireland
Republic under one authority. That position has been vindicated
again and again as the only basis on which to proceed.
We send greetings to our prisoners in Maghaberry, Co Antrim and
Portlaoise jails. Their stand day after day is an example to us
all. We undertake once more to support their dependants during
the period of incarceration.
A cháirde, the countdown to 2016, the centenary of the momentous
Easter Rising, has begun. Just five more Easters have to pass
and the Great Day will be upon us. We need to commence
preparations now to ensure that the occasion is not snatched
from us by those who have ignored the annual Easter 1916
Commemorations since the 50th – in 1966.
Advance then, loyal and true, and rally a younger generation to
the imperishable Cause which, in 1916, opened a century of
anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggle for the greater good
of all humankind!
An Phoblacht Abú!
-- Issued by the Leadership of the Republican Movement, Easter
2010