NEWS FROM SAOIRSE (freedom). The Voice of the Irish Republican Movement. Republican Sinn Féin http://rsf.ie 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 229 Falls Road, Belfast

THE 98th Ard-Fheis of Republican Sinn Féin opened in Dublin on October 19 and the 200 delegates present represented cumainn and supporters in the 32 Counties, England, Scotland and the US. The Ard-Fheis assembled at 2pm to allow delegates to vote 'No' in the Nice Treaty referendum being held on the same day.

At the key political policy debate the Ard-Fheis passed a resolution from the Ard Chomhairle which called for a “fresh initiative” to be prepared, “based on the ÉIRE NUA programme and the Towards a Peaceful Ireland document” which would: (1) address all the Irish people; (2) address the people of Ulster in particular; and (3) make a special appeal to people of the unionist persuasion.

Delegates agreed that this was all the more relevant given the collapse of Stormont the same week by order of the British government. Republican Sinn Féin President Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said that by the strike of a pen the British government “yet again abolished the structure it set up four years ago under the Stormont Agreement”. He said neither the unionist nor the nationalist community could feel their interests are safeguarded under that Agreement.

“It is time to face the basic issue and resolve it with certainty and a comfortable place for all sections with power and decision-making in accordance with local majorities in a totally New Ireland.  We have such a plan to safeguard the interests of all in our ÉIRE NUA proposal for a nine-county Ulster in a new four-province federation,” Ruairí Ó Brádaigh said.

The agreed motion called such for such an address to be circulated widely to elected representatives, trade unions, church leaders, media and educational institutions. Andy Connolly, Dublin, said that taking out newspaper advertisements to get our message across should be considered.

In another resolution the Ard-Fheis considered  the Stormont Agreement as "institutionalising sectarianism", and said the escalation of 'sectarian conflict' in the Six Counties since the signing of the Agreement illustrated this.

The Ard-Fheis sent a solidarity message to the beleaguered people of the Six Occupied Counties, particularly in north and east Belfast and pledged them the full support of Republican Sinn Féin.

Delegates pledged to work to highlight the continuing British military occupation in part of Ireland and the solution to conflict that a complete British withdrawal and Irish self-determination represents. A motion from two Ulster cumainn was agreed to campaign for "total opposition" to the RUC/PSNI and to dissuade nationalists from joining an "armed colonial force".

A motion supported by four Munster and Leinster cumainn pointed out that the 26-County State was  trying to criminalise Republican Sinn Féin by draconian bail conditions imposed on members in January 2002. This was in violation of the fundamental right to hold and express political views as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Joe O'Neill, Ard Chomhairle, pointed out that members of a legitimate political party were bailed on condition they do not take part in Republican Sinn Féin political activity. Such bail conditions must be highlighted in every way possible, he said.

A resolution backed by several cumainn was passed reasserting (a) that this organisation alone is entitled to the proud name Sinn Féin and (b) will be campaigning to remove any confusion in the public mind between ourselves and another organisation that fraudulently uses the historic name Sinn Féin.

A motion was agreed thanking those Irish people who voted ‘No’ to the Nice Treaty who, by doing so, demonstrated their support for Irish sovereignty and neutrality.

The hazards of Sellafield and appeals to the GAA also exercised the minds of delegates. The GAA should not allow their association “to be hijacked by those who do not share its ethos, national aspirations or ideals”.

An end to the dumping of nuclear waste in Irish waters and the transport of such waste through the Irish Sea was called for, as well as the complete closure of Sellafield.

A motion from the McKelvey/Steele Cumann, Belfast was carried calling on the incoming Ard Chomhairle to devise a strategy for the upcoming Stormont assembly elections.

Delegates agreed to push preparations for the contest of local council elections in the 26 Counties in June 2004. Tomás Ó Curraoin, Gaillimh, said that the time to begin was now and great attention had to be paid to the local media, in particular.

A Fermanagh motion calling for an examination of local government in the 26 Counties and the Six Counties, in order to make a recommendation in 2003 on contesting these elections was also passed.

The Ard-Fheis sent solidarity greetings to Republican prisoners in Maghaberry, Magilligan and Portlaoise jails and pledged ongoing support to the struggle for political status.

Representatives of CABHAIR - Republican Prisoners' Dependants Fund, Cumann na mBan and Na Fianna Éireann addressed the Ard-Fheis on its first day and a delegation from the National Irish Freedom Committee in the US was also present.

Recently-released Portlaoise POW Colm Maguire, Dublin thanked people for the support they gave to CABHAIR and asked that all Republicans redouble their efforts to support the prisoners dependants and the struggle for political status. Former POW Josephine Hayden read a statement from Stíofán Ó Dálaigh, O/C CIRA POWs representing Republican prisoners in Maghaberry and Magilligan jails.

In the social and economic policy debate delegates supported an Ard Chomhairle motion promoting indigenous industry, owned and managed by Irish people. People said this would ensure that Ireland would not be bereft of jobs when IDA/IDB multinational companies moved their business to underdeveloped countries to avail of cheap labour. It was also pointed out that some indigenous industries can be equally as exploitative of workers as foreign industry could be.

The updating, reviewing and republishing of SAOL NUA, the social and economic programme of Republican Sinn Féin Poblachtach, first published in 1993, was agreed by the Ard-Fheis.

Health, education and social spending cuts which affect the disadvantaged in Irish society was highlighted in one motion and the particular case of the reduction of services at Monaghan General Hospital was raised by the Dáithí Ó Conaill Cumann, Monaghan. Discrimination against Travellers and minority groups was an issue for Republican Sinn Féin members and they must be active in ending this practice in their own areas, this was raised in a motion from the Willie Stewart/Joe Conway Cumann, Newry/Dundalk.

Opposition to incinerators/thermal treatment plants was expressed in a motion from Comhairle na Mumhan and Geraldine McNamara, Ard Chomhairle said that in Belgium recently a company that plans to build incinerators in Cork and Meath had to switch off a static kiln used to dispose of chlorinated waste after high levels of dioxins were found during routine checks. Recycling must be promoted by all concerned individuals and local authorities and industries, which produce 75% of our landfill, should be made to recycle, she said.

In the international affairs section Des Long, Ard Chomhairle, said that Republican Sinn Féin opposed “the current efforts of both the United States and Britain to bend other countries to their will, the end result of which will be war and bloodshed.

“They must realise that people who are politically and economically oppressed will defend their right to freedom as one of the most basic human rights. It is time for America and Britain to recognise that they cannot rule the world!” he said.

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Web layout by SAOIRSE -- Irish Freedom November 9, 2002  Send links, events notifications, articles, comments etc, to the editor at: saoirse@iol.ie.