RSY Easter Statement

national | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Saturday April 15, 2006 00:11 by RSYM Ard-Comhairle - Republican Socialist Youth Movement info at rsym dot org

on the 90th Anniversary of the Rising

Throughout the world attempts to criminalise the struggles of the oppressed and exploited are being resisted. The RSYM is part of this international upsurge, and will continue to gain strength and support in working class communities, especially in the occupied six counties.

The leadership of the Republican Socialist Youth Movement would like to take this
opportunity to extend solidarity greetings to all political prisoners both at home
and abroad. We extend greetings to our comrades in the Irish Republican Socialist
Party, to former Republican Socialist Prisoners of War, to the supporters of the
IRSM abroad and to the Volunteers of the Irish National Liberation Army.

We would like to highlight the case of Aidan Hulme – a man whose rights the
British government are prepared to infringe by refusing to grant Aidan the medical
treatment he urgently requires. We also should like to see the 26 county
administration fulfill their promises in regards to the case of Dessie O’Hare and
to make this year his last in prison.

In Europe, there is a general offensive to criminalize the struggles of those who
seek to secure a decent living for their people and the working class. It is a
part of the world offensive against those who refuse to renounce their sovereignty
to any foreign power. The European Union have replaced May 9th, the day on which
the people of the Soviet Union mark their victory over Fascism with ‘Europe Day’.
In Czechoslovakia, there are attempts underway to outlaw the Communist Youth
Union, the red star as well as Nazi insignia thereby equating the two polar
opposites.

Lukashenko is referred to as “Europe’s last dictator” by the Irish media, a phrase
they borrowed directly from the Washington. Now that it has emerged that those who
opposed Lukashenko in Belarus had planned to cry foul of his election victory
weeks before the ballots were counted the claims of Washington don’t hold much
merit.

In Ireland, too, we have our own domestic saboteurs. From the sadists of the
Gardai Special Branch, prepared to harass and arrest Republicans at will to 26
county officials at the highest levels. Here in the 6, there are those who
recently have attempted to harass members of the IRSM in Derry and Strabane as
well as make the business of Teach na Failte more difficult. They will not succeed
for one reason only – we will not let them. Greater resilience and restraint is
needed now more than ever, the IRSM must not yield an inch to these people for
they are attempting to provoke a response of disproportionate action from our
movement. They have their agenda and we have ours.

Today there will be a military ceremony in Dublin headed by Fianna Fail. Fianna
Fail are the very organisation which practically outlawed the sale of the Easter
Lilly and still to this very day prevent Republicans from selling them.
Republicans rightly refuse to apply to the 26 county administration for permits to
sell their lilies, their actions are based on a solid and principled Republican
stance. We gather each Easter to remember our martyred patriot dead in doing such
today we remember that under Fianna Fail more Republican POWs were executed in
Mountjoy than when the British controlled the prison. Fianna Fail will forever be
regarded as the party of De Valera, a name which in Irish history connotations of
Quisling have been reserved.

An invitation to the ceremony was extended to the Love Ulster organisation.
Perhaps the 26 county ruling class has not learned from previous events, sectarian
marches are not tolerated on the streets of Belfast, Derry or Dunloy in any such
case, the people of Dublin should not be expected to tolerate bigots either. The
events in Dublin gave a clear prediction to those who proposed that the Queen of
England should visit Ireland on a state visit.

We will oppose any such visit, just as we opposed the Love Ulster march. We will
remain steadfast to our principles and beliefs despite what instruments the state
may utilize in opposition to us. The coming years will give the IRSM great
opportunities to expand its influence into new arenas. They will also give us the
chance to grow and consolidate ourselves. The opportunity must be seized.

Beir bua.