PRC-UTE
23rd May 2007, 23:00
Comrades,
I'll start by thanking the organisers of today's event for giving me the honour of speaking at today's commemoration of the 1981 Hunger Strike Martyrs. The magnitude of the 1981 Hunger Strikes is such that it impacts on us even today. We stand here in proud memory of the ten young martyrs. They gave their lives so that their struggle for Irish self determination and independence would be recognised as legitimate and be console ourselves somewhat in the knowledge that they were right in their struggle and today, they remain incorruptible.
Sadly we remain further from the Republic today than we were in 1981. Radical Republican Socialism has suffered a staggering defeat with the British Government incorporating a section of the Republican family into the administration of imperialism in Stormont. The British have put manners on PSF who now sit contently as clients of British Occupation with the same mild Nationalism that brought scorn from republicans towards the SDLP.
A Westminster govt that claims to have no strategic interest in holding the 6 counties, decides to build a new MI5 outpost in Co Down. It would appear that the British have lied again and why should we be surprised. They have no interest in an independent Socialist Republic and have manipulated the landscape here to such a form that they have no such fears for the foreseeable future.
A southern government expresses its republicanism through backhanders and favours. A corruption soaked morass that drips money while the welfare system crumbles was not the vision of the 1916 martyrs and FF should claim no lineage to them.
The DUP now are where they have wanted it to be.. Lording over a "normalised" Northern Ireland with an accepted veto over any changes in their very comfortable status quo. And this is being lauded as the irreversible momentum towards the unity of the island. Some people do seem to live in a looking glass world. We on the other hand live in the reality of this new dispensation. Ireland is now a cold house for Republicanism.
The deeds of 1981 offers us some strength as we struggle for new ways to further the republic today and one aspect of the Hunger Strike strikes me as particularly poignant and that is the unity of action that the Republican Prisoners applied to their prison struggle. They found a common cause and they cooperated closely to maximise the impact of their actions. It is an aspect of the 81 hunger strike that we must take heed off today as we try hard to make our voice heard.
That is not to say that we rush headlong into a union where pragmatism outweighs principle. It is important that we retain our values and structures as Republican Socialists within our own movement. We must build our movement and maintain our twin goals of national liberation and Socialism but we must also build bridges towards other Republicans and anti imperialists so that we can act in unity on issues upon which we find common ground. Prisoners rights, social issues, trade union issues, issues where the interests of capital are put before the needs of the people. By doing this we might advance the unity of Republican and anti imperialist forces in Ireland behind the issues that affect people hence capturing their support.
We in the RSM clearly state clearly that the class struggle will be the only way that Republicanism will ever be successful. Much like the Republican movement found itself in the late 50's, we find ourselves needing to reassess our strategy and that strategy must be to connect with those whom we claim to act on behalf of, and that is through the a multifaceted, coordinated class struggle. We implore all young republicans to join us on this course. It is perhaps not the easiest course but it is the most worthwhile.
For our struggle and struggle of the 81 men and all the rest of those who have contributed to and sacrificed themselves for ,continues today. Lets all leave this cemetery today and spare a thought for all our fallen martyrs.. and also spare another thought for how you as individual will contribute to furthering the struggle for the Republic. Will you organise in your community, your cumann, your trade union branch? Will you do nothing?
Whatever you choose to do, always remember the commitment and sacrifice and solidarity shown by the Hunger Strike Martyrs to each other and to us....and let that thought spur us ever onwards.
I'll start by thanking the organisers of today's event for giving me the honour of speaking at today's commemoration of the 1981 Hunger Strike Martyrs. The magnitude of the 1981 Hunger Strikes is such that it impacts on us even today. We stand here in proud memory of the ten young martyrs. They gave their lives so that their struggle for Irish self determination and independence would be recognised as legitimate and be console ourselves somewhat in the knowledge that they were right in their struggle and today, they remain incorruptible.
Sadly we remain further from the Republic today than we were in 1981. Radical Republican Socialism has suffered a staggering defeat with the British Government incorporating a section of the Republican family into the administration of imperialism in Stormont. The British have put manners on PSF who now sit contently as clients of British Occupation with the same mild Nationalism that brought scorn from republicans towards the SDLP.
A Westminster govt that claims to have no strategic interest in holding the 6 counties, decides to build a new MI5 outpost in Co Down. It would appear that the British have lied again and why should we be surprised. They have no interest in an independent Socialist Republic and have manipulated the landscape here to such a form that they have no such fears for the foreseeable future.
A southern government expresses its republicanism through backhanders and favours. A corruption soaked morass that drips money while the welfare system crumbles was not the vision of the 1916 martyrs and FF should claim no lineage to them.
The DUP now are where they have wanted it to be.. Lording over a "normalised" Northern Ireland with an accepted veto over any changes in their very comfortable status quo. And this is being lauded as the irreversible momentum towards the unity of the island. Some people do seem to live in a looking glass world. We on the other hand live in the reality of this new dispensation. Ireland is now a cold house for Republicanism.
The deeds of 1981 offers us some strength as we struggle for new ways to further the republic today and one aspect of the Hunger Strike strikes me as particularly poignant and that is the unity of action that the Republican Prisoners applied to their prison struggle. They found a common cause and they cooperated closely to maximise the impact of their actions. It is an aspect of the 81 hunger strike that we must take heed off today as we try hard to make our voice heard.
That is not to say that we rush headlong into a union where pragmatism outweighs principle. It is important that we retain our values and structures as Republican Socialists within our own movement. We must build our movement and maintain our twin goals of national liberation and Socialism but we must also build bridges towards other Republicans and anti imperialists so that we can act in unity on issues upon which we find common ground. Prisoners rights, social issues, trade union issues, issues where the interests of capital are put before the needs of the people. By doing this we might advance the unity of Republican and anti imperialist forces in Ireland behind the issues that affect people hence capturing their support.
We in the RSM clearly state clearly that the class struggle will be the only way that Republicanism will ever be successful. Much like the Republican movement found itself in the late 50's, we find ourselves needing to reassess our strategy and that strategy must be to connect with those whom we claim to act on behalf of, and that is through the a multifaceted, coordinated class struggle. We implore all young republicans to join us on this course. It is perhaps not the easiest course but it is the most worthwhile.
For our struggle and struggle of the 81 men and all the rest of those who have contributed to and sacrificed themselves for ,continues today. Lets all leave this cemetery today and spare a thought for all our fallen martyrs.. and also spare another thought for how you as individual will contribute to furthering the struggle for the Republic. Will you organise in your community, your cumann, your trade union branch? Will you do nothing?
Whatever you choose to do, always remember the commitment and sacrifice and solidarity shown by the Hunger Strike Martyrs to each other and to us....and let that thought spur us ever onwards.