In statement, the PRO of the Thomas Harte Cumann
Republican Sinn Féin Lurgan/Craigavon, responded to allegations made in public
against members of the Cumann in recent days. In the statement, the PRO of the
Thomas Harte Cumann said that no one in Republican Sinn Féin in general and in
the Thomas Harte Cumann in particular has any intention to ever seek permission
from the British Occupation Forces to march on the streets of Ireland. Instead,
the Thomas Harte Cumann is actively building a strong and revolutionary Easter
Commemoration on the Centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016.
The statement read: “Contrary to myths spread in public
over the recent days, the status quo remains the same. This status quo was and
is that no member of the Thomas Harte Cumann has any intention to cooperate
with the British Occupation Forces in any way. Republican Sinn Féin is
determined to resist British Rule at all times and by all means necessary. One
of the main areas of this resistance to British Rule in Ireland is on the
streets of Ireland.
“In previous years, dozens of Irish nationalists and
Republican activists were charged for attending marches in support of
then-internee Martin Corey and Easter Parades organised by Republican Sinn Féin
in Lurgan. These were attempts to break the Republican spirit of Lurgan and
drive Irish people opposed to British Rule in Ireland off the streets of
Ireland.
“The Thomas Harte Cumann, supported by the nationalist
community in North Armagh, successfully resisted these attempts to silence
political opposition to British Rule in Ireland. Consequently, in the last two
years, the Thomas Harte Cumann rebuilt successfully the Easter Parades in
Lurgan. This resulted in one of the most successful parades for many years on
Easter Saturday 2014.
“Lead by a masked Colour Party, hundreds of supporters
from all over North Armagh, other parts of Ireland, and from abroad marched
together with two Flute Bands, one travelling to the Parade from as far as
Scotland. Sunday papers carried this parade on their front pages. This parade
sent a clear and revolutionary message across Ireland and abroad: The
Republican Movement is alive and well in the Occupied Six Counties; the British
Forces of Occupation will not succeed in driving Irish people off the streets
of Ireland. Republican Sinn Féin in North Armagh and the Thomas Harte Cumann
will resist any attempts by the British Forces of Occupation to criminalise
those marching on the streets of Ireland.
“The Thomas Harte Cumann is determined to build on the
success of the Easter Parade in 2014. The Thomas Harte Cumann stresses that
neither the Cumann nor any individual member of Republican Sinn Féin will seek
permission to march at Easter in Lurgan.
“Our aim for the coming two years is to build the
Republican Movement in the North Armagh area and organise a large and
successful Easter Parade marching through the streets of Lurgan on the
Centenary of the Easter Rising in 2016.
Only a successful Easter Parade, led by a strong and
well-organised Republican Sinn Féin organisation will send a clear
revolutionary message throughout the world: One hundred years after the
Proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the GPO in Dublin, the Republican
Movement is alive and well in the Six Occupied Counties.”
Important statement!
ReplyDeleteIf they support the unrestricted right to parade, do they support the right of Orange Lodges to parade also?
ReplyDeleteAndrew,
ReplyDeleteI don't think the order right to parade is the issue, it was the violence that went with it. The oo had ample opportunity to get their house in order and refused to do so. The protest against parades, for me is just a basic defence tactic
Andrewg, not presuming to speak for rsf,but I would have thought that if the local orange brethren wish to march in Lurgan to commerate the 1916 rising no one would stand in their way. But on that day at least they should realise that it is no longer the Queens Highway.
ReplyDeletetaigs shud have a brown order parade every july 11th. thats the day they march their highly laxatived cattle down the queens highway.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fascinating statement. Whatever went down at that Ard Fheis, given the various briefings, official and unofficial, that have been bandied about on the internet since, there is serious confusion as to what the position of the party in relation to the Parades Commission now is. While this appears to put the issue to bed I'm not a hundred percent convinced those who claim there's been no change in position are being entirely honest. It's their own business whether they choose to apply for parades in the six-counties or not but if that is what they have agreed to, whether by proxy or whatever, they should be honest enough to say so. If this is not the case, as the statement suggests, it's hard to figure out why all the resignations, especially of Cait Trainor with her being the party's Vice President. I still wonder is there more to this....
ReplyDelete