Martin McGuinness: 'going home' to Stormont in a British armoured car. |
A chara
There has been much talk and speculation since the new Stormont got its first breath of life. The most often asked question is how will Republicans and unionists get on together?
The true but simple answer is there are no Republicans, nor will ever will be Republicans, taking seats in a British dominated Partitionist junta.
The Provos who call themselves Republicans have long ago by their political somersaults severed their connection with that honourable Movement.
By accepting the authority of and serving in this puppet assembly and drawing their salaries with the blessing of Elizabeth II of England, they have taken another retrograde step into the arms of the Imperialist monster.
Long ago there was a song that was very often called for. One line of it ran like this:
"Ah, would you be the villain
To take that rotten shilling
To do the dirty killing
Brian Óg."
Brian Óg was offered money like many young Irishmen to join the British army.
The Provo members attending Stormont are paid not in shillings but thousands of pounds sterling. A good financial reward for selling out.
I wonder how they feel as they pass by Carson's monument. Perhaps they salute!
PEADAR Mac SAMHRÁIN
Swanlinbar, Co Cavan
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A chara
At this festive season, a time for giving, a time for remembering our lost ones, the Committee of the National Graves Association would like to make one more request to the [Dublin] government for the release of the remains of the Forgotten Ten in Mountjoy Jail, Dublin.
It is sad to think that as we enter the next millennium, Kevin Barry and nine of his comrades are still serving a sentence in a cold prison yard. In times of such great advances, the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the end of the Cold War etc, successive Irish governments have repeatedly denied the relatives the right to have these volunteers re-interred in consecrated ground. The government has denied the Irish people a place where they can honour and pay their respects.
The Association for its part has tried in every way possible to facilitate the government, to the extent of providing a plot in Glasnevin Cemetery. In 1994 the NGA erected a fine limestone Celtic cross to the Forgotten Ten. The memorial was unveiled by a brother of Volunteer Frank Flood and by a brother of Bernard Ryan, both of whom have since passed away.
The brothers unveiled the memorial in the belief that all volunteers would be re-interred in consecrated ground. The government, through its bureaucratic red tape and hidden agendas has denied both men this memory. Today the government denies the remaining relatives the same right.
For most of us, to pay respect to our deceased family or friends, it is a journey to the cemetery. For the relatives of the Forgotten Ten it is a trip to a prison yard.
The National Graves Association has given many assurances to the government, provided maps and historical information, no obstacles have ever been put up by the association to facilitate this re-interment. We believe that pressure needs to be put on the government and in particular Fianna Fáil, 'the Republican Party', to mark the millennium by this simple gesture. The Committee of the NGA wish to thank everybody throughout the years for their assistance. We can guarantee the government that this campaign will not go away.
Perhaps the most fitting way to finish is by quoting the prison chaplain, "It is morally wrong for any person to be buried in a prison yard."
MATT DOYLE
Secretary
National Graves Association
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A chara
David Trimble's recent comments prior to the Ulster Unionist Council's vote on whether to enter into a foreign parliament with their new-found friends on the 'Republican' side really said it all about the reality of the 'Good Friday Agreement'.
He stated that it does strengthen Partition and as a result of it they will be getting support from their new-found pals for full decommissioning, devolution and the strengthening of the Six-County Statelet.
He went on to mock Republicans by saying it took them over 50 years to bring down Stormont and went on to say it will take another 100 years before that will happen again.
Surely those within the Provisional Movement must now see through this so-called peace process.
The only way forward for a true and lasting peace is a full British withdrawal from our country.
I am sure the true Republicans coming into this new millennium will carry on with the Republican Movement (Republican Sinn Féin etc) in the quest for a full British disengagement.
Republicans can now see that only Republican Sinn Féin has never accepted anything less than a Republic and they never betrayed the Republican soldiers who gave their lives for Irish Freedom.
TADHG Mac an RÍ
LUIMNEACH
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A chara
I was at that Ard-Fheis in 1986 when Martin McGuinness told us to go home. The great and noble Seán Keenan of Derry told McGuinness and company that we were not going home nor going into Leinster House or Stormont. Martin McGuinness is now a British Crown Minister, salary £71,000 a year plus armoured car and British-paid driver.
Ireland geographically is one nation. You must be sick of the propagandist peace process. You now know it only means jobs for the boys. Fianna Fáil's final act was removing their own Articles 2 and 3 of their constitution, removing the claim that the Six Counties are a part of Ireland.
The Fianna Fáil leader knows that it won't work. He is now threatening to let all hell loose on those who will oppose this sell-out. They have learned nothing from the lessons of history. The great Bishop O'Dwyer of Limerick stated "that while grass grows and water runs there will be men and women in Ireland who will fight and die for Irish freedom".
The first Free Staters tried oppressive laws. Fianna Fáil amended them to make them more oppressive. They introduced internment, executed by firing squads, brought over the English hangman, yet failed. How can Bertie Ahern succeed?
The sorest part of a man's body is his pocket. With the bombing of the Stock Exchange in London the financial institutions were pulling out of England. The money class wanted something done about Ireland. The money class relied on Fianna Fáil and Adams for assistance and that brought about a ceasefire but no question of the loyalists/British death squads surrendering their arms.
All sane people desired peace, but it must be peace with justice for all. Not the kind of peace where corrupt politicians can vote themselves huge salaries. Mr Trimble who gets so much publicity only represents then 12% of the population of Ireland yet he and the British government have not a veto over 82% of the Irish people.
The great and noble PH Pearse said: "We have renewed the struggle down the centuries and that's the way it's going to be while one British soldier remains on Irish soil". Today there are over 20,000 British soldiers and 9,000 armed sectarian police in the pay of England on Irish soil.
The power of the people brought down the Berlin Wall. The voice of the people can change this corrupt system here.
Help to bring back the spirit of the great men who fought and died for an Ireland United, Gaelic and Free and where their children would get their just share of the nation's wealth that is now squandered.
MARTIN CALLIGAN
Kilmurry McMahon
Co Clare
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A chara
There has been a case recently in Galway of two people going to anti-racism meetings and claiming that they are Republicans, trying to save Ireland from the "attack" against Irish culture by refugees.
Now, it is certainly my understanding of Repub-licanism that it is not in any way racist.
Indeed, I can think of brilliant Republicans such as Liam Mellows, James Connolly, Bobby Sands, to name but a few who stood firmly with people of colour against the colonists.
It is very important that Republicans distinguish themselves from the racist sentiment that is floating around Ireland at the moment. This racism has been stirred up by the corrupt politicians in Fianna Fáil, who are trying to take the limelight off themselves, and to find scapegoats for the problems caused by their own corruption.
Republicans believe in preserving Irish culture, but the threat to Irish culture is far greater from the insidious cable TV networks, the multi-nationals who don't care for anything Irish, our high streets being turned into "mini" Englands with their Boots, Marks and Spencers etc than a few desperate refugees.
Surely refugees must find a welcome from Irish Republicans and be made to feel that they too can contribute to the betterment of Ireland, and to the struggle against the "New Imperialism".
The press try to call Republicans lots of things, and to tarnish our name. It is up to us to uphold the very best sentiments of Irish Republicanism, one of which is its solidarity with oppressed peoples through-out the world, whatever their skin colour.
A GALWAY READER
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A chara
Roy Garland, in a recent article in the Irish News contends that a return to 'square one' is not acceptable for unionists or nationalists. But in the same piece he outlines what a member of the 1916-1921 Club, Michael McEvilly, stated was available to nationalists under the Stormont Agreement. Which showed that nothing has changed for nationalists: we remain at square one!
In fact partition has been copper-fastened; and Irish democracy is at the mercy of a minority of unionists. Worse still is the fact that so-called nationalists and Republicans, the Provisionals, the SDLP and the southern establishment are the copper-fasteners.
Of course, in reply, the advocates of the agreement will argue that the voters are the copper-fasteners. But, as Mr McEvilly implied, voters opted for 'peace' and ignored the 'content of the agreement'; leaving many nationalists in shock when in due course they realised that they had voted for Partition. Thus for nationalists the status quo remains the same irrespective of the massive amount of propaganda used by the supporters of the Stormont Agreement.
Mr McEvilly asked was this (the Belfast Agreement) what many died for, suffered for, went on hunger-strike for; was this what countless parents and especially the aged and children suffered for in long journeys to prisons on visits and during humiliating body searches, etc . . . a question which I, in turn, put to the Provisional rank and file!
In the context of Irish Republicanism the contents of my correspondence is of vital importance; for what we are witnessing is the biggest sell-out in the long history of Irish Republicanism.
In fact, authentic Republicanism has been abandoned; yet the 'Lundies' in the Provisional leadership hyprocritically continue under the name of Republicanism to pursue their self-seeking agenda.
To conclude, is it not time for the authentic Republicans within the Provisional leadership to decommission those leaders who have abandoned the Republic; and who are leading them into surrender?
Perhaps it is too late!
In any case the Provisional leadership can no longer call themselves Republican: for how can one accept Partition and claim to be a follower of Tone?
LIAM Ó COMAIN
Derry City
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