2007
Easter Statement from the Leadership of the Republican
Movement
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
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.
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